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Community Board 11 leadership delays removals, sets warning plan for members with repeated absences
Summary
At its May 15 leadership meeting, Community Board 11 discussed enforcement of attendance rules, flagged several members with multiple absences, and agreed to warn members now and consider firmer action in September after reappointments are settled.
Community Board 11’s Leadership Committee discussed how to enforce attendance rules at its May 15 meeting, flagging several members for repeated absences and agreeing to issue warnings now and revisit removal rules in September.
The committee heard staff and leaders describe a small set of members whose attendance records may trigger removal under the board’s rules. Mitri Nelson, vice chair of the Leadership Committee, and committee staff reviewed the minutes and attendance records and told the group that at least three people — identified in the meeting as Junior Campbell, “Lisa” (listed in committee records with five excused absences), and Janice Walcott (three unexcused absences) — had attendance patterns that merited follow-up. The committee did not pursue removals at the May meeting.
Committee members said they want to be fair while protecting board functioning. Multiple participants argued against starting removal proceedings immediately because the board is amid reappointments and the fiscal year is ending. The committee agreed to notify the named members that their attendance is being monitored and to apply firmer enforcement starting in the new fiscal year unless patterns improve.
The meeting also discussed the mechanics of excusing absences. Committee members described a range of practice — email, text, phone call — and asked for a clearer, uniform rule about what counts as an excused absence. Several leaders urged a minimum advance-notice standard to prevent last-minute “excused” claims: proposals discussed included 24–48 hours and a 36-hour registration deadline referenced elsewhere in the meeting. Members emphasized the need to treat medical or family emergencies differently from routine last-minute cancellations.
Committee staff said the board’s bylaws already require members to notify their chair and the board office in advance for an absence to be considered excused. Members asked that the board publish monthly attendance summaries after each meeting and said they would bring concrete enforcement language to leadership in September, after reappointments are finalized.
The committee instructed staff to contact the individuals with attendance concerns, continue tracking absences publicly, and prepare clearer excusal guidance and timelines for the fall.
