Community boards are local representative bodies that assess the needs of their own neighborhoods, meet with city agencies, and make recommendations in the City's budget process to address them. There are 59 community boards across the city, each comprised of up to 50 unpaid members, half of whom are nominated by their district's City Council members. Board members are selected and appointed by county presidents from among active and involved people in each community and must reside, work, or have any other important interest in the community. These types of calls also provide the Community Board with important indicators of the levels of resources that might be most needed in the district, reflected in the types of calls received. By acting as the eyes and ears of the community and reporting issues like this to the Community Board, you can gain the satisfaction of having made a positive contribution to improving the quality of life in your neighborhood.
Board members are your neighbors: people who live, work, own a business, or have some other important interest in the Community District. The Municipal Board has the power to initiate and review comprehensive or special-purpose plans for the municipality and is responsible for preparing a full statement of the expenses and priorities of the municipality's capital budget, as well as for mediating any dispute between community boards. The CB11 District Office has two main functions: processing complaints and requests for services from citizens and providing administrative support to the Community Board. We encourage the public to attend the various public hearings, committee meetings, briefings and special events of the Community Board to actively participate in the issues before the Community Board at the most popular level. Board committees are responsible for most of the planning and work on the issues that are implemented at community board meetings. A section of each general meeting of the Community Board is reserved for board members to hear from the public. Four of the five county presidents have said that term limits would weaken community boards, specifically on issues related to rezoning, according to The New York Daily News.
The District Office maintains all public records of the activities of the Community Board and is responsible for establishing and preparing notices for all Community Board meetings and functions. Each community board establishes its own committee structure and procedures it believes will best meet its district's needs.
How Can You Get Involved?
Community boards play an important role in improving quality of life for all New Yorkers. If you're interested in getting involved with your local community board, contact your district's City Council member or county president to find out how you can become a board member. While you're encouraged to attend and observe Community Board procedures, only board members can discuss and vote on motions presented. Getting involved with your local NYC Community Board is a great way to make a positive impact on your neighborhood.By becoming a board member, you can help shape decisions that affect your community. You'll also have access to resources that can help you make a difference in your area. Whether you're looking to get involved in local politics or just want to make a difference in your neighborhood, becoming a board member is an excellent way to do so.
