Monthly Minutes - December 2010

Public Portion top

Mary Placanica, representing Assemblyman Colton, advised that she has brought literature for those interested in participating in a holiday card drive for military members serving overseas.

She further advised that the Department of Education is seeking to rezone schools within School District 21. Assemblyman Colton opposes this school rezoning proposal and is distributing petitions against the plan. Ms. Placanica requested that any questions be directed to Mr. Yoketing Eng.

The Assemblyman is hosting a toy and coat drive. Anyone interested can drop off items at his district office.

She further announced that Assemblyman Colton is assisting residents in applying for The Neighborhood Fund, which helps low-income families and individuals with elevated heating bills meet their monthly payments. This program runs from December through March. Individuals can receive up to $200 depending on the amount of their bill, and may only apply one time per year.

Jake Oliver, representing Councilman Greenfield, extended holiday greetings on behalf of the Councilman.

He further advised that the Councilman has introduced legislation that would require the Department of Transportation to paint curbs red in front of fire hydrants. This would clearly designate where a motorist can park legally.

Additionally, the Councilman introduced a resolution which calls upon the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to waive fees for civil service examinations for military veterans.

K.C. Boyle, Chief of Staff for Councilman Vincent Gentile, presented Community Board 11 with a check for $1,500 to supplement operating expenses.

The Chairman and District Manager thanked the Councilman for his continuous support of the Community Board.

The Chairman inquired if anyone else from the public sought recognition. Hearing none, a motion was made by Man Wai Lau to close the public portion of the meeting. Seconded by Tom Colasanto. Unanimously adopted.

Minutes top

Sal D'Alessio made a motion to adopt the minutes of the November 8, 2010 meeting. Seconded by John Garvey. Unanimously adopted.

Chairman's Report top

Mr. Guarinello thanked Paul DiSpirito for once again donating food for this evening’s holiday collation.

The Chairman acknowledged and thanked Msgr. Cassato and Anne Marie for their hospitality in hosting the meeting of Community Board 11.

The Chairman reported that Holy Family Home has acquiesced and has withdrawn the renaming of the facility to the Bay Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Guarinello advised that in a conversation with the District Manager, the owners conveyed that the naming was a misunderstanding of demographics, that there was never any intention to affront our community.

Planning And Zoning top

Frank Segreto, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, reported that in recent months, Assemblyman Abbate and Councilman Gentile have been canvassing the community in an attempt to identify and quantify those historically mixed-use and commercial properties, which are located in residentially zoned areas.

He further stated that while these properties are legal, the lack of identification and clear designations of commercial overlay have made it difficult to determine the true scope of the commercial and mixed-use properties within the district.

A motion was made by Man Wai Lau to call upon the Department of City Planning to undertake a formal study to identify the commercial and mixed-use properties, and amend the zoning maps to reflect the existing conditions. Seconded by Charles Farrauto. Unanimously adopted.

Assemblyman Peter Abbate top

The Assemblyman wished everyone a happy and healthy holiday season. He advised that the legislature is back in session on January 5th, and he will make every effort to minimize budgetary cuts that will have a negative impact on our community. He further stated that he was disappointed that a plan was not enacted to save the Off Track Betting Corporation.

District Manager's Report top

Marnee Elias-Pavia, District Manager, reported that she attended a scoping meeting with Councilman Recchia and the Department of Parks regarding the rehabilitation of the promenade and bicycle path on Shore Parkway. Councilmembers Oddo and Recchia have provided $250,000 each in initial funding. Councilmember Recchia will provide additional funding next fiscal year for this project, which has been this Board’s top priority in its capital and expense budget. Once the Parks Department presents a plan and design for this project, the Board will have an opportunity to review.

The District Manager announced that notification has been received that beginning January 3, 2011, the Department of Transportation will begin to change meter rates citywide. In places other than Manhattan, where passenger metered parking rates are $.25 for 20 minutes they will increase to $.25 for 15 minutes. She advised motorists to check signs and be aware to avoid a parking summons.

She further reported that she met with Hayes Lord, Director of the Department of Transportation’s Bicycle Program. She requested a meeting to discuss the siting of the bicycle lanes within Community Board 11, since the Board received no acknowledgment or response to the resolution opposing the Bay Ridge Parkway bicycle lanes.

She stated that she discussed other locations where bicycle lanes are more appropriate based upon the amount of bikes parked on our streets. While they were receptive to these locations, she did not feel confident that they would accept these locations as an alternative.

The District Manager advised that she will provide updates as they become available.

She advised that the Council passed legislation that now requires the Department of Transportation to establish and post on their website guidelines governing the approval and placement of traffic calming devices, including dedicated bicycle lanes, pedestrian plazas, speed humps, curb extensions, and median islands. The guidelines must consider whether such traffic devices would be installed adjacent to a school, in locations with a high percentage of seniors, such as adjacent to senior centers and nursing homes, and other locations as determined by DOT; and list the conditions under which the installation of traffic calming devices would be appropriate

The New York City Council also passed legislation that increases fines for property owners that permit illegal ATMs to encroach on their properties. The legislation requires the Department of Transportation to serve an order to the property owner adjacent to the illegal ATM. This would order the owner to remove the ATM within 30 days of notice. If the property owner does not remove the ATM within 30 days, s/he will be fined $2500 to $5000 for the first day and an additional $5,000 for every five days the ATM remains on the sidewalk. Additionally, the Department of Transportation would be permitted to seize the ATM if the offending property owner racked up fines of greater than $50,000 that were unpaid for a period of ninety days.

Ms. Elias-Pavia advised that beginning December 3rd, 2010, the New York City Department of Sanitation now requires all City residents to fully encase within a sealed plastic bag all mattresses or box springs being discarded for DSNY collection. This new rule will help prevent an increase in bed bug activity, with bed bugs being found in homes and apartments.

Under the new rule, failure to place a mattress or box spring out in a proper bag can result in a $100 fine. The Department will delay enforcing the new setout rule for 30 days, followed by full enforcement beginning January 3rd, 2011.

On motion the meeting was adjourned.

Attendance top

Present
• Bart Allegretti
• Gerald Bertuna
• Matthew Bromme
• Albert Campanelli
• Rosa Casella
• Msgr. David Cassato
• Jerry Chiapetta
• Donald Clark
• Thomas Colasanto
• Louis Crispiano
• Sal D'Alessio
• Paul DiSpirito
• Yoketing Eng
• Charles Farrauto
• Anthony Favale
• Shirley Fineman
• John Garvey
• William Guarinello
• Eileen LaRuffa
• Man Wai Lau
• Tim Law
• Vito Marangelli
• Albert Milone
• Nicholas Miraglia
• Vincent Nativo
• James Orlando
• Rabbi Gary Pollack
• Stan Roher
• Frank Segreto
• Antonio Troia
• Laurie Windsor

Absent
• Sarra Fronshtein
• Kevin Ly
• Anthony Mallozzi
• Corrado Manfredi
• Camillo Messina
• Ella Nigro
• Angelo Russo

Excused
• Leonard Beninson
• Maria Campanella
• Joseph DiSanto
• Rosalee Manitta
• Vito Marinelli
• Raymond Mollica
• Barbara Parisi

Guests
• Lucille and Andrew Santano
• Louis Segreto
• Mary Placanica - Assemblyman Colton
• Thomas Colassanto III
• Alice Wong - Borough President Markowitz
• Jake Oliver - Councilman Greenfield
• Hisham Morgan - Muslim American Society
• K.C. Boyle - Councilman Gentile