New York City has 59 community boards, each covering a specific geographic district across the five boroughs. These boards are made up of up to 50 volunteer members appointed by their borough president for two-year terms. Members advise city agencies on zoning decisions, land use proposals, budget requests, and the quality of local services ranging from sanitation to parks. Any resident or employee who is at least 18 years old and lives or works in the district may apply for a seat.
The form asks for complete personal and employment details, a list of potential conflicts of interest, and a description of your past community involvement. You are also asked to identify which board committees interest you and why you would be an effective member. Applicants from all professional backgrounds are encouraged. The form must be notarized before submission, and all responses are subject to disclosure under New York's Freedom of Information Law.
Voluntary demographic information at the end of the form helps borough presidents achieve diverse, representative boards. After submitting to the borough president's office, you may be invited for an interview and appointments are typically announced in spring. New members often find it useful to review standard civic documents ahead of their first meeting, including a board meeting minutes template and a board resolution form, to understand how formal decisions are recorded.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Community Board Application Form |
| Form Length | 4 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 1 min |
| Other names | 2018 community board application form, community board application, community board 12 application, brooklyn borough president community |