NY State Assembly Passes Bill Sponsored By Micah Kellner On Roosevelt Island Governance - More Community Input & Oversight By Directors

Image From Micah Kellner

Received the following release from Assembly Member Micah Kellner yesterday.

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner (D,WFP) to reform the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) passed the state Assembly today. The bill will open up RIOC to greater community input and improve oversight by the corporation’s Board of Directors. It is sponsored in the State Senate by Senator José Serrano.

“Roosevelt Islanders know that the Island only works when RIOC is accountable and responsive to the community,” Assembly Member Kellner said. “This bill means that Islanders will have a greater role in the governing process—it opens up the corporation to the public and establishes the principle that Island residents must have a say in how the Island is run.”

The legislation gives the public a role in the process of hiring the RIOC President—requiring the Board of Directors to consider at least three candidates for the job and to hold hearings allowing members of the public as well as Board members to interview the candidates. It requires that meetings of the Board of Directors be subject to the state’s open meetings law, and specifies that members of the public must have an opportunity to comment on all agenda items before the Board votes on those items.

Additionally, the legislation provides that two of the public members of RIOC’s Board of Directors will be chosen upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly and the Temporary President of the State Senate—who will make their suggestions based on consultation with the local member of the Assembly and the Senate, ensuring input for those elected officials who are most answerable to Roosevelt Island residents.

“This is a victory for Roosevelt Islanders,” Assembly Member Kellner said. “It is a clear affirmation of residents’ right to be part of the Island’s decision making process.”

The full text of the bill (A10392) is here.

Given the departure of Steve Shane as President of RIOC last Monday, this legislation is certainly timely though it has been in the works for some time and is not related to Mr. Shane's leaving RIOC.

A similar bill sponsored by Senator Serrano was recently passed by the State Senate.