BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
GENERAL BOARD MEETING
78TH POLICE PRECINCT
65 6TH AVENUE
NOVEMBER 12, 2014
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
E. ANDERSON J.ARMER R. BASHNER
P. BELLENBAUM N. BERK-RAUCH P. BLAKE
F. BROWN E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ SR. R. CERVONE
P. FLEMING D. GIULIANO R. GRAHAM
V. HERAMIA J. HEYER II H. HUGHES
F. JEAN G. KELLY A. KRASNOW
D. KUMMER R. LEVINE H. LINK
S. LONIAL R. LUFTGLASS D. MAZZUCA
E. MCCLURE T. MISKEL C. PIGOTT
L. PINN G. REILLY R. RIGOLLI
M. RUIZ M. SCOTT D. SCOTTO
M. SHAMES M. SILVERMAN B. SOLOTAIRE
E. SPICER J. THOMPSON D. WILLIAMS
EXCUSED:
E. FELDER V. HAGMAN S. MATHEWS-NOVELLI
A. MCKNIGHT
ABSENT:
M. RACIOPPO S. TURET
GUESTS:
K. FEDER, BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE
M. SARCI, COUNCIL MEMBER LEVIN’S REPRESENTATIVE
L. WELLINGTON, COUNCIL MEMBER MENCHACA’S REPRESENTATIVE
B. ALONZO, COUNCIL MEMBER LANDER’S REPRESENTATIVE
P. NAPOLEON, STATE ASSMBLY MEMBER ORTIZ’S REPRESENTATIVE
P. JEPPE, STATE ASSMBLY MEMBER MILLMAN’S RESENTATIVE
O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
R. YOUNG, STATE SENATOR SQUADRON’S REPRESENTATIVE
D. WILEY, CONGRESS MEMBER VELÁZQUEZ’ REPRESENTATIVE
J. LEVIN, NYC COMPTROLLER STRINGER’S REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office. 1
Chairperson Daniel Kummer called the meeting to order at 6:49pm.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT………………………………………………………....….DANIEL KUMMER
Chairperson Daniel Kummer began his report by congratulating all of our local elected officials who won their bids for re-election on November 4th, and would like to especially congratulate both State Senator-elect Jesse Hamilton who will be taking over the Senate seat that was vacated by Eric Adams when he became our Borough President, and a special congratulations to Jo Anne Simon, who will be taking over Assemblywoman Joan Millman’s seat since she has opted not to run for re-election. We are fortunate that neither State Senator- elect Hamilton nor Assemblywoman-elect Simon are unfamiliar faces to us; they have both been regular attendees of our meetings. Of course, we will be extending ourselves to them to offer any support they might need to help get them up-to-speed on all of the active issues we are currently engaged in.
Chairperson Kummer advised the Board that this year the Brooklyn CB6 holiday party is going to be from 6- 9pm on Monday, December 15th at The Bahche at 191 7th Street between 2nd/3rd Avenues in Gowanus. I’d like to thank Board Member Glenn Kelly for immediately stepping up again this year to help coordinate the raffle prize donations. Remember, if every Board Member were to get us one raffle prize, we would have 45 prizes to raffle off. If everyone could make an effort to get their favorite restaurant, boutique, nail salon, or coffee shop to consider giving us a modest gift certificate, or other similar prizes that represent the best wares our merchants have to offer, we could really turn this party into a fundraiser as intended. Please let Board Member Kelly know what stores you’ll be approaching so we don’t inadvertently make repeated requests of the same merchant by different board members. Cost of the event is $40 again, but this year we are also offering a $35 early incentive to buy tickets in advance so that we can plan better and have less work to do at the door. Anyone interested in buying advanced tickets (or making a donation) can go directly to www.FBCB6.org/holiday-party-2014.
Chairperson Kummer reported that we were expecting the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to come to a follow-up meeting in November, as they had promised to do when they attended our committee meeting on September 15th. We were also expecting a second written response to our unanswered inquiries which they also said they would provide to us. The community-based group that has coalesced around this issue called Gowanus United, filed a lawsuit against New York State so the agency on the advice of their lawyers, at this time will not commit to either returning to us for that meeting, nor will they release any additional written material, on account of the pending suit. Of course, with no injunction in place the construction continues at the site at 15 2nd Avenue and will continue with no further discussion with the agency. We will remain optimistic that we will have an opportunity to talk more with the State and possibly influence what happens at the site, although that seems unlikely at this time.
Chairperson Kummer ended by acknowledging and thanking Council Member Brad Lander for coming to our Executive Committee meeting this past Monday evening to give us a briefing on the preliminary draft of the “Bridging Gowanus” initiative’s findings, offering us an early opportunity to reflect on it and to help develop a strategy for moving forward with all of the complex issues related to the Gowanus. For those of you who were unable to join us, the Council Member is setting up a series of meetings with various stakeholder groups and will be having a public meeting from 6:30-8:30pm on Monday, November 24th at PS 32, at Hoyt and Union Streets.
DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………………………………….…….CRAIG HAMMERMAN
District Manager Craig Hammerman began his report by reporting to the Board that Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch and I attended a meeting hosted by Councilman Carlos Menchaca concerning the future of the Valentino Park & Pier Comfort Station in Red Hook. Most of the residents at the meeting agreed that bathroom 2
facilities were need in or around the Pier, but spending over $2 million was widely viewed as exorbitant. Since that meeting, the Councilman has rescinded the funding for the comfort station and has transferred the funding to his Participatory Budgeting process. One of the alternatives to the Comfort Station that will be investigated was one of DOT’s coin-operated automatic public toilet, like the one at Grand Army Plaza.
District Manager Craig Hammerman ended his report by introducing John Douglass a Pratt Graduate Fellow that will be working at the district office this semester on a feasibility study for an Industrial Business Improvement District (iBID) at the Gowanus Canal.
Chairperson Kummer recognized elected officials representatives
Kai Feder, representing Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams stated that on October 14th Borough President Adams welcomed the Brooklyn Bolts of the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) at a rally on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall. The Bolts kick off their season with a home game at MCU Park against the Boston Brawlers. The Borough President also announced a partnership between Heat Seek NYC, the winner of the NYC BigApps 2014 contest, developers and housing advocates that will bring the non-profit’s technology, which uses sensor hardware and web applications to help building owners and tenants monitor heating during the winter months, into at least ten Brooklyn apartment buildings for a pilot program. He ended by highlighting some upcoming events.
Metin Sarci, representing Council Member Steven Levin reported to the Board that the Councilman was co- hosting in partnership with Food Bank for NYC a Veterans Food Drive from November 10–20. Please bring nonperishable food to his office at 410 Atlantic Avenue. He ended by stating that the Councilman has helped launch the City’s First Readers Program to fight New York City's early literacy crisis. Alarmingly, 70% of New York City’s third grade students are reading below grade level. Once they fall behind, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to catch up. The program, established as a result of a $1.5 million investment by the New York City Council, will support a coalition of eight organizations that are working with young children, helping them to become strong and accomplished readers.
Lee Wellington, representing Council Member Carlos Menchaca encourages everyone to participate in the Participatory budgeting process. The Councilman’s last assembly will be in Sunset Park.
Basilisa Alonzo, representing Council Member Brad Lander, thanked everyone who has participated in the Councilman’s Assemblies for Participatory budgeting. She also thanked CB6 for promoting and participating in his "Twitter rally" on November 6th in which 39th District residents can send the councilman ideas for his participatory budgeting program to @bradlander, using the hashtag #pbdistrict39. She then invited everyone to attend the next Bridging Gowanus meeting on November 24th at P.S.
32. She also mentioned that The Chamber on the Go program will be in our district on Court and Smith Streets. The program brings all Chamber of Commerce services to any neighborhood, wherever and whenever they can be used to assist businesses. Chamber on the Go focus' on supporting and enhancing the various activities of the Chamber. The goal of this outreach is to promote a healthy and robust business environment throughout Brooklyn. She ended by inviting everyone to participate in a rally on November 19th on the steps of City Hall for a bill to reduce the use and negative impacts of carryout bags by requiring a 10-cent charge for carryout bags in NYC grocery and retail stores, and stores would retain the cost of the charge.
Oscar Jonas, representing State Senator Velmanette Montgomery stated that the Senator has sent a letter to Robert Tierney, Chairperson of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to support the Request for Evaluation of the Pacific Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library located at 25 4th Avenue for individual landmark designation.
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Robbie Young, representing State Senator Daniel Squadron, asked everyone to save the date for two important Town Hall meetings. Tenant Town hall & Resource Fair – December 2nd Reforming the State: Making Albany Work for Our Neighborhoods – December 9th.
Peterson Napoleon, representing Assembly Member Felix Ortiz, invited everyone to the 3rd Annual Red Hook Community Thanksgiving Dinner on November 22nd at the Joseph Miccio Center. He ended by reporting to the Board that the Assemblyman has written to Anthony Annucci, Acting Commissioner of the NYS Department of Corrections asking to meet with him for a briefing on the planning and development of the parole center on 2nd before further work proceeds so that he can gain a better understanding of the situation.
Josh Levin, representing NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer stated that the Comptroller unveiled findings of a new audit showing widespread deficiencies in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) response to citizen complaints about rodents. The audit found that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene wasn’t managing its pest control program effectively, even as the number of complaints about pests grew. He also outlined a new initiative by the Comptroller called ClaimStat which is an ongoing initiative that drills down on the thousands of claims that are first reported to the Comptroller’s office to identify patterns and practices that lead to lawsuits against the City. The Comptroller will publish his findings on a periodic basis and will work directly with City agencies and the Law Department to identify potential solutions. He ended by informing the board of a new analysis by the Comptroller that revealed the assessed value of properties that lie within newly proposed 100-year floodplain maps is $129 billion, more than double the value under previous flood plain maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Comptroller Stringer made a series of recommendations to better protect homeowners from the effects of flooding on their homes and their insurance premiums.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ELECTION COMMITTEE……………..................................................………PETER FLEMING, CHAIR
Election Committee Chair Peter Fleming explained the election process and asked for nominations from the floor. After the nominating period concluded Election Committee Chair Fleming closed that part of the process and presented the Final Slate of 2015 Board Officers for election in December.
Thomas Miskel, Gary Reilly, Benjamin Solotaire – Chairperson (contested) Sayar Lonial, Eric McClure, Judith Thompson – First Vice Chairperson (contested) Pauline Blake – Second Vice Chairperson (uncontested) Ariel Krasnow – Secretary (uncontested) Jerry Armer – Treasurer (uncontested)
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Glenn Kelly made a motion to accept the minutes of the September’s general meeting, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:25 P.M.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE
…………………....GARY REILLY, PERMITS & LICENSES CHAIR
………………...……MARK SHAMES, ENV. PROTECTION CHAIR
Permits & Licenses Chair Gary Reilly reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license application at 216 Flatbush Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of 216 Taco LLC at 216 Flatbush Avenue (between Bergen/Dean Streets).
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:28 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Chair Gary Reilly also reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license application at 162 5th Avenue.
Motion: by Board Member Jerry Armer, seconded by Board Member Suzanne Turet; Recommendation to approve a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Choucroute LLC at 162 5th Avenue (between Douglass/Degraw Streets).
Board Member Eric McClure asked what the existing use was and do they intend on using the outdoor space. Permits & Licenses Chair Gary Reilly stated that the existing use was a restaurant and the applicant stated that they would be using the outdoor space.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 1 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 7:29 P.M.
LANDMARKS/LAND USE COMMITTEE………….…...….ROBERT LEVINE, LANDMARKS CHAIR
…………………...….PETER FLEMING, LAND USE CHAIR
Landmarks Committee Chair Robert Levine reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application at 105 Prospect Park West.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to conditionally approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the legalization of an installed sign at 105 Prospect Park West (between 5th/6th Streets), Park Slope Historic District with the following condition that the sign not be lit.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:32 P.M.
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Landmarks Committee Chair Robert Levine also reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application at 112 Atlantic Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to disapprove a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a new 4-story residential building with commercial storefront at 112 Atlantic Avenue (southeast corner Atlantic Ave/Henry Street), Cobble Hill Historic District for the following reasons: Bands on windows between floors are too narrow Destroys gateway entrance to Cobble Hill Too light aluminum on Henry Street Windows just too large especially corner Lacks rhythm of neighbors around.
Board Member Noel Berk-Rauch stated that he was concerned with the mechanicals on the roof because they are too visible from the street.
Board Member Peter Fleming stated that this was a beautifully designed building but not for that location.
Board Member Judith Thompson stated that the side of the building at the corner of Henry Street and Atlantic Avenue should be designed with brick not glass.
Board Member Eric McClure spoke out against motion stating that he likes the design and the location of the building.
Board Member Jerry Armer spoke in favor of the motion stating that the applicant avoided showing any details of the roof. He has a number of serious questions about the roof, in particular he believes the mechanicals on the roof are bulky. He also stated that the applicant was trying to get a variance for the commercial overlay and was wondering whether they were trying to get a variance for height. If so this applicant may come back to us as a ULURP application for this building.
Board Member Ellie Spicer asked if this building falls within CB6 Responsible Development process. If so, did they fill out the questionnaire? District Manager Craig Hammerman stated that it will when they submit their variance application.
Board Member Robert Levine stated that the corner of the building does not have to be fully bricked because there are other building that have glass on the corners.
Board Member Richard Bashner ask that we include a request for more detail plans for the roof in the letter we send from the board. The Chair concurred and agreed to include the request to LPC.
Board Member Judith Thompson stated that the applicant was less than forthcoming about the bulkheads.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 1 NAY, 1 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:52 P.M.
PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ……………..GLENN KELLY, CHAIR
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Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs Chair Glenn Kelly reported to the Board that they hear a presentation by representatives for the Brooklyn Public Library on the upcoming expansion of library service days + hours at branches throughout the borough, and general updates on branches throughout the district.
Motion: by Board Member Judith Thompson, seconded by Board Member Jerry Armer; Recommendation to encourage the Brooklyn Public Library to pursue the historic designation of the Pacific and Carroll Gardens branch library buildings, to be more actively engaged with communities in any planning discussions around alternate uses for library spaces, and to be more actively engaged with communities in the Capital budget process.
Board Member Judith Thompson spoke in favor of the motion stating that since the library’s in our district and are Carnegie-designed they need to be preserved.
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:56 P.M.
TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
……………...THOMAS MISKEL, TRANSPORTATION CO-CHAIR
………………...SAYAR LONIAL, TRANSPORTATION CO-CHAIR
….……...……MATTHEW SILVERMAN, PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR
Transportation Chair Thomas Miskel reported that the committee reviewed a presentation by a representative for the Department of Transportation on a proposal to install a new on-street bicycle parking facility (bike corral) at 65 6th Avenue.
Motion: by Committee;
Recommendation to approve a proposal by the Department of Transportation to install a new on-street bicycle parking facility (bike corral) on Bergen Street (between 6th/Carlton Avenues), adjacent to the NYPD/78th Precinct at 65 6th Avenue.
VOTE: 36 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:59 P.M.
YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
………………………………..............VACANT, CHAIR YOUTH SERVICES
..……………...BENJAMIN SOLOTAIRE, CO-CHAIR HUMAN SERVICES
……….…............PAIGE BELLENBAUM, CO-CHAIR HUMAN SERVICES
…………..……………...........SUZANNE TURET, CO-CHAIR EDUCATION
Human Services Co-Chairs Benjamin Solotaire reported to the Board that the committee reviewed a proposal by the Commission on Public's Health System to provide opportunities for community involvement in designing an improved and more responsive health care delivery system.
Motion: by Board Member Mark Shames, seconded by Board Member Judith Thompson; Recommendation to disapprove a proposal by the Commission on Public's Health System to provide opportunities for community involvement in designing an improved and more responsive health care delivery system. 7
Board Member Ariel Krasnow asked if there was anything in the proposal that could be savaged. Human Services Co-Chairs Benjamin Solotaire stated no.
VOTE: 33 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 8:09 P.M.
COMMUNITY SESSION
No speakers registered.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Board Member Robert Levine asked if we can send a letter to LPC asking them to take no action on 620 10th Street until they come before CB6. Chairperson Kummer responded affirmatively.
Board Member Roger Rigolli stated that the Marine Corps is celebrating their 239th year and he was named the 2014 Marine of the Year.
Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli, seconded by Board Member Glenn Kelly; To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 35 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:25P.M.
Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Leroy Branch on November 26, 2014.
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