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Leadership moves updated ethics complaint form and flowchart to full board; members debate removal of disciplinary role and need for training
Summary
The leadership committee discussed an ethics committee proposal to revise its flowchart and complaint form, including removing the committee’s disciplinary function and refocusing on training, mediation and positive recognition. The committee agreed to publish materials and bring them to the full board for a vote.
Bronx Community Board 11 leadership reviewed an updated ethics committee flowchart and a revised complaint form at its June 23, 2025 meeting and agreed to forward the materials to the full board for consideration.
Ethics chair Jeanette Wilson presented the committee’s changes and said the committee had reviewed several recent complaint cases and recommended modifications to process and language. Jeanette described the proposed change in scope: “We would like to… we really seriously believe that that [discipline] has no place in the community board,” and said the committee intends to emphasize corrective education and improvement rather than internal discipline.
Committee members discussed alternatives to a punitive model, including: - Rebranding the committee to add a positive recognition role (examples discussed included an “ethics spotlight” or awards for exemplary service). Several members suggested chairs and committees be encouraged to recognize high performers within their groups. - Developing a mediation or dispute‑resolution pathway so complainants and respondents could pursue conflict resolution, sensitivity training, or restorative exercises rather than a strictly punitive outcome. Several gallery speakers from the public urged a mediation option so complaints have a clear resolution path. - Expanding training. Board officers who attended a Borough Hall conflict‑resolution session reported it was well attended and useful; leadership expressed interest in securing similar trainings for all board members rather than only chairs and district managers.
Leadership directed the ethics committee to publish the updated flowchart and complaint form to the full board packet (Jeanette and staff agreed to publish the form and flowchart by Friday, June 27, and to send a separate email announcing the item so members would read it ahead of the full board meeting). Jeanette said cases 117, 119 and 120 were reviewed by the committee and that case 118 (a complaint from a board member alleging conduct by a community member) was closed because the committee determined it was outside the committee’s remit.
Members agreed that repeated complaints against the same individual should be tracked and could trigger additional review; at the same time leadership emphasized the borough president’s office retains appointment and removal authority. Several members asked that any future proposals clearly define what the committee can and cannot do, list recommended trainings, and include timelines for committee actions.
Ending: Leadership agreed to place the ethics flowchart, revised complaint form and case dispositions on the full board agenda for a vote and to circulate the documents to members in a standalone email ahead of that meeting.
