Queens Community Board Application Goes Digital

QUEENS, NY — The Queens Borough President's Office is now accepting applications to serve on one of the borough's 14 community boards, and, for the first time, the application process is completely digitized.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is looking for "qualified and civic-minded individuals" to represent the neighborhoods where they live or work as a member of their local community board, according to a news release.

Prospective members and current members whose term has expired have until Feb. 19 to apply.

This year's community board application marks the first time the application process is completely online. In the past, applications had to be signed and notarized, then submitted in-person at Queens Borough Hall.

Richards said digitizing the application would diversify the applicant pool by making the process more accessible, particularly to those living in transit deserts.

“Government is more effective and accountable not only when it works hand-in-hand with the communities it is sworn to serve, but when the full tapestry of each and every neighborhood is justly represented within that government,” Richards said in a statement. “This common-sense overhaul of the outdated community board application process represents a significant step toward ensuring that our 14 Queens Community Boards truly look, sound and feel like the diverse neighborhoods of each district.”

Community boards play an important advisory role when it comes to local land use and zoning proposals and other hyperlocal issues, such as restaurant liquor licenses, and put together lists of the district's most pressing budgetary needs each fiscal year.

They also hold hearings on concerns specific to their district, from the city's proposal to build a new jail in Kew Gardens to the plan for a homeless shelter in Douglaston.

Selected community board members will serve a two-year term starting April 1. Members are unpaid and may serve up to four consecutive terms.