Review Of Arrested Community Board Leader Shouldn't Be So Secret, Members Say

BROOKLYN, NY — Decisions about the future of a Brooklyn community board manager who was arrested twice and charged with stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend need to be made more openly, according to board members who say they've largely been kept in the dark on the deliberations.

Craig Hammerman — who liaises with the city on issues such as liquor licenses, pot holes and landmarks in Communit Board 6, encompassing Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus and Park Slope — has been on a medical leave of absence from the board since his arrests came to light in April.

He allegedly used his girlfriend's Uber account to follow her to a Bed-Stuy hotel, where he posed as a family member and Uber driver at the front desk to try and talk to her. Then, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, he broke a restraining order when he followed her to a Park Slope bar and sat down next to her.

Hammerman, who was paid a $111,547 salary by the city in 2016, has denied the allegations and his case appears to be headed to trial. (For more on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

While he has been away from the board, otherwise made up of volunteers in the community, a closed-door committee has been discussing his future. During that time, they have shared little about their progress, citing privacy concerns and angering some members of the board.

At a full board meeting Wednesday night, the first after a summer recess, those frustrations boiled over in public.

CB6 Chair Sayar Lonial read a prepared statement that noted Hammerman's leave is up at the end of the month. Lonial also added that the secret committee was coming up with a new set of criteria for the job and would determine if Hammerman still fit that description.

After he finished, a board member tried to ask Lonial a follow-up question but was tersely told by Lonial that he wasn't taking any questions.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, the board member, Josh Skaller, spoke up again.

"As a community board member I feel like I have not been given any direct information. The information I have gotten I’ve had to glean from various sources," he said, as another board member in the back of the room clapped.

"I think the community board as a whole really does need to be involved in these discussions and I would welcome a bit more information about what the process is right now."

Skallar concluded: "I wonder what those criteria are. I wonder if that has direct impact on why he’s on leave, and if you could sort of address those topics a little more in depth for us."

Instead of answering the question, Lonial and Skallar stared at each other during an awkward silence, then Lonial called up the next community member for public comment, ignoring the question completely.

After the meeting, other board members told Patch they had similar feelings.

"I have a lot of faith in the people on the board who are working on the situation," Eric McClure told Patch. "But it would probably be ideal if they could find a way to share a bit more information with the full board about how things are proceeding while being sensitive to the privacy issues."

Reached by Patch via email Monday, Lonial said he wouldn't be commenting further, citing privacy concerns when discussing personnel matters.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Brooklyn Community Board Manager Used Ex's Uber Account To Stalk, Harass Her: DA
• City Law Department, Community Board 6 'Reviewing' District Manager Charged With Stalking Ex
• District Manager Hid Arrests From Community Board Members For A Year, They Say
• Community Board Manager Will Take Leave Of Absence While Stalking Review Continues: Source
• ‘Stalking' Head Of Brooklyn Community Board Leaves Weird Online Trail Ahead Of Court Date
• Brooklyn Community Leader Turns Down Deal In Stalking Case, Attorney Says
• Embattled Community Board Manager Extends Leave Of Absence Again
• Arrested Community Board Head Gave Cash To Influential Officials During Stalking Review

Image: Patch file photo