By IMANI HALL

Out with the old, in with the new. Community Board 7 will see some changes to its roster this September as it has appointed several new members.

The board, covering the Bedford Park, Jerome Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights, Norwood, Mosholu Parkway, and University Heights neighborhoods has recently appointed 18 new members to join roughly two-dozen members. Applicants made submissions in mid-winter, and new members were told of their new appointment the week of June 23.  They are Gary Clarke Sr., Kevin Miner, Ruben Torres, Marcos Sierra, Jermaine Johnson, Alora Bailey, Alfred Grant, Amjad Mujaahid, Carlos Gonzalez, Velvet Ross, Luis Miguel Guzman, Ellen Ray, Ruben Gonzalez, Shanequani Charles, Candice Ali, Alexandria Chyrach and Lynette Arroyo. The 18th appointee’s name has not been disclosed.

“We have yet to see how the new members will affect the board,” said Dustin Engelken, the newly-appointed district manager who began with the board as a general member.

The latest news comes as the board enters its summer hiatus after voting on the Kingsbridge Armory and capping the session with the hiring of Engelken. The board was without a district manager for nearly half its session following the resignation of Engelken’s predecessor, Socrates Caba. “Next year is going to be even bigger,” said Engelken. “There’s a lot of big plans that members have for the board.”

The board is considered an advisory council created by the city government. Members are considered the sentinels of the community, handling issues relating anywhere from  economic development to housing. They are usually recommended by the local NYC Council Members whose districts fall within the board’s borders. Final approval is made by the Borough President’s Office.

Community Board 7 sees a large number of new members arriving to replace seasoned members who left the board of their own will, according to Engelken. “Everybody has their own reasons,” he said. “Community boards are a big commitment.”

A complete list of community members is available on the boards’ website www.bronxcb7.info. Members will reconvene in September.