by: Jessica Sheridan Assoc. AIA LEED AP
Event: Info Session: How to Join a Community Board
Location: Helpern Architects, 01.23.09
Speakers: Shaan Khan — Director of Community Affairs and Constituent Services, Manhattan Borough President’s Office; Margery Perlmutter, AIA — AIANY Public Director & Former Community Board 8 Member; David Helpern, FAIA — Principal, Helpern Architects & Community Board 8 Member
Organizer: David Helpern, FAIA
Governmental reform in NYC’s community boards is needed. There are a high number of vacancies, unbalanced representation, a highly politicized appointment process, unreported conflicts of interest, and many are unaware that community boards exist. The urgency is apparent, as this comes from Shaan Khan, the director of community affairs and constituent services at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office. “Participation is the first step to reform,” Khan stated at a recent discussion encouraging design professionals to join community boards.
There are 600 members in Manhattan’s 12 community boards. With staggered two-year terms, members are residents, work in the area, or otherwise have a significant interest in the neighborhood. Full boards meet once a month, and sub-committees meet more regularly. The boards’ roles range from reviewing land-use proposals, monitoring city services, influencing policy issues, and controlling some of the NYC capital and expense budget. Community boards are the first step in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process as well as budgeting in the city. They have major say in what buildings get built and what changes are made to zoning regulations.
Margery Perlmutter, AIA, was a member of Community Board 8 for six years. She joined after witnessing board members “abusing” architects who were presenting their projects. “Most members have no idea about zoning, buildings, or planning. They make big decisions for people who don’t have a background.” Perlmutter used the Atlantic Yards debacle as an example of the naiveté of board members. This is why it is important for those who have experience and expertise — architects, engineers, and design professionals — to get involved with their neighborhoods, she said.
While the government may be working on de-politicizing the application process, Perlmutter had some words of wisdom for those considering applying. “Filling out the application is just the beginning. You have to jockey for position among the many cliques.” She recommends making appointments with council members, becoming a non-voting public member of sub-committees, making acquaintances with members, and using all of your personal connections to vie for a position.
David Helpern, FAIA, a member of Community Board 8 who cites Perlmutter as integral to his appointment on the board, spent time marketing himself to his board. He kept after council members to meet with him. He made sure the Borough President knew him, asked that committee heads consider him, went to as many community board meetings as possible, and made friends with as many members as possible. When his application came through, the board was already familiar with his qualifications and him, personally.
While the process to get on a community board may be intensive, there are many benefits to sitting on one. They can be used to leverage a future in politics. As the chair of CB 8’s landmarks committee, Perlmutter used her position to vie for and become the commissioner of the Landmarks Commission. Ultimately, the more informed and knowledgeable people in board positions are, the better it is for communities, she stated. Even if the deadline for this year has passed, now is the time to start getting involved to make a significant difference.