Office of Boards and Commisions: Profiles

To determine when to release offenders on parole; establish terms and conditions of release; supervise parolees; terminate or modify conditions or release. To administer parole laws and recommend rules; establish policies and plans regarding parole; conduct hearings; advise and represent the Mayor in coordinating DC parole policies and standards with federal, state, local and other jurisdictions and organizations. Members file financial disclosure statements. Five DC residents appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the council, who have broad experience in corrections, social services, rehabilitation, law or education in related fields of behavioral sciences. Members are full-time and compensated at the DS-15 level.

People's Counsel
Elizabeth Noel, 727-3071

To advocate on behalf of DC utility rate payers and consumers before the Public Service Commission, federal regulatory agencies, Congress, City Council, and the courts; assist individual consumers in disputes with utility companies; investigate the service, rates and property appraisal of the utilities; provide technical assistance and consumer education and outreach; and to advocate for consumers in no-fault automobile insurance consumers when the DC Commissioner of Insurance holds a rate hearing. Advocate for utility consumers; administer the Office of the People's Counsel; retain outside experts and consultants. One attorney admitted to the DC Court of Appeals appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, who may have no pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any DC public utility.

Persons with Disabilities, Mayor's Commission on
Rhonda Stewart, 442-8673

To advise the Mayor on broad human needs, services, and employment of citizens with disabilities in the District of Columbia. Review and comment on DC Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan and recommend special services; cooperate with the President's Committee on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities to promote employment of persons with disabilities, and with the White House Conference on Individuals with Disabilities to develop national policy for individuals with disabilities; promote independent living for the citizens with disabilities. Thirty-three public members, appointed by the Mayor, who have experience and demonstrated interest in vocational rehabilitation of persons with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, including representatives of individuals with disabilities, the business community, service providers, advocacy organizations, and other interested individuals. At least one-third of the public members must be individuals with disabilities. The Mayor names the chairperson and appoints non-voting ex-officio members to represent government.

Pharmacy Board
Graphelia Ramseur, 442-9200

To regulate the practice of pharmacies in DC; to advise the Mayor; to administer and enforce the Act. To evaluate applicants' qualifications and administer exams; recommend standards and procedures; issue licenses; receive and review complaints; request investigations; conduct hearings; issue subpoenas, examine witnesses and administer oaths; issue an annual report. Members file personal financial disclosure statements. Seven DC residents, including a chairperson, appointed by the Mayor: five licensed pharmacists, who must have been engaged in practice for at least 3 years preceding appointment, and two consumers, who must be at least 18 years old, not be health professionals or in training to become one and may have no household member who is involved directly or indirectly in providing health care.

Physical Therapy
Maulid Miskell, 442-9200

To regulate the practice of physical therapy in DC; to advise the Mayor; to administer and enforce the act. Evaluate applicants' qualifications and administer exams; recommend standards and procedures; issue licenses; receive and review complaints; request investigations; conduct hearings; issue subpoenas, examine witnesses and administer oaths; issue an annual report. Members file personal financial disclosures statements. Five members, including a chairperson, who are DC residents, appointed by the Mayor: four licensed physical therapists, who must have been engaged in practice for at least 3 years preceding appointment, and one consumer, who must be at least 18 years old, not be a health professional or in training to become one and may have no household member who is involved directly or indirectly in providing health care.

Physician Assistants Advisory Committee
Jim Granger, 442-9200

To advise the Board of Medicine and the Mayor on the regulation of the practice of physician assistants in DC Advise the Board of Medicine, which evaluates physician assistant applicants' qualifications and administers exams; determine qualifications to practice specialties; recommend standards and procedures; issue licenses; receive and review complaints; request investigations; conduct hearings; issue subpoenas; examine witnesses and administer oaths. Three members appointed by the Mayor: licensed physician or osteopath with experience working with Physician Assistants, one licensed physician assistant, and the Commissioner of Health or his/her designee.

Plumbing Board
Linda Dixon, 442-4464

To grant licenses and register plumbers. To recommend programs, policies, standards, regulations, and procedures governing licensing and regulation; give exams; issue certificates; hold hearings; render decisions. Members must file personal financial disclosure statements. Three members appointed by the Mayor: two master plumbers and one employee of the District government having knowledge of plumbing, gas-fitting, and sanitary work.

Podiatry, Board of
Ms. Brown, 442-9200

To regulate the practice of podiatry in DC; to advise the Mayor; to administer and enforce the Act. To evaluate qualifications and administer exams; recommend standards and procedures; approve licenses; receive and review complaints; request investigations; conduct hearings; issue subpoenas, examine witnesses and administer oaths; issue an annual report. Members file personal financial disclosure statements. Three DC residents, including a chairperson, appointed by the Mayor: two licensed podiatrists, who must have been engaged in practice for at least 3 years preceding appointment and 1 consumer, who must be at least 18 years old, not be a health professional or in training to become one and may have no household member who is involved directly or indirectly in providing health care.

Police and Firefighters Retirement Relief Board
Alma L. Hicks, 727-9655

To consider retirement and relief for members and survivors of the DC Police and Fire Departments, US Secret Service, and Park Police; develop policies to ensure fair and equitable treatment. To conduct hearings and executive sessions; make findings of fact, conclusion of law, and decisions with regard to retirement, involuntary separation, survivor benefits, annual medical, and income reviews; perfect and adopt rules of procedure. Seven members and five alternates appointed by the Mayor: two public members who are not DC government employees, one of whom is a physician, one member, and one alternate each from the DC Offices of Personnel, Corporation Counsel, and the Departments of Fire, Police, and Human Services. One DHS member shall be a medical officer. Members and alternates appointed by the director of the US Secret Service sit on cases relating to members of the Secret Service and the Executive Protective Service.

Police Complaints Board
Mai Fernandez, 319-2238

Potomac River Basin Interstate Commission
Lon Luu, (301) 984-1908

Promote uniform laws, rules, or regulations for the abatement and control of pollution of streams and utilization, conservation, and development of the water and associated land resources in the Potomac River Conservancy District. To analyze and interpret data; conduct studies; coordinate planning and programs; disseminate information and educational materials; recommend solutions to problems in the Potomac Valley Conservancy District; coordinate drought related operations of the Maryland, Virginia, and District public water supply utilities. Three members and three alternates appointed by the Mayor to represent the District of Columbia.

Professional Counseling Board
Graphelia Ramseur, 442-9200

To regulate the practice of professional counseling in Washington, DC; administer and enforce the Act. To evaluate applicants' qualifications; recommend standards and procedures; issue licenses; receive and review complaints; request investigations; conduct hearings. Five members appointed by the Mayor: three professional counselors licensed in the District, and one consumer member.

Psychology Board
Mo Miskell, 442-9200

To advise the Mayor; regulate the practice of psychology in DC; administer and enforce the Act. To evaluate applicants' qualifications and administer exams; recommend standards and procedures; issue licenses; receive and review complaints; request investigations; conduct hearings; issue subpoenas, examine witnesses and administer oaths; issue an annual report. Members must file personal financial disclosure statements. Five members, including a chairperson, who are DC residents, appointed by the Mayor: four licensed psychologists, who have been engaged in practice for at least 3 years preceding appointment and one consumer, who is at least 18 years old and is not a health professional or in training to become one, and may have no household member who is involved directly in or indirectly in providing care.

Public Access Cable Television
Nance Rickard, 659-6260

To facilitate and govern nondiscriminatory public use of designated and reserved noncommercial public access channels of the franchised cable TV system. Govern the corporation; prepare and submit to the Council articles of incorporation and bylaws. Gather members, who are DC residents knowledgeable in telecommunications law or programming, corporate or foundation management, public relations, fund raising, career development, or training. Members may not be employees of DC government or the cable franchisee or its contractors, or investors in the franchise corporation. The chairperson and seven members are elected in accordance with the by laws of the Corporation, two members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council; two members are appointed by the chairperson of the Council's committee having jurisdiction over cable TV and confirmed by the Council; and one member is appointed by the District's cable franchised and confirmed by the Council.

Public Charter School Board
Nelson Smith, 887-5025

Public Defenders Service Board
Pamela Thomas Gray, 628-1200

To serve as the criminal defense agency of the District. To represent indigent persons in DC when appointed by Court in criminal and delinquency proceedings or when faced with involuntary civil commitment in both trial and appellate courts; provide administrative support to courts for Appointment of Counsel Program; serve as resource for private Counsel appointed under DC Criminal Justice Act, making available investigative and social work services and legal consultation. Eleven DC residents, four of whom may not be attorneys. Members are selected by a panel, presided over by the chief judge of the DC Court of Appeals, which also includes the Mayor and the chief judges of the US District Court and Superior Court of DC.

Public Employee Relations Board
Julio Castillo, 727-1822

To resolve unit determination and representation issues; certify exclusive bargaining representatives; decide unfair labor practice questions; issue remedial orders and resolve impasses; consider appeals from arbitration awards; decide on charges of failure of a union to comply with internal or national labor organizations standards of conduct; resolve bargaining impasses. Issue decisions; hear appeals; conduct investigations; administer oaths and affirmations; recommend amendments to District government labor relations laws, rules, and regulations. Five members; appointed by the Mayor with the advise and consent of the Council: one from list provided by labor organizations, granted exclusive recognition for at least 250 DC government employees; one from at least two names submitted by ad hoc committee appointed by Mayor; three neutrals as public members. Members must have experience and knowledge in labor relations, with integrity and impartiality; however, members must not be employees of the DC government of any labor organization granted exclusive recognition under Act. The Mayor selects the chairperson. (Nominations are effective after 90 days during which the Council is in continuous session from the state of transmittal.)

Public Housing, Executive Committee on

To oversee the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) and make recommendations to the Receiver to improve its operation. Oversee the DCHA and make specific recommendations to the Receiver on improving its operations; meet at least quarterly with Receiver; and review and comment on documents prepared by the Receiver in accordance with the May 19, 1995 court order. Five members, each of whom may appoint a designee: Mayor who serves as Chair, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing who is Vice Chair, Council's Chair of Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, President of Resident Council Advisory Board and one public member by Mayor.

Public Parking Authority of the District of Columbia

To identify and assess the public parking needs of the District, and provide public parking facilities to serve specific geographical areas, and provide services including facility design criteria, financing, construction management, oversight, facility management, and maintenance. Assess parking needs and encourage establishment of parking districts; undertake public parking projects, acquisition, construction or any other actions needed to carry out the purposes of the Authority; and determine and administer fees and monies collected for the Parking System Fund including funding the cost of acquiring property, developing, constructing, or expanding public parking facilities, and to pay the administrative costs of the parking districts. Five members who must be DC residents shall constitute the Board of Directors: the CFO, and four (including chair) appointed by Mayor and requiring Council approval. One member must be a local businessperson and the remaining members must have expertise in transportation, parking, banking, law, finance, construction, or real estate.

Public Service Commission
Ed Meyers, 626-5100

To ensure that public utilities doing business in DC are required to furnish services and facilities rates that are just and reasonable; regulate gas distribution, electric power, telecommunications, sightseeing buses, and tour boats. To set regulations, rules, specifications, standards, and rates of utility providers; hold hearings; investigate utility property values; issue subpoenas; create liens on corporate property of public utilities and approve the issuance of utility rates; hold hearings; investigate utility property values; issue subpoenas; create liens on corporate property of public utilities and approve the issuance of utility stock; issue certifications and licenses. Members must file personal financial disclosure statements. Three members, including chairperson appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. Members must have been DC residents for at least 3 years prior to appointment, may hold no other public office, and shall have had no direct or indirect interest in any DC public utility for 5 years preceding appointment. The chairperson is appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council.