Western Queens community board members question complaints that jettisoned executive
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ex-Queens community board 1 executive secretary Nancy silverman was not appointed to another term on the board. photo courtesy of silverman
By David Brand
Reappointment to her Astoria community board seemed a foregone conclusion for Nancy Silverman, an active member elected to the executive board by her peers just a few months earlier.
But on June 1, Silverman awoke to an unexpected email. “I regret to inform you that you are not appointed to Queens Community Board 1,” wrote Queens’ Acting Borough President Sharon Lee in a form letter forwarded by another Borough Hall official, Vicky Morales. The letter suggested that Silverman reapply for a new two-year term in 2021.
“It was a complete shock to me,” Silverman said. “I first applied for the board seven years ago because I was interested in making changes within the community board to make it more transparent and community-minded, which it definitely wasn’t.”
She was at first mystified by Lee’s decision not to reappoint her, but an Eagle article later that day seemed to shed some light on the issue, she said.
In an email to the borough president’s office reviewed by the Eagle, the district manager for Queens Community Board 5, Gary Giordano, referenced “mistreatment” by “self serving abusers and bullies” on Queens Community Board 1 and 2. The alleged mistreatment against the district manager for Queens Community Board 2 was spelled out in an equal employment opportunity complaint filed by the district manager and reported by the Eagle last month.
“In the case of CB1Q,” Giordano wrote. “Nancy Silverman seems to be in charge of bullying the honest, intelligent, cooperative and caring district manager, and numerous board members have reportedly left public service as board members as a result of domination by mean spirited, abusive, self serving tactics.”
Silverman and other members said they were surprised to learn about the allegations — especially because some did not know who Giordano was.
Silverman acknowledged that she was a vocal critic of Koulouris as well as past board processes, like making decisions based on a show of hands rather than individual, on-the-record votes, but she said she considered the criticism strictly professional.
District managers are paid employees serving each of Queens’ 14 community boards — 50-member volunteer bodies that make recommendations on land use matters and hold hearings on key community issues.
Silverman said she had begun to create a job description for the role of district manager at the behest of the executive board. The wrote the description based on rules contained in the City Charter, the CB1 bylaws and website, and a job posting for a district manager in the Bronx. The role of district manager required more oversight from the board, she said.
Silverman said she can be “abrasive” during board discussions and in her dealings with Koulouris. She said she suspects that her frankness combined with the new oversight proposal prompted complaints from Koulouris.
When contacted by email, Koulouris declined to comment.
“I respect all of the Board Members, I have no comment on this matter,” she wrote back.
Three days after getting dropped from the board, Silverman posted a lengthy tweet thread questioning Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer’s role in the decision. She said Van Bramer was the one pushing for her removal.
Van Bramer, who recommends members for CB1 and CB2 and first recommended Silverman, told the Eagle he had heard “from numerous people who have shared concerns with me regarding these boards.”
“I believe our boards must work constructively for the districts they serve and staff and other board members must be treated with respect and dignity,” he added.
Nevertheless, he said, Lee made the final decision to drop Silverman. Lee and the Borough President’s Office did not respond to an email seeking comment.
A week later, questions linger about the dismissal among fellow board members, including Silverman’s allies.
“Nancy Silverman was a dedicated and effective member of CB 1,” said Board Chair Marie Torniali. “No shrinking violet, Nancy was certainly outspoken but always with the intent of benefiting the community. I’m sorry to see her go.”
Another board member, Evie Hantzopoulos, said she was “flabbergasted” when she learned of the decision.
“It’s a loss for the community board,” Hantzopoulos said. “She’s been an active, engaged member of the community board who has been really critical in making sure we were a better-functioning, more transparent, process-oriented board.”
Silverman, she said, worked to standardize board procedures, like ensuring the board reviewed and provided input on official letters before sending them out.
“She was making sure we weren’t just doing whatever we feel like and she helped us function better, while making sure that we are being transparent,” she said.
Hantzopoulos also questioned whether district managers on Queens’ 14 community boards were conspiring to get members fired, based on the letter sent by Giordano, who did not respond to phone calls seeking comment for this story.
“I can only deduce that the district managers are talking among each other about members,” she said.
“If it was the district manager making a complaint, that should have been brought to Nancy and the board’s attention and substantiated,” she added.
