Jean Hill, a Community Board 7 member, was officially voted in as the new chair of CB7, humbly rising from her seat with a declaration to members: “[W]hen you come back in September you be ready to work.”

“Everyone here has a job to do,” Hill told members at the latest general board meeting on June 19 at the New York Botanical Garden’s Ross Hall. “You know I can’t do this all by myself.”

A round of applause soon followed, kick started by Ischia Bravo, CB7’s district manager. The two were seen sitting together.

Hill fills out the term left vacant by Adaline Walker-Santiago, who sources told the Norwood News abruptly stepped down amid political pressure. Walker-Santiago remains a member, but was absent.

Even before the vote, Hill had already secured a win. She had been nominated for chair at last month’s CB7 general board meeting, running unopposed. But she didn’t want to jinx her presumptive win. In an interview a day before winning, Hill spoke to the Norwood News saying she did not want to discuss the future.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t already thinking of the a myriad of issues that need to be addressed.

Hill has been a part of the Norwood community for over four decades, and she’s ready to continue her work to improve it. Listing impending rezoning, overcrowded schools, insufficient parking, and unaffordable housing as some of the issues she will continue to tackle, no matter her title, Hill has plans for CB7. The board covers Norwood, Bedford Park, parts of Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights, and University Heights.

“There’s a lot of work in the community that needs to be done,” Hill said. “The only way to get something done, is to go out and do it. And that’s how I work.”

Hill’s ascension as chair now gives her greater influence in the northwest Bronx community. She is also the district leader for the 81st Assembly District, and also serves as the longtime president of the Tracey Towers Tenants Association. Hill was at one point treasurer of CB7. She was also the board’s chair of Land Use, Zoning, and Housing Committee.

Last year, Hill narrowly lost the vote for CB7 chair to Walker-Santiago.

CB7 chairs are limited to serving no more than three consecutive one-year terms, and are allowed to remain community board members after their chairmanship ends.

One issue that’s on Hill’s mind: getting an elevator at the Mosholu Parkway train station. Currently, there are plans to build an elevator at the D train station in Bedford Park. According to Hill, Mosholu Parkway needs the elevator more.

“We desperately need [an elevator] here,” Hill said. “We’re on Mosholu Parkway. We have Tracey Towers, two hospitals, a high school, a college, and we don’t have an elevator for people to get up to the subway platform.”

As the president of Tracey Towers’ Tenants Association, Hill has spent years advocating for affordable housing in the area, and believes the solution isn’t as simple as new development. She aims to use the civic power she’s amassed, as chair, tenant president and district leader to impact the sort of housing development rising nearby.

“We have a varied range of income in the area that has to be supported by the new development,” Hill said. “When you have young professionals, we’re going to need housing that will fit their needs too.”

That means more mixed-income housing, but not at the expense of longtime, low-income residents in the community. Hill said, “Community residents who’ve been here for long periods of time should not be chased out of their residences.”

“You have long-term residents, and you have newer people who are moving into the area. They’re looking for affordable housing,” Hill continued. “That mix is what makes the neighborhood strong. Everybody brings something to the table, so we don’t exclude anybody.”