RIOC’s Audit Committee Meeting, set for this afternoon at 4:00, matters because the state hides so much. Discussions, undoubtedly staged, consider wrapping up the books for the last fiscal year.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
What’s on the Audit Committee Agenda?
Government board Audit Committees matter because the public has so little visibility into how their money is being spent.
This afternoon at 4:00, Roosevelt Island’s representatives on the RIOC Board of Directors sit as the Audit Committee and review, among other things, the books for the last fiscal year.
The state-run Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation is required by law to submit its financial records for review by an outside accounting firm. That firm then confirms the numbers as valid.
The legal responsibilities of a board member in a New York State agency are many and weighty. But the last thing we want from our members is for them to be rubber stamps.
For that reason, the Audit Committee’s most important duty is to ask hard questions of staff about how money was spent, what worked well, where improvements are needed and why some things cost so much.
We’ve all heard stories of corruption and waste in government. The Audit Committee is our best, maybe only, defense against those ills.
AGENDA:
Discussion of:
- Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2022
- Annual Report for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2022
- Report on Procurement Contracts for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2022
- Report on Investments for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2022
- Property Report for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2022
- Insurance Binder for Public Officials/Employment Practices Policy
But then, there’s another in a string of executive sessions where the board hides behind a cloud of obscurity and, most likely, hears about another exit or arrival under the tumultuous management of President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes.
Executive Session:
Discussion of the Medical, Financial, Credit or Employment History of a Particular Person or Corporation, or Matters Leading to the Appointment, Employment, Promotion, Demotion, Discipline, Suspension, Dismissal or Removal of a Particular Person or Corporation.
This is essentially legalese regurgitated as a disguise shielding the executives from public scrutiny.
Adding significantly to mushrooming distrust, public materials germane to this meeting have not been posted yet, although they are certainly available.
Why This Meeting Matters
With multiple investigations underway, the focus on the last fiscal year shines a spotlight on board responsibility and agency accountability.
The Audit Committee meeting serves as a prelude for action at a full board meeting later this month. Will the committee roll over as it has for years, never looking critically at spending it approves?
A repeat performance is likely as the shipment of spine donors has not hit RIOC’s door yet. But it’s worth watching as the public record becomes real.
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Also from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
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- A Full Week Across the River: How Roosevelt Island and Queens Lives IntersectA full week across the river shows how life on Roosevelt Island connects with Queens—covering public safety, legal updates, G train disruptions, and neighborhood events.
- Roosevelt Island Weekly Recap: Community Life, Local News, and Everyday ConnectionsOur Roosevelt Island weekly recap covers local news, community events, and the threads of daily life connecting neighbors on and off the island.
- Queens News Highlights and Roosevelt Island Community ConnectionsExplore the week’s Queens news highlights and Roosevelt Island community connections, from public safety to housing, historic places, and local events.
- How Queens News Shapes Life on Roosevelt Island This WeekExplore how Queens news shapes life on Roosevelt Island, from major fire responses to local court cases and housing initiatives, reflecting the rhythms and routines of our shared city life.
“I Can Ask”
Chair Fay Christian opened the Operations Advisory Committee on February 12th, reading out member names from a prepared sheet that omitted Melissa Wade. It didn’t feel intentional, but it struck me as odd precisely because it came from something prepared. Lydia Tang gently corrected her, noting that Wade was, in fact, a member of the committee. Wade met the moment with grace, or perhaps she simply wasn’t bothered by it.
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