Future Of Roosevelt Island Youth Program As Youth Center Operator In Peril At Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors Meeting Thursday, March 1

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors will meet 5:30 PM Thursday March 1 at at the Manhattan Park Community Center (8 River Road).

Among the items on the Agenda are:

... Authorization to Enter into Contract with Roosevelt Island Youth Program for the Operation of the Roosevelt Island Youth Center (Board Action Required)...

As reported January 26:

... The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation announced plans Friday to hire an outside counsel, Bond Shoeneck & King, to investigate allegations made against the operator of the Roosevelt Island Youth Program that was close to being approved for a three-year grant to operate youth programs at a drop-in child care program that requires no state licensure...

The RIOC Board Operations Advisory Committee met last evening and discussed the results of the report. The meeting was in Executive Session closed to the public so results of the report are not publicly known yet.

I have asked RIOC for a copy of the report and will publish if provided.

According to the Roosevelt Island Youth Program:

The Roosevelt Island Youth Program, Inc. (RIYP) and its After-School Program, Evening Program, Sports Program, and Youth Center Operations will CLOSE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

ONLY YOU CAN STOP IT!

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. (RIOC) will vote this Thursday, March 1 on a measure to approve the selection of the Roosevelt Island Youth Program, Inc. (RIYP) to continue as the Youth Center operator, as RIYP has won the Request for Proposals (RFP) process. RIYP has gone through two RFP processes for RIOC funding, winning both.

RIYP has been servicing the Roosevelt Island community for 40 years and has had an impact on many generations of its residents....

A supporter of the Roosevelt Island Youth Program writes how the organization has helped generations of Roosevelt Island kids and families. An excerpt:

The RIYP is an integral part of the Roosevelt Island culture. As it is, as it stands, it has been the glue that has held many families together, and with their heads above water. Those most vocal about the RIYP have no idea what that center means to families, what Charlie means to the families....

More here.

And statements from supporters and opponents of the Roosevelt Island Youth Program during the January 25 RIOC Board meeting.

Below is the full Agenda for tomorrow's RIOC Board meeting.

AMENDED AGENDA

MARCH 1, 2018 MEETING OF

THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MANHATTAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER, 8 RIVER ROAD,

ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NEW YORK

5:30 P.M.[1]



I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call

III. Approval of Minutes

1. January 25, 2018 Board Meeting (Board Action Required)

IV. Old Business

1. Authorization to Enter into Contract with Roosevelt Island Youth Program for the Operation of the Roosevelt Island Youth Center (Board Action Required)

New Business

1. Authorization to Amend the Contract with Gandhi Engineering, Inc. for the Engineering Design Services in Connection with the Roosevelt Island Helix Ramp Rehabilitation Project (Board Action Required-Materials to Follow)

2. Authorization to Amend Purpose of Expenditure of Public Purpose Funds to Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (Board Action Required)

3. Authorization to Enter into a Project Agreement with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation And Historic Preservation for Financial Assistance for the Smallpox Hospital Stabilization (Board action required)

4. Authorization to Enter into Contract with U.Arias, Corp. for Landscaping and Maintenance Services (Board Action Required)

5. President’s Report

6. Committee Reports

a. Audit Committee

b. Governance Committee

c. Operations Advisory Committee

d. Real Estate Development Advisory Committee

7. Public Safety Report

VI. Adjournment

1The RIOC Board Meeting will commence following a public comment period. The public comment period is not part of the meeting.