By Kathianne Boniello
The impending Community Board 11 elections caused more of a fuss than usual at the group’s Monday night meeting in Bayside as members discussed exactly how they would choose a leader to replace longtime Chairman Bernard Haber, who is term-limited.
The board is scheduled to elect a new slate of officers at its March 4 meeting to fill the positions of chairman and three vice-chairmen posts. Haber, who has far exceeded the new law limiting city officials to two consecutive terms, declined to serve as vice chairman at this week’s meeting at MS 158.
Haber, a Douglas Manor resident and retired engineer, has chaired the northeast Queens community board since 1972, when the recently retired Borough President Claire Shulman stepped down from the post to work in Borough Hall. Haber joined the board when it was created in 1969.
Community Board 11 includes the communities of Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, Oakland Gardens, Auburndale and Hollis Hills.
A large portion of the monthly meeting was devoted to working out the details of the elections, which will include the nominations of candidates from board members and voting. Vice Chairman Jack Como said that if none of the candidates for chairman earn 40 percent of the vote, there will be a run-off vote for the top two.
In the past several meetings community board members have been asked to indicate whether or not they would like to serve and Haber announced Monday that 11 individuals had done so.
Three members said they would like to serve as chairman: Como, of Bayside; Jerry Iannece, of Bayside Hills, and Joseph Rosenberg, of Oakland Gardens. Ten members said they would like to serve as vice chairmen, including Como; Iannece; Joan Garippa, of Little Neck; Melvyn Meer, George Mihaltses and David Kramer, of Bayside; Jim Rodgers, of Auburndale; Joseph Hellman, of Douglaston; Zion Halili, of Hollis Hills, and Dennis Novick, of Oakland Gardens.
Haber made it clear that even those not on the list would be welcome to run for a position if they chose.
“The list is not exclusive,” he said. “It’s wide open.”
Como said the board was expected to host a reception following the March 4 meeting to honor Haber and his more than three decades of service. The reception, Como said, would be open to the board, elected officials and the public.
CB 11 members were slated to hold a private dinner with Haber at Caffe on the Green in Bayside later that week, Como said.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
