BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
COBBLE HILL HEALTH CENTER
380 HENRY STREET
SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
J. ARMER P. BASILE P. BELLENBAUM P. BLAKE L. BRANCH D. BRIGGS K. BROUGHTON F. BROWN J. BROWN
E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ P. FLEMING K. GURL
V. HERAMIA J. HEYER F. JEAN
A. KRASNOW J. KRAUSE-VILMAR R. LEVINE P. LI H. LINK S. LONIAL R. LUFTGLASS E. MCCLURE T. MISKEL C. PIGOTT L. PINN M. RACIOPPO A. RAMDHARI R. RIGOLLI E. SANTOGADE D. SCOTTO M. SHAMES M. SILVERMAN J. SKALLER S. TURET N. ZEPHYRIN
EXCUSED
E. FELDER G. KELLY D. KUMMER
D. WILLIAMS
ABSENT:
R. BASHNER D. BUSCARELLO M. CARTER G. FABBRI V. HAGMAN J. SMITH
J. THOMPSON
GUESTS:
J. LOWELL, BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE
A. GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER MENCHACA’S REPRESENTATIVE
M. FLYNN, COUNCIL MEMBER LANDER’S REPRESENTATIVE
J. HARVEY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER SIMON’S REPRESETNATIVE
M. SEERY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER CAROL’S REPRESENTATIVE
O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
D. WILEY, CONGRESSWOMAN VELÁZQUEZ’S REPRENTATIVE
G. LEWENSTEIN, PUBLIC ADVOCATE JAMES’S REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office.
1st Vice Chairperson Mike Racioppo called the meeting to order at 6:42 P.M. 1
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Roger Rigolli made a motion to accept the minutes of the June general meeting, seconded by Board Member Pauline Blake.
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:01 P.M.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT…………………………………………......SAYAR LONIAL, BOARD CHAIR
Chairperson Lonial opened his report by offering stating that the executive committee considered a full slate of issues in the summer, but felt two specifically warranted detailed updates.
First, Mr. Lonial reported that the executive committee voted to ratify the land use committee’s recommendation to support the minor modification to the Baltic Street Urban Renewal Plan, eliminating the forty foot height limit, which allows the Key Food site to build up to the contextual limit. Second, the Chair reported that the executive committee voted to conditionally support the Department of City Planning’s Self-Storage Text Amendment proposal, ultimately requesting that all Self-Storage facilities require a special permit.
Mr. Lonial briefly touched on the correspondence he sent to some board members regarding committee attendance, stating that he hoped to remind people of their importance on the committees they serve, and the need to have them in attendance to accomplish the important work necessary before the full board meeting.
The Chair reported that the Rosh Hashanah holiday would alter the meeting schedule slightly for September, noting that the Parks Committee would meet a week later than normal and the Transportation and Public Safety Committee would not meet at all.
Lastly, the Chair updated the board on the on-going work of the Finance, Personnel, and Law Committee, which has met multiple times over the summer and determined the need to memorialize the proper role of the District Manager with an up-to-date job description. Mr. Lonial noted that the committee sought and received input from other boards across the city on this matter. The Chair further noted that the District Manager was expected to end his medical leave in the last week of September, and that the Finance, Personnel, and Law Committee would be meeting with him then to go over the job’s responsibilities and best options for the functioning of the board as a whole going forward. Mr. Lonial closed his remarks by thanking Assistant District Manager Ty Beatty, Office Manager Liza Santiago-Sierra, and Special Projects Manager Sarah Phillips for their hard work and dedication in the interim, and for allowing the board to remain confident in the day-to-day workings of the district office.
DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………......TY BEATTY, ASSISTANT DISTRICT MANAGER
Assistant District Manager Ty Beatty offered a brief report, asking board members to be on the lookout for information regarding another tour of the Sims Recycling Facility, and that anyone interested in reserving a spot on the tour should contact the district office and ask to speak with Special Projects Manager Sarah Phillips.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
LANDMARKS/LAND USE COMMITTEE………….………ROBERT LEVINE, LANDMARKS CHAIR
………………………..PETER FLEMING, LAND USE CHAIR
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Landmarks Committee chair Robert Levine reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application at 314 Clinton Street, Cobble Hill Historic District.
Motion: By Board Member Peter Fleming; seconded by Board Member Jerry Armer Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the legalization of a stoop and window combination at 314 Clinton Street (between Kane/Baltic Streets), Cobble Hill Historic District.
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 6:47 P.M.
Landmarks Committee chair Robert Levine reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application for 536 1st Street, Park Slope Historic District.
Motion: By Board Member Peter Fleming; seconded by Board Member Jerry Armer Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the installation of a rooftop addition at 536 1st Street (between 8th Avenue/Prospect Park West), Park Slope Historic District.
VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 6:53 P.M.
Landmarks Committee chair Robert Levine reported that the committee reviewed a Certificate of Appropriateness application for 69 7th Avenue, Park Slope Historic District.
Motion: By Board Member Peter Fleming; seconded by Board Member Elena Santogade Conditional Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the installation of a rear extension at 69 7th Avenue (between Lincoln/Berkeley Places), Park Slope Historic District.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
Chairperson Sayar Lonial recognized representatives of elected officials who were in attendance.
Jeff Lowell, representing Borough President Eric Adams, announced that the 2017 Autumn Festival would be September 24, the Borough President’s Latino Heritage Celebration would be held September 28 at 5 P.M. at Borough Hall, and the One Brooklyn Resource Fair would be held October 10 at 5:30 P.M., also at Borough Hall.
Mary Seery, representing Assembly Member Robert Carroll, announced that the Assembly Member would be sponsoring a mammogram van on November 17 and a MetroCard van on November 29.
Jim Harvey, representing Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, announced that the Assembly Member’s office would be hosting free flu shots on October 17 between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. Mr. Harvey also announced his pending retirement, and thanked the board for its friendliness and openness to him over the years.
Gabriel Lewenstein, representing Public Advocate Letitia James, updated attendees on the new expansion of the public schools’ free lunch program and a pending suite against NYCHA regarding tenants’ rights to age in place.
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Dan Wiley, representing Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, updated attendees on their offices’ work to increase funding for public housing and the Congresswoman’s comments on the anniversary of September 11 and airline price gouging in the lead up to and aftermath of natural disasters.
Megan Flynn, representing Council Member Brad Lander, introduced herself as the Council Member’s new representative to the board, remarked on the new bus countdown clocks on 5th and 7th Avenues, and directed
attendees to the Council Member’s newsletter for other updates.
Oscar Jonas, representing State Senator Montgomery, updated attendees on the Senators work toward a middle school that would feed the Harbor School, and noted that the Senator was hosting a town hall regarding November’s referendum for a Constitutional Convention for New York State.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Board Member Josh Skaller commented on the goings-on of County Committee in light of Daniel Squadron’s vacated Senate seat. He also spoke at length regarding the on-going work of the Finance, Personnel, and Law committee and asked that the full board be better informed of the committee’s work.
Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli; seconded by Board Member Jerry Armer. To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:35 P.M.
Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Ty Beatty on October 2, 2017.
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