PHILADELPHIA — Today, Mayor Jim Kenney announced that Frank DiCicco is stepping down as Chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) to be replaced by William (Bill) Bergman. Mr. Bergman will serve as Chair of the five-member board. His first meeting will be Tuesday, November 30.
“I want to thank Frank DiCicco for his leadership and contributions, who as Chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, has decided to move on after serving more than four years,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I am confident with Bill Bergman’s extensive experience within City government, along with his deep knowledge of and commitment to the ZBA’s mission, the ZBA will continue to build on the equitable and sustainable growth and development of the city.”
In his role as Chair of the ZBA, Mr. Bergman will work closely with community groups, civic associations, and Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) to ensure proper communication and participation in the zoning process.
Mr. Bergman served at Temple University from 1996 to 2021. Most recently, Mr. Bergman served as Vice President for Public, Government and Community Affairs from 2016 to 2021. Prior to that role, he served as Vice President of Operations and Business Services and Chief of Staff to the President. Mr. Bergman was recruited to Temple in 1996 to oversee the university’s public safety operation. Under multiple administrations, Mr. Bergman’s roles and responsibilities expanded and throughout his career, Mr. Bergman worked closely with the City’s Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Under his leadership, Mr. Bergman led the establishment of two major community advisory groups, one on the east side of Broad Street and one on the west side. The two groups inform Temple about the important issues to the community. This engagement has led to the establishment of a Special Service District that provides street cleaning and additional safety measures from Broad Street to 18th Street. The Special Service District contracted One Day at a Time (ODAT), a youth-serving community organization, to provide street cleaning. ODAT hired local youth from the area who are also receiving educational and personal growth services.
Mr. Bergman came to Temple after 27 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, where he served in several executive leadership positions. He also served in districts throughout the City of Philadelphia.
Currently, he serves as a member of the Salvation Army Board and the Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) Board. Previously, Mr. Bergman was an active board member with Northwest Victims Services.
A native Philadelphian, Mr. Bergman holds an B.S. in Accounting from Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia University and Philadelphia College of Textiles) and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Joseph’s University. Mr. Bergman also attended executive training at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
A headshot of Mr. Bergman is available to download online here.