BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
GENERAL BOARD MEETING
COBBLE HILL HEALTH CENTER
380 HENRY STREET
APRIL 11, 2012
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
R. BASHNER P. BELLENBAUM N. BERK-RAUCH
J. BERNARD L. BLYER D. BRAVO
SR. R. CERVONE N. COX E. FELDER
P. FLEMING Y. GIRELA D. GIULIANO
R. GRAHAM H. HUGHES G. KELLY
D. KUMMER R. LEVINE H. LINK
S. LONIAL R. LUFTGLASS A. MCKNIGHT
T. MISKEL G. O’CONNELL, JR. G. REILLY
D. REISS R. RIGOLLI M. RUIZ
M. SCOTT D. SCOTTO M. SHAMES
E. SHIPLEY B. SOLOTAIRE L. SONES
S. TURET M. VERRET D. WILLIAMS
EXCUSED:
M. KOLMAN E. SPICER
ABSENT:
B. ATKINS N. DUTTA J. HEYER
N. LALLI C. PIGOTT J. THOMPSON
D.C. VITO
GUESTS:
HON. BRAD LANDER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
HON. JAMES BRENNAN, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HON. JOAN MILLMAN, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
K. FEDER, BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ’ REPRESENTATIVE
A. ALEXIS, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ’S REPRESENTATIVE
C. ZINNEL, COUNCIL MEMBER LANDER’S REPRESENTATIVE
T. SMITH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MILLMAN’S REPRESENTATIVE
J. VOGEL, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
P. RHÉAUME, CONGRESS MEMBER CLARKE’S REPRESENTATIVE
D. WILEY CONGRESS MEMBER VELÁZQUEZ’ REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office 1
Chairperson Daniel Kummer called the meeting to order at 6:44pm
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Lou Sones made a motion to accept the minutes of the March general meeting, seconded by Board Member Peter Fleming.
VOTE: 25 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 6:45 P.M.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT………………………………………………………....….DANIEL KUMMER
Chairperson Daniel Kummer began his report by informing the board that although some Board Members appointment terms expired on March 31st, the existing board is presumed to be held over until new appointments are made. At this time we do not know when the new appointments will be made.
Chairperson Kummer reported that Board Member Lisa Napolitano who, citing work obligations, has resigned from the board. That brings our total current members to 45 members. Lisa has opted to remain on our Transportation Committee where she has been a valued and contributing member. I’m thankful that she has found a way to continue to contribute to our work in an ongoing and meaningful way.
Chairperson Kummer offered his congratulations to Michelle de la Uz, the Executive Director of our Fifth Avenue Committee, who was appointed by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio as New York City’s newest City Planning Commissioner. Michelle was approved by a unanimous vote of the City Council at their March 28 th general meeting. She has served as the Executive Director of FAC since January 2004, and has more than 20 years of experience in public service and development. Most recently, FAC created 60 units of housing under their Red Hook Homes Project, most of which were affordable housing units.
Chairperson Kummer advised the Board that the Department of Transportation has received the granite curbs and will begin construction of the raised medians along Prospect Park West on April 23rd.
Chairperson Kummer invited everyone to tomorrow night’s annual Bar & Restaurant meeting at 6pm at the district office. The open forum is designed to educate the community and business owners about the rules that govern the operation of bars and restaurants. We have been hosting this annual meeting for many years now and have found it to be an excellent way to promote better relationships between bar/restaurant owners and their neighbors by making sure that everyone knows what the rules are. We will have representatives from the State Liquor Authority, local precincts and every other city agency that plays a role in regulating these types of businesses. The meeting is not designed to focus on specific problems at specific locations but, rather, to broadly educate the community on the roles that the various agencies play in helping to balance a thriving and competitive business environment without unduly sacrificing the community’s quality of life in the process.
Chairperson Kummer pointed out on our upcoming calendar two other notable meetings that all of our members may have an interested in attending: Next Wednesday, April 18th at PS 32, Hoyt/Union Streets, our PSEPPL Committee will be hosting a presentation by the Department of Environmental Protection on their findings from the Gowanus Canal’s Superfund Feasibility Study, specifically how the City is approaching the Combined Sewer Overflow challenges at the Gowanus Canal, and;
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On Monday, April 30th at the Prospect Park Residence, 1 Prospect Park West (at Union Street), our EWCDH Committee will be hosting a presentation by representatives for Forest City Ratner on the hiring process and other employment and economic development opportunities at the Barclays Center arena.
He also added that our EWCDH Committee will be hosting at their May and June committee meetings Town Hall-type forums for our residents of public housing to give everyone an opportunity to report to us their complaints and concerns regarding the condition of their housing development. In preparation for these forums, some of our committee chairs and myself will be touring the developments and meeting with Tenant Association Presidents to begin assembling our items. It is my hope to present our findings directly to the Chairperson of the New York City Housing Authority this summer, along with our pledge of support to work with NYCHA to continue to plan and advocate for further improvements to the public housing stock in our district.
Chairperson Kummer ended his report by informing the Board that at the beginning of next month’s meeting we will be hosting our annual Youth Acknowledgement Awards to spotlight some of the positive work of the youth of our district. I would make a special request of all of our Board Members that they come to the meeting on time to help celebrate our honorees and their guests. We intend to start the program promptly at 6:30pm.
Chairperson Kummer recognized elected officials.
State Assembly Member James Brennan thanked all the Board Members for their commitment and service to the residents of the district. He then gave an overview of this year’s state budget. He stated that there has been four years of cutting the budget but this year there were no cuts. To the contrary we have increased certain funding particularly in the area of Education. NYC Department of Education received a 4% increase; Community Colleges got about a 6% increase; and Libraries received about a 5% increase. What the budget reflects is a healing of the State economy, some much needed revenue at the last minute related to the national mortgage settlement, the retention of a surcharge on multi millionaires that was enacting in December. Last year the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program a prescription drug program for seniors was almost abolished but this year they restored it. Governor Cuomo wanted to eliminate the Neighborhood Preservation Program which provides financial support for not-for-profit community-based housing corporations to perform housing and community renewal activities statewide. This program was saved. The MTA received its full funding for its operating and capital programs.
State Assembly Member Joan Millman advised the board that she and State Assembly Member Brennan spent the day at an Education hearing in which they heard from New York State Education Commissioner, Dr. John B. King, Jr., Dennis M. Walcott, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, Ernest Logan, President of the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, Teachers Union and students. After listening to everyone we kept asking how State money will be spent in the NYC Education System and Commissioner King and Chancellor Walcott kept “punting the question”. One of the things troubling her is that the Mayor runs the school system as a business model and schools are not a business. So this administration has adopted a policy of either closing schools or using a “turn-around” model in which they remove the administration of the school and 50% of the teachers in the hopes that this infusion of new administration and teachers will turn the school around. What is also upsetting is that the Department of Education received about $60 million in federal School Improvement Grant funds to support implementation of the Transformation, Turnaround, or Restart Model in 44 Persistently Lowest Achieving (PLA) schools. This money will be used to enter into contracts with Educational Partnership Organizations, i.e. Southern Governors Association in which these schools must buy into and make a decision about which one in a 48 hour period, which is ridiculous. No one seemed to know, except the DOE people how these EPO’s were selected, i.e. RFP process. Instead of investing in our own people the City is now “contracting out” to run our schools. We walked away from the hearing with as 3
many questions as we had when we walked in. Last week we had a meeting with Council Member Levin in regards to the new management at the senior residence at 1 Prospect Park West. The rents for seniors are between $3 - 5 thousand per month. They are all freighting that once their leases are up the management company will try and get rid of them. It has not happened yet, but because of the location of the building she can understand the senior’s fears. She will keep monitoring this situation very carefully. She ended by thanking all of the Board Members for participating on the Board.
Council Member Brad Lander started by thanking all of the Board Members for their time and service to the Board. He then stated that although the City will receive a little extra money from the State the City’s budget is still challenging. The budget is still in a $3 billion structural deficit, which is going to be closed by a $1 billion rollover of this year’s budget, $1 billion Mayor’s rainy-day fund, $1 billion from the sale of the new taxi medallions. Even with all of this, there are still substantial cuts to services in the Fire Department, Libraries, Child Care and Afterschool programs; hopefully we can restore the cuts like we did in the past. This year there will not be any proposed teacher layoffs but the budget would reduce the teacher force by 1100 through attrition. As a result class sizes have been growing dramatically. A bit of good news is that the wait list in CB6 kindergarten class is pretty modest as compared to last year. He is trying to help the DOE get a long time lease with the Diocese of Brooklyn at St. Thomas Aquinas school on 4th Avenue and 9th Street in our district to create an early childhood center to help alleviate any overcrowded classrooms in the district. This weekend, over two thousand residents from the district came out to vote in NYC’s first “participatory budgeting” election, a groundbreaking initiative that lets community members decide how to spend their own tax dollars on projects in their neighborhood. Voters selected from among twenty projects proposed by neighborhood residents. The seven projects receiving the most votes will be prioritized for funding as part of the City’s FY2013 budget, which will be adopted in June, with just over $1 million in committed by the Councilmember. The projects selected are as follows: Bathroom Renovation for the Children of PS 124 - $150,000 Brooklyn Neighbors Composting - $165,000 District 39 Tree Planting - $100,000 Technology: A Better Future for PS 154 / PS 130 Students - $140,000 Prospect Park Pedestrian Pathway Rehabilitation - $205,000 Pedestrian Hazards at the Prospect Expressway - $200,000 Kensington Library Resources and Community Space - $80,000
He ended by informing everyone that the vote by LPC for the Park Slope Historic District will take place on April 17th. He congratulated the Board and the Park Slope Civic Council on all the years of hard work they put forth to make this vote possible.
DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………………………………….…….CRAIG HAMMERMAN
District Manager Craig Hammerman began his report by announcing to the board that the Carroll Gardens Greenmarket on Sunday April 22nd will begin to collect food scraps and textiles. The collection will be every Sunday, 8am to 1 pm, and will be located on the corner of Smith and Carroll Streets.
District Manager Hammerman informed the Board that the Department of Sanitation will be stopping their annual night time collection in section 64 (Central Park Slope). This is done each year in different sections of our district to ensure that personnel are available 24 hours a day in the event that they are needed for emergency snow removal.
District Manager Hammerman reported to the board that he went to a meeting with Community Boards 2 & 8 to meet the City’s new point person for the Atlantic Yards Project, Lolita Jackson. The Mayor has assigned her to
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coordinate a better response to quality-of-life complaints and to ensure interagency cooperation. She's currently performing a similar role for the Second Avenue Subway construction project in Manhattan.
District Manager Hammerman ended his report by advising the board that Captain Jack Lewis, Commanding Officer of the 76th Police Precinct has been reassigned. Our new commander is Captain Jeff Schiff.
Chairperson Kummer recognized elected officials representatives
Kai Feder, representing Borough President Markowitz, informed the Board that his office is still in the process of Board reappointments and should be completed by the end of May. As of right now the board will be “held over” until new appointments are made. He invited everyone to participate in the Borough Presidents annual Assembly of the Federation of Brooklyn Block Associations where residents can meet with city agencies, organizations and company representatives about issues and concerns facing our blocks & communities and obtain valuable information to take home. This year’s keynote speaker will be Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO, NYS Homes and Community Renewal. The Assembly will take place on April 26th at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Jim Vogel, representing State Senator Montgomery stated that the Governor’s budget includes the Close to Home Initiative. The Initiative allows New York City to take responsibility for the care of lower risk youth who come from the City. Youth from New York City needing this level of care going forward will be in the custody of the City and served in settings that are appropriate for their educational, mental health, substance abuse and other service needs, without compromising public safety. He ended by asking everyone to participate in the Senator’s Youth Summit on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 from 4pm-6pm at Polytechnic Institute of New York University / NYU Poly Pfizer Auditorium - 5 MetroTech Center. Special guest will be Hon. H. Carl McCall Chairman of the Board of Trustees, State University of New York. He will discuss SUNY’S admission process and more. For more information, please contact Senator Montgomery's Office (718)-643-6140.
Patrick Rhéaume, representing Congress Member Yvette Clarke, stated that the Congresswoman has signed on to the Student Loan Forgiveness Act 2012. H.R. 4170 would forgive student loan debt for those who have paid 10 percent of their discretionary income toward their loans for 10 years and would cap interest on federal student loans at the current rate of 3.4 percent. Individuals who go into teaching, public service or practice medicine in underserved areas would have their debt forgiven after only five years.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE
………………………………………………....GARY REILLY, CHAIR
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Gary Reilly reported that the committee reviewed a new unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application at 225 7th Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a new unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf on behalf of Taurasi Inc. dba Sotto Voce at 225 7th Avenue (between 3rd/4th) to permit 9 tables and 17 seats.
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
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TIME: 7:23 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly also reported that the committee reviewed a new unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application at 477 5th Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a new unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf of on behalf of Snowday Llc. dba The Skylark at 477 5th Avenue (between 11th/12th Streets), to permit 10 tables and 20 seats.
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:24 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly further reported that the committee reviewed a new unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application at 669 Union Street.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a new unenclosed sidewalk cafe permit application submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf of Union Street Provisions LLC dba Fort Reno at 669 Union Street (on the corner of 4th Avenue), to permit 5 tables and 30 seats.
Board Member Robert Levine asked if the committee questioned the fact that the applicant was using large tables that hold more patrons which can cause more noise that the smaller ones. Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly stated yes but the committed approved the motion with the large tables.
Board Member Sayar Lonial spoke in favor of the motion stating that the applicant had support from the neighbors.
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:28 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly additionally reported that the committee reviewed an on-premises liquor license application at 346-348 Flatbush Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve an on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Marco’s Brooklyn Inc. dba Franny's at 346-348 Flatbush Avenue (between Sterling/ St. John's Places).
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:29 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly moreover reported that the committee reviewed an on-premises liquor license application at 365 5th Avenue.
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Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to conditionally approve an on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Du Jour Bakery LLC dba Du Jour Bakery at 365 5th Avenue (between 5 th/6th Streets) with the following condition that the applicant would show a plan of the seating in the backyard demonstrating where tables would go and commit to no more than 16 seats.
VOTE: 35 YEAS, 1 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 7:31 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly furthermore reported that the committee reviewed an on-premises liquor license application at 396 5th Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve an on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of on behalf of Laxmi Swagat Restaurant Inc. dba Aarpan Indian Restaurant at 396 5th Avenue (between 6th/7th Streets).
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:32 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly also reported that the committee reviewed an on-premises liquor license application at 242 Court Street.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve an on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Saint Gabriel Restaurant Inc. at 242 Court Street (between Baltic/Kane Streets).
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:33 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly further reported that the committee reviewed an on-premises liquor license application at 433 3rd Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve an on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of BBQ Billy’s LLC at 433 3rd Avenue (between 7th/8th Streets).
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:33 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Reilly ended his report by giving an overview of the Barclay Center liquor license application joint review session hosted by Community Boards 2 & 6.
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Chairperson Kummer again recognized elected officials representatives (continued)
Dan Wiley representing Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez gave an overview of three letters the Congresswoman signed off on: To the Port Authority urging the agency to implement the plan for "shore power" at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. To the United States Postal Service's in regards to their decision to terminate contracts with Rita’s Dry Cleaners CPU, located at 257 Columbia Street in our district. USPS has responded by stating that the CPU was closed as part of a contract negotiation with the union that represents postal workers. To the New York State Economic Development Council Port urging the agency to ban helicopters hovering over buttermilk channel and Red Hook and moving the route where it has as little impact on people as possible, i.e. Governors Island.
COMMUNITY SESSION
No speakers registered
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Board Member Benjamin Solotaire invited everyone to the Brooklyn Food Coalition’s second Brooklyn Food Conference on May 12, 2012 at Brooklyn Tech High School. The conference will include workshops and panel discussions on healthy food access, sustainable agriculture, protecting our land and water from environmental toxins and development, food worker equity and justice; kids activities; a teen summit; a special forum on building a Rural-Urban Food Alliance; policy roundtable with elected officials; neighborhood-designated sessions; an enormous expo of for-profit and non-profit organizations; lots of fantastic food for sale; music, films and visual art! For more information got to http://bkfoodconference.org/.
Board Member Monique Verret asked if the taxi stand located at Flatbush Avenue and Plaza Street could be taken away. Chairperson Kummer stated that we would look into it.
Board Member Roger Rigolli invited everyone to the Staff Sgt. Ed Spinella Golf Tournament that supports our veterans. The tournament will be held at Dyker Beach Golf Course on June 6th starting at 8:30am. The donation is $150.00 per person. For more information please email MCLBrooklyn@gmail.com.
Board Member Lou Sones informed the Board that the start of Red Hooks Little League program for boys & girls between the ages of 9-13 has been postponed until April 21st due to lead being found in the dirt of the field. The Parks Department has secured other fields for the program and is actively making the site safe for all programs.
Motion: by Board Member Peter Fleming, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:08 P.M.
Minutes submitted into the district office by Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch on April 26, 2012.
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