Roosevelt Island Rivercross Mitchell Lama Cooperative Residents Meet To Discuss Issues Of Common Concern & Solve Problems

Image of Rivercross from Adventures of a Goodman

Are you a resident of Roosevelt Island's Rivercross Mitchell Lama Cooperative and interested in learning more about what is going on in your building? If so, consider joining with some of your neighbors as they meet to discuss common interests of concern and find solutions to existing problems.

Rivercross resident David Bauer sends the following report of such a meeting held earlier this week. Mr. Bauer writes:

At the meeting last evening --

1) Shareholders were encouraged by the several moves made by our cooperative recently:
a) the start of the Board open conversation sessions with shareholders
b) establishment of a window screen maintenance policy
c) raising the temperature setting for the common spaces
d) the active search for a window washer.

In regard to the window washing, the attendees did a quick calculation and noted that the three year non expenditure of the former $25,000 per year window washing would pay for a $75,000 'new rule' contractor at the indicated price of $75,000. If the Board were to go on a three year cycle, this might be considered.

2) Mary discussed the 'dogs in Rivercross' ideas. The upshot of the conversation was that if changes in the present 'no dog' policy were to be made, that action should be taken to change the rules before privatization were to occur. Dog owner responsibility on the Island generally was discussed at some length and referred to Fay Christian, as a RIOC Board member, who was sitting with us.

3) Harriet reported on her conversations with a company that provides a complete co-generation package. The next steps involve a two year review of electric bills for the cooperative, and looking at the details of the physical plant that is involved in the electrical systems of the building.

4) Arline reported that a Rivercross shareholder, Mary Lou Risley had offered a tour of a green roof building in which she works. Gilda suggested some reference books that she had been responsible for that detailed green roof installations.

5) Ekaterina reported on her determination to understand the recent court decisions on the surcharge. The consensus was that the current Board seemed dead set against raising the surcharge, largely on the sense of having sympathy for people whose incomes had increased significantly since meeting the Mitchell Lama limits when they entered the cooperative.

6) Steohanie opened a spirited discussion of the good effects of having ongoing social events for the cooperative. What is needed now is the necessary group of volunteers to manage the events.

7) During the course of the several discussions it became clear that there should be a mechanism to permit all shareholders to vote on the matters that are important to them. Among them are the matters of dogs, surcharges, term limits for Board members, allocation of shares. Possible courses include a petition to the Board from 25% of the shareholders, and then approval authorized by a yes vote from 65% of the shareholders.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 to meet again on Tuesday August 10 at 7:30.

There is also an online Rivercross Google Group for residents to communicate with each other as well.