Co-op City Times 01/16/10

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Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2010 Co-op City Times

Vol. 45 No. 3

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Earthquake in Haiti claims lives and leaves many in Co-op City heartbroken as they await news of their loved ones from her sister and brother-in-law who BY ROZAAN BOONE The repercussions of Tuesday’s .7 magnitude earthquake in Haiti is not only being felt around the world, but also in Co-op City where many families wait in anguish for word on the fate of their loved ones back in their homeland. “This is such a difficult time for me,” said Sylvina Grant of Building 26A, a native of the Caribbean island that was devastated by the quake, the strongest to hit Haiti since 1770. Ms. Grant told the Co-op City Times on Thursday night that she had not heard

ran a school for kindergarten to college aged young people, and a School of Theology in Jacmel in southern Haiti, where her brother-in-law was also the pastor of a Tabernacle church and director of Radio God Gives. She also had no word about her nieces and nephews. Ms. Grant lives in Co-op City with her husband, daughter and younger son who is an 11th grader at Truman High School where she is a parent volunteer. Her (Continued on page 4)

DHCR-imposed 5% carrying charge increase to be implemented February 1, 2010 Shareholders are reminded that a 5% carrying charge increase will be implemented on Feb r ua r y 1. This increase was imposed by the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) in 2008 after hearing from shareholders of the Riverbay Corporation. (See next week’s issue for details.)

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Riverbay Board approves additional garage rules and fines to ensure safety BY DEREK ALGER for everyone,” said President Jones. The resolution also approves a $50 fine The Riverbay Board overwhelmingly for failing to park fully within painted approved a series of rules and regulations lines, and $50 for failure, after notification, to be adhered to in Co-op City’s eight garages to better ensure safety, care and cleanliness. (Continued on page 2) The resolution, proposed by GAR AG E RULE S/R E G ULATI O NS President Othelia Jones, and second1. Destruction/Vandalism of garage property ed by Director Al Shapiro, called for additional rules, regulations and fines $200.00* 2. Parking in Fire Zone or No Parking Area for violators to take effect in 30 days from the approval of the resolution. $100.00* 3. Unauthorized loan, exchange or reassignSpecifically, respective fines would be assessed for anyone parkment of access card, garage sticker or ing in a Fire Zone or No Parking garage key $100.00* 4. Driving against directional sign $75.00 Area, which would be $100; driving 5. Driving in excess of posted speed limits against a directional sign, $75; as well as a $75 fine for either driving $75.00 6. Reckless driving $75.00 in excess of posted speed limits or 7. Failure to obey traffic directions given by reckless driving. “We have over 9,000 vehicles Public Safety Officer or Parking Facilities parking in our garages and though Staff - $75.00 the majority of cooperators are responsible and diligent, we have to (Continued on page 2) make sure that conditions are safe

Board votes unanimously to terminate Fresh Meadow BY BILL STUTTIG After more than three years of disputes, delays and dissatisfaction over job performance, the Riverbay Board of Directors unanimously voted to terminate the contract of Fresh Meadow Mechanical Corp., the firm charged with constructing and completing Riverbay’s cogeneration plant. An emergency resolution to terminate Fresh Meadow’s Energy Procurement and Construction Contract was submitted by Riverbay Assistant Treasurer Al Shapiro and seconded by President Othelia Jones and Director Helen Atkins at Wednesday evening’s Board meeting. All Directors present agreed with the resolution calling for the termination of the Energy Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract which

Riverbay entered into with Fresh Meadow on April 12, 2006. The EPC contract signed in 2006 required the completion of the plant by March 14, 2008. When the plant was not completed by that deadline, disputes between Riverbay and Fresh Meadow ensued over job performance and financial overruns, bringing the project to a halt in the latter portion of 2008. Work on the plant began again in early 2009 when Riverbay again entered into a Settlement Agreement with Fresh Meadow. That agreement called for substantial completion of the plant by May 8th, 2009. With substantial completion not achieved now more than eight months after the second agreed upon deadline (Continued on page 2)

No parking warning … A number of shareholders reported this week that over the past several months, many cars that were parked on the east side of Co-op City Blvd. opposite the north section of Bellamy Loop have been either ticketed or towed. The problem seems to originate from an alternate side of the street sign that is faded and unreadable. Although the other side of the sign is clearly readable indicating that parking is permitted at all times except for the 90 minutes of street cleaning activity a week, ticket agents are not bothering to look at the other side of the sign. One shareholder reports that he knows of at least eight of his neighbors who have either been ticketed or towed. Many have fought the tickets and towing fines successfully, but not without taking time off to present video of the area to the Parking Violations judge at their hearing. Residents are asked to refrain from parking along this approximate 50-foot stretch on Co-op City Blvd. just south of the DEP facility until the situation can be rectified. Residents are also advised to report the problem to the city’s 3-1-1 number and City Councilman Larry Seabrook’s Co-op City office, (718) 671-0100. Photo by Bill Stuttig


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