LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

See? CB8 already is transparent

Posted

To the editor:

(re: “Transparency? We’ll believe it when we see it,” Nov. 22)

You quoted me in a recent editorial saying that there was no vote for housing chair at the November Community Board 8 meeting because “we haven’t found the right person yet.” You then write, “We? Who is this we?”

Had you bothered to ask me that question before writing your editorial, I would have answered that “we” is the members of the community board.

Who is “the right person”? For me, one criterion is someone who observes the tradition of notifying board members in advance of the monthly meeting that he or she wishes to be considered for a vacant position as an officer or committee chair, as both Laura Spalter and Robert Fanuzzi did prior to the November community board meeting.

At that meeting, as you noted, there was a call for nominations, votes were taken, and both individuals were confirmed. Yet you complain that the process somehow wasn’t transparent because the board filled with positions of vice chair and environment and sanitation chair before addressing the housing chair vacancy. So far as I was aware, no one had put himself or herself forward for that position prior to the meeting. So waiting another month to encourage someone to come forward made sense.

It’s disheartening that you seem to regard this sensible procedure was happening “behind closed doors.” Even more disheartening than that is your unfounded criticism of board chair Rosemary Ginty’s leadership. Ms. Ginty spent several months in 2017 and 2018 voluntarily taking on the responsibilities of the district manager while that position was vacant, putting in countless hours of effort.

I have had the privilege of serving under five community board chairs to date, and none of them has worked harder or more diligently than she. Your editorial has done her and the community board a great disservice.

Bob Bender

The author is a member of Community Board 8.

Bob Bender,

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