New RIRA President Starts Term With A Great Idea - Town Hall Meetings Prior to RIOC Director Meetings

Incoming Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Frank Farance shares with the community the following message he sent today to RIOC President Steve Shane and RIOC Board Members:

RIOC Board members are invited to tonight's RIRA Common Council Meeting to participate in the discussion concerning tomorrow's RIOC Board agenda item on the Roosevelt Island Tram upgrade.

For tonight's meeting, RIOC Directors should arrive at 8:30 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

RIRA will be sponsoring a regular Town Hall meeting on the Tuesday or Wednesday night before RIOC Board meetings. The RIOC Board will be able to participate in a Q&A session from residents, similar in format to the recent candidate's nights: each Director will have a seat at the dais at the head of the room. The Q&A session will be structured around the agenda for the RIOC Board meeting and RIOC Directors will have an opportunity to discuss and explain their positions on agenda items. Considering that many RIOC Board members have expressed an interest in feedback from the community, RIRA is happy to support this kind of dialogue among residents and RIOC Directors.

We look forward to productive, informing discussions.

The RIRA sponsored Town Hall meetings prior to RIOC Board meetings is a great idea. The problem with some RIOC sponsored Town Hall Meetings is that they occur after RIOC Board Meetings when decisions on particular items have already been made. At that point, any dialogue with the community on issues already voted on is pointless. Be interesting to see if RIOC Board members will participate.