The RIOC Board looked at the subject of Public Purpose Funds at its Thursday night meeting this week.  Board member David Kraut said he was "struck" several years ago when distribution of the funds was first discussed in a public forum, with the notion "that to set up an entity to spend people's money without asking people is not a good way to proceed." Kraut proposed that the leaders of the Island's social service organizations gather together in colloquy on what should be done with the remaining money in the Fund.

Speaking in the public session, several residents expressed varied views on what to do about the $700,000 or so in remaining funds.  Ron Vass, a former member of the RIOC Board, urged the Board to reconsider any plan to "get rid of," or disburse quickly, the remaining funds.  "We worked hard to create that fund," he said.  "Our dream was to save a million dollars of that money to use as principal, to conserve it so that one day it might grow to two million dollars.  I'm going to ask you, if there are any thoughts of just getting rid of the money that's left, I'm going to ask you to reconsider." Vass suggested a freeze on the funds while the matter is considered.  "It's a sin to waste it," he concluded.

Others expressed concern about a once-used system of vetting Public Purpose Grants through the RIRA (Residents Association) Common Council and the Roosevelt Island Council of Organizations (RICO).  Linda Warren spoke of "the old scenario of exclusion," suggesting that interlocked groups of interested parties unfairly controlled distribution of the funds.  Lisa Knox, who identified herself as a facilitator for the Roosevelt Island Community Association, "a neighborhood planning group," expressed gratitude that a change in the method of awarding public purpose funds under the RIOC Presidency of Dr. Jerome Blue had made an educational program of the Young Adult League possible.  She said she had "sadly witnessed the distribution of Public Purpose Funds by RIRA and RICO at the whimsy of their membership," blaming "neighborhood politics" for a lack of diversity in the use of the Public Purpose money.

DHCR Assistant Commissioner Steven Hicks, chairing the RIOC meeting, asked Kraut to come back to the Board next month with a plan for a meeting of social services leaders to work on the funds question.

Patrick Stewart, President of RIRA and a member of the RIOC Board, proposed a closed executive session of the Board to consider development matters which, if discussed in public, might adversely affect the Island's interests, and the Board voted unanimously to hold such a session.  Leo Kayser described such a session as an opportunity to take into account the interests of all the stakeholders in Island development.

Kayser told Board members and the residents attending the meeting that the Board needs a closed session in order to consider the Island's assets and its financial situation, and to consider questions of governance, "because there are serious issues with respect to governance, and the people on this Island feel that their interests are not being adequately protected by the RIOC management." He continued, "There are potential solutions, and in order to begin to develop these solutions it's necessary for this Board to feel free to meet among itself in consultation with real-estate brokers and others to whom we can give information concerning finances." He added, "The only way to do this effectively is in an executive session.  Patrick Stewart's resolution [for such a session] is altogether fitting and proper for our being able to get to these issues and begin to meet the criticisms we all think need to be addressed." Kayser said one criticism had to do with community participation in decisions on the Island's future.

Matthew Katz, Convener of the Maple Tree Group, told the Board he found the report and editorial on the Tramway in The WIRE's last issue "depressing." He said, "Roosevelt Island falls between the cracks on a great number of services that the rest of the City gets as a matter of course." He suggested that the Transit Authority should be approached to "front" the funding for Metrocard equipment for the Tramway.  Or, he suggested, "Perhaps the State of New York, which has been receiving our taxes and has returned no subsidies to the Island, might find a way of subsidizing the Tramway." The Tram, Katz said, should be part of "one city, one fare," as "an essential part of this Island's transportation."

[On Tuesday, Katz announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the Residents Association.  Story.]

RIRA First Vice President Joan Christianson recounted her own "lack of understanding" of the RIOC Board's June vote to go ahead with conversion of the Island's abandoned west-shore minischools into luxury condominiums, asking a series of questions about the decision and the process that was used to reach the decision.

Her questions went unanswered during the Board meeting.  At its end, she pointed out that she had received no answers, and was told by Hicks, "Unfortunately, the Board is not here to answer questions from the public." There were various expressions of consternation from residents, but the meeting ended there (related editorial, page 2).

RIOC Staff Attorney Kenneth Leitner did report that there had been two sessions with developer Diane Wilson to work out the schedule for her to meet specific conditions - such as financing - for her proceeding with the project.  Patrick Stewart pointed out that the Board's resolution giving Wilson the go-ahead subject to those conditions was passed in June, and that "she's essentially had 90 days 'free' [time], it seems to me." Like Christianson, Stewart asked for more specifics, but Hicks said that matter would be put off to the next meeting.

RIOC President Robert Ryan reported to the Board and the community on a number of items, in part responding to questions raised by those who took the microphone during the public session:

• He thanked residents who wrote letters to the State Banking Commission about Chase Bank leaving Roosevelt Island, saying that officials, including RIOC, are working on the problem, hoping that Chase will stay "at least three days a week" until a replacement bank has been found.  Ryan said that 99 letters had gone out to prospect banks, and five had expressed an interest, with two scheduled to visit next week.
• Ryan said RIOC "is as frustrated as you are" about lighting problems on Main Street.  It's a ConEd problem, he said, adding that he might ask members of the community to contact ConEd to exert pressure as in the case of Chase.  It's not RIOC's fault, he said, "and on this we're getting a bad rap."
• Ryan reported that demolition of the Manhattan Tramway station stairway will begin in about two weeks.  Replacement of the stairway with a revised design (intended to allow access to a planned building) will take about six weeks, he said.
• Ryan also reported a meeting with officials from State parks and Historic Preservation, and said he feels progress is being made toward getting grants for work on the Island's parks and landmarks.  His comments provided a partial answer to a question in the public session from Historical Association President Judith Berdy, who said she is "depressed, discouraged" about the Island's park areas and landmarks.