Monthly Minutes for the year 2008
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Archived Monthly Minutes

Minutes of Community Board 11’s General Meeting and Public Hearing
Held on April 10, 2008 at the
Holy Family Home, 1740 84th Street.

Table of Content
Public Portion
Minutes
Nominating Committee
Chairman's Report
Assemblyman Abbate
Councilman Domenic M Recchia Jr.
Planning and Zoning Committee Report
District Manager's Report
Attendance

The meeting was opened with Stan Roher having the honor of leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Portion

Beverly Collier, Director of the My Turn Program at Kingsborough Community College, spoke regarding the program, which has been in existence for 25 years.  The My Turn Program is a tuition-free college education program being offered at Kingsborough Community College. It is open to New York State residents who, by the first day of class, are 60 years of age or older. The only fees charged are an $80 registration fee.

Kingsborough Community College offers to seniors a great opportunity to attend regular college classes in a beautiful campus setting at Manhattan Beach.

There are more than 400 courses available in art, music, history, computers, health education, literature, recreation, and many other categories.  Literature is also available.

Louise Martini, representing Senator Marty Golden, advised that the Senate has enacted legislation calling for stiffer penalties for physical attacks on senior citizens.  Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to cause physical harm to another person. This new bill would elevate the assault of a person sixty-five years of age or older when the perpetrator is more than ten years younger than the victim to Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.

The “Granny’s Law” has passed both the Senate and Assembly and is being sent to the Governor for consideration.

Ms. Martini announced that the first ever Senior Idol Contest will be held on April 12, 2008 at Xavarian High School at 8PM.  There are flyers available for those who are interested. 

Mary Placanica, representing Assemblyman William Colton, spoke regarding congestion pricing.  She stated that Kings College, located in London, conducted a study within the congestion pricing zones and found that most people circumvented the area to avoid paying, and there was no decrease in the amount of pollution.  Currently, Londoners are paying $16 for congestion pricing and the fees are expected to rise between $25 and $40.  Thirty-Seven percent of business owners within the congestion-pricing zone have claimed they have laid-off employees, 67% have had severe monetary losses, and 30% plan to relocate outside the zone.

Ms. Placanica stated that in New York City, the revenue generated from congestion pricing was supposed to be used for mass transit, but in actuality, the funds would be used to purchase bonds.  The interest from the bonds would be used for mass transit. 

Katy Rosa of the Parks Department introduced herself and advised that she is the new Parks Manager for Community Board 11.

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

Minutes

A motion was made by Man Wai Lau to accept the minutes of the March 19, 2008 meeting.  Seconded by Leone Demolfetto.  Unanimously adopted.

Nominating Committee

Mr. Guarinello appointed the following members to serve on the 2008/2009 Nominating Committee:  Richard DiNapoli, Chairman, Bart Allegretti, Al Campanelli, and Dr. Joe Caruana.

The committee will present a slate of Officers for the 2008-2009 term at the May meeting.

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Guarinello reported that the Bensonhurst cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 12^th at 10 AM.  Volunteers will meet at St. Finbar’s Confraternity Center located on Bath Avenue and Bay 20^th Street. 

The cleanup will focus on removing paper flyers posted on the utility poles within our community. 

The Chairman advised the public that there is literature available from various organizations and elected officials on the table.

Mr. Guarinello advised that Victory Memorial Hospital went to auction and they are still vetting out the process.  The hospital is being sold to a real estate developer who will maintain a long-term care facility. The hospital is still open and updates will be provided.

The Chairman advised that next month’s general meeting of Community Board 11 will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.  The meeting date was changed due to conflicting meetings on the regularly scheduled day.

Mr. Guarinello advised that Community Board 11 received an application for a 421-a partial tax exemption for 6214 24^th Avenue.  This property used to be three lots containing three residential units and were combined into one building with a total of 20 units.  The developer states that the properties were underutilized and economically obsolete.

A motion was made by Louis Crispiano to oppose granting the  421-a partial tax exemption for 6214 24^th Avenue.  Seconded by Man Wai Lau.  Unanimously adopted.

Assemblyman Abbate

Assemblyman Abbate advised that the State budget was approved yesterday.  The Assemblyman was pleased that there was a minimum amount of cuts to healthcare, which included nursing homes, home attendants and hospitals.  In addition, there should be no increase to health insurance premiums; there is an additional 1.8 billion dollars for statewide education with 6 million dollars for New York City. 

The Assemblyman was pleased that congestion pricing was defeated.  He stated that federal monies are given to all states that have a mass transportation system and that the 354 million dollars promised to New York City was to implement a congestion-pricing program, which will generate monies so that the government will no longer have to fund mass transit.

The Assemblyman advised that the $2000 he previously promised Community Board 11 is included in the budget.

Councilman Domenic M. Recchia Jr.

The Councilman advised that the ferry plan that would run from Coney Island to the 58^th Street pier, which was part of the congestion-pricing plan, is still viable.  The Administration and Speaker Christine Quinn is in the process of finding alternative funding, and eventually adding a stop at the 69^th Street pier.

Councilman Recchia announced the start of a free-swimming program, which has 120 children registered from our community.  The program runs Monday through Thursday, at Lincoln High School for children in grades 2 through 5.

The Councilman advised that the Council is working on the city budget.  The Council’s response to the Mayor’s budget was to restore the education funding.  He further stated that there is a large gap in the community colleges’ budgets, which needs to be addressed.

Councilman Recchia advised that both he and Councilman Gentile are working on the rezoning of Bath Beach. 

Planning and Zoning Committee Report

Frank Segreto, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, reported   that Councilman Gentile has initiated a preliminary study of Bath Beach in order to put forward a contextual rezoning plan. 

The goal of the plan is to preserve the neighborhood’s residential area, which is primarily one and two family homes.  The Planning and Zoning Committee has met and reviewed the preliminary plan, which was favorably viewed.

A motion was made by Man Wai Lau to move forward with the contextual rezoning plan for Bath Beach.  Seconded by Eileen LaRuffa.  Unanimously adopted.

District Manager’s Report

Marnee Elias-Pavia, Assistant District Manager, reported that the Avenue V Pump Station Force Main Upgrade work, which is currently underway along the shoulder of the westbound Belt Parkway, is scheduled to begin within the next 2 weeks.  Currently, tree protection fencing and pruning of trees is being conducted.  The installation of erosion and sediment control measures are being placed, as well as the sheeting for the force main open-trench pipe installation.  

In addition, two trailers have been placed on Shore Parkway and Bay 14^th Street for the resident engineer’s field offices.  The placement, although in the work zone, is in front of residential homes.  Community Board 11 has received complaints from the residents and upon review found there is an alternative location near the 17^th Avenue Park.

A motion was made by Louis Crispiano to call upon the Parks Department and any other appropriate agency to relocate the trailers from their current location to the vicinity of the 17^th Avenue Park.  Seconded by Eileen LaRuffa.  Unanimously adopted.

The Department of Transportation has advised that they will switch over vehicular traffic to the newly completed north side of the 20^th Avenue Bridge on or about April 17.   This will allow for the reconstruction of the south half of the bridge.  Two lanes of vehicular traffic will be maintained at all times, as well as both sidewalks.  The anticipated completion date for this project is September 30, 2008.

Ms. Elias-Pavia gave an update on the Greenstreet located on 14^th Avenue and Poly Place.  There were vehicular accidents at the location.  Josephine Beckmann, District Manager of Community Board 10, has contacted the Department of Transportation to install additional markings.  Community Board 11 has spoken to Commissioner Spiegel, and the design units will investigate the issue.

Katy Rosa of the Parks Department advised that the design team was there today and will report their findings.

A motion was made by John Raffaele to adjourn.  Seconded by Rosa Casella.