Advisory Committees, Boards, & Commissions

About our Advisory Bodies

The City Council appoints community volunteers to serve on a variety of specialized advisory bodies. These bodies make recommendations to the Council and staff on many issues which impact our community. Public involvement is crucial to the City’s decision-making process and our advisory bodies are an important and valuable part of Hyattsville’s government. All advisory body meetings are open to the public and visitors are encouraged to attend. Meeting agendas for each body can be found here.

Volunteering on an Advisory Body

The City is committed to appointing dedicated and diverse individuals to these Committees to achieve committee membership which represent residents of all ages, interests, and backgrounds.

To learn more about the different advisory bodies, please see the descriptions listed below. You may apply for appointment on a Board, Committee, Commission, or Task Force by clicking on the green "Apply" button. We also recommend reviewing the Committee Handbook for additional information regarding committee policies and procedures. 

In order to be appointed to a City Advisory Body, you must complete the application, attend at least one meeting of the body prior to your appointment, and attend a virtual meet & greet session with the City Council liaisons to the advisory body. Upon receipt of your application, the City Clerk's Office will reach out to you to coordinate these requirements. If you have any questions, please reach out to the City Clerk's Office at 301-985-5009 or email cityclerk@hyattsville.org

Committee Member Stipend Program

In the FY23 budget, the City Council authorized funding to launch a committee stipend program, to provide payment of a flat fee of $40 per meeting attended. The program goal is to increase community input and participation in City government and diversify membership in City advisory bodies.

Committee members may incur costs associated with attending meetings both in person and virtually. Examples of costs the stipend may offset include:

  • Childcare during a meeting
  • Purchase of dinner the night of a meeting
  • Lost wages from work for time spent attending a meeting

The $40 per meeting stipend is intended to help offset these costs and decrease the financial burden that may be a barrier to residents joining a committee. 

Stipend Program Enrollment

All appointed committee members are automatically enrolled in the stipend program, however must complete and submit a W-9 in order to receive payment. Payments are made every six (6) months based on attendance records. 

Stipend Payments

Payments may not exceed $600 per year, regardless of service on multiple committees. Checks will be mailed in June to cover meetings held between December and May, and in December to cover meetings held between June and November. 

Enrollment Forms and Supporting Documents for the Stipend Program

The stipend policy document and the enrollment forms are linked below. Please do not submit enrollment forms prior to your appointment by the City Council. If you have questions, please reach out to 301-985-5009 or cityclerk@hyattsville.org.