About the mystery meeting: “PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a special meeting of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.” The advisory landed just after 7:00 p.m. on Monday, less than 48 hours notice. What’s the rush? RIOC offered no hints, but we can share some thoughts.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Because RIOC stonewalls inquiries from local media, we have no strong indication of why the mystery meeting was called. The abrupt, short-term notice may simply reflect the scheduling demands of board members with varying responsibilities.
Or, as one observer noted, “Sounds like someone has resigned or has been terminated. Or they lost one of the lawsuits.”
That reflects the published details for the executive session only meeting:
Chair’s Motion for Executive Session to Discuss:
- a. proposed, pending or current litigation; and
- b. 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.
There is no other business on the agenda.
Other Possibilities for the Mystery Meeting
Over the last several months, RIOC has been embroiled in controversy. New board members challenged the status quo and even their responsibilities. President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes and Chief Counsel Gretchen Robinson filed a sweeping lawsuit against the governor’s office and RIOC itself.
Transitions are rarely without growing pains, and this may resolve one or more of them.
- For the good of the community, including RIOC, a resolution to one or more of the numerous lawsuits would relieve some pressure.
- One of the dozen or so investigations reached a conclusion requiring discipline, dismissal or exoneration.
- Under pressure or just tired of it, Haynes or Robinson may have separated from the corporation.
It’s all guesswork because the state agency is so opaque, but although tonight’s meeting will be private, some hints may be available. It it’s online, as it should be, we’ll be watching.
Stack Work Advances While Answers Do Not
On June 17 and 18, HPD told the first meeting of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Demolition Community Advisory Group that smokestack demolition had no projected start date. Residents and the CAG would receive at least five business days’ advance notice once a date was set. Scaffolding around the stacks could not proceed until soil removal and backfill were complete and the area stabilized.
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