BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
COBBLE HILL HEALTH CENTER
380 HENRY STREET
SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
J. ARMER R. BASHNER P. BASILE
P. BELLENBAUM P. BLAKE F. BROWN
J. BROWN E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ SR. R. CERVONE
S. CIALEK P. FLEMING A. FREEMAN
V. HERAMIA J. HEYER F. JEAN
G. KELLY A. KRASNOW D. KUMMER
R. LEVINE P. LI H. LINK
S. LONIAL R. LUFTGLASS E. MCCLURE
T. MISKEL C. PIGOTT L. PINN
M. RACIOPPO R. RIGOLLI M. RUIZ
E. SANTOGADE D. SCOTTO M. SHAMES
J. SKALLER J. SMITH J. THOMPSON
R. UNDERWOOD D. WILLIAMS
EXCUSED:
V. HAGMAN M. SILVERMAN S. TURET
ABSENT:
D. BUSCARELLO M. CABALLERO E. FELDER
K. GURL M. NEUMAN S. TARPIN
GUESTS:
HON. DANIEL SQUADRON, STATE SENATOR
HON. VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY, STATE SENATOR
J. LOWELL, BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE
R. ABDUL, COUNCILMEMBER LANDER’S REPRESETATIVE
J. HARVEY, ASSEMBLYWOMAN SIMON’S REPRESENTATIVE
O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
R. ROTHBLATT, STATE SENATOR HAMILTON’S REPRESENTATIVE
D. WILEY, CONGRESSWOMAN VELÁZQUEZ’S REPRESENTATIVE
M. ABDULLAH, CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK’S REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office.
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Chairperson Sayar Lonial called the meeting to order at 6:55pm.
While Chairperson Lonial waited for a quorum to call the meeting to order, State Senator Squadron, being granted permission by the Chair, offered remarks updating attendees on his office’s progress over the summer. Chairperson Lonial later asked that Senator Squadron’s remarks be reflected in the minutes, as seen here.
State Senator Squadron thanked Chairperson Lonial for allowing his remarks to take place before the meeting is officially called to order, and he apologized for the inconvenience, citing his need to be back in Manhattan by 7:30pm for another meeting. The Senator also thanked the board for holding a meeting west of the Gowanus Canal.
Senator Squadron showed attendees his office’s updated annual Parent Resource Guide, offering some copies that were available on the literature table at entry, and asked that anyone else interested in a copy should contact his office. Senator Squadron then mentioned that the pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park was in danger of not being renewed, and stated that his office is doing all it can to guarantee permanent funding for the pool, which is used by families from all over the city.
The Senator remarked that his office is working to get more transparency relative to police-worn body cameras. Senator Squadron noted that as of now, body camera footage is not public information and can be sealed by police departments, which is antithetical to the promise of transparency.
Senator Squadron closed his remarks by announcing that he got a bill passed into law this year which expands the State’s small business revolving loan fund to support businesses with five or fewer employees while reducing the paperwork requirement. Senator Squadron noted that his office has been working on this bill for more than six years.
The Senator then took questions, many of which were misdirected toward him regarding the CitiBike program.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Roger Rigolli made a motion to accept the minutes of the June general meeting, seconded by Board Member Joe Ann Brown.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:10 P.M.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT………………………………………………………..............SAYAR LONIAL
Chairperson Sayar Lonial opened his report by welcoming board members back from summer break. The Chair remarked that the heat this summer was a reminder of the importance of climate change, and stated his excitement for the board’s long-planned and new Resiliency & Sustainability Committee, which met for the first time just before the summer break. Chairperson Lonial outlined the ad hoc committee’s role and process as it currently stands, and he thanked Board Members Jerry Armer and Victoria Hagman for volunteering to lead. The Chair also remarked that the Environmental Protection Committee, now removed from its connection to Permits & Licenses and realigned with the Parks/Recreation Committee, will also be considering important environmental matters.
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The Chair went on to outline the role and importance of all the board’s committees, pointing out that Permits & Licenses, Public Safety, and Transportation Committees all have important roles to play regarding quality of life for the district’s residents, specifically referencing a recent shooting that occurred in North Park Slope near an area that has seen many storefront conversions to bars since the opening of the Barclays Center. Mr. Lonial outlined the board’s capacity and limitations to impact these matters, and stressed the importance of understanding both and accurately expressing both to the community-at-large.
Chairperson Lonial recognized the turnout of residents who came to speak on CitiBike. The Chair remarked that both the positives and negatives associated with the CitiBike program would be carefully considered, and have previously been considered. Mr. Lonial promised to keep the dialogue between the board and the residents open and to continue to review the program as it is fully implemented, per the board’s conditional approval.
The Chair thanked the District Office staff for all their work over the summer, and he thanked the committees that met over the summer for giving their time to the important work that we do.
Chairperson Lonial recognized the six new board members and allowed each of them to stand and introduce themselves to the assemblage. Mr. Lonial asked the new members to speak freely at committee meetings and to engage themselves in any way they wish. The Chair then remarked that attendance was the most important responsibility for board members.
Chairperson Lonial then went into the Executive Committee’s review of Board Member attendance and announced that two members have been recommended for removal. Mr. Lonial first considered the attendance of Board Member Matthew Ruiz, a longtime member who has received four warning letters in the past three years regarding his attendance.
Motion: To remove Matthew Ruiz from Brooklyn Community Board 6 for continued unsatisfactory
attendance.
VOTE: 27 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 6 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 7:15 P.M.
Mr. Lonial next considered the attendance of Board Member Manuel Caballero, who was appointed to the board in May of 2015 and missed 9 of 10 meetings.
Motion: To remove Manuel Caballero from Brooklyn Community Board 6 for continued unsatisfactory
attendance.
VOTE: 30 YEAS, 2 NAYS, 2 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 7:16 P.M.
Chairperson Lonial updated the board on summer meetings between the Executive Committee, Council Member Brad Lander, and representatives from the Department of City Planning regarding the Councilman’s “Bridging Gowanus” initiative.
The Chair stated that the Finance/Personnel & Law Committee would be meeting to formulate comments to be offered to the Mayor’s Office regarding the new rules and lifting of the moratorium on Street Fairs.
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Mr. Lonial closed his report by announcing that October’s full board meeting would be moved from Wednesday, October 12th to Thursday, October 13th due to holiday conflicts.
DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………………………………….…….CRAIG HAMMERMAN
District Manager Craig Hammerman welcomed board members back from their summer break and announced that the District Office has been formally informed of weekend and week night closures of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel due to a major comprehensive post-Sandy restoration project. Work is expected to be completed by March of 2018. Bridges & Tunnels has been invited to attend a future meeting of the Transportation Committee to give an update on the project.
Mr. Hammerman updated attendees on the District Office’s move to a new website, stating that the new site is now in conformance with other City of New York websites. Mr. Hammerman stated that the move to the website is considered a work-in-progress and a first step in a broader transition for the digital home of Brooklyn Community Board 6.
The District Manager announced an upcoming tour of the SIMS Recycling Facility in October and directed interested parties to contact Sarah at the District Office. He also offered an update on the Solarize 2 campaign, stating that it is currently on pace to surpass the initial Solarize campaign’s 100+ kilowatt hours of solar power installed.
Mr. Hammerman closed his report by announcing that this year’s Community Board 6 holiday party would be held Monday, December 19th at Loki, 304 5th Avenue (at 2nd Street).
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE
………………...……MARK SHAMES, ENV. PROTECTION CHAIR
…..…………....MIKE RACIOPPO, PERMITS & LICENSES CHAIR
Permits & Licenses Chair Mike Racioppo thanked Mark Shames for his service on the committee and wished him luck as the Environmental Protection half of the committee now moves on to join the Parks Committee.
Mr. Racioppo then reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license at 149 4th Avenue.
Motion: By Board Member Peter Fleming; seconded by Board Member Mark Shames Approval of a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of The Douglass, at 149 4th Avenue (between Butler/Douglass Streets).
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:28 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Chair Mike Racioppo reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license at 320 Court Street.
Motion: By Board Member Jerry Armer; seconded by Board Member Tom Miskel
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Conditional approval a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of 320 Court Street (between Degraw/Sackett Streets).
VOTE: 29 YEAS, 5 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 7:35 P.M.
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC SAFETY……………TOM MISKEL, CO-CHAIR, TRANSPORTATION
……….ERIC McCLURE, CO-CHAIR, TRANSPORTATION
………MATTHEW SILVERMAN, CHAIR, PUBLIC SAFETY
Transportation Committee Co-Chair Eric McClure reported on a proposal by Alloy R.E. Development and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy to install and maintain temporary planted dumpsters in the Gowanus Canal corridor.
Board Member Mark Shames commented that the installment was taking up parking in the area and, given the way the community has reacted to CitiBike, he could not support another project that would do so. Several Board members echoed Mr. Shames’ sentiments.
Board Member Jerry Armer pointed out the timing of this particular installment was complicated, as it had already been activated and would last for only another six or seven weeks. Mr. Armer pointed out the futility of voting no on such a proposal, but pointed to the flaws in the review timing and notification as the source of the futility.
Motion: Motion to approve as presented the proposal by the Alloy R. E. Development and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy to install and maintain temporary planted dumpsters with a seating component at 6 locations in the Gowanus Canal corridor from July through November, under the Department of Transportation’s Street Seats program.
VOTE: 11 YEAS, 15 NAYS, 7 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION FAILS
TIME: 7:51 P.M.
Chairperson Lonial recognized State Senator Velamanette Montgomery and representatives of other elected and public officials who were in attendance.
State Senator Velmanette Montgomery thanked those in attendance who supporter her in her re-election in the previous night’s Democratic Primary. She especially thanked District Manager Craig Hammerman for all his years of professional support.
Jeff Lowell, representing Borough President Eric Adams, offered updates on the Borough President’s work over the summer.
Rubina Abdul introduced herself as Councilmember Brad Lander’s new community liaison and directed attendees to the Councilmember’s website for more information on Bridging Gowanus.
Jim Harvey, representing State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, announced plans for the return of the Assembly Member’s free flu shot program this year.
Mohamed Abdullah, representing Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, introduced himself to attendees. 5
Dan Wiley, representing Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, updated attendees on the Mobile Medical Immigrant Health Improvement Act, which is a proposed grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services, designed to help immigrants attain vital medical care.
COMMUNITY SESSION
Erica Stoltz thanked the Board for its support of the Smith Street Fair, and she announced that she intends to present an application to rename a portion of Union Street after her mother, the late Bette Stoltz.
Liz Canela of Forest City Ratner offered an update on the affordable housing lottery at Pacific Park.
Chelsea Brownridge spoke regarding her company’s Dog Parker program, designed to install small, outdoor dog houses in front of store fronts which wish to have them. The dog houses would fit within the three foot rule for sidewalk signage.
Elizabeth Gallagher spoke in opposition to the CitiBike program, citing what she believed to be the extreme dangers that bicyclists present both to walking pedestrians and automobiles.
Marianna Burelli also spoke in opposition of CitiBike, citing parking as her main concern. Ms. Burelli also spoke of what she believed to be an incomplete and unfair outreach process that left many residents uninformed about CitiBike’s installation until the day the bike docks were installed on their block.
Jonathan Brazer spoke in favor of the CitiBike program, citing numerous studies relative to population growth, transit access, affordability, and density within Brooklyn.
Roughly twenty other residents spoke in opposition to the CitiBike program, echoing Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Burelli’s sentiments. Theses residents included Peter Moore, Dolores Iovine, Camille Rubino, John Zodda, Bridget Donnel Law, Frances Balzano, Diane Camps, Todd Wiener, Suhaly Bautista-Carolina, Sue Echevarria, Joseph Scirm, Michael Oliveri, Vinnie Scotto, Ruth Vasquez, and John Palengue.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Chairperson Lonial reminded those in attendance of Dine In Red Hook, scheduled to take place the week of September 19th.
Motion: by Board Member Richard Bashner; seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli; To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:40P.M.
Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Ty Beatty on September 30, 2016.
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