West Flushing Civic Association

LETTER To HELEN MARSHALL: Instill Some Democracy At CB 7

To The Borough President Of Queens:

April 5, 2002

Helen Marshall
Borough President, Queens
Queens Borough Hall

By Fax 286-2876

Dear Ms. Marshall:

The New York State Open Meetings Law, and its interpretation by the New York State Department Of State Committee On Open Government, provides public access to meetings of public bodies such that all Meetings and all Committee Meetings of Community Boards are subject to the Law. As such, the public must be given notice of all such meetings, as provided by law; the public must be permitted to attend all such meetings, as provided by law; and the public must be provided with access to the Minutes of all such meetings, as provided by law, in a timely manner, as is also provided by law.

Unfortunately, Community Board 7 in Queens routinely violates all of these provisions.

I have requested the CB 7 Chair, Eugene Kelty, to inform me of where public notices of all CB 7 regular and committee meetings, including executive board meetings, for April, 2002 and beyond are to be found, in compliance with the requirements for notification as prescribed by state law. I have also asked for an explanation of the Board’s policy and practice for providing timely public access to the Minutes of all Community Board 7 Meetings, including Executive and other Committee Meetings, as required by law.

As the elected official who appoints Community Board members to serve at your pleasure, and who in turn collectively hire the district manager, I am asking you to investigate past and present violations and assure us of a commitment to public service and open government from our Community Board from this day forward.

I am looking forward to your written response to this important issue. Thank you.

Sincerely,


Richard Jannaccio
President, West Flushing Civic Association
P.O. Box 7770
Flushing, NY 11352
(718) 460-9248
WestFlushing@yahoo.com

Cc: Local Press
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