By Craig Giammona
The election itself was not contentious since the board essentially reappointed the same officers who served in 2005. Before the election of each officer, board members were allowed to nominate other members to run. On both occasions that this occurred at the Jan. 18 meeting, however, the member being nominated promptly declined and each candidate eventually ran unopposed.A debate about whether to vote by paper ballot as opposed to a simple show of hands, however, did cause a bit of a stir, as members questioned if secret ballots were necessary.Jackie Boyce, the board member who chaired the nominating committee, said that there had been “discontentment” in 2005 about voting by hand.”There were some members who felt we shouldn't have to vote like we are in kindergarten,” Boyce said.First, a voice vote was taken to use paper ballots. No one voiced opposition, but few members seemed to express their opinion in the affirmative.Regardless, after some confusion, the paper ballots were passed out and the six officers who served the board in 2005 were returned to office.Dr. Gloria Black was re-elected chairwoman of the board; ManuelKaughman, first vice president; Michelle Keller, second vice president; Adjoa Esinam Gzisa, third vice president; Michael Richardson, treasurer; and Margaret Kirkland, executive secretary.In other business, the board unanimously rejected a variance request from developers Rothkrug, Rothkrug & Spector, who were represented at the meeting by attorney Neil Friedman. Friedman told the board that his clients have acquired a vacant lot located at 109-70 153rd St., near the corner of 110th avenue in Jamaica, and want to build a two-family house on the site. Friedman said the plans call for two three-bedroom apartments in the building, with off-street parking for two cars.The lot, he said, has been vacant since 1985, when a building that stood on the site was demolished. The lot, however, is too small for the building to be set far enough back from the road to accommodate the requirements of the property's zone and the developers were before the board seeking a variance.Board members complained that Friedman had not provided enough information about the project, including an environmental impact study and information about what structures were previously on the lot.”We can't make an intelligent decision because we don't have answers,” said Gzisa, the board's third vice president.Friedman said that an environmental impact study was not required and that his research into previous structures on the property had been unsuccessful.Heeding the recommendation of the board's Land Use committee, all 33 board members present voted against the project.Reach Reporter Craig Giammona by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 ext. 146.
