By Rich Bockmann
Community Board 11 voted to re-elect each of its four board officers for another year Monday, although Chairman Jerry Iannece hinted it may be his last.
Iannece, who starts his fourth term as the board’s chairman, said he was “keeping his options open” about a possible run for public office, but he would not be any more specific about his plans. In 2009, he was defeated by Kevin Kim in the Democratic primary for City Council in the district now represented by Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone).
Christine Haider was elected to another year as first vice chairwoman, Dennis Novick as second vice chairman and Laura James as third vice chairwoman.
At the Monday night meeting at Bayside’s MS 158, at 46-35 Oceania St., Iannece announced that the FDNY Engine 320/Ladder 167 firehouse at 36-10 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Auburndale will be closing for renovations for approximately nine months.
During renovations, Engine 320 will go to the Murray Hill firehouse, home to Engine 274, at 41-20 Murray St., Iannece said, and Ladder 167 will go to the Bayside firehouse, home to Engine 306, at 40-18 214th Place.
Several of the community board members raised concerns that Engine 306 may again be proposed for closure, as it was last year.
“It’s something that always comes up. I’m assuming at one point they’re going to be talking about firehouses,” Iannece said. “Let’s hope that keeps them from even talking about 306.”
In his 2013 preliminary budget for the city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has kept the FDNY’s budget the same as last year, when the department announced a plan to shutter 20 fire companies across the city, including Bayside’s Engine 306. The Council eventually covered the budget shortcoming to prevent their closure.
The community board also voted to remove an undeveloped Douglaston street from the city’s map. Thebes Avenue between 248th and Overbrook streets was placed on the city’s street map, but never actually constructed.
Elena Aristova presented the application on behalf of Mel and Rosemary O’Donohue, who own two lots on the northern section of the road near 248th Street. She said the owners were having trouble with a neighbor who built a fence on the property.
“They have no plans to build, they just want clear title,” Aristova said.
Several community board members, however, were concerned that demapping the street would make way for development of lots on the lower section of Thebes, whose owners were not present at the meeting.
Aristova said the lower lots could not be developed because they did not have enough street frontage to comply with city codes. The board approved the application 27-7.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
