y,” y ur e
or d
y r nt. d
e d y y, y
d e,” y ll e
Co-op City’s Official Newspaper Serving The World’s Largest Cooperative Community. © Copyright 2018 Co-op City Times
Petition Period For 2018 Riverbay Board Election Begins This Monday, March 26 Vol. 53 No. 12
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Shareholders interested in serving a three-year term on the Riverbay Board of Directors can begin picking up their qualifying petitions at 9 a.m. this Monday, March 26, for the 2018 Board election. Petitions will be available from the Riverbay receptionist at the Administrative Desk in the Bartow Community Center, located at 2049 Bartow Avenue, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each weekday starting on Monday, March 26, when the prospective candidate’s eligibility to run in the Board election will be verified prior to them receiving the petition package. Section B (1) & (3) of the 2018 election rules, which is included in the petition packages, lay out eligibility criteria, requiring that all candidates running for election to the Riverbay Board must be the shareholder of record as indicated on the candidate’s stock certificate, occupancy agreement and the current Occupants’ Annual Affidavit, and must continue to live in Co-op City for the duration of their term in office. In addition, a prospective candidate cannot be indebted to the Riverbay Corporation for carrying charges or other debts when picking up petitions, on the date they are certified, and the date BY ROZAAN BOONE
votes are counted. Prospective candidates must also remain current throughout the election period until they are sworn into office, if elected. After 5 p.m. on weekdays and on the weekends, petition packages will be available from the Public Safety window in the Bartow Center where candidates will sign the petition pick-up form, however, their package will not include the nomination petitions. The following business day, the candidate’s eligibility will be checked and if they qualify to enter the Board race, they will be contacted to pick up their nominating petitions and continue with the petition process. If they are indebted to the corporation at that time, they will be given an opportunity to satisfy their debt before proceeding with the petition process. All petitions must be picked up and signed for by the prospective candidates, not by a representative, friend or family member. The completed petition packages are due back to the Riverbay Legal Department by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 9. Riverbay Board Second Vice President Claudia
BY JIM ROBERTS
(Continued on page 2)
On March 26, 2018 the distribution of petitions for shareholders interested in running President for the Board of Directors begins. For two weeks, these shareholders will be soliciting signatures for their petitions to get their name on the ballots. Like our public officials who run for office, signatures of the community are needed to acknowledge minimal interest in a candidate. Signing a petition is not an endorsement, but support of that individual being on the ballot for a full and competitive option of candidates. In the past, we have struggled to reach a quorum needed to have a valid election. I encourage the entire community to be engaged in the election process. As the campaign period starts, I ask that shareholders pay attention to the candidate viewpoints in the Co-op City Times, come out to the public forums to listen to candidates and ask questions, and carefully read the election materials sent to you from Election America.
Linda Berk
President’s Message
(Continued on page 2)
Chief Apollo Calls It A Career After 31 Years With Public Safety Chief Frank Apollo, the commander of Co-op City’s Public Safety Department since 2009, announced earlier this month that he is retiring from the department effective the end of March. Over the past 31 years, Chief Apollo has served the department and the community as an officer, an ESU officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and chief. He said this week: “I am so humble and grateful because I was given a chance to run a Public Safety Department for a community where I grew up. It was a unique opportunity and an honor. I am proud of some of the things we were able to accomplish, not only under my leadership, but before that as well.” Former Riverbay Board President Helen Atkins said: “I led the Board that made the decision to promote Frank to the position of acting chief and then chief a year later. We made that decision because many of us BY BILL STUTTIG
Photo by Mary Ann Sowah
CSO will be closed on Good Friday, March 30. Due to the holiday, Maintenance will be working on an emergency schedule. Should you have a Maintenance emergency please call 718-320-3300 and follow the prompts for Maintenance.
,
Community Engagement Defines Our Future
(Continued on page 30)
Riverbay Power Plant Weathers The Storms
Hundreds of thousands of winter weather warriors lived for a time without heat and light in New York City and the metro area during four battering nor’easters over the past three weeks. Thanks to the diligent work of the staff at the Riverbay Power Plant, Co-op City residents were spared as the electricity kept flowing and the warmth kept glowing during one tough winter in the northeast. “Through all the challenges of this severe winter weather, the power plant
25¢
(Continued on page 4)
Chief Frank Apollo
Be Sure To Check Out: Management’s Explanation Of Tax Abatement Letters - p. 4 2018 Election Schedule - p. 30