As previously reported:
On January 10, 2022, Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright
and State Senator
Jose Serrano
introduced
legislation
... to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring certain
directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to be residents of
Roosevelt Island and to require the appointment of certain vacant board
positions within sixty days...
... The provisions of this bill would:
-
Clarify the residency requirement for certain public appointments to the
board of directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and
stipulate for their immediate resignation from the board upon termination
of such residency;
-
Provide for the appointment of a successor within 60 days when a board
vacancy occurs within an unexpired term;
-
Require the posting of job vacancies on the corporation's website; and,
*Provide that this act shall take effect immediately....
Earlier today, I asked
Governor Kathy Hochul's office:
I understand that Governor Hochul vetoed legislation regarding the Roosevelt
Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors residency requirements and
appointments.
Is that true?
Any comment on the reason for the veto of this legislation which was sponsored
by Roosevelt Island’s State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and State
Senator Jose Serrano?
Also, there are currently several vacant and expired seats on the Rioc Board
of Directors. Any comment when nominees will be appointed to these seats?
Governor Hochul's spokesperson replied:
Re: RIOC’s board, the Governor is committed to filling board vacancies.
and provided the Governor's veto message to the State Senate on the Roosevelt Island legislation:
TO THE SENATE:
I am returning herewith, without my approval, the following bill:
Senate Bill Number 7622-A, entitled: "AN ACT to amend the public authorities
law, in relation to requiring certain directors of the Roosevelt Island
operating corporation to be residents of Roosevelt Island and to require the
appointment of certain vacant board positions within sixty days"
NOT APPROVED
This bill would require a director who is appointed to a seat on the Roosevelt
Island Operating Corporation ("RIOC") board of directors on the basis of
residency to resign immediately when no longer a resident of Roosevelt Island.
The bill would require the Governor to fill any vacancy among the
gubernatorial seats on the RIOC board within sixty days of the vacancy
occurring, regardless of the reason for the vacancy. The bill also would
require that RIOC post all corporation employment vacancies publicly and to
its website.
My administration is committed to good government that is responsive to the
needs of communities served by the State's agencies and authorities. This
legislation presents significant obstacles towards achieving that goal and
presents risks to the effective administration of RIOC.
First, this legislation is unnecessary to ensure local representation on the
board. Under current law five of the seven gubernatorial appointees to the
board must be residents of Roosevelt Island. The large representation of
residents on the board ensures continued local representation. Additionally,
if a member appointed on the basis of their residency on Roosevelt Island
moves away during their four-year tenure, they cannot be reappointed on that
basis and could only be replaced by an island resident (unless the five-member
resident requirement has been otherwise met).
Second, this legislation presents operational challenges to RIOC to the
detriment of the community and the board. To require that a RIOC resident
board member resign immediately upon moving would create vacancies, could
compel effective directors to resign prematurely, and may disrupt the board's
orderly management of its business affairs. Given the time needed to identify
qualified candidates in the event of unanticipated vacancies, mandating a new
director be appointed within sixty days in the event of any vacancy,
regardless of cause, is impractical and could prevent well-qualified
candidates from completing the nomi- nation and confirmation processes.
Finally, the requirement that RIOC post all corporation employment vacancies
on its website is impractical as it makes no exceptions for practical or legal
reasons, such as urgently needed positions or positions that may be subject to
the terms of collective bargaining agreements which are subject to separate
hiring processes.
For these reasons, I am constrained to veto this bill.
The bill is disapproved.
(signed) KATHY HOCHUL
Asked to comment on Governor Hochul's veto of her legislation,
Roosevelt Island NY State Assembly Member
Rebecca Seawright replied:
We will persist in our vigorous efforts, working with longtime residents, on the issue of representation on the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) governing board. We must bring greater accountability and transparency to the board, which serves more than 12,000 residents. While we continue to believe that accomplishing this progress in statute is the appropriate course, we will forge ahead to achieve the best composition of the board and recommend only Roosevelt Island residents for appointments by the governor and mayor.
UPDATE 11/23 - Governor Hochul also vetoed legislation that would have required residents representation on the Battery Park City Authority.
