Brewer on 2018 term limits and brain drain concern
Brewer criticizes the 2018 ballot proposal imposing four-term limits on community board members, calling it a terrible idea that will cause a brain drain of experienced members, particularly on complex land use issues, by 2027.
A 2018 ballot proposal imposed a requirement that borough presidents seek out community board applications from diverse backgrounds.
Council members do not directly appoint members, which I think is a good thing.
They can only nominate members who then may or may not be appointed by the borough president.
Actually, I think that's how it should stay.
Community board members are all volunteers.
They are unpaid.
They're expected to attend monthly board meetings.
I used to take people off who did not do that.
In addition to serving at least one committee, most of them meet monthly.
Board members serve two-year terms.
The 2018 ballot proposal also imposed term limits on board members.
I thought that was a terrible idea.
No members may serve more than four consecutive terms.
The first members subject to these new terms will need to be replaced by 2020-17, which is a brain drain.
While this will create room for newer members, it will also mean the loss of long-time members.
members with significant knowledge about complex issues, particularly land use.
We want to make sure that the community boards themselves, along with borough presidents and the Civic Engagement Commission, Benjamin knows how I feel about that, are all prepared for this unprecedented turnover.
I did vote against that in the charter too, just so you know.