Decisions Need To Be Made About Your Neighborhood: Community Board 3 Has Many Vacancies, Volunteers Needed In Annadale, Tottenville, Other South Shore Areas
BP Vito Fossella
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BP Fossella, Councilmen Borelli and Carr Issue Call for Staten Islanders to Volunteer on Community Board 3
Editor’s note: Staten Islander has previously reported on the vacancies available on the Community Board 2 in Brooklyn. However, the board on Staten Island does not have any paid positions for Community Boards. While there are many board members presently serving on CB3, there are 15 vacant spots. That is 15 more voices to represent the community more thoroughly. According to reporting by the Advance, there is an ongoing City inquiry into the practices of this Community Board, and on October 9th, they voted unanimously to amend the by-laws to limit their member’s ability to speak with the media.
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella, Councilman Joseph Borelli and Councilman David Carr are calling for Staten Islanders who are looking to improve their community to volunteer to serve on Community Board 3.
BP Fossella, CM Borelli and CM Carr are issuing this call in consideration of the fifteen existing vacancies on CB3. The board comprises the Annadale, Arden Heights, Bay Terrace, Charleston, Eltingville, Great Kills, Greenridge, Huguenot, New Dorp, Oakwood, Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley, Richmondtown, Rossville, Tottenville and Woodrow neighborhoods of Staten Island.
“Many people expressed interest in getting involved in their communities, and one way in which they can is by participating in their local Community Board. For those, particularly in the South Shore, who want to have a greater say in their community and work to improve the quality of life, be aware that we are accepting applications for Community Board 3,” Borough President Fossella said.
“If you want to make a positive impact on your community and have the time to dedicate to it, the community board can be a very rewarding place to serve,” said Councilman Borelli. “I invite those interested to fill out the application and apply.”
“We need qualified, thoughtful people to serve on Community Board 3. Our Boards are an important venue for neighborhood voices, and we want to get more people involved with the critical qualify of life concerns that are facing our borough,” Councilman Carr said.
A member of a community board serves in an advisory role, and must attend the monthly board meetings as well as several committee meetings. They weigh in on matters of land use, liquor licenses for businesses, traffic and transportation matters, local school and park locations, and variances applied through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure or Board of Standards and Appeals.
Prospective board applicants must either live in the district or have a community interest, such as a job, business, not-for-profit or other regular involvement in the district.
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government.
The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities.
In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough.
As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses.
The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.
