Bylaws committee approves combining four subcommittees into two; tables change to elected-official speaking time

At its October meeting the Bronx community board's Bylaws and Ethics Committee approved a bylaws amendment to combine two pairs of subcommittees and tabled a separate amendment that would change how much time elected officials receive to address the board.

The committee voted to combine the sanitation and environmental protection committee with parks and recreation, and to combine housing with land use. The consolidation motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; committee members did not record a roll-call tally on the record. Ryan Barthel, chair of the Bylaws and Ethics Committee, opened the meeting and led discussion of the proposed changes.

The consolidation drew brief discussion on attendance and quorum. Proponents said reducing the number of distinct committees could reduce meeting overlap and improve attendance; opponents asked for careful drafting of the implementing bylaw language…