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April 21, 2007 |
The RIOC Column
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This is my first column as RIOC President, and I want to repeat how delighted I am to be writing it. Having been welcomed to my office by the delightful public meeting chaired by the new Commissioner of Housing, Deborah VanAmerongen, the Board of Directors, and the town hall that followed, then ushered in by a storm of historical proportions, let me now report on my first week from my to-do list:
1. The northeaster that inundated the metropolitan area over the weekend did relatively little damage on the Island, with some minor flooding problems handled by the combined pumping efforts of management and RIOC staff. We were forewarned, and escaped pretty much unscathed.
2. The wheelchair lift on the Manhattan side of the Tram is operational, and were the contractor not underwater in Elmsford, it would be open this week. We are expecting it to be available next week. Note that the lift is a standby for the elevator, and it requires summoning the attendant, so is only to be used in the event of handicap access unavailability using the elevator.
3. The RFP for the seawall repair following the runaway barge incident has been published, responses due in May, contracts to be let and work commencement scheduled for June, and completion in September.
4. There will be a Health & Fitness Day on April 28, separate publicity elsewhere. Planning is underway for the July 4 fireworks and summer concert series.
5. RIOC is changing its web page to carry a current status of the Tram (normal, or if service interruption, why and expected duration).
6. The transfer of partnership interests in Eastwood closed on April 17, 2007. Be advised that the great majority of the interests are in strong institutional hands, including the New York City Retirement System, the New York State Retirement System, the State of Michigan Retirement System, Federal National Mortgage Association, etc.
7. In accordance with Governor Spitzer’s Executive Order No. 3, by not later than July 1, 2007, all Board of Directors meetings will be available on line by contemporaneous netcast, with a link through the RIOC website.
8. In order to facilitate committee meetings of the Board of Directors, because members are quite often traveling or otherwise unavailable on the Island, RIOC will have video-conferencing capability in the conference room to comply with the requirements of the Open Meetings Law.
9. RIOC has ordered a sign for the office at 591 Main Street.
10. For information, on investigation, the emblem on the cabins of the Tram was changed to be consistent with MTA and other public transportation agencies so that, in emergencies, calls would go to the right place. Last April, the fire and police departments tried first to be in touch with the MTA, and only after non-responsiveness, turned to RIOC. "The Tram" will be included at the next painting.
11. Last but not least (!) for this report, the streetlights under RIOC’s control (must exclude the passageway lights, Manhattan Park, the hospitals and Octagon lighting) there are 35 poles at various locations which are out. Approximately half are by the Tram, Sportspark and the subway, waiting for Con Edison to show up and hook them up. Another 10 poles behind Manhattan Park are wired through Manhattan Park’s panel and as they are contractually RIOC’s responsibility, need to have a new circuit connection into RIOC’s system. RIOC is aware of and working on these issues!
As I have more to report, I will include the information in subsequent columns. My office and the RIOC staff are open and available to the residents of the Island. Please bring your issues and suggestions to our attention.