In a quiet election that provided a dramatic contrast with the hotly contested election held two years earlier, members of the 68th Precinct Community Council chose a new slate of officers, who all ran unopposed.
Elected at the mid-June meeting as the group’s new president was Ilene Sacco, who had previously been recording secretary. John Imbriale was re-elected as vice president and Laura Grassi was re-elected as treasurer. Also re-elected was George Samara as sergeant at arms.
Mary Rendeiro is the organization’s new corresponding secretary, Cathy Santopietro is the new recording secretary, and Gina Romeo is the group’s new assistant secretary. The entire slate was elected by a single vote cast by the secretary. The meeting was held at the precinct house, 333 65th Street.
Francis Proscia, who retired as the community council’s president, expressed thanks to everybody who, he said, “Had been a great support. I know I’m leaving the organization in very good hands with Ilene.”
Proscia, Sacco said, has been “an intrinsic part” of the community council for some three decades. “He’s been an officer for most of those 30 years,” she added.
The last two years had been extremely challenging for the council’s executive board, Sacco stressed. “At times we played a little Three Card Monte with the officers,” she remarked. “Three of our officers had major surgery. Two of our officers had to leave. And, despite that, we had one of the most successful Nights Out Against Crime last summer.”
Future efforts, Sacco went on, would in part be dedicated to increasing membership in the community council. “There are less cops than there were so it’s more important than ever that all of you talk to your neighbors and friends,” she told the crowd. “Bring them to meetings. Let them know what’s going on.
