PRESENT: H. Acampora, O. Alvarado, Col. W. Chin, A. Chirico, P. Devine,
V. Gallagher, B. Heaney, C. Hughes, A. Jack, P. LaScala, D. Lock,
J. McQuade, J. Miller, J. Misiurski, K. Neddermyer, Rev. C. Owens,
D. Pouchie, M. Prince, M. Prohaska, J. Regina, Rev. A. Rosario,
A. Santiago, R. Sawyer, P. Sullivan, F. Ventola, M. Walsh (26)

ABSENT: M. Arrighi, R. Baez, S. Belle, L. Blascovich, R. Dominquez, R. Foley, L. Goldstein, L. Hazell, D. Hunt, R. Kurz, S. Lask, K. Lynch, J. Marano,
M.J. Musano, F. Pascale, B. Pitt, M. Pricoli, E. Romeo, D. Rose, J. Russo,
I. Santos, Dr. R. Smith, R. Tanzi (23)

Community Liaisons: Tom Lucania - repr. Bronx Borough President’s Office
Brett Collazzi – repr. Councilman James Vacca
Jonathon Szots – repr. Senator Jeffrey Klein
Ben Randazzo - repr. Assemblyman Michael Benedetto
John Collazzi - Bronx Times Reporter

Board #10 Staff: Kenneth Kearns – District Manager – Bronx Community Board #10
Estelle Marra - Clerical Associate

Chairperson Diane Lock convened the meeting at 7:45PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SECTION:

1. Anita Valenti – Vice-President of Pelham Bay Taxpayers & Civic Association
Spoke of the repaving of Hutchinson River Parkway from Middeltown Road
to Mayflower Avenue. Also, the repaving of St. Paul Avenue. These two projects
are redundant and she feels that they make no sense, especially since St. Paul
Avenue has so little traffic. Hutchinson River Parkway from Middletown Road
to Mayflower Avenue needs some serious underground repairs, so the repaving of this area, in her opinion, is not justified at this time.

2. Alan Mucatel – Executive Director – Leake & Watts Services – Tel: 1-914-375-8702
Advised Board #10 that he is the new Administrator for this organization, and
that he would like to have his proposed group home for developmentally disabled adults at 1623 Glover Street, approved. There was some discussion concerning the proposed group home, and Leake and Watts’ largely negative history of operating a group home for teens at this site.

Motion to close Public Participation section made by Peter Sullivan, seconded by Peter LaScala. Vote: All in favor (25)

Chairperson Diane Lock asked for motion to accept minutes of the April 16th, 2009 Community Board #10 meeting. Motion made by James McQuade, seconded by Joe Regina. Vote: All in favor – Unanimous (25)

BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Tom Lucania

l. Spoke of newly elected Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and the fact that he was inaugurated on May 21st. Mr. Lucania thanked all who attended. Mr. Lucania also reminded all present that Aurelia Greene is now the Deputy Borough President, and there will be a special election on June 2nd for her Assembly seat.

2. Regarding Community Board #10 reappointments and new appointments,
the Council members are working on this and all will be notified within the next
week.

3. Bronx Week starts on June 11th through June 13th. The New York Botanical Gardens will be holding Bronx Day with Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. on June 13th during the hours of 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. at the Garden’s Clay Family Picnic Pavilions. Bring your own lunch and there will be many free events. Advanced tickets are needed to enter. To receive your free tickets sent a self-addressed, stamped envelope with number of tickets requested (6 maximum) to: Elizabeth Figueroa, Director of  Community Relations – The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126. For more information, please call 1-718-817-8990.

4. Borough President Diaz will also be inducting several people into the Bronx
Wall of Fame.

DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT: Kenneth Kearns

1. The public hearing held by Community Board #10 on May 18, 2009 revealed that the majority of the residents in the affected community rejected the notion of a group home at 1623 Glover Street.

2. With regard to the proposed group home at 3407 Bruckner Blvd., Mr. Kearns informed those assembled that the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), had not issued a decision regarding the Commissioner’s Hearing of March 26th, as of yet.

3. There will be a ULURP hearing on the proposed condo development on City Island; June 2, 2009 at the City Island Library – at 7:30pm
320 City Island Avenue This will be held in conjunction with the HOUSING/ZONING COMMITTEE.

4. The Throggs Neck Merchants Association sidewalk sale, which ran from Miles Avenue to Coddington Avenue was very successful. The Board partnered the U.S. Census Bureau in providing information to the public.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

PLANNING/BUDGET COMMITTEE: Julian Misiurski

Mr. Misiurski read the minutes, which were self-explanatory. However, he elaborated on the Budget cuts that are being proposed by the Mayor. These cuts will hurt our Board very badly, i.e. supplies, personnel. Much of our accrual is going into OTPS, (Other Than Personnel Services) in order to maintain the office.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE; James McQuade

Nominations Committee Chairman Virginia M.Gallagher met with her committee consisting of James McQuade and Pat Devine. A letter requesting nominees for the Executive Board was sent to the membership, but none were forthcoming. Since there was no response, the Committee agreed to ask for nominations from the floor. Hearing none, the slate is as follows.

Diane Lock, Chair                 Julian Misiurski, 1st Vice Chair
Ann Jack, 2nd Vice Chair      Joseph Russo, Treasurer
Andrew Chirico, serving as interim Secretary for Rose Foley

This will be voted on at our June 18th meeting.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE: Kenneth Kearns (in the absence of John Marano)

1. There have been many problems with the Game Day Grill, which is across the street from the Board office. The Police have been called, arrests have been made, and they were closed for three days. There have been fights, disturbances, etc. and the Police have tried to calm things down. The Board conducted a meeting with community members and the Game Day’s owners to try and resolve these matters, and it was determined that Game Day management should change their promoter.

3. The following resolution was read:“RESOLVED…at the Recommendation of the Municipal Services Committee of Bronx Community Board #10, that the following applications for street activity permits be approved”:

V. Harris - Vincent Avenue Block Assoc., August l, 2009, Vincent Avenue,
between Philip and Randall Avenues, between the hours of
11:00AM-9:00PM.

M. McLean- Shore Drive Assoc., August 1, 2009, Philip Avenue between E.
Tremont Avenue and Revere Avenue, between the hours of 3:00PM
and 7:00PM.

B. Bieder - Glebe Avenue Block Assoc., August 8, 2009, Glebe Avenue between Westchester Avenue and Lyon Avenue, between the hours of
9:00AM-9:00PM.

W. Fay - Hollywood Avenue Block Assoc., August 22, 2009, Hollywood Avenue
between Lafayette Avenue and Barkley Avenue, between the hours
of 8:00AM and 9:00PM.

J. Eboli - LaSalle Avenue Block Assoc., August 29, 2009, LaSalle Avenue
between Puritan Avenue and Mayflower Avenue, between the hours
of 9:00AM and 9:00PM.

M. Daly - FDNY Triathlon Event, September 20, 2009, City Island Avenue
between Belden Stret and Sutherland Street, between the hours of
7:00AM and 9:00PM.

B. Randazzo –Throggs Neck Halloween Street Event, October 31, 2009, Throggs Neck Blvd. between Harding and Schurz Avenues, between the
hours of 11:00AM and 4:00PM.

and that these approvals will be presented to the full Board, at its meeting on May 27, 2009.

This motion was seconded by J. Regina, and passed.”

Motion to accept made by Bill Heaney, seconded by Al Santiago.
Vote: All in favor – Unanimous (25)

3. At this time, another resolution was read: “At the Recommendation of the Municipal Services Committee of Bronx Community Board #10, that the Board approve a request to the New York State Department of Transportation, to initiate a study for the opening of the left turn exit of I-95 at Harding Avenue. The opening of this exit will facilitate the movement of traffic between the highway and local streets, and that after consideration by the full Board, that this Resolution be forwarded to the New York State Department of Transportation. This motion was seconded by Rev. Owens.”

Motion to approve this resolution made by Andrew Chirico, seconded by Reginald Sawyer.
Vote: All in favor – Unanimous (25)

HOUSING/ZONING COMMITTEE:

Mr. Sullivan read the minutes which were self-explanatory. He advised the Board that there will be a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) Hearing for the proposed building of 43 dwelling units, in 21 two family detached residences on City Island. The builders of this project are City Island Estates, LLC. They have requested this hearing via the Department of City Planning, and it will be held on June 2, 2009 at the City Island Branch of the New York Public Library – 320 City Island Avenue – 7:30PM.

Mr. Sullivan asked that all Board members attend this hearing. Our Board has received a letter from City Planning regarding effects this project would have on the community. District Manager Kearns opined that the project would cause extreme air pollution, as well as adding at least 72 cars to an already crowded area.

PARKS/RECREATION COMMITTEE: Virginia Gallagher

Mrs. Gallagher read the minutes, which were self-explanatory. She described the Hutchinson River Greenway project in its entirety.

She then thanked Dorothy Poggi and her volunteer group for their hard work on the Ferry Point Park West project, i.e. plantings, cleaning and community outreach.

YOUTH SERVICES PLANNING COMMITTEE: Mike Prohaska (in the absence
of Lisa Hazell) Mr. Prohaska read the minutes, which were self-explanatory.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE: Hannah Acampora (in the absence
of Sylvia Lask Mrs. Acampora read the minutes explaining that the meeting of May 18th, which served as a Public Hearing concerning the proposal by Leake and Watts Services to establish a group home for six developmentally disabled adults at 1623 Glover Street. There was no quorum at their meeting, so no vote could be taken. Therefore a motion was made at the Board meeting to reject this proposal, seconded by Joann Miller.

After much discussion, Board Member Hannah Acampora made the following
Motion: That Community Board #10 not support the proposal from Leake & Watts Services to operate a group home at 1623 Glover Street, Bronx, NY, for six Developmentally disabled women, due to over saturation in our community, and past management of this site.

A roll call vote was taken as follows:
19 in favor of supporting this proposal; 4 in favor of supporting the group home;
2 abstentions (A. Santiago, R. Sawyer)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: James McQuade

This is a newly formed committee, with Mr. McQuade as Chairperson. Mr. McQuade advised the Board #10 members that his intention is to have all businesses, organization, etc. work together towards better serving their communities. Mr. John Cerini will be the Business Development representative. A meeting of this new Committee will be held at the Community Board #10 District Office on June 4th, 2009 at 7:30PM.

At this point, Mike Prohaska mentioned that there will be a job fair for construction workers and building laborers on June 2 through June 15th. For more information call Community Board #10 District Office- 1-718-892-1611.

Chairperson Diane Lock thanked Ft. Schuyler House for the use of their facility.
She also thanked all Community Liaisons for coming this evening.

Motion to adjourn made by Peter LaScala, seconded by Alfred Santiago.
Vote: All in favor – Unanimous (25)

Meeting adjourned at 8:45PM.

Respectfully submitted by Estelle Marra, Clerical Associate