Although there was plenty of positive motion forward at the RIOC May 2024 board meeting, we’re still waiting for information on what happened in the executive session. Here’s what we’ve got so far.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Significant progress on key infrastructure initiatives
- Procurement scuffles
- And an executive session leaves the community and RIOC waiting
At the close of ordinary business at RIOC’s board meeting last night, the chair moved for going into executive session. That means the cameras go dark, and everyone but board members gets kicked out.
RIOC has more balls in the air than a team of Olympic jugglers with all the lawsuits and investigations, but movement on the fates of suspended top-level managers, CEO Shelton Haynes and Chief Counsel Gretchen Robinson was anticipated.
The pair of suspended executives cost Roosevelt Islanders – conservatively – $50,000 in pay and benefits every month. Legal fees add even more expense. The situation is so untenable that it needs resolution as soon as possible.
We may know more sometime today, but for now, interim managers Gerrald Ellis and Dhru Amin are moving RIOC forward at an impressive pace.
What Happened at the RIOC May 2024 Board Meeting
A breakthrough found RIOC’s board finally authorizing a $150,000 payment to Abel Bainnson Butz, LLP (ABB) for the Octagon Sports/McManus Field Project on the fourth try. But it was far from routine.
Board member Ben Fhala pressed again for details on how the procurement and payout got so scrambled. Fhala expressed dismay over a perceived lack of accountability from LiRo, the owner’s rep for RIOC.
Conceding failures within RIOC’s process, Fhala asked why LiRo collected $450,000 for overseeing project administration while not accepting responsibility for the ABB’s not getting paid for years. In perspective, his efforts forced RIOC into a serious review of its badly flawed and possibly wasteful procurement processes. More on that in the future.
This stands out by hitting the board agenda for the fourth consecutive month. Earlier attempts at getting this $150,000 payout approved met resistance because some board members believed it wasn’t properly vetted.
More activity…
After years of rushed, uninformative and staged public board meetings, new board members working with interim management have returned transparency. AVP Ellis and CFO Amin along with acting COO Mary Cunneen kept attention on needs and actions.
The board approved…
- A three year street line striping contract with MetroExpress Services, after a discussion again focused on procurement policies.
- Mortgage refinancing for Southtown Buildings 3 and 4. This saw Ellis showing off the legal real estate chops that made him a prime acquisition for RIOC. Rarely, if ever, has a top manager exhibited his level of expertise and awareness.
- Tabling a proposal for repairs at Eleanor’s Pier. Board member Lydia Tang’s efforts led to an engineering review suggesting more extensive work may be needed. Fhala asked that a plan be developed for routine maintenance of railings throughout the Island.
- Authorization for a five-week project for replacing critical piping inside the AVAC facility. The work will require one-week shutdowns on alternating sides of the Island. Although the replacement piping is already on site, a firm start date hasn’t been set.
While there were a few times when some board members interrupted, talked over others and assumed unwarranted authority, Ellis kept things moving and calm. Everyone contributed, and for a change, no one seemed intimidated.
The results were impressive after years of stuttering, evasiveness and confusion.
Finally…
Everyone involved, from the suspended executives to Roosevelt Islanders on the street, needs to continue moving forward. Maybe, the executive session will make that finally possible.
If the Governor’s office isn’t bringing Haynes back – it’s extremely unlikely – then it’s time for giving the interim team a shot of permanence allowing them to work unhindered by uncertainties.
As the Dust Settles
The way the wind cuts across the river this time of year. The way older buildings hold heat but never quite hold air. I told myself that was why my chest felt tight again on certain mornings. Age, perhaps.
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