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Council Member Keith Powers introduces committee meeting and provides background on Board of Corrections
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Council Member Keith Powers opens the meeting of the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Elections, introducing committee members and staff. He outlines the agenda, which includes considering three nominations for appointment or reappointment to various city boards and commissions. Powers then provides detailed background information on the New York City Board of Corrections, its responsibilities, and composition.
- The committee will consider nominations for the NYC Board of Corrections, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, and City Planning Commission.
- Powers explains the Board of Corrections' role in overseeing the Department of Correction and establishing minimum standards for inmate care.
- He details the Board's composition, appointment process, and reporting requirements, including a focus on improving the grievance process for vulnerable populations.
Keith Powers
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Good morning, and welcome to the meeting of the committee on rules, privileges, and elections.
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I'm city council member Keith Powers, chair of the committee.
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Before we begin, I'd like to introduce the other members of this committee who are present.
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We're joined by council member Justin Brannan from Brooklyn.
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I believe we're joined by council member Diana Aiella online and council Harper Brooks Powers online as well, and we'll announce others as they join us.
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I wanna acknowledge the committee council Jeff Campagna and the committee staff that work on the appointments that were here today.
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Chief ethics council Pearl Moore, director of investigations, Francesca Della Vecchia, and deputy director director of investigations, Alicia Vassell.
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Thank you always to all of them for their great work.
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Today, we'll be holding a public hearing on three nominations for appointment designation.
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We'll be considering the nomination of Lawrence Stassel for appointment by the council to serve as member of the New York City Board of Corrections, the proposed designation by the council of Patricia Morthone for appointment by the mayor's director of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and the public advocate's request for counsel's advice and consent in connection with his nomination of Leah Goodridge for reappointment as a member of the City Planning Commission.
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Each candidate will be invited to make an opening statement before we move on to member questions.
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After all candidates have appeared, we will hear public testimony.
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Testimony.
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Our first public hearing will be on the nomination of Laura Stassel for appointment by the council as a member of the New York City Board of Corrections.
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You may join us here at the dais.
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And I wanted to just congratulate all three on their appointments and reappointment, nomination to reappointment.
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The board of corrections established by section six two six of the New York City charter is responsible for the inspection and visitation at any time of all institutions and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction as well as the evaluation of DOC performance.
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DOC must establish minimum standards for the care, custody, correction, treatment, supervision, discipline of all persons held or confined under the jurisdiction of the department.
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And it shall promulgate such minimum standards and rules and regulations after giving the mayor and commissioner an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed standards, amendments, or additions to such standards.
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The BOC consists of nine members, three appointed by the mayor, three by the council, and three by the mayor on nomination jointly by the presiding justices of the appellate division of the supreme court for the advice of for the for the first and second judicial departments.
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Appointments are made by three respective appointing authorities on a rotating basis to fill any vacancy.
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The chairman of the board is designated by the mayor from its members.
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We're joined by council member Farias as well.
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Welcome.
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These members are appointed for six year terms with vacancies filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
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The BOC may appoint an executive director to serve at its pleasure pleasure with such duties and responsibilities as the board may assign and other professional clerical and support personnel within appropriations for such purpose.
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The BOC is required to establish procedures for the hearings of grievances complaints or requests for assistance by or on the behalf of any person held or confined under the jurisdiction of the department or by any employee of the department.
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BOC also issues a report at least every three years on issues related to the department's grievance process.
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Such reports must incorporate direct feedback from incarcerated individuals and proposed recommendations for relevant improvements and include a section of recommendations on how to improve the grievance process for vulnerable populations including incarcerated individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming.
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Such report must be submitted to the council and posted on the board's website.
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If appointed by the council, Lawrence Dassault will be eligible to serve the remainder of a six year term ending on 02/01/2029.
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Welcome and congratulations.