BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
In addition to Municipal Council, following are volunteer advisory boards that are appointed by Council. Scroll down to see meeting agendas and minutes.
Bethel Park Planning & Zoning Commission
The Planning & Zoning Commission reviews and discusses subdivision plans, land development and ordinance amendments in a Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting.
LEARN MORE
Voting items put forward by the workshop go before the Planning & Zoning Commission’s regular meeting. A Zoning Commission Agenda is posted before every workshop meeting and voting meeting, and the Planning & Zoning Commission minutes, or details of what went on in the meeting, are posted after. The Planning & Zoning Commission acts in an advisory capacity and makes recommendations to Municipal Council on applications filed under Chapter 60, Subdivisions, and Chapter 69, Zoning, as well as amendments to those Chapters, and the Comprehensive Plan.
Building & Fire Codes Appeals Board
The Building & Fire Codes Appeals Board is responsible for hearing appeals on rulings by the Building Official or Fire Official in enforcing Municipal Building or Fire Codes.
LEARN MORE
Officers consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary are elected at the first meeting in April each year or the first regular meeting thereafter by a majority vote of the Board and serve a one-year term or until a successor is elected. Regular meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Municipal Building.
Civil Service Commission
The Civil Service Commission is the civilian advisory board for the Bethel Park Police Department and only meets when needed.
LEARN MORE
The Commission will meet to hear police officer hiring appeals or to address a vital police issue and provide civilian input. It can also hear police discipline appeals as well as participate in the police hiring and promotion process as observers and for oral interviews.
Economic Development Steering Committee
The mission of the Bethel Park Economic Development Steering Committee is to serve as a community resource for residents, businesses and developers in an effort to foster economic development while respecting local heritage and facilitating continued growth.
LEARN MORE
Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building.
Library Board
The Bethel Park Public Library Board of Trustees is a governing Board with legal responsibilities.
LEARN MORE
It has the authority to make policy and govern the affairs of the Library under the PA Public Library Code. The Board has 5-7 members who must be Bethel Park residents at least 18 years of age. The Board meets six times per year with Trustees serving a three-year term. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of January, March, May, July, September, and November at 5 p.m.
Municipal Authority
The Bethel Park Municipal Authority is a Joint Authority comprised of five members from Bethel Park and two from South Park.
LEARN MORE
The Authority’s primary function is the financial engine for all capital projects pertaining to its assets including the Piney Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Main Interceptor Conveyance System as a joint venture with South Park. The Authority also owns the entire conveyance system in Bethel Park including the portions that flow to Alcosan. Regular meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
Parks & Recreation Board
Parks & Recreation recommends policies relating to the conduct of all recreational and public leisure activities within the Municipality, including specific rules and regulations.
LEARN MORE
The Board also recommends fees, charges and expenditures. Additionally, the Board advises the Municipality and the Bethel Park School District on matters relating to recreational needs, use of Municipal facilities, and the development of parks in the community. The Parks & Recreation Board typically meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Bethel Park Recreation Center on Park Ave.
Zoning Hearing Board
The Zoning Hearing Board’s purpose is to assist in assuring fair and equitable application and administration of the zoning ordinance by hearing appeals on the zoning officer’s determinations and by granting relief from the literal enforcement of the zoning ordinance in certain hardship situations.
LEARN MORE
The Zoning Hearing Board will perform duties such as conducting hearings and rendering decisions on appeals, hearing challenges to the validity of any ordinance or map, and hearing requests for variances and thereby rendering decisions on zoning-related matters.
Shade Tree Commission
The Shade Tree Commission has an advisory capacity over all trees on public property or in the public right-of-way.
LEARN MORE
The Commission also determines needs associated with Municipal tree planting, maintenance and removal and keeps an inventory of all public trees, regulates tree protection, preservation, and tree replacement specifications. The Shade Tree Commission also assists by making periodic recommendations to Council regarding grant funding and legislation for the program. The Commission relies on a network of volunteers to assist in maintaining designated Shade Tree Districts.
The Shade Tree Commission holds one meeting each quarter, typically the third Wednesday of a particular month at 6:30 p.m., in the Municipal Caucus Room. For more information click here.
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
The Municipal Authority, along with South Park Township, is in charge of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and also owns the sanitary sewer conveyance system located within Bethel Park. The Municipality of Bethel Park is responsible for the operation and maintenance of both systems. The Authority’s duties include informing Municipal Council of Authority operations and regulation changes, cooperating with other government agencies regarding regulations that may affect construction projects and maintenance, and working with the Municipality to upgrade the Treatment Plant.
MEETING RECORDS
BUILDING AND FIRE CODE APPEALS BOARD
The Building and Fire Code Appeals Board is an ad hoc board responsible for hearing appeals and rulings by the Building Official or Fire Official in enforcing the building Codes or the Fire Code of the Municipality. Duties include hearing and making decisions on appeals, the ability to vary or modify the application of the Building or Fire Codes under unusual circumstances or due to improved methods being found, making recommendations to Council regarding Building and Fire Code amendments, and preparing and presenting proposed amendments to Council regarding Building and Fire Codes.
MEETING RECORDS
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
The Civil Service Commission is the civilian advisory board for the Bethel Park Police Department and only meets when needed. The committee will meet to hear police officer hiring appeals, or to address an important police issue and provide civilian input. They can also hear police discipline appeals, as well as participate in the police hiring and promotion process as observers and for oral interviews.
MEETING RECORDS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STEERING COMMITTEE
The mission of the Bethel Park Economic Development Steering Committee is to serve as a community resource for residents, businesses and developers in an effort to foster economic development while respecting local heritage and facilitating continued growth.
MEETING RECORDS
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
Parks & Recreation recommends policies relating to the conduct of all recreational activities within the Municipality, including specific rules and regulations. The Board also recommends fees, charges and expenditures. Additionally, the Board advises the Municipality on matters relating to recreational needs, use of Municipal facilities, and the development of parks in the community.
MEETING RECORDS
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
The Planning and Zoning Commission acts in an advisory capacity and makes recommendations to Municipal Council on applications filed under Bethel Park Code Chapter 60; Subdivisions, and Chapter 69; Zoning, as well as amendments to many other code Chapters and the Bethel Park Comprehensive Plan. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviews and discusses subdivision plans, land development plans, Conditional Use applications and ordinance amendments at a Planning and Zoning Committee Workshop Meeting. The agenda items moved forward from the Workshop Meeting are placed on the Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting agenda for a voting recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A meeting agenda is posted before every workshop and voting meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission minutes from the regular meeting are posted after approval.
MEETING RECORDS
ZONING HEARING BOARD
The Zoning Hearing Board’s purpose is to assist in assuring fair and equitable application and administration of the zoning ordinance by hearing appeals on the zoning officer’s determinations and by granting relief from the literal enforcement of the zoning ordinance in certain hardship situations. The Zoning Hearing Board will perform duties such as conducting hearings and rendering decisions on appeals, hearing challenges to the validity of any ordinance or map, and hearing requests for variances and thereby rendering decisions on zoning related matters.
The Zoning Hearing Board meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 in the Municipal Council Chambers, unless it falls on a holiday, then it moves to the following day.
MEETING RECORDS
SHADE TREE COMMISSION
The Shade Tree Commission has an advisory capacity over all trees on public property or in the public right-of-way. The Shade Tree Commission assesses and makes recommendations on Municipal tree planting, maintenance and removal programs and keeps an inventory of all public trees, and recommends tree protection, preservation and tree replacement specifications. The Shade Tree Commission is also responsible for making periodic recommendations to Municipal Council regarding grant funding and legislation for the Shade Tree Program. The Commission relies on a network of volunteers to assist in implementing and maintaining the responsibilities associated with the activities of the Shade Tree Commission.