Last week, on a dark stormy Tuesday evening, change was afoot at Community Board 7. By the end of the board’s final meeting before the summer hiatus, members elected a new chairman for the first time in four years and approved the hiring of new district manager, a paid position that had been vacant for nine months.

Behind the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the New York Botanical Garden’s Visitor Center Café, members narrowly voted in former vice chair Adaline Walker-Santiago as the new chairperson over William Francis.

At the same meeting, the board approved the hiring of Socrates Caba as the new district manager, by a vote of 13-3, with eight members abstaining. Caba will fill the position vacated by the departure of Fernando Tirado, who resigned as district manager last fall after a group of members unsuccessfully tried to have him removed.

Two members of the board spoke up to endorse Walker-Santiago during the meeting, calling her “dedicated,” “a tireless worker,” and “a blessing.”

Other board members thanked Walker-Santiago for her support of education and the arts. One enthusiastic board member, Cecilia Donovan, thanked the new chairperson on behalf of her daughter for supporting a science initiative at her daughter’s school, MS 80, which Walker-Santiago tried to save from closure last year. (The DOE’s attempt to close the school was overturned by a court ruling following a lawsuit by the teachers’ union.)

Although Francis’ supporters were not nearly as vocal during the meeting, the board’s close vote suggests the group was split. (The board couldn’t confirm the exact vote by press time on Tuesday.)

“I am an advocate for more engagement and expansion,” Walker-Santiago said. “The Bronx is moving up, we’re going to be unstoppable,” she added, flashing a smile.

Yet some were less enthusiastic about the election results.

“An election is an election,” said board member Sandra Erickson. “Like all elections, people win fair and square. I look forward to working with all the members of the board.”

Barbara Stronczer, recently elected to first vice chair, declined to comment about the election results, but has in the past, expressed concern about the safe development of Webster Avenue.

Paul Foster, who stepped down this spring after serving as chairman for the past four years, was coy about his feelings about the election. “Well, if 300 million Americans can elect George W. Bush, then I guess this can happen,” he said.

During the election, board members were asked to pass their ballots to the middle of the room. Papers shuffled and throats were cleared as the votes were tallied and the new executive committee was announced. Jean Hill was selected as treasurer, Andrew Laiosa was third chair, Nora Feury was elected to second chair, and Barbara Stronczer became the new first chair.

“I think that the elections went really well and we have a great group [of leaders],” said community board member Helen Hartman. “I am very excited and optimistic about this year,” she said.

Some of the most pressing issues the board now faces include the coming re-development of the Kingsbridge Armory, which is slated to be turned into the world’s largest ice sports complex, but still faces the scrutiny of the community board, borough president and City Council; the decontamination of PS 51, where Walker-Santiago’s children attended school; and the redevelopment of Webster Avenue, which was recently rezoned to expand residential and retail spaces.

“The Armory will celebrate the area and showcase our part of the Bronx, which is truly a gem and has always been unappreciated,” Hartman said.

“My kids asked me why we didn’t have something like that when we were little,” Walker-Santiago said of the project. “We want people to join us and make the Bronx the best,” she added.

Walker-Santiago expressed interest in pursuing projects to promote job creation, including the Kingsbridge Armory, the expansion of Webster Avenue, and said she is passionate about education and has participated in several anti-bullying initiatives.

“I was PTA president, so I know what it is like to empower parents,” she said. “You have to love people to get things to move.”