Minutes of Community Board 11’s General Meeting
Held on March 11, 2004 at the
Sephardic Home, 2266 Cropsey Avenue.

Table of Content
Public Portion	Attendance
Minutes
Chairman's Report
Coucilman Recchia
District Manager's Report
New Business

William R. Guarinello, Chairman of Community Board 11 called the meeting to order. 

Public Portion

Roberto Hernandez Morra, representing the Latin American Workers of the Bay Parkway Job Center, advised that the center was created and administered by the Latin American Worker’s Project.  The center was created with the idea of organizing laborers to have better opportunities for work and proper health and financial assistance.  The type of work offered includes plumbers, sheet rockers, gardeners, carpenters, and electricians.  The job center guarantees the work performed if anyone is unsatisfied they can file a complaint and the work will be corrected. 

Mr. Morra advised that the Bay Parkway location has an issue with the cleanliness of the area.  The laborers are committed to maintaining the area but are constantly cleaning up debris and glass.  Mr. Morra requested that those present sign a petition that requests the proper agencies monitor and clean this area more often.

Louise Martini, representing State Senator Martin Golden, advised that the Senator is distributing petitions to call on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to continue weekend express bus service in Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge.

Ms. Martini advised that the Senator is hosting a ceremony honoring distinguished women at the Bay Ridge Manor on March 25^th  at 7:30 PM. 

Joe Spano, representing the Ad Hoc Committee of the 1500 block of 64th Street, requested help in resolving several problems regarding parking, police and sanitation issues on his street and the surrounding area. 

Mr. Spano stated, “ that in the past 5 years automobile ownership has doubled, as children became adults and purchased cars.  Since his street consists of more than 40 percent of driveways, the residents are limited to a handful of on street parking.

Staff from Shallow Junior High, which consists of more than 300 employees, uses the street for parking of their personal cars which are used in place of mass transit.  These cars are single occupancy vehicles and they make no effort to form car pools to alleviate parking problems.  Employees of the American Stock Transfer Company on 15^th  Avenue  have cars registered in such places as Virginia, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and even Florida and California.

Residents of our street must be out by 6 A.M. to secure parking for alternate side parking on Tuesday and Wednesday, and again on Thursday and Friday when residents of 65^th Street bring their cars to our block for their alternate side parking.  65^th Street also has numerous cars for sale by unknown sales companies which use the street as a showroom with cell phone numbers.

During alternate side parking days, when we are forced to double park our cars, we are subject to double parking violations by traffic enforcement agents who have made our area a post condition and an excellent source of revenue for the City.”

Mr. Spano added that there is a wholesale fish distributor who uses vans without commercial plates or advertising, and parks them on the streets.  The vans park diagonally across the sidewalk and never receive summonses.

“Now with the renovation of the overpasses on 15^th and 17^th Avenue and eventually 16^th Avenue, we lose even more parking spaces,” said Mr. Spano.

The residents of 64^th Street wish to know what provisions have been made regarding alternate parking during this time and are we going to be treated fairly when we have to double park on alternate days.

Mr. Spano thanked the Board for their time.

Kenneth Lazar, representing the Department of Buildings, advised that new guidelines have been published on how to obtain a curb cut and instructions on legalizing an existing curb cut. 

The Chairman inquired if anyone else from the Public sought recognition.  Hearing none, a motion was made by Frank Segreto to close the Public Portion of the meeting.  Seconded by Don Clark.  Unanimously adopted.

 Minutes

A motion was made by Jerry Chiapetta to adopt the minutes of February 12, 2004.  Seconded by John Raffaele.  Unanimously adopted. 

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Guarinello reported that the person responsible for the rash of bank robberies that occurred in Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge has been arrested.  Sergeant Angelo Russo is responsible for the arrest, who is a  Bensonhurst resident and works in the 66th Precinct.

Mr. Guarinello introduced Sgt Angelo Russo’s boss, Deputy Inspector McAllister, Lieutenant James Rooney, Lieutenant Jack Litori, Lieutenant Nick Muglia, Sergeant Pat Esposito and Detective Galano.

On behalf of the Bensonhurst community, Mr. Guarinello, joined by Councilman Dominick M. Recchia Jr. and District Manager Howard Feuer, presented Sergeant Russo with a plaque for outstanding police work in the apprehension of a serial bank robber while off-duty.

Sergeant Russo thanked the Board for their recognition.

Mr. Guarinello announced that Bensonhurst Volunteer Ambulance Corp. is holding their first Bowl-A-Thon on March 14^th from 7PM – 9PM at Maple Lanes.

The Chairman advised that the final plans for the Brooklyn Remembers Memorial was unveiled on Monday, March 8^th.  The memorial chosen will be the “Beacon” which was inspired by the Fireman’s Horn.  This horn was used at the turn of the century to alert residents of impending danger.

Mr. Guarinello introduced Tony Troia, who serves on the Board of Brooklyn Remembers.  Mr. Troia has graciously and generously donated all of the electrical work for the memorial. 

Mr. Guarinello thanked Mr. Manfredi and Mr. Sergio Allegretti for serving on Brooklyn Remembers.  Sergio will be serving as Golf Chairman for the upcoming outing.  This is the last fundraising effort to generate funds for the monument which will be held on May 21^st.

The Chairman announced that notification has been received from Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott that the new initiative that will ensure accessible and high quality Out-of-School-Time programming for children is at its next phase.  There will be a summit for community leaders at the next level of the planning process. 

Mr. Guarinello asked that Frank Segreto and Barbara Parisi represent Community Board 11 and thanked them for their work in the past. 

Councilman Recchia

Councilman Domenic M. Recchia congratulated Sergeant Russo. 

The Councilman addressed the issues that the Latin American Workers are facing at the job center located on Bay Parkway and invited the organizers to contact him at his office for assistance.

Councilman Recchia acknowledged the problems associated with curb cuts that are plaguing the community.  He advised that enforcement is ongoing and property owners will be charged for violations.

The Councilman advised that his office participated in the counting of homeless in his district. 

District Manager’s Report

Howard Feuer wished 311 a Happy Birthday.  The City’s 311 hotline for non-emergency service has received 6 million phone calls and it is projected that this year over 10 million calls will be received.

Mr. Feuer thanked the Day Laborers for attending the meeting and urged residents who need workers to utilize the Bay Parkway job center.

The District Manager reported that the Department of Transportation Bureau of Bridges has begun rehabilitating the 15^th and 18^th Avenue Bridges.  Due to construction on the 15th Avenue Bridge, 63rd Street has been converted from a one way street to a two way dead end street.  This project will be in duration for approximately 14 months.

The 18^th Avenue Bridge project is negatively impacting the merchants.  The Department of Transportation has notified Community Board 11 that they will not be adhering to the embargo that prohibits work on restricted streets, from Thanksgiving through the day after New Year’s Day. 

A motion was made by Louisa Verito, to contact the Department of Transportation  to advise them that Community Board 11 is opposed to the lifting of the embargo on 18^th Avenue due to the negative impact that the merchants will be subjected to due to this project.  Seconded by Man Wai Lau.  Unanimously adopted.

Mr. Feuer advised new Board Members that approximately 4 years ago, Community Board 11 requested that the Department of City Planning initiate a plan to down zone the R-6 portion of our district.  

Mr. Feuer advised that this past month City Planning met with Community Board 11, Councilman Domenic Recchia, State Senator Martin Golden and Assemblyman William Colton to discuss this issue.

Mr. Feuer noted that in the past 4 years the following has transpired:  in the R-6 designation, there were 33 dwelling units which have been replaced by 255 dwelling units and 188 parking spaces.  These figures do not include commercial space or community facilities.  In the R-5 designation, 134 dwelling units were replaced by 386 dwelling units with parking for 298 vehicles.

Mr. Feuer thanked the elected officials for their assistance in getting Community Board 11 on the City Planning work schedule.

The District Manager reported that beginning April 1^st, the Department of Sanitation will resume the recycling of glass and weekly collection of recycling material.

Mr. Feuer reported that Community Board 11 has received notification that emergency storm sewer repair will take place on 86^th  Street between Bay Parkway and Bay 28 Street due to damage caused by Con Edison equipment.  

A motion was made by Bart Allegretti to notify the Department of Environmental Protection that this emergency sewer reconstruction be conducted at night.  Seconded by John Raffaele.  Unanimously adopted. 

New Business

Eileen LaRuffa advised that the kick-off for the relay for life will be held on March 18^th at  Christa McAuliffe School.