Maurice Muir, the recently elected third vice chairman of Community Board 12, who has been criticized for his poor attendance record at meetings, did not feel the need to defend himself when questioned by the Chronicle at the body’s April 18 gathering.
“I’m not going to entertain that because I think it’s divisive,” Muir said. “It’s just not good. The board already decided to elect me to the office, so I think the vote speaks for itself.”
Muir defeated Education Committee Chairwoman Adrienne Adams 16-13 in a run-off election on Feb. 15.
Last year, Muir was present at meetings only half the time, according to the Borough President’s Office. He and other board members who support him claim it is his job as senior attorney for Queens Legal Services that sometimes prevents him from showing up. And he says his attendance complies with city rules.
Asked why he would seek election as an executive officer when his job is so demanding that he misses meetings, Muir replied, “Essentially, you have to reprioritize what organizations you belong to, and I have sort of taken steps — resigned from other places — to give more dedication and time to this organization.”
Muir did not attend the first meeting after winning the election. He said it was because he was at a New York State Bar Association event at Cornell University Law School, which he said he registered for weeks prior to winning the election.
Asked if the community could expect him to be at most, if not all, future CB 12 meetings, Muir replied, “That goes without saying.”
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