A six-month debate ended at the last Common Council meeting.  The question was whether Sherie Helstien, Secretary of the Council and my wife, could keep her seat despite moving from Manhattan Park to Westview.  The Constitution was clear: you move, you lose your seat.  But then, the Constitution muddied the waters by allowing that the Secretary was obliged to be elected from among the seated members of the Council (and Sherie was elected Secretary last March by her colleagues on the Common Council), not that she retain her district seat thereafter.  Would the Council determine to give her the looser interpretation, the benefit of the doubt, if you will, or apply the stricter provision?  On November 7, by a vote of 13 votes to 10, the Council stripped Sherie of her seat.

I think the Common Council will miss Sherie's leadership, her consistent willingness to do the most labor-intensive, unheralded but necessary jobs during the next year, because there are so few people willing to take her place.  Nevertheless, Sherie will find a myriad of ways to apply her energy, her intelligence and her devotion to this community, and now we all need to move on.  Some interesting points were raised during the final debate, however, that I think are worth discussing.

In arguing for Sherie's removal, Karen Stewart said the following; "RIRA is the constitution.  The thing that remains when the individual presidents, officers, counselors come and go is the constitution.  This is what you said you wanted to be when you ran for this election."  I couldn't disagree more.

The only entity that I know of that is defined, that takes its mission from a Constitution, is the U.S. Supreme Court.  While the Executive and Legislative branches take an oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" their function is defined by service to their constituents.  In the case of the Common Council, we haven't even taken any oath.  RIRA is the people who volunteer to work on behalf of their neighbors, not a piece of paper.  While the cast of characters changes over time, the value of the organization is measured by the efforts of the people who comprise it.  I know of no one who ran for office to "preserve, protect and defend" our constitution.  The document exists to provide boundaries and guidelines for our community work, and when it ceases to expedite that work and begins to impede it, then it is our obligation to change it.

Karen listed other Common Council members who were unseated as a result of the constitution's mandate over the 25-year history of RIRA.  She mentioned her chagrin at not being able to keep some of them on the Council.  This troubled me.  If this constitutional requirement is denying us a commodity in short supply, that is, volunteers already elected by an Island constituency, then why has no member, no earlier RIRA President, attempted in 25 years to amend the constitution and remove this foolish provision?  RIRA rarely takes on building-specific questions that could be compromised by district-centric allegiances.  The building committees and task forces were created to do that job.  We elect our representatives by building district, but to cut a Member loose based on this "fiefdom mentality" is shortsighted and profligate.

I'd like to try to pass this amendment.  My colleagues who voted to remove Sherie were adamant that there was nothing personal involved, merely a concern for the constitution as currently written.  I appreciate this, and hope they will support my effort to change this provision that is so wasteful. Council Members sacrifice significant time, energy and stomach lining when they volunteer for a two-year term.  To toss aside such a volunteer because they move across the street is an obeisance to our building districts that we can't afford.  I propose to create a category of member, an "at-large" member, for those who move.  This status would only exist for the remainder of a term after the relocation, after which time the person would be obliged to run for office in his or her new building.  This would allow a member who has put together a volume of work for the Roosevelt Island community to continue it despite changing domiciles.

The best, most consistent constitution in the world, written by world-renowned scholars, will not make RIRA a better organization; only better volunteers will accomplish that.  I'm thinking of people like Margie Smith, currently an alternate from Rivercross, who has volunteered to put together Thanksgiving dinner for the guys at the Firehouse.  No one asked her to do this, nor was this an idea that sprang from a committee.  She saw the need and she's getting it done.  If Council Members (or you, for that matter) want to help cook and join the firefighters for Thanksgiving dinner, let Margie know.  But with you or without you, she's getting it done.  I'm thinking of Jim Tendean-Luce, alternate from Eastwood, and Island House member, Judy Berdy, who hold down paying jobs, have family and religious obligations, and yet manage to run significant volunteer organizations while helping RIRA by raising money, tending bar, pushing a broom, whatever needs doing.  RIRA is those people, and many others, and those who will follow in their footsteps.

We need to devise a constitution that stays out of the way of our generous neighbors and friends, a constitution that enhances their work.  The RIRA Constitution is neither holy writ nor graven in stone, and if we treat it as such, we cripple our efforts to make Roosevelt Island a better place.

Two housekeeping notes:  RIOC has moved the northbound bus stop from in front of 546 Main Street fifty yards south to accommodate construction vehicles.  My understanding is that neither the Senior Association, the Disabled Association nor Housing Management were asked for input or informed of the change.  For most of us, this is no biggie, but if you are a resident of the senior building and walk with a cane or walker, this could be a significant inconvenience, especially in inclement weather.  If this issue is of concern to you, let your voice be heard.

And finally, Housing Management General Manager, Doryne Isley, informed the Westview community at last Monday's meeting not to expect the Westview pool to reopen any time before spring.  I've inquired as to whether Rivercross or Sportspark pools might be available to this displaced aquatic community on a temporary basis, and met with profound disinterest.  On an Island of five underutilized pools, there is an opportunity for neighborliness that seems to be escaping the powers that be.  Won't someone come to our aid?