Monthly Minutes for the year 2006
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Archived Monthly Minutes

Minutes of Community Board 11’s General Meeting and Public Hearing
Held on September 14, 2006 at the
Holy Family Home, 1740 84th Street.

Table of Content
Public Hearing
Public Portion
Moment of Silence
Minutes
Disposition of Public Hearing
Public Advocate
Chairman's Report
District Manager's Report
New Business
Attendance

Public Hearing

BSA Calendar # 129-06-BZ
43 Kings Place
Brooklyn, New York 11223
Block 6678  Lot 97

The applicant seeks a special permit to allow the enlargement of a single-family residence in a R4-1 zoning district.

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

The Board Meeting was opened with Vincent Nativo reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Portion

The Chairman inquired if anyone from the public sought recognition.  Hearing none, a motion was made by Jerry Chiapetta to close the public portion of the meeting.  Seconded by Don Clark.  Unanimously adopted.

Moment of Silence

Mr. Guarinello requested a moment of silence for Michael Occhino, an employee of the Department of Sanitation, who died tragically on August 28^th, after his garbage truck hit an oil spill on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway while transporting garbage from our district.

Minutes

A motion was made by Jerry Chiapetta to accept the minutes of the meeting of June 8, 2006.  Seconded by Man Wai Lau.  Unanimously adopted.

Disposition of Public Hearing

Frank Segreto, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, reported that Kings Place is a one block long, dead end street located off Kings Highway between West 2^nd and West 1^st Streets. It contains a relatively eclectic mixture of homes, some detached, some semi-attached, some with driveways/garages, some without, some with covered porches and some without.

Citing the needs of his expanding family, the applicant is seeking to enlarge the existing two-story home by eliminating the (metal) garage and most of the driveway and expanding the footprint of the home to both the rear and the side.  The plans also include adding an attic, which will include three (3) bedrooms.  The attic construction will remain with height limitations of the existing R4 zoning; accordingly, it is not part of the BSA application.

Most of the bulk of the expansion will be in the back of the house and effectively will not be visible from the street.  It will encroach upon the existing back yard; however, the required 20’ minimum rear yard will be maintained. The rear yard incursion appears to be the only such incursion on this side of the street.  However, there are a number of homes on Van Sicklen Street, the block that backs into Kings Place, which go deep into the property line.

Mr. Segreto stated the proposed application would not have negative effects on the character of the neighborhood and recommends approval.

A motion was made by Don Clark to approve the special permit for 43 Kings Place, as presented.  Seconded by Joe DiSanto.  Unanimously adopted.

Public Advocate

Betsy Gotbaum, the Public Advocate for the City of New York advised that she is the City Official responsible for improving access to city services.  Currently her office is focusing on education issues with an emphasis on special education.  Ms. Gotbaum reported that many children are in need of special services, which they are not receiving.  Her office found that the Department of Education was not appropriately maintaining the records of some of the children’s Individual Education Plans, which determine what required services the children need.  Many children were not receiving the necessary services and her office uncovered this matter and remedied the situation.

The Public Advocate reported that the City recently awarded a No Bid, 17 million dollar contract for school reconstruction, to a business that previously performed inferior work in New Orleans and St. Louis.  Her office is questioning why the City awarded this contract to this company. 

In addition, the Public Advocate is working on improvements to the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Program, Meals On Wheels, and the Department of Building’s “Self Certification Program”.  Ms. Gotbaum advised that on September 9^th, she testified before the State Assembly regarding Department of Building practices. She stated that she opposes the current self-certification procedures.

The Public Advocate opened the floor for questions and Jerry Chiapetta questioned the new voucher system for After School Programs and inquired why the Department of Youth and Community Services was slow in approving provider certifications.

Ms. Gotbaum advised that her office would research the matter.

Mr. Guarinello thanked Ms. Gotbaum for attending Community Board 11’s meeting.

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Guarinello advised that committee assignments for 2006-2007 have been made and are available for distribution. 

Mr. Guarinello advised that prior to the summer recess the Parks Committee recommended approval of the renaming of 73^rd Street and 15^th Avenue, in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in celebration of Saint Juan Diego.  Since the City Council votes on street renaming twice a year, Councilman Gentile has requested that we move this request forward so that the submission can be made and voted on in time for the celebration of the feast day of Saint Juan Diego on December 9, 2006.

A motion was made by Ella Nigro to waive the public hearing and approve the renaming of 73^rd Street and 15^th Avenue in celebration of Saint Juan Diego “A model of Humility”.  Seconded by Man Wai Lau.  Unanimously adopted.

The Chairman reported that Congressman Fossella has introduced legislature that would require that the State Department of Transportation dedicate 50% of profit revenues produced by the Verrazano Bridge for transportation improvements in Brooklyn and Staten Island. 

District Manager’s Report

Mr. Feuer advised that the Budget Consultations will be taking place at the end of the month.  In addition, at next month’s general meeting, a public hearing will be held on Community Board 11’s capital and expense budget priorities.

The District Manager advised that he is Councilman Gentile’s appointee to the Temporary Commission on Day Laborers.  He spent a lot of time touring different communities that have day laborer issues. 

Mr. Feuer stated that it is his position that day laborers are exploited and need protection.  He added that in addition to finding a safe haven for day laborers to assemble, we have to get the workers off our streets and into these sites so that businesses and homeowners have do not day laborers congregating.  Mr. Feuer will provide updates as they become available.

The District Manager reported that Community Board 11 received two applications for 421a partial tax exemptions.

The first is for the property located at 8686 Bay Parkway, the site of the former Beth Shalom People Temple.  The applicant claimed that the property was underutilized and built a seven story, 32 dwelling unit with a community facility.

A motion was made by Ella Nigro to oppose the application for a partial tax abatement at 8686 Bay Parkway.  Seconded by Don Clark.  Unanimously adopted.

The second property located at 1740 West 4^th Street was a commercial property that now consists of 37 dwelling units plus the commercial use on the first floor.

A motion was made by Jerry Bertuna to oppose the application for a partial tax abatement  for 1740 West 4^th Street.  Seconded by Eileen LaRuffa.  Unanimously adopted.

Mr. Feuer reported that the Owls Head Capital Project, which calls for the replacement of water mains, sewers and catch basins on 86^th Street, Stilwell Avenue, 23^rd Avenue and other locations within Community Board 11 is not as disruptive as anticipated.

The only major complaint that we have is in front of Public School 97 located on Stillwell Avenue and Avenue S.  The roadway was left in terrible disrepair, and we have met with the Department of Design and Construction, which has assured us that repair, will be made. 

Mr. Feuer announced that Borough President Markowitz is honoring Joe Manfredi in conjunction with Italian Heritage month on October 12^th, at Borough Hall.  Invitations will be mailed to Board Members.

Mr. Guarinello advised that in order to prevent a conflict with next month’s general meeting, which is scheduled for October 12^th, we will re-schedule the date.

Mr. Feuer announced that Councilman Gentile will be holding the renaming ceremony for Josephine Diana, on 17^th Avenue and 72^nd Street, at 10 AM on September 16^th.

New Business

Frank Naccaratto announced that on October 7^th, the Federation of Italian American Organizations will be sponsoring the 25^th Columbus Day Parade, on 18^th Avenue from 61 Street to 84^th Street.