By Howard Koplowitz
Community Board 13 elected a new district manager Monday who has experience with the position, ending a five-month search following the previous manager's resignation.
Lawrence McClean, district manager of Manhattan's Community Board 9 — which covers West Harlem — was the nearly unanimous choice among board members, who considered three others for the job.
McClean was notified that he had the job Tuesday afternoon and accepted the position, according to CB 13 Chairman Richard Hellenbrecht.
McClean could not be reached for comment.
The vote was conducted in executive session, meaning that the public was not able to see the board cast ballots or how the interview process went between the CB 13 board members and the candidates.
It took about an hour for CB 13 to interview the candidates and vote.
McClean, a South Ozone Park resident, replaces Sally Martino-Fisher, who resigned from the post in January amid questions about her residency. The district manager is required to live in the city in order to hold the job and Martino-Fisher did not offer proof of residency after facing allegations that she lived on Long Island.
She was a controversial figure while district manager, with some board members accusing her of manipulating CB 13.
One board member who voted for McClean said he has confidence the new district manager will help CB 13 move on from the infighting that plagued the board during Martino-Fisher's tenure.
“He's not going to play the board members against each other, which occurred with the former district manager,” the member said.
CB 13 members have been more civil with each other recently, although that may be because Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz has attended every meeting to keep an eye on the board since Martino-Fisher stepped down in January.
The board had not scheduled a starting date for McClean as of Monday, but agreed to set his salary at $65,000.
His duties will include helping to set the board's budget priorities, representing CB 13 at borough board meetings and responding to residents' complaints.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
