Board & Commissions
In addition to the city officers, the City of Camden utilizes various boards and committees to oversee different areas of the city.
ADVERTISING AND TOURIST PROMOTION COMMISSION
Advertising and Promotion Commission is funded by a 1% tax on gross receipts received by restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, delicatessens, drive-in restaurants, carry out restaurant, concession stands, convenience stores, grocery store restaurant and similar businesses from the sale of prepared food and beverages for on or off-site consumption.
Also, a 3% tax is added on gross receipts from leasing or otherwise furnishing hotel, motel or short-term condominium rental or party room facilities for profit.
The Tax will be reported and collected by individual establishments and sent to the A&P Commission on a monthly basis.
The penalty for failure to report or pay taxes is equal to 5% of the unpaid amount per month not to exceed a total assessment of 35% of the unpaid tax.
The fund from this tax can be used for the following:
Advertising and promoting the city and it environs through various forms.
Construction, reconstruction, extension, improvement, maintenance and operation of a convention center or tourist promotion center.
Operation of tourist-oriented facilities including theme parks and family entertainment facilities.
Construction, reconstruction, extension, improvement, maintenance and operation of public recreation facilities.
The funds cannot be used for:
General capital improvements within the city
Cost associated with general operation of the City
General subsidy of any civic groups or the Chamber of Commerce
Seven individual members make up the A&P Commission:
4 must be owners or managers of businesses in the tourism industry, at least 3 of those shall be owners or managers of hotel, motels, or restaurant
2 members shall be from the governing body of the City
1 member shall be from the public at large who must reside within the city limits
All Commission members are selected by the City Council.
Members serve 4 year terms
Meeting Schedule
Meets the Last Tuesday of the month at 3:00 PM in the City Municipal Building
Commision Members
Travis Daniel, Chairman
At-Large
Phone: 870.807.2238
Connie Cox
Restaurant/Hospitality
Phone: 870.807.6060
Michael L. Tidwell
Restaurant/Hospitality
Phone: 870.836.3388
Teresa Lampkin
Restaurant/Hospitality
Gisela Perez
Restaurant/Hospitality
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
Ed Winters
AIRPORT COMMISSION
The Airport Commission shall have full and complete authority to manage and operate the Camden Municipal Airport.
The Airport Commission consist of five members serving 5 year terms appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a three-fourths vote of the City Board of Aldermen. The Mayor, upon confirmation by a vote of three-fourths of the members of the Board of Aldermen, may appoint up to five ex-officio members of the Airport Commission, with the Mayor being one of the five ex-officio members without further action by the Mayor or the Board of Aldermen. All ex-officio members shall be entitled to attend the Airport Commission meetings and voice their opinions but shall have no vote.
Meeting Schedule
Meets the 2nd Friday of the month at 11:30 AM
Commision Members
Kyle Gatling, Chairman
Tim Jordan, Vice Chair
Bill Archer, Secretary
Philip McBride, Commissioner
Jason Fletcher, Commissioner
Charlie Gaston, Commissioner
Trent Walker, Commissioner
James Lee Silliman, Ex-officio
Charlotte Young, Ex-officio
Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment
The general purpose of the Planning Commission is to prepare or have prepared a plan or plans of the municipality, to receive and make recommendations on public and private proposals for development, to prepare and administer planning regulations, to prepare and transmit to the legislative body recommended ordinances implementing plans, and to advise and counsel the city government and other public bodies. The planning Commissioners have the duty and function of promoting public interest in and understanding of the long-term coordinated municipal planning.
Meeting Schedule
3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 PM – Council Chambers
Board Members
Note: 4-Year Terms
Wade Lester
Real Estate
Phone: 870.833.1133
Manpreet Singh Kang
Real Estate
phone: 870.818.1676
Terry Thornhill
Layman
phone: 870.818.7548
Travis Daniel
Layman
phone: 870.807.2338
Katie Drake
870.562.4737
Real Estate
Wendell Parr
870.833.1825
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
The Board of Civil Service commissions shall prescribe, amend and enforce rules and regulations governing the Fire and Police Department of the City of Camden. These rules shall provide:
For the qualifications of each applicant for appointment to any position on the Police and Fire Department.
For open competitive examination to test the relative fitness of applicants for such positions.
For public advertisement of all examinations by publication of notice in a newspaper having bona fide circulation in the City of Camden and by posting notice at the City Hall at least 10 days before the date of said examinations.
For the creation of eligible lists for each rank of employment is said departments in which shall be entered the names of successful candidates in order of their standing in the examination.
For the rejection of candidates of eligible who fail to comply with reasonable requirements of the Board in regard to age, sex, physical condition or who has been guilty of a felony, or who has attempted fraud or deception in connection with the examination.
For certification to the Department head of the three standing highest on the eligibility list for appointment for that rank of service.
For a period of probation of not to exceed twelve months before any appointment is complete and six months before any promotion is complete, during which period the probationer may be discharged, in case of appointment, or reduced in case of promotion, by the Chief of the Police or of the Fire Department.
For temporary employees without examination with the consent of the Commission, in cases of emergency, and pending appointment from the eligible list.
For promotion based upon competitive examinations of efficiency, character and conduct.
For suspension for not longer then 30 days, and for leave of absence.
For discharge or reduction in rank or compensation after promotion or appointment is complete.
For the adoption and amendment of rules after public notice and hearing.
For the preparation of a record of all hearings and other proceedings before it.
Meeting Schedule
This board meets as called.
Commision Members
Note: 6-Year Terms
LaRhonda Moore
Greg Nettles
Rudie Galbert
Sandra Arnold
Doug Jones
KEEP CAMDEN BEAUTIFUL
The mission of the Keep Camden Beautiful Committee is to inspire the people of Camden to take action every day that improves and beautifies the city.
Meeting Schedule
Meetings are 4th Thursday, 6PM at Century 21
Commission Members
Note: 4-Year Terms
Ron Browning Term ending February 14, 2028
George Betts Term ending February 14, 2027
Ed Rice Term ending February 14, 2026
Cathy Cash Term ending February 14, 2025
Feleicia Walton Term ending February 14, 2024
Melissa Rocconi Term ending February 14, 2028
Laterica Torrence Term ending February 14, 2027
Debi Winters Term ending February 14, 2026
Katie Reavis Term ending February 14, 2025
Camden Housing Authority
Contact Information
Central Offices: 870-836-9309
After Hours and Weekends: 870-836-0155
Ivory Heights Office: 870-836-5040
Community Center: 870-836-8649
Lincoln Center Office: 870-836-8467
Carver Courts Office: 870-836-3366
Police Substation: 870-836-6494
In addition to having all powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of the Housing Authorities Act, the following powers are also granted:
1. Powers of Authority. An Authority shall constitute a public body corporate and politic, exercising exclusively public and essential government functions, and having all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and previsions of the Housing Authorities Act, including the following powers in addition to others herein granted:
1. To sue and to be sued; to have a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have perpetual succession; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the Authority; and to make from time to time amend and repeal bylaws, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the Housing Authorities Act to carry into the powers and purposes of the Authority.
2. Within its area of operation: to prepare, carry out, acquire, lease and operate housing projects; to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any housing project or any part thereof.
3. To arrange or contract for the furnishing by any person or agency, public or private, of services, privileges, works or facilities for, or in connection with, a housing project or occupants thereof; and (notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, housing Authority Act, or in any other provisions of law) to include in any contract let in connection with a project, stipulations requiring that the contractor and any subcontractors comply with requirements as to minimum wages and maximum hours of labor, and comply with any conditions which the Federal Government may have attached to its financial aid of the project.
4. To lease or rent any dwellings, houses, accommodations, lands, building, structures or facilities embraced in any housing project and (subject to the limitations contained in this Act, Housing Authorities Act) to establish and revise the rents of charges thereof; to own, hold, and improve real or personal property; to purchase, lease, obtain options upon, acquire by gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise any real or personal property or any interest therein, to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property; to sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge or dispose of any real or personal property or any interest therein; to insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the Authority against any risk or hazards; to procure insurance of guarantees from the Federal Government of the payment of any debts or parts thereof (whether or not incurred by said Authority) secured by mortgages on any property included in any of its housing projects.
5. To invest any funds held in reserves of sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement, in property or securities in which savings banks may legally invest funds subject to their control; to purchase its bonds at a price not more then the principal amount thereof and accrued interest, all bonds so purchased to be canceled.
6. Within its area of operation: to investigate into living, dwelling and housing conditions and into the means and methods of improving such conditions; to determine where slum areas exist or where there is a shortage of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income; to make studies and recommendations relating to the problem of clearing, replanning and reconstruction slum area, and the problem of providing dwelling accommodations for persons of low income, and to cooperate with the city, the county, the State of any political subdivision thereof in action taken in connection with such problems; and to engage in research, studies and experimentation of the subject of housing.
7. Acting through the Housing Authority Board; to conduct examinations and investigations and to hear testimony and take proof under oath at public and private hearings on any matter material for its information; to administer oaths, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses of the production of books and papers and to issue commissions for the examination of witnesses who are outside of the State or unable to attend before the Authority, or excused from attendance; to make available to appropriate agencies (including those charged with the duty of abating or requiring the correction of nuisances or like conditions, or of demolishing unsafe or unsanitary structures within its area of operation) its findings and recommendations with regard to any building or property where conditions exist which are dangerous to the public health, morals, safety or welfare.
8. To exercise all or any part of combinations of powers herein granted.
2. No provision of law with respect to the acquisition, operation, or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to any authority unless the legislature shall specifically so state.
Meeting Schedule
This Board meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:15 PM
Commission Members
Note: 5-Year Terms
Edwin Keaton, Chairman
Valerie Wilson, Vice Chairman
Darla Burroughs
Paul Hardwick
Karen McClane
Sandra Wood
Alissa Garrett, Executive Director
WATER & SEWER COMMISSION
Contact Information
Camden Water Utilities
Main Office: 870-836-7331
Meeting Schedule
3rd Tuesday @ 10:30 AM – Council Chambers
Commission Members
Note: 8-Year Terms
William Mike Smith, Chairman
836-5811 Wk.
Tina Davis, Vice Chair
837-3205 Wk.
Mike Cash, Secretary
(870)818-7337 Cell
Rudie Galbert
818-3128 Cell
Willie Cooper
(870)562-9015 Cell
Library Board
Ruth Ellen Lindsey
Ann West
Jeanette pace
Christina Carr
Michele McDonald
Lisa Pickett, Head Librarian
836-5083
Camden Port Authority
Edwin M. Horton
Robert L. Davis
David Reynolds
Steven Word
James Lee Silliman