Vol. 56 No. 34
Saturday, August 21, 2021
$1.25
Chairpersons of 2021-2022 Board Committees Appointed BY ROZAAN BOONE
At last week’s Riverbay Board business meeting held on Wednesday, August 11, the Board voted by consensus to approve chairpersons of the 2021-2022 Board committees based on recommendations submitted by the Committee on Committees chaired by Board Treasurer Claudia Sampson, and co-chaired by Director Anika Green-Watson. The Riverbay Board’s Committee on Committees was adopted by resolution in January 2017 to define the process by which Riverbay Board Committees are formed and operate. The committee met in July to finalize its recommendations for committees and their respective chairs. The list was then submitted to Riverbay Board President Bernard Cylich and the Board voted on Aug. 11 to accept the assignments. “The Committee on Committees reviewed committee chair requests submitted by Board directors at our July 12 and July 28 meetings before submitting our recommendations to Board President Cylich,” stated Director Sampson. Riverbay Board President Bernard Cylich noted: “Committees of the Board are integral to the functioning of the Board of Directors. While unlike the Board, they have, with the exception of the Cooperators Appeal and the Election Committees, no powers or authority of the Board, nevertheless are essential investigative arms of the Board the Directors. They regularly inform the Board on matters concerning their designated subject matters and draft recommendations for the Board’s consideration and adoption. However, they also review
E-Scooter Program Rolls into Co-op City
how Board policies and directives are implemented and are given authority to organize and implement certain specific activities approved by the Board. An example was the work of the Board’s Ad Hoc Committee to Restore Bus Services. The organizing and work of the committee was instrumental in successfully winning restoration of our bus services after a nine year battle.” The 2021-2022 Board Committees and their respective chairs are: • Buildings and Grounds Committee – Sonia Feliciano • Construction and Power Plant Committee – Bishop Angelo Rosario • Disabilities/Accommodations and Dog Committee – Andrea Leslie & Mary Pearson • Information Technology Committee – Michelle Marbury • Procurement & Inventory Committee – Anika Green-Watson • Legislative Committee – Rod Saunders • Parking & Leasing Committee (Including Commercial and Storage) – Leah Richardson • Residential Sales & Restoration – Leslie Peterson • Security Committee – Kevin Lambright • Smart City Committee – Claudia Sampson • Budget Committee – Board as a whole • Labor Committee – Board as a whole The ad hoc Legislative Committee is now a standing Board committee and (Continued on page 11)
Comment Period for Carrying Charge Increase ends September 21 HCR accepting written comments; Virtual Conference also Scheduled BY ROZAAN BOONE
Corral at Dreiser Center with seated e-scooters.
Photo by Warren Mitchell
BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND
Electric scooters officially rolled into Co-op City on Tuesday, August 17, thanks to a new pilot program launched by the city in the East Bronx. The program, led by the Department of Transportation (DOT), is partnering with three e-scooter companies, including Bird, Lime, and Veo. Residents can find e-scooter parking “corrals” throughout Co-op City’s Sections 1, 2, and 5. Both seated and unseated e-scooters are available in the community. Riders must download the app and register with ID and payment information. An in-app safety training along with a safety quiz is required before reserving the vehicle. Also, riders must be 16 or older, and those under 18 must wear a helmet. (Continued on page 9)
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots to be Offered Starting Next Month BY BRANDON ORTIZ
COVID-19 Vaccine booster shots will be offered starting next month, pending authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning how to effectively roll out the booster shots, stating in a press release this week that the department is prepared to begin administering the booster shots starting September 20. Individuals will be eligible to receive their COVID-19 booster shot eight months following their second vaccine dose.
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NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) is currently accepting written comment from shareholders on the proposed 2% carrying charge increase scheduled for implementation on January 1, 2022. DHCR has been reviewing the 2-year budget (2021/2022 and 2022/2023) approved by the Board of Directors at its April 5, 2021 meeting through Resolution 21-08 after several months of negotiations between the Board and Management to lessen financial burden on shareholders. The proposed 2.0% carrying charge increase would raise the monthly per room charge by $4.67 to $238.02 effective January 1, 2022 to maintain a balanced budget through March 31, 2023 and provide the current level of services for shareholders. In addition to the increase in the monthly maintenance fee, HCR has (Continued on page 4)
Apply for SCRIE/DRIE to Help Defray January 2022 Carrying Charge Increases BY TORIEA McCAUSELAND
As New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) reviews Riverbay’s current application for a carrying charge increase, the corporation encourages eligible residents to apply for SCRIE/DRIE to help offset the potential hike. Eligible Co-op City shareholders registered with the city’s Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs may be able to avoid paying the monthly carrying charge increase, if HCR approves the increase scheduled for implementation on January 1, 2022. According to the official website of the city of New York, SCRIE and DRIE are a part of the NYC Rent Freeze Program. Both programs give “an exemption against future rent increases for eligible seniors and disabled persons living in rent-controlled, rent-stabilized, Mitchell-Lama and other eligible apartments,” including Co-op City. Currently, only 190 shareholders in Co-op City are taking advantage of DRIE, and only 1,203 senior shareholders are active in the SCRIE program. Both programs will help protect qualified shareholders from future carrying charge increases.
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