Queens Residents Split Over Term Limits On Community Boards

KEW GARDENS, QUEENS -- For Queens residents, the debate over adding term limits to New York City's community board seats is divided into two sides: Diversity and experience.

Advocates of capping the amount of time one can serve on their neighborhood board argue the borough's local panels lack diversity because the unlimited terms members are currently allowed to keeps boards from actually representing their neighborhoods' changing population.

Critics argue limiting members' years of service would cost boards their most experienced volunteers and the years - sometimes decades - of knowledge they bring on complex topics such as zoning.

Both sides made their case before the New York City Charter Review Commission for nearly three hours at the Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens on Thursday night in one of several public hearings to decide what changes they'll propose to the city charter.

"This is the stage where we’re narrowing our focus," said Rachel Godsil, vice chair of the commission. "We have to put a small number of proposals forward to our voters."

State law allows every mayor to appoint a commission to review their city's charter - essentially a local constitution - for possible changes, but Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this year that his would narrow in on city elections, campaign finance reform, civic engagement, redistricting and community boards.

For Queens residents Thursday night, the hot topic was the latter.

Those in favor of adding term limits to community board seats largely suggested a 12-year cap, arguing it gave members ample time to build up their knowledge of the area and make a significant mark.

"I think 10-12 years sounds about right in terms of allowing people to get through the learning curve," said Philip Papas, chairman of Community Board 3, which covers Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and North Corona.

"As board members we’re serving the community, not the other way around, and the community is constantly changing. I think it’s really important to reflect that."

Right now, community boards don't reflect that, said Helen Ho, a member of Astoria and Long Island City's Community Board 1. She said various jobs and community leadership titles have taken her to meetings of every community board in the borough, where she's noticed a lot that still needs to be done to increase diversity.

"Newer members are often intimidated and have a hard time speaking out without having 15 years of tenure to give them legitimacy," Ho said.

City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) also spoke before the commission in favor of term limits, noting the demographics of Queens have changed significantly since district lines were last drawn in 1975. Then, the borough's population was nearly 85 percent white, but today Asians, Hispanics and African Americans make up roughly 61 percent of its population, he said.

"None of the boards come close to representing these communities," Dromm said.

But Henry Euler, of Bayside, begs to differ. The longtime Community Board 11 member said he's watched his board change naturally with the times.

"We have an excellent mix in terms of diversity, age and viewpoints," he said.

"There's no need to remove knowledgeable unpaid volunteers who have served with distinction and integrity to better their communities."

Doing so, he said, would only hurt the board by getting rid of valuable experience and knowledge of the community's needs.

Lucy Schilero, of Community Board 4, agreed. Rather than giving those with decades of experience the boot, the city should simply add more slots on each board and fill them with the demographic they're looking for, she said.

"I don't believe in term limits," Schilero said. "You cannot put a price on volunteerism and the time you give to the community."

Lead photo by Danielle Woodward/Patch