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Community Board 11 executive committee presses for clearer attendance tracking as reappointments near
Summary
At its April 17 executive committee meeting, Community Board 11 members urged improved attendance tracking, discussed the borough president's use of attendance in reappointment decisions, and debated whether bylaw changes have altered how attendance is reported to the Bronx Borough President's office.
Members of Community Board 11's executive committee on April 17 pressed for clearer attendance tracking and enforcement as the board approaches its May and June meetings, saying attendance is already being considered by the borough president when reappointments are decided.
Committee members said irregular sign-in practices and incomplete attendance records make it difficult for staff to compile accurate reports. Jeremy, a board staff member, said staff maintains a spreadsheet but that sign-in sheets are often incomplete and that he sometimes marks late or unrecorded attendees as absent unless notified. Members noted two scheduled full-board meetings remain before reappointments are considered in June.
The issue matters because attendance records are used in evaluating members for reappointment. Meeting participants reported that the Bronx borough president reviews attendance for people up for reappointment; at the same time, a recent bylaw change was mentioned that "not to send anything anymore to the borough president's office," prompting questions about how the borough president would obtain the attendance information. The transcript does not specify whether the borough president's office has a separate data request process or specific deadlines.
Several board members called for firmer expectations. The board chair said committee chairs should tell staff who is absent or present rather than leaving sign-in blanks. One member suggested smaller subcommittees to reduce chronic no-shows and improve quorum reliability; another said that if members do not want to serve, they should step down so committed members can replace them.
Staff described the current workflow: sign-in sheets are collected, then staff transfer attendance to a spreadsheet. When attendees do not sign in, staff sometimes mark them absent unless informed otherwise. Members asked that committee chairs notify staff when a member should be excused so the spreadsheet reflects the correction.
No formal motion was made in the executive committee meeting to change the bylaw or attendance policy; members said the matter will be raised again at leadership and with the full board before any formal action is taken.
