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Senate Bill S689

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Expands the membership of the board of standards and appeals to thirteen members

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cities Committee

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2015-S689 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Cities
Law Section:
New York City Charter
Laws Affected:
Amd ยง659, NYC Chart
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2011-2012: S6104
2013-2014: S320
2017-2018: S1544

2015-S689 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Expands the membership of the board of standards and appeals to thirteen members, with the eight additional members to be appointed, one each, by the borough presidents, public advocate, comptroller and city council.

2015-S689 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S689 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   689

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities

AN ACT to amend the New York city charter, in relation to expanding  the
  membership of the board of standards and appeals to thirteen members

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Declaration of legislative findings and  intent.  Prior  to
the  1991  revision  of the New York city charter and elimination of the
board of estimate, zoning and special permit decisions made by the board
of standards and appeals could be reviewed by  the  board  of  estimate,
comprised of city-wide elected officials including the mayor, the presi-
dent  of  the  city council, the comptroller and the borough presidents.
The effect of this review process was to ensure that the public's  voice
was  considered in this significant decision-making process. The charter
revision did not continue the review authority of the board of  estimate
on  zoning issues and such authority was not vested in any other body of
elected officials. Thus the mayor retains sole appointment powers in the
membership of the board of standards and appeals.
  This amendment to the charter adds eight  additional  members  to  the
board  of  standards  and  appeals  to  be  appointed by the other major
elected officials in city government,  the  borough  presidents,  public
advocate,  comptroller and city council. This change introduces a neces-
sary check on the board of standards and appeals' authority and  returns
the public voice to the decision-making process in the area of zoning.
  S  2.  Subdivision  a  of section 659 of the New York city charter, as
added by local law number 49 of the city of New York for the year  1991,
is amended to read as follows:
  a.  There  shall  be  an  independent  board  of standards and appeals
located within the office of administrative  trials  and  hearings.  The
board  of standards and appeals shall consist of [five] THIRTEEN members

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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