Full Board — January 11, 2012 · Brooklyn Community Board 6

BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6

GENERAL BOARD MEETING

PROSPECT PARK RESIDENCE

1 PROSPECT PARK WEST

JANUARY 11, 2012

ATTENDANCE

PRESENT:

R. BASHNER N. BERK-RAUCH J. BERNARD

L. BLYER D. BRAVO S. BURZIO

SR. R. CERVONE N. COX N. DUTTA

E. FELDER P. FLEMING D. GIULIANO

R. GRAHAM J. HEYER H. HUGHES

G. KELLY M. KOLMAN D. KUMMER

N. LALLI H. LINK S. LONIAL

A. MCKNIGHT T. MISKEL L. NAPOLITANO

G. O’CONNELL, JR. C. PIGOTT G. REILLY

D. REISS R. RIGOLLI M. RUIZ

M. SCOTT D. SCOTTO M. SHAMES

E. SHIPLEY B. SOLOTAIRE L. SONES

E. SPICER J. THOMPSON S. TURET

M. VERRET D.C. VITO D. WILLIAMS

EXCUSED:

B. ATKINS P. BELLENBAUM Y. GIRELA

R. LEVINE R. LUFTGLASS

ABSENT:

(none)

GUESTS:

L. DEPALMA, BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ’ REPRESENTATIVE

K. FEDER, BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ’ REPRESENTATIVE

R. FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER LEVIN’S REPRESENTATIVE

C. ZINNEL, COUNCIL MEMBER LANDER’S REPRESENTATIVE

T. SGRIGNOLI, ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRENNAN’S REPRESENTATIVE

T. SMITH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MILLMAN’S REPRESENTATIVE

O. JONAS, STATE SENTATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE

P. RHÉAUME, CONGRESS MEMBER CLARKE’S REPRESENTATIVE

D. WILEY CONGRESS MEMBER VELÁZQUEZ’ REPRESENTATIVE

A. OLSEN, MAYOR BLOOMBERG’S REPRESENTATIVE

Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office 1

Chairperson Daniel Kummer called the meeting to order at 6:37pm

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT……….DANIEL KUMMER

Chairperson Daniel M. Kummer began his report by wishing the assemblage a Happy New Year!

Chairperson Kummer welcomed to the dais the 2 new Brooklyn CB6 Officers for 2012, namely, Elizabeth Shipley who is taking over for Nica Lalli as Secretary for the Board, and Lou Sones who is the new Second Vice Chairperson after Elly Spicer. He also welcomed back Tom Miskel as First Vice Chairperson and Gary Reilly as Treasurer.

We have received a resignation from longtime Board Member Connie Molinari. While she didn’t cite a specific reason for resigning, she did suggest a strong sense of gratitude and admiration to the staff and her fellow board members for their guidance and assistance over the years. Chairperson Kummer wished her well and thanked her for her selfless service to the community and Community Board. Our total roster now stands at 47 active board members.

Congratulations were extended to Board Member Ben Atkins on the recent birth of his third child, Elan Atkins, who was born on December 28. Ben asked to be excused from tonight’s meeting as he is needed at home.

The Chair also congratulated Board Member Elly Spicer who was just announced as a recipient of this year’s “Above and Beyond” award from City & State, a news service that specializes in New York City and New York State government news. Elly was selected as one of 25 honorees from over 500 nominations to receive their annual award honoring women “in the public and civic mind.” She is being recognized for her work on behalf of organized labor and will be celebrated at a special reception next month on February 8 at Pace University’s Shimmel Center.

We are currently working up a plan to conduct a series of site visits to all of the public housing developments in our district, which include Gowanus, Red Hook East, Red Hook West, Wyckoff Gardens and 572 Warren Street. Our District Manager and Housing Chair Ben Atkins will be coordinating visits with the respective Tenant Association Presidents to walk the grounds and take note of conditions and issues that we could potentially become advocates for. We will also plan a couple of open, “town hall” meetings to give the residents an opportunity to bring any other items of concern to our attention. Once we’ve compiled our agenda it is our intention to sit down with the Chairperson of the New York City Housing Authority to review and discuss our concerns and ideas. We will certainly be widely publicizing any meetings, and would appreciate our board members’ assistance in that regard. The Chair promised to keep everyone updated on this initiative.

The Chair invited the new Commanding Officer for the 78th Police Precinct, Captain Michael Ameri, to introduce himself to the assemblage. Captain Ameri reported that he has extensive experience working on various special initiatives within the department including social club operations and night club operations. Captain Ameri stated that he believes one of the most important aspect of commanding the 78 th Precinct is to stay on top of quality of life issues and he pledged to work closely with the community in doing so.

DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT……….CRAIG HAMMERMAN

District Manager Craig Hammerman reported that he attended the first meeting of the Brooklyn House of Detention Advisory Group on December 22, 2011, which consisted of representatives for the Department of Corrections, Brooklyn Community Boards 2 & 6, and the Boerum Hill Association, to talk about the upcoming plans to reopen the facility. In conjunction with the reopening the Department of Corrections will be planning a

public meeting to address issues and answer any questions the community may have. We will be promoting the meeting once details are finalized.

The District Manager also reported that over the holidays there was a partial building collapse at 185 Columbia Street, a commercial establishment at Degraw Street, which is adjacent to one of the Gowanus Canal Facilities Upgrade project work sites. No one was hurt in the collapse. The Department of Buildings ordered the demolition of the remaining structure. The immediate neighbors had also been experiencing some frustration resulting from the impacts of the project site. As a result, the District Manager and Council Member Brad Lander met with the neighbors on January 5 to discuss their issues. We will be sending a joint letter to followup on the issues on behalf of the community.

Lastly, the District Manager reminded the assemblage that the district office will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

 ADOPTION OF MINUTES 

Board Member Roger Rigolli made a motion to accept the minutes of the December general meeting, seconded by Board Member Noel Berk-Rauch.

VOTE: 39 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:13 P.M.

Chairperson Kummer recognized elected officials and their representatives

Kai Feder introduced himself as our new liaison for the Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz’ Office, taking over from Luke DePalma.

Rachel Fuentes, representing Council Member Levin, reported that the Council adopted a bill that requires the Department of Education to produce reports on the presence of PCB’s in public school facilities and that the Department of Cultural Affairs’ funding cycle is opening for the year.

Catherine Zinnel, representing Council Member Lander, reminded the assemblage that the Council Member will be briefing the Brooklyn CB6 Transportation Committee on his report on the B61 service at their next meeting.

Tonice Sgrignoli, representing Assembly Member Brennan, was pleased to report that the Assemblyman was successful in lobbying for increased aid to education and improvements to the Transit Authority’s budget.

Tamar Smith, representing Assembly Member Millman, announced that a Request for Proposals was recently released for use of the Municipal Building at 210 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn, and that the Assembly Member was assist the Kings County District Attorney in his annual food drive for the Family Justice Center.

Oscar Jonas, representing State Senator Montgomery, reported that their office with Assembly Member Millman’s office will be hosting an Energy Conservation forum to help homeowners become more energy efficient.

Patrick Rhéaume, representing Congress Member Clarke, assured us that the Congress Member is working hard in Washington DC on behalf of her constituents.

Andrew Olsen, representing Mayor Bloomberg, wished the assemblage a Happy New Year!

Dan Wiley, representing Congress Member Velázquez, said the Congress Member is working to combat unscrupulous lending practices, and reminded the assemblage of the upcoming Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group meeting on January 24, 2012.

 COMMITTEE REPORTS 

LANDMARKS/LAND USE COMMITTEE……….ROBERT LEVINE, LANDMARKS

……….PETER FLEMING, LAND USE

Committee Member Glenn Kelly delivered the report on behalf of Landmarks Chair Robert Levine. Committee Member Kelly reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for rooftop bulkhead addition, reconstruction of rear extension at first 2 stories and new addition at 3rd story, and lower window sills at parlor and garden levels at front facade at 14 Tompkins Place (between Kane/Degraw Streets), Cobble Hill Historic District.

Committee Member Kelly reported that there was no quorum at the committee meeting, that the committee had considered a motion to reject the new addition at the 3rd story but that it had failed, and that the committee did adopt a motion to minimize the size of the rooftop bulkhead addition and that the balusters for rails and handrails should be vertically, not horizontally, aligned.

Motion: by Board Member Steven Burzio, seconded by Board Member Greg O’Connell; Recommendation to conditionally approve the Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for rooftop bulkhead addition, reconstruction of rear extension at first 2 stories and new addition at 3rd story, and lower window sills at parlor and garden levels at front facade at 14 Tompkins Place (between Kane/Degraw Streets), Cobble Hill Historic District, on the condition that (i) the rooftop bulkhead addition be minimized and (ii) the balusters for the rails/handrails be vertically aligned.

Various Board Members noted that the objections to the 3rd story addition to the rear façade sounded more like zoning objections which are not regulated by the landmarks process, that the as-of-right limits on the building would allow a much bulkier and taller building, that it would be inappropriate to treat a landmark issue as a zoning issue, that the existing and proposed rear addition protruded 8-feet from the façade, that the proposed reconstruction of the rear building addition was a vast improvement over the existing condition and did not appear to be out-of-context with the surrounding historic environs.

VOTE: 39 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Committee Chair Reilly reported that at least one of his committee members expressed reservations about this operator based on their history of misleading the board in the past with regard to their establishment Abilene’s on Court Street in Carroll Gardens in that they had applied for an unenclosed sidewalk café at their other establishment before they had a fully-functioning kitchen and food service operation in place. The applicant was advised by the committee that they should not apply for an unenclosed sidewalk café permit at this new location until they can demonstrate that they have a kitchen with active food service.

VOTE: 39 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:46 P.M.

Lastly, Permits & Licenses Chair Reilly reported that the committee reviewed an unenclosed sidewalk café permit renewal for 277 Smith Street.

Motion: by Committee;

Recommendation to approve an unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application renewal submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf of Cee Restaurant LLC dba Savoia 277 Smith Street (between Sackett/Degraw Streets), to permit 8 tables and 16 seats.

VOTE: 39 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 7:47 P.M.

 COMMUNITY SESSION 

Rachel Nash, representing the Town House Art Gallery operating out of the former Landmark Pub building at 501 2nd Street (northeast corner 7th Avenue), requested assistance from the assemblage to sustain the art gallery which features emerging artists. She reported that they would also like to be able to use their building to 6

provide affordable live/work space on the upper floors for artists as well. Chairperson Kummer reminded the assemblage that this building is one of the most visibly neglected and potentially dangerous structures in one of the busiest sections of our district. He asked Ms. Nash about the status of the foreclosure proceeding against her family, the status of the outstanding unsafe building violations and the removal of the existing sidewalk shed. Ms. Nash reported that she did not have a date for the foreclosure proceeding though she is working on an appeal, and that she has been unsuccessful, even with the assistance of Council Member Stephen Levin, in communicating and negotiating a plan for the removal of the sidewalk shed.

Patricia Robayo, representing the Park Slope Christian Tabernacle at 98 5th Avenue, reported that the church is interested in the service, growth and development of the community. They offer a variety of programs to address needs in the community, such as their Musicians in Training program, Adopt A Block program, along with food drives, toy drives, etc.

Tanya Harrison, representing Shen Yun Promotions International, spoke about the importance of educating and sharing the beauty of the ancient Chinese culture and announced that Shen Yun 2012 was performing at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, January 11-15.

 NEW/OTHER BUSINESS 

Board Member Lou Sones announced that there was going to be a meeting on January 19 at the NYCHA Miccio Center to talk about the possible impacts of the Gowanus Canal clean-up on the Red Hook community.

Motion: by Board Member Dolly Williams, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli; To adjourn the meeting.

VOTE: 39 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

TIME: 8:04 P.M.

Minutes submitted into the district office by District Manager Craig Hammerman on January 31, 2012.