Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) board members voted to approve the only motion tabled at their first board meeting to be held since June, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the Sister Annuciata Bethell Senior Center in Bedford Park.

 

The sole motion put forward by the Budget, Personnel & Ethics Committee was to send an attendance violation letter to seven members of the board who were found to have violated the board’s attendance requirements from January 2024 through June 2024.

 

Per the motion, board members, Jean Hill, Tayna Peña, Meriyen Parra-Feliz, Jake (Helene) Wilson, Leslie Harrison, Rosalie Leslie, and Gwen Thomas-Steed, were in violation of attendance requirements.

 

As the motion passed, a notification was delivered to those board members found  to be in violation. The impacted members will have 20 days to send an explanation to the board’s chairperson of the Budget, Personnel & Ethics committee and the district manager.

 

Betty Arce, chair of the environment and sanitation committee, reminded the community of what she said were “two very important issues” on the horizon which she said were going to affect everyone for the most part, curbside composting and containerization of trash.

 

“We need to do something about our environment, and when food waste goes into the landfill, it gives off a gas methane and that methane is what is damaging and hurting our environment,” Arce said.

 

NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has advised Bronxites that curbside composting in The Bronx begins on Oct. 6. For more information or to order a free brown bin, visit nyc.gov/dsny.

 

As for containerization, Arce said, “No longer can you put out your garbage in black bags. It has to be in a container that’s covered or closed. Then in two years, you’re going to be required to have to use a very specific type of container, because hopefully, the City begin to retrofit the garbage cans. That’s still two years away, but for now, you can do whatever container you have.”

 

According to information published on DSNY‘s website, beginning Nov. 12, all properties with one to nine residential units will be required to use bins, 55 gallons or less, with secure lids for trash set out.

 

Edgar Ramos, chair of the traffic and transportation committee, said the NYPD transit bureau representatives attended the committee’s September meeting and reported that crimes were down in the transit bureau division that covers the 52nd precinct. “There are some problems on the transit system with violence but it has stayed away from our area,” Ramos said.

 

On a separate topic, Ramos said, “The Department of Transportation changed a lot of the parking rates in the municipal parking lots we have. CB7 has one on 190th and Jerome Avenue, and we have one on Gun Hill Road and Jerome. Those are both municipal lots. Those rates will be going up starting in 2025.”

 

The next general board meeting will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at 2501 Jerome Avenue.