Month: September 2019

Minutes from May civic meeting -Thank you Kathy Lawless for transcribing !!!
BCCA Meeting May 23, 2019
The meeting began at 7:07pm with the Pledge of Allegiance led by president Dan Mundy Jr. 40 members in attendance.
• The first order of the meeting was to honor Natalie Grant for her many years of service to our community as Editor of the monthly Newsletter. Councilman Eric Ulrich presented her with a crystal plaque and a gift certificate on behalf of the Civic Association and the Board thanked her and wished her well in any future endeavors. Along with her family, Natalie has kept the original format of the Newsletter possible for many years. The Newsletter will now be converted to an electronic delivery method, with June being the last issue delivered to residents’ homes.
• Councilman Ulrich thanked the membership for their support of his office and recognized his staff member Ciera for her efforts on behalf of our community along with others in his district. He informed us that $2 million dollars, along with DOT funding will allow for the resurfacing of the roadway from the North Channel Bridge to 5th Road. Studies show that Cross Bay Blvd is the most heavily used corridor in Queens. This project is planned for the fall and will be done during the night hours. The center medians should be trimmed in the upcoming week. Flag Day Celebration will be held at the 17th Road Park on June 14th at 4pm. The Concert series in Queens will include an Opera tribute at Russo’s’ on the Bay on June 24th. He also spoke highly of Melinda Katz, Queensborough President, recognizing her support of our town and her willingness to work as a bi-partisan team for the betterment of the community. In recognition of the solemn aspects of Memorial Day, a moment of silence was held to honor all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
• Dan Mundy Jr. thanked Eric for his help in obtaining a Neighborhood Grant for $3,000, which will be used to beautify the entrance to the American Ballfield – Sunset Cove area.
• Dan Mundy Sr. brought up the deteriorating condition of the Sluiceway and its importance as a part of the evacuation route for the area. Studies were done in past years with nothing being done to address the problems. Erich advised that he will look into this issue and asked that anyone with questions please contact his office.
• Assemblywoman Stacy Amato reported on the community projects sponsored by New York Rising, advising that the NYC parks department is involved with Sunset Cove, The Sanitary sewer project on Lanark Road is going into the design phase, options are being explored on the East 12th Rd. Boardwalk, hopefully with the property deeded to the homeowners. The BCAC project is going out to bid again with a wider scope of contractors, the BCVFD is still exploring building options. One of her objectives is keep the legislation regulating the use of Borrow Pits in Jamaica Bay from having a sunset clause and make it a permanent law that would keep the Bay free of pollutants.
The toll on the Cross-Bay Bridge will soon be free for all Queens residents. She is sponsoring a Rain Barrel event, please contact Nicolette at her office for any details or if you have any questions. Discussions were held on the proposed building projects in Far Rockaway and the impact they would have on traffic, and she will continue to fight for the best outcome for the community.
• State Senator Joe Addabbo addressed the membership and he invites all to keep him advised on your position on current issues, such as congestion pricing by calling his office. He was instrumental in passing a bill regulating Borrow Pits for two years and is working on making it a permanent law. He recognized the Mundys’ for the part they play in educating city officials on the condition and importance of Jamaica Bay to the city. It was mentioned that fish and wildlife are thriving, with a Bald Eagle and a rare owl being spotted by the ball fields. A Seniors Only Job Fair will be held on May 31st and there will be a free Oral Cancer Screening at Pro Health on Cross Bay Blvd. On June 27th, he will have office hours at the Broad Channel Library. He honored all veterans in recognition of Memorial Day.
• Dan Brown reported via Dan Mundy Jr. that Melinda Katz has allotted funds to be used for the turf at the American Ballfield.
• NYPD – PO Smyth of the 100th Pct. advised that they are making their presence known when it comes to speeding issues there was a discussion on having a camera at the train station and cameras on 6th and 20th Road and the funding required.
• Street Raising Project- Fern reported that the project is on schedule with the sanitary and storm sewer work on W 13th being finished. Work on retaining walls should be completed by mid-July and the issues created on the boulevard at the head of the road should be repaired mid-November with the whole project winding up by the end of the year.
• Phase 2 – Dan Mundy Jr. reported that its going out to bid mid-June and that work should be starting next spring. The projected time frame for each block is ten months per block with W 17th Road as the last block to be done.
East 6th Road is being scoped out at the present.
• Yard expansion Program – The scheduled demolitions should be happening in the near future and properties are being closed progressively.
• Parks Committee- Marty Feeney advised that the hockey rink painting is under way and that the American Ballfield work would be done in 2020. A container is being placed in 17th Rd. Park for supplies and tools.
• BCAC- Marty advised that over 500 children were enrolled in the Summer Basketball Program.
• BCVFD- Dan McIntyre via Dan Mundy Jr. reported that he is still exploring options to build the new house within the budget.
• Jamaica Bay Eco Watchers- Dan Mundy Sr. reported on the recent meeting with the Army Corp of Engineers, having identified five marsh islands to restore as preventative maintenance for tidal surges. He advised that the Spring Creek Area restoration has been halted by FEMA.
• New Business- Dan Mundy Jr. thanked local T shirt entrepreneur John Conklin for his donation to the Civic Organization. He advised that Build it Back is still in Howard Beach, on an appointment only basis. For any complaints please follow the process to register them with Build it Back, not your contractor, so that they can be recorded and addressed. He will try to have Rudy Guiliani at the next meeting.
• There was much discussion on Build it Back issues, including punch lists, handicap lifts, sprinklers and annual inspections.

Motion to adjourn by Frank Porcella, seconded by Jim Harper
Kml/06.24.2019

BCCA Meeting June 27th, 2019

The meeting opened at 7:08 pm with approximately twenty-five members in attendance. Vice president Jim Harper led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilman Eric Ulrich reported through Jim that the median on the Boulevard had been cleared through the efforts of his office, he also stated that in the coming fall there would be a resurfacing of Cross Bay Blvd from the North Channel Bridge to 5th Road and that Lisena Landscaping was to be commended for the beautification of the mall from 17th Road to 20th that was made possible by a recent grant.

Assemblywoman Stacey Amato reported through Jim that she is working to correct the new problem of making a left turn from the bridge plaza.

The street raising project is on schedule with restoration work almost complete on W 11th Rd, with W 12th to be completed by November. The residents of West 13th are requested to not be parked on this road on Monday morning to allow for planned work. Phase 2 of the project is going out for bid in August and work on West 14th should start in Spring 2020.

100 Precinct- Capt. Hall addressed the assembly, stating that he has been involved with the community for a year and Found broad channel to be a beautiful community with minimal complaints. He spoke on the increase in grand larceny in the Rockaways, mainly thefts of unattended properties in unlocked vehicles and urged all to be vigilant in locking their vehicles. He applauded the work of the neighborhood officers and stated that there would be additional personnel assigned to this area for the beach

season.

Officer Richardson advised that the Speed camera on 6th Road and the Boulevard would be activated on The 11th of July. There was much discussion on traffic problems caused by MTA breakdowns and questions on the amount of CallaHead vehicles parked on the Boulevard and the problems they were creating for homeowners in that area by not being able to use their driveways, constant litter on the sidewalks causing them to incur fines, and causing many incidents with oncoming traffic. Capt. Hall advised that he had spoken to one of the owners and would contact them again.

At this time there was a question as to the lack of street cleaning after 6th Road posed by a member.

Senator Joe Addabbo advised the membership that he was instrumental in passing thirty-one bills in the Senate this year, and that the sunset clause protecting Jamaica Bay has been eliminated. He endorsed a bill requiring a moment of silence and discussion of the events of 9-11 be part of the schedule on that day in public schools. He advised that all Queens residents would not have to pay the Cross-Bay toll by April 2020 and

Treasurers Report- Tracey Harper

Civic – Historical- Old Civic-

$15,472.13 17,703.23 7,262.91

New York Rising Projects- No progress currently

stated that there would be a rain barrel event in St. Camillus on July 20th.

Parks Committee- John McCambridge stated that there would be a ribbon cutting seremony at 1p.m. at the 17th Rd. Park

Sunset Cove – will have a planting event on June 29th, volunteers are needed.
Eco-watchers- Dan Mundy Sr reported that the children of PS47 were the first to go out on the research vessel.

CB 14- John McCambridge reported that they passed the motion replacing the blacktop with turf at the Ballfield. There was much discussion on the Peninsula Hospital Redevelopment site.

Build it Back- Rudy Guiliani- After much discussion by irate residents, he advised that “Request for Review” must be filledout by anyone with complaints about Punch List issues. The forms can be downloaded online, google Build it Back- then Request for Review. A different contractor will be sent out.

New Business-

No Parking signs being erected on the north side of East 8th Road. Many residents are not happy with the lack of parking created by these signs. After much discussion, it was pointed out by a member that every road on the East side had had parking restricted because of the need for Emergency vehicle access.

A motion was made to adjourn by Pat Gross and seconded by Jim Harper.

Kml/9.23.2019