Minutes of Community Board 11’s General Meeting
Held on May 20, 2004 at the
Sephardic Home, 2266 Cropsey Avenue.

Table of Content
Public Hearing	Assemblyman Abbate
Public Portion	Coucilman Recchia
Minutes	Councilman Felder
Chairman's Report	District Manager's Report
Nominating Committee	Attendance
Brooklyn Studio School

Public Hearing 

BSA Calendar # 138-04-BZ
Yeshiva Bais Torah
6101 -6123 16^th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York

The applicant seeks the following:

1.       The applicant seeks a special permit to renovate an existing building to accommodate a school.

William R. Guarinello, Chairman of Community Board 11 opened the Public Hearing, and inquired if anyone sought recognition.

Lou Campanella, a resident from 62^nd Street and 16^th Avenue, made an inquiry regarding the parking of the school buses and the teachers‘ private cars.

Mr. Campanella stated that there had been an oil leak in the storage tanks underground and asked if they were removed.

The Chairman inquired if anyone else sought recognition.  Hearing none, a motion was made by Joe Manfredi to close the Public Hearing.  Seconded by Frank Segreto.  Unanimously adopted.

Public Portion

Richard Viola, a business owner from 86^th Street and 15^th Avenue, addressed the Board regarding a problem he is experiencing with a Laundromat next door to his business.  The Laundromat’s vents are spreading lint all over the adjacent properties.  In addition, in front of 1502 86^th Street, there is a bus stop which generates a lot of garbage.  A garbage can was placed there by the Department of Sanitation but has been recently removed.  Mr. Viola requested help in getting the trash receptacle replaced.

The Chairman inquired if anyone else sought recognition.  Hearing none, a motion was made by Eileen LaRuffa to close the public portion of the meeting.  Seconded by John Raffaele.  Unanimously adopted.

Minutes

A motion was made by Joe Manfredi to adopt the minutes of April 20, 2004.  Seconded by Antonio Troia.  Unanimously adopted.

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Guarinello reported that Brooklyn Remembers is holding a golf outing on May 21^st at the Dyker Beach Golf Course.  The Verrazano Rotary Club, who is generously donating all proceeds to Brooklyn Remembers, is sponsoring the outing.  The Chairman advised that there will be a luncheon following golf at Passage Palace Restaurant, 8708 18^th Avenue at 1 P.M.  The price is $35.00 per person which will be donated to Brooklyn Remembers, Inc.

The Chairman thanked the following Board Members: Dr. Joseph Caruana, who also serves as President of the Verrazano Rotary Club; Joe Manfredi and Antonio Troia for their generous in-kind donations, without their help this project would not have moved forward as quickly as it did.

Mr. Guarinello advised that the monument is currently being forged at the Bedi-Macky Foundry of Brooklyn and should be completed and erected in early Fall.

The Chairman read a letter that was received from Richard Pecorella, fiancé of Karen Juday.

“To All the Members of Community Board 11:

All I can say is thank you from my heart.  Today I received notice that 64^th Street will be renamed Karen Juday Place, in honor of the love of my life who was murdered on 911.  Thanks to all of you the memory of Karen will live on.  I am truly at a loss of words.  If I can ever do anything to help you please just ask.”

Nominating Committee

Richard DiNapoli, Chairman of the 2004/2005 Nominating Committee reported that the Committee has conferred and re-nominates the present slate of Officers for the 2004/2005 term:  Chairman-William R. Guarinello, 1^st Vice Chair-Ella Nigro, 2^nd Vice Chair-Corrado Manfredi, Secretary-Shirley Fineman, Treasurer-Louisa Verito.

Mr. Guarinello inquired if there were any other nominations from the floor.  Hearing none, the Chair advised that additional nominations from the floor may be made at next month’s meeting.

BSA Calendar # 138-04-BZ
Yeshiva Bais Torah
6101-6123 16^th Avenue

Frank Segreto, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee reported that the applicant is requesting a special permit to allow the renovation of a presently unused factory building to accommodate a parochial high school.

The applicant confirmed the following:

The existing footprint of the building will remain as is; however, the floor plans will be reconfigured to provide for classrooms and related amenities.  The rooftop will be utilized for student activities and as required by code, the proper fencing will be installed.  The existing masonry exterior and windows will also be reconfigured, however based on the elevation plans submitted, the building will have a classical look, totally in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.  The children will be dropped off and picked up on 16^th Avenue.  This activity will result in increased bus traffic (approximately 6 buses) along the Avenue.  Since this is a fireproof building, a sprinkler system is not required.

Mr. Segreto questioned the Statement of Facts and Findings which indicates that the school will serve approximately 200 students, ranging from grades nine through twelve.  It further states that that there will be about twenty teachers and five other employees.

Based on this information, Mr. Segreto felt that there will be substantial excess capacity to serve the projected student base and inquired whether there would be future expansion.

Sheldon Lobel, the attorney representing the applicant stated that there was an error on the Statement of Facts and Findings.  The building’s 34 classrooms would serve between 500-550 children, with an expected expansion to serve an additional 200 high school children.

Louisa Verito voiced concerns regarding the children’s safety because of a nearby construction company which uses heavy equipment.  She also inquired about the safety of discharging children on 16^th Avenue from the school buses.

Mr. Lobel stated that the school owns four large school buses and has contracted out an additional four.  When not in use, the four buses would be parked in the rear of the building, off-street in an area that can accommodate an additional 10-12 cars for staffers, and that sprinklers will be installed in the building.

In addition, Rabbi Klein, who serves as Principal for the Yeshiva, stated that at no time will the buses be parked on the street.

Councilman Felder stated that he found it offensive that the Board would question the children’s safety when entering/exiting the school buses.  It is the parents of the children who should be concerned.  The Board should consider the granting of a special permit to renovate an existing building in a manufacturing zone.

Mr. Lobel advised that the Department of Transportation will conduct a study regarding the school buses, and will submit their recommendations to the Board of Standards and Appeals.

The Chairman moved the question and Frank Segreto made a motion to approve the special permit with the recommendation that sprinklers be installed.  Seconded by Guy LaMonaca.  The motion was passed with 2 opposed.

Brooklyn Studio School

Diana Gassira, Assistant Principal, and Ella Nigro, representing the Brooklyn Studio School presented funds collected by the children, to the Police and Fire Department Widows and Orphans Fund.

Assemblyman Abbate

Assemblyman Abbate addressed the issue of the Laundromat on 86^th Street and 15^th Avenue.  He stated that he has looked at the area and since this is a City issue he hopes that Councilman Gentile will handle the situation.

The Assemblyman advised that the legislature is still negotiating the new budget.

In addition, he acknowledged the Board in obtaining the funding to re-surface the streets in Bensonhurst.

Councilman Recchia

Councilman Recchia advised that the issue brought before the Board regarding the cleanliness of the Latin American Day Laborers Project at Bay Parkway has been addressed.  The Councilman has obtained bags, brooms and other cleaning supplies to help clean the site.

Councilman Felder

Councilman Felder thanked his colleagues for their help in passing the fear of fines legislation.  This new law provides residential property owners with a routing time like commercial establishments.  The Department of Sanitation will only be permitted to issue dirty sidewalk fines during the routing time.

The Councilman advised that he and his staff are available to those that need assistance.

District Manager’s Report

Howard Feuer, District Manager, reported that he held a meeting today with the Department of Transportation Division of Bridges, and the residents of 63rd Street between 15th Avenue and 16^th Avenue.   The residents discussed parking problems and other issues relating to the reconstruction of the 15^th Avenue Bridge Project. 

In addition, the Bureau of Roadway Bridges has issued an apology letter concerning the less than 100% distribution of the weekend work notice regarding the 24 hour work operations which occurred on Friday, May 7, 2004 to Monday, May 10, 2004. 

Mr. Feuer advised that in the future the Department of Transportation will take necessary steps to prevent this type of miscommunication.

Mr. Feuer advised that the Department of Sanitation has issued a new Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan CEQR# 03-DOS-004Y.

The new SWMP will chart New York City’s solid waste management efforts for the next twenty years.  A key component of the new SWMP is the development of state of the art Marine Transfer Stations.  These facilities would receive and containerize Department of Sanitation managed waste for transport to container barge to authorized disposal facilities.

A public scoping meeting will take place on June 17^th at Shallow Junior High School, 6500 16^th Avenue from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

The District Manager reported that Mr. Gagliano, the owner of the marina that is adjacent to the proposed Marine Transfer Station has expressed concerns regarding the impact that the barges will have on his bulkhead.

Man Wai Lau made a motion that calls upon the Department of Sanitation to conduct a study to determine the impact on Mr. Gagliano’s property.  Seconded by Ella Nigro.

A motion was made by John Raffaele to adjourn.  Seconded by Joe Manfredi.  Unanimously adopted.

Meeting adjourned. 

These minutes were transcribed without the use of an audio tape.  Any omissions or misquotes were unintentional.