Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. Vol. 51 No. 6
© Copyright 2016 Co-op City Times
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Overhaul of community’s transformers now 75% complete The ambitious project to overhaul each of the four main electrical transformers importing and exporting power to Co-op City took a major step forward on Tuesday as the third of four transformers scheduled to be overhauled was returned to the Power Plant in refurbished condition. This third unit to be overhauled was removed in late autumn and then brought back to the community by M&L Power, the contractor that won the bid to remove the transformer and then reinstall it. “An overhaul of this type takes between twelve to sixteen weeks to be performed by the factory,” said Brian Reardon, Director of the Power Plant. “The unit was delivered back to Co-op City on Tuesday and it will take another week and a half to finish installing and testing it before it is energized.” The overhaul of the fourth and last remaining transformer to be done is currently an item before the Riverbay Board of Directors. Depending on available off-site openings to get the overhaul done, the fourth transformer to be overhauled can likely be returned to the plant before summer to ensure that Riverbay has all four feeders operational for the summer months, which is the peak load period for the facility. Two of the recently restored and overhauled transformers date back to the original construction of the Power Plant in 1968.
Co-op City resident arrested for allegedly threatening another shareholder with a knife
A Co-op City man was arrested by the Department of Public Safety Thursday afternoon after an investigation was launched stemming from him allegedly threatening another shareholder with a knife on the morning of February 1st, outside the lobby of Building 20A. According to Lieutenant Anthony BY BILL STUTTIG
Warner, Commander of Public Safety’s Detectives Unit, a search for the whereabouts of the Co-op City resident in question was launched immediately after the threatened shareholder reported the potentially deadly confrontation on Monday morning.
25¢
Shareholders urged to fill out surveys on proposed carrying charge discount program Shareholders are indicating their interest in taking part in the proposed Water & Sewer Savings program that would give them a significant carrying charge discount and could reduce the community’s annual water bill from New York City by $1.425 million, a 12% reduction. Under the proposed voluntary plan being spearheaded by Board President Cleve Taylor, any shareholder who prepays their carrying charges for one year would receive a one-time 6% discount on their carrying charges for a one-year period. The plan was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors at their Open Board meeting on Jan. 13. All shareholders are urged to read BY JIM ROBERTS
II I
through the proposal that was provided with their February carrying charge statement and then complete and return the survey at the bottom of the plan. The offer to shareholders aims to raise approximately $10.1 million which would allow all of Co-op City to prepay its New York City water and sewer charges under the city’s Multi-Family Conservation Program (MCP) thereby saving the community and its shareholders $1.4 million on annual water charges. Completing the survey is not a commitment, but just a way for management to gauge interest in the community and know who to contact when it becomes
II I
(Continued on page 2)
Democratic Primary
Save the Date: The Democratic Presidential Primary will be held on Tuesday, April 19th, 2016.
Make sure you are registered to vote!
(Continued on page 4)
Two inches of wet slushy snow fell on Co-op City and the rest the Tri-State area early Friday morning. While the slushy mixture provided a messy nuisance on the ground for residents trying to get to work and school, it also made for picturesque winter landscapes as the wet snow coated tree limbs and shrubbery throughout the community that morning. Photo by Bill Stuttig
Active shooter training – In response to the increase of deadly terroristrelated shootings throughout the world, including the one in Paris and later San Bernardino, California last autumn, the Public Safety Department has stepped up its preparation for handling random active shooting situations in public places, as well as private residences. Officers Steve Grosvenor and Kendrick Wells led a class Thursday morning rehearsing officers on how to best diffuse an active shooter situation in a public place. Later that day, similar training was offered on how to diffuse the same situation in a private residence. Chief Frank Apollo said after the Paris attacks that terrorist attacks on soft targets are seemingly becoming more prevalent throughout the world, so Public Safety, along with other law enforcement agencies, have to prepare themselves accordingly. Photo by Bill Stuttig