SALISBURY — If you are a resident of Salisbury, at least 18 years old and want to volunteer your time to help the community, there’s an application you might want to fill out.

The city has five vacancies on three boards and commissions. One is on the Historic Preservation Commission, two are on the Planning Board and two are on the Tree Board.

City board and commission members attend meetings that deal with issues such as historic preservation or zoning. Based on decisions made at those meetings, board or commission members make recommendations to the City Council about how the council should vote on certain issues.

The City Council does not have to follow the recommendations of boards or commissions, but it does take them into consideration.

The Historic Preservation Commission is charged with ensuring that Salisbury’s historic buildings are not altered without careful review. The commission issues grants to repair or maintain traditional details of properties in historic districts, like North Main Street and West Square.

Special requirements for membership on the Historic Preservation Commission include having “demonstrated interest, competence or knowledge in historic preservation,” according to the city’s website.

The website says that “good faith efforts” will be made to select people with backgrounds in architecture, history, architectural history, planning or archaeology.

The Historic Preservation Commission meets at 5:15 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the City Council chambers.

The Planning Board is responsible for looking into matters of growth management, land development policy, zoning ordinances and development proposals.

The Planning Board meets twice a month, at 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday in council chambers.

The Tree Board advocates for the preservation and planting of trees on public rights-of-way and public property.

The Tree Board meets at noon on the third Wednesday of each month in the Salisbury-Rowan Utilities Conference Room, 1 Water St.

To apply for any of the five vacancies, residents can go to the city’s website and search for “boards and commissions.” The general application is listed on the boards and commissions page, and applicants can choose as many as three boards or commissions to apply for.

For a paper copy of the application, contact City Clerk Diane Gilmore at dgilm@salisburync.gov.

Board and commission terms are staggered for two or three years. Most terms end on March 31.

The city has 13 active boards and commissions in total: Alternate Methods of Design, Board of Adjustment, Community Appearance, Greenway Committee, Historic Preservation, Housing Advocacy, Human Relations Council, Hurley Park Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Planning Board, Transportation Advisory, Tree Board and Salisbury Youth Council.

Applications remain active for one year and are kept on file in case a vacancy occurs.

For more information, go to the city of Salisbury website, salisburync.gov.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.