BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A local community board has booted its longtime district manager.
Some feel that the deck was stacked, but whatever the case, it spelled the end of Francisco Gonzalez’s 20-year career as a district manager at Community Board 9.
Gonzalez was dismissed by a 17 to 2 board vote on Thursday, January 15.
Sources close to local politics told the Bronx Times that the vote comes as part of an ongoing feud between different political factions that involve Borough President Diaz Jr., who makes community board appointments, his father Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., and the embattled ex-district manager.
Many of those voting for Gonzalez’ ouster were recent appointments to CB 9.
“These people who voted me out are new, and they don’t know the depth of the work that I have done,” said Gonzalez, who said at the end of the day, he had sought to only serve the people in the board’s communities and the borough.
The former district manager said that working with the community is a life-long commitment.
“I always had an open door policy and anyone who has ever known me, knows that no one leaves that office without getting services of one kind or another,” he said.
The outgoing district manager, who’s replacement has yet to be named, was embroiled in a morass of sorts after he was fined $7,500 in August 2013 by the NYC Conflicts of Interest board.
According to its findings, Gonzalez let Bronx Puerto Rican Parade workers use community board office equipment.
Gonzalez survived a previous vote on his tenure by the board in December 2012.
Current CB 9 chairman William Rivera said that the board members were aware of the Conflicts of Interest ruling because it is public information.
“On Thursday, January 15, Community Board 9’s general board voted to remove our district manger, Francisco Gonzalez, effective immediately,” read a statement from the board. “We wish Mr. Gonzalez well in his future endeavors and thank him for his past service.”
A new district manager will hopefully be selected by the summer, after a screening process with rules mandated by the City Charter, said Rivera.
A spokesman for Borough President Diaz Jr. said that there will be no interim district manager, and that a staff member will assist the board and its staff as they search for a new manager.
CB 9 encompasses Castle Hill, Clason Point, Soundview, and Parkchester. Gonzalez had been its district manager since 1993, he said.
