Riverbay Election Supplement on pages 29-36
Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2015 Co-op City Times
Second Candidates’ Forum Board’s search continues for next Wednesday in Dreiser Auditorium B permanent manager of Co-op City Vol. 50 No. 17
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Sign up to speak between 6:45-7:30 p.m.
The second of three official Candidates’ Forums for the 2015 Riverbay Board of Directors election will be held on Wednesday, May 6, in Dreiser Auditorium B at 7:30 p.m. and all certified candidates running in this year’s Board election have once again been invited to attend. Shareholders who would like to ask questions of the candidates must sign up between 6:45-7:30 p.m. “There will be one Candidates’ Forum in each of the community centers so it should be convenient for shareholders to attend at least one and I encourage everyone to come out and get the pertinent information you will need to make an informed choice for the directors who will be representing you on the Board of Directors,” Director Andrea Leslie, Chair of the 2015 Election Committee, said last week in announcing the first Candidates’ Forum. “It is very important BY ROZAAN BOONE
that you make an informed decision and that you also come down to your building lobby and vote on election day. We want major voter participation.” To increase voter participation and ensure a quorum, which this year is 5,059 votes, the 2015 Election Committee has discussed offering a voter incentive. This initiative will be brought to the full Board for discussion and approval before it is implemented. The third and final official Candidates’ Forum where shareholders can see and hear directly from the candidates running in the Board election will be held on Monday, May 11, also at 7:30 p.m. in Room 45 of the Einstein Center, starting at 7:30 p.m. “The yearly Board elections are very important because these candidiates are the people you will be electing to represent you on the Riverbay Board (Continued on page 2)
DOT presents workshops on Bay Plaza traffic plan
More meetings with community expected
Roughly 100 shareholders, many of them seniors, took part in the city’s Department of Transportation forum Tuesday morning designed to update Co-op City residents on the city BY BILL STUTTIG
Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposals to help calm traffic on the roads surrounding the massive and recently expanded Bay Plaza shopping complex. (Continued on page 4)
Better late than never...
25¢
Interviews with three management firms vying to become the next management company to oversee operations at Co-op City are being conducted in early May by the entire Riverbay Board of Directors as the Board continues its work to decide how Riverbay will be managed in the future. One firm was interviewed by the entire Board on April 30 and two other interviews are scheduled for this coming week. However, Riverbay Board President Cleve Taylor, while praising the work of the Board members involved in the search, is raising questions about the management firm candidates due to the unique size and complexity of Co-op BY JIM ROBERTS
(Continued on page 13)
ABSENTEE BALLOTS Absentee ballots may be requested from Riverbay Corporation by calling (718) 320-3300, Ext. 3326. Absentee ballots postmarked no later than Wednesday, May 20, 2015, may be received by Riverbay Corporation until seven days after Wednesday, May 20, 2015.
DHCR conference on carrying charge increase to be held Monday, May 4
A conference has been scheduled by the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) for Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the Dreiser Auditorium at which “cooperators, their representatives, and representatives of the housing company may meet with DHCR staff to discuss the proposed carrying charge increase and budget for Riverbay Corporation.” This carrying charge conference follows the Riverbay Board on February 25th, approving budgets for the next two fiscal years, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, which include a 4.5% carrying charge increase to become effecBY ROZAAN BOONE
It might have seemed like a long-time coming, but spring has finally arrived in Co-op City as the beautiful beds of tulips and other perennials planted throughout Co-op City have peaked to their full color along with the beautiful tree blossoms lining the community’s walkways and greenways. The colorful display of nature should last through much of early May, so take a few minutes to appreciate or as they say, “stop and smell the roses.” It helps to put everything into perspective. Photo by Bill Stuttig
City. “I would like to commend the Ad-Hoc Committee members, Treasurer Bernie Cylich and Assistant Corporate Secretary Linda Berk, for their due diligence in completing the selection of the three Managing Agents that are applying for the position at Co-op City,” Taylor said. “I would also like to extend a special thank you to our Knowledge Assistant Colette Ragin for prepping the Board for these highlevel discussions and our General Managers Noel Ellison and Peter Merola, and Riverbay’s 27 Managing Department Directors for identifying our needs. “The Board of Directors has started
tive on June 1, 2015, followed by zero percent increase in 2016 and until the ending of the fiscal year on March 31, 2017. The proposed budget also includes a 10% increase in all parking charges, also effective June 1, 2015, to be followed by 0% increases in these charges in 2016 and until the ending of the fiscal year on March 31, 2017. Riverbay subsequently filed an application to HCR for an order to increase the maximum average monthly room carrying charge. In addition to holding the conference to hear directly from shareholders and (Continued on page 2)