The Staten Island Borough President is the borough’s chief elected official and its lead advocate inside New York City government, with formal powers over community board appointments, land use recommendations, a seat on the City Planning Commission, and a share of the city’s capital budget. Vito Fossella has held the office since January 2022.
Appointing the Three Community Boards
The most hands-on power the office carries is choosing who sits on Staten Island’s three community boards. Each board can have up to 50 members, all appointed by the Borough President, with at least half drawn from nominees put forward by the City Council members whose districts overlap the community district.1American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 2800 – Community Boards Members serve staggered two-year terms and cannot serve more than four consecutive full terms.
The three boards divide the island geographically. Community Board 1 covers the North Shore, including St. George, Port Richmond, and Stapleton. Community Board 2 covers the Mid-Island, including New Dorp, Dongan Hills, and Todt Hill. Community Board 3 covers the South Shore, from Great Kills and Eltingville down to Tottenville.2NYC.gov. Staten Island Boards – Community Boards These boards review land use proposals, monitor city services, and set their own budget priorities, so the appointments shape how development and service delivery play out across the borough for years.
Reviewing Development Through ULURP
When a project needs a zoning change, a special permit, a city map amendment, the sale or lease of city-owned property, site selection for a capital project, a housing or urban renewal plan, or a franchise, it moves through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure under Section 197-c of the City Charter.3American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 197-c – Uniform Land Use Review Procedure
After the relevant community board reviews the application, it goes to the Borough President, who has 30 days to issue a recommendation. The Borough President can support the proposal, oppose it, or recommend modifications and conditions. The recommendation then travels to the City Planning Commission and, finally, to the City Council for a binding vote. The Borough President’s position is advisory. An application moves forward to the next review stage even when the Borough President opposes it.4Department of City Planning. Public Review
Advisory understates the practical weight. A public stance from the Borough President shapes the political terrain around a project, especially when the local Council member shares the same view, and the Council casts the vote that counts.
One Seat on the City Planning Commission
Each borough president appoints one member of the 13-member City Planning Commission, which votes on ULURP applications and sets broader land use policy for the city.5American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 192 – City Planning Commission The Mayor appoints the chair plus six additional members, the Public Advocate appoints one, and the Council appoints one.6Department of City Planning. About the City Planning Commission For Staten Island, that single appointee is the borough’s standing voice when citywide development decisions are made.
Budget Recommendations and Capital Funding
Each year the Borough President reviews the Mayor’s preliminary budget and submits recommended changes to the Mayor and City Council by March 10 under Section 245 of the Charter.7American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 245 – Borough President Recommendations to the Mayor Those recommendations draw on community board input and public hearings and tend to focus on local infrastructure such as parks, schools, and street resurfacing. Any spending increase the Borough President proposes must be offset by a reduction elsewhere within the borough’s allocations, so the net effect on the overall budget is zero.
The office also controls a slice of discretionary capital funding. Five percent of total citywide capital appropriations is divided among the five borough presidents by a formula weighing population and geographic area. That money pays for physical improvements like building renovations, school technology, and park infrastructure, often at nonprofits and city-owned facilities.
Chairing the Borough Board
The Borough President chairs the Staten Island Borough Board, made up of the borough’s City Council members and the chairs of the three community boards.8American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 85 – Borough Board The board meets at least monthly in public sessions. Its work includes preparing comprehensive plans for the borough’s physical growth, submitting borough-wide budget priorities, evaluating the progress of capital projects, reviewing land use proposals that cross community district lines, and mediating disputes between districts.9NYC Charter. Chapter 4 – Borough Presidents
Elections, Term, and Qualifications
The Borough President serves a four-year term, elected at the same general election and for the same term length as the Mayor.9NYC Charter. Chapter 4 – Borough Presidents Section 1138 of the Charter limits the officeholder to two consecutive full terms; after eight consecutive years, a person must sit out at least one full term before running again.10NYC Charter. Chapter 50 – Term Limits
Section 81 of the Charter requires the Borough President to be a resident of the borough at the time of election and throughout the full term.11American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 81 – Qualifications, Election, Term, Salary, Removal, Vacancy Standard New York State requirements for public office, including citizenship and voter registration, also apply. To reach the ballot, a candidate needs a nominating petition; the Charter caps the signature requirement for a borough president race at 2,000 valid signatures from registered voters in the borough, who must be enrolled in the candidate’s party for a primary petition.12NYC Campaign Finance Board. Designating and Independent Nominating Petitions – Number of Signatures
Salary, Staff, and Succession
The Charter sets the salary at $179,200 per year.11American Legal Publishing. New York City Charter Section 81 – Qualifications, Election, Term, Salary, Removal, Vacancy The Borough President appoints a deputy borough president, an executive assistant, and a secretary, plus additional staff as the budget allows. All serve at the Borough President’s pleasure.13Justia Law. New York Code New York City Charter Section 82 – Powers and Duties The office typically handles constituent services, land use analysis, community board liaison work, and coordination with city agencies on local service delivery.
If the seat becomes vacant or the Borough President is temporarily unable to serve, the deputy borough president or executive assistant steps in as acting Borough President in the order the officeholder designated by written filing.9NYC Charter. Chapter 4 – Borough Presidents A permanent vacancy triggers a special election: the Mayor must proclaim the election date within three days of the vacancy and notify the City Clerk and Board of Elections. If the vacancy occurs during the first three years of the term, a general election to fill the remainder is held that same year, provided there is time for party nominations through a primary.