Board 9 Fires Top Administrator
Brooklyn Community Board 9 District Manager Pearl Miles has been fired for being "gravely out of touch with the community that she is employed to serve." Full Story, Video
Members of Brooklyn Community Board 9 voted Tuesday to remove their longstanding top administrator, following hours of debate and a year of controversy surrounding the board's handling of a rezoning proposal in the area, DNAInfo.com reported.
District Manager Pearl Miles has been stripped of her title "effective immediately" after 30 years of service, said board chairman Demetrius Lawrence after the vote Tuesday night. Thirty-two board members voted to remove her, he said, with seven "no" votes and three abstentions.
The board considered the decision in a two-hour, closed-door executive session during a monthly full board meeting held at M.S. 61 in Crown Heights in which Miles was given a chance to respond to a letter of intent to remove her sent by Lawrence and CB9's top leaders last week.
The letter claimed Miles engaged in "a longstanding pattern of misconduct," "unprofessional behavior" and has left locals feeling that she is "gravely out of touch with the community that she is employed to serve."
Video: Pearl Miles voted out as District Manager
Those charges have also been leveled at Miles by the local activist group Movement to Protect the People, who repeatedly asked for her resignation in the past year as the board considered a controversial request to the Department of City Planning to begin a rezoning study in the district, including Crown Heights and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, reported DNAInfo.
Seven CB9 members have been appointed to head up a search committee to find a replacement for Miles, which will begin work this week to find appropriate candidates.
Miles says Borough President Eric Adams seemed to have schemed to have her fired because at 66 she was "too old" for the job, according to a $10 million lawsuit, The NY Post reported.
Miles, who served as district manager for 22 years following eight as an assistant, claims that Adams worked behind the scenes to force her ouster — even though as a state senator in 2011 he wrote a glowing commendation of her, the suit claims.
"I was told, you're too old. You need to retire," Miles told The Post, referring to Adams' allies on the board. "Ever since Eric Adams came into office I feel they have been trying to get me out."
Miles is seeking $7,500 in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages for "pain and anguish."
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Like A Soldier Into Battle
How about our own comunity council?
There are many people sitting in there for years doing absolutely NOTHING for our community! Boro Park and Williamsburg are all out to help their people. Take an example from them!
The WIC station in Williamsburg was a disgrace years ago, until a new manager came in and started firing people.Today its an example for efficiency and usefulness. All those old ladies are now fighting to help customers, from fear of losing their jobs. When will CH do the same?
Nice to see Avi Lesches at the meeting. At least a few people care enough to represent us.
Thank You Pearl & Jake
I wanted to thank Pearl Miles & Jacob Goldstein for the September 24, 2013 Community Board vote which recommended they build an 8 story "Mental Heath" building for seriously mentally ill individuals who may have drug addictions, leaving psych wards in the middle of Maple Street between Schenectady and Utica, where several Jewish families live, and a short distance from Kingsbrook Jewish Shul. Even though the official vote was 15 out of 30 and they didn't have a majority, then Chairperson Goldstein said it passed, even though the NYC Charter says you need a majority to pass a vote. Thirty… Read more »
yankel
Avi is on the Board one of few who take the time for the community.
JAY THANK YOU!!
Hashem saw that no one from the community cared enough, so he sent Jay to save the day.
Thank you Jay, keep up the good work,
May Hashem repay you for all your good deeds.
Thanks Jay
Jay in one of the only people to see the truth. Our leaders have sold us out. Jay, your the best.
yes i'm happy she was removed
she was rude many times i hope all the other workers at the jewish community council will pay attention to the needs of our community and not be rude
Mendel E
Jay, I am glad to hear your voice. It is an important voice in the community. I hope that it gets representation in more than just a comment.