Roosevelt Island Rivercross Mitchell Lama Cooperative Residents Meet Again 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 from the October 7 meeting. Mr. Bauer writes:

Folks --

In response to the notice and agenda for the October 7 meeting I received one comment that suggested that I be "... less provocative in my reaction to the Board's responses to your queries."

I am sorry if I have been provocative. I have tried to report what observers at Board Conversations have said they heard. The reports have also included what the Board itself had distributed to all shareholders about its actions and its apparent leanings. Much of this has come from the Conversations held by the Board. I have tried for factual reporting. I have no intention to slant the matters. I would welcome anyone who might volunteer to prepare these summaries of what the Board is saying/doing.

Until someone steps forward with pen and paper in hand, I offer the following.

At the meeting Tuesday evening there was discussion about --

A1) Events that seem positive
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
e) starting the creation of a book exchange center
f) clarifying the process for reporting/correcting the transmission of odors between apartment
g) upon request, building staff will install u-shaped handles to facilitate window opening
h) request RIOC to install bench at bus stop.
A2) Events that seem negative
a) Board unwillingness to give reasonable answers to failing to increase the surcharge
b) opposition of two Board members to the bench in front of building
c) apparent significant Board opposition to ramp
d) stand that green roof is not feasible or affordable without presenting data to justify
e) apparent belief that additions to facilitate window washing would likely be prohibitive in cost without providing data
f) the Board's unwillingness to have its meetings open to interested Shareholders

2) In particular, there was a lengthy discussion about the apparent hurt feelings on the part of some Board members when they took special note on two occasions that one Shareholder had approached RIOC about the factors involved in substituting a ramp in place of the six step drop to the entrance plaza. Related to this was the recognition that putting a bench at the bus stop for the elderly/ailing waiting for specific transportation pickups does not meet the need.

3) Similarly, there was further discussion about the Building Staff, apparently supported by implicit Board feelings, that a Shareholder request for certain architectural details about the structure of the building were not to be divulged to the Shareholder.

4) These two discussions, covering different points of Shareholder concern led to a third discussion as to what limits exist, and what reasons there might be for believing there were such limits, to the kind of information about our Cooperative Housing Corporation that would be open to individual shareholders.

5) In the general discussion of Rivercross matters suggestions were made that Shareholders should have access to the 'slop sinks' located on each floor.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 to enjoy refreshments provided by Ekaterina. The Forum will reconvene in three weeks on Tuesday October 26 at 7:30.

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