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Vol. 58 No. 7
Saturday, February 18, 2023
IREM NYC Honors Riverbay Executive GM as Real Estate Person of the Year BY ROZAAN BOONE
Riverbay Executive General Manager and Vice President/Managing Director of Douglas Elliman Property Management, Bob Klehammer, has been named Real Estate Person of the Year by the Greater New York Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM NYC). “Bob is well known throughout the real estate property management community as a man of integrity and he is truly worthy to be called IREM NYC’s Real Estate Person of the Year,” said Randall Powell, CPM, President of IREM’s NYC Chapter. Mr. Klehammer will be honored at the organizaBob Klehammer tion’s annual Dinner & Awards being held on Thursday, March 2, in New York City. This year’s other honorees are Michael TorUHV RI 3DUNFKHVWHU 3UHVHUYDWLRQ 0DQDJHPHQW ZKR ZLOO EH UHFRJQL]HG DV &HUWL¿HG Property Manager of the Year; and Michael Berkowitz (Continued on page 4)
Completed Window Guard Forms Now Overdue All forms must be completed and returned The 2023 Annual Window Guard form is now overdue and shareholders are urged to return the completed form as soon as possible. The deadline was last Wednesday, Feb. 15. This is an annual requirement that must be completed by shareholders who live in high-rise buildings where children age 10 years and younger reside or visit. Townhouse residents do not receive the annual mailing but can request window guards if they’d like them installed. All questions on theWindow Guard form must be answered, and the form must be signed and dated by a shareholder of record, and a working contact phone number provided in case follow-up is necessary. Please note that regardless of whether shareholders are requesting or already have window guards installed in their apartment, this form must be completed and submitted. Those who have not yet complied will receive continuous phone calls from SiteCompli and/or Riverbay CSO in an effort to collect the information which is required by law. After all avenues have been exhausted, the names of non-respondents will be forwarded to the NYC Department of Health for further action. Completed Window Guard forms may be returned by mail to SiteCompli, Safety Notice Processing, P.O. Box 20240, Greeley Square Station, New York, NY 10001-9998; by fax to 646-755-3632 (no cover page necessary); or online at www.safebuildingsnyc.com, enter your response code and follow the prompts provided in the mailing. Completed forms can also be deposited in the drop boxes at the Dreiser CSO on the lower level plaza, at the reception area in the RivHUED\ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ RI¿FH DW %DUWRZ &HQWHU RU DW WKH Einstein CSO. For assistance completing the 2023 Window Guard form, call CSO at (718) 320-3300, select option #4. <RX ZLOO QHHG WR SURYLGH WKH VSHFL¿F FRGH RQ WKH Window Guard form mailed to your unit. Those who have misplaced the form, should also contact CSO for assistance.
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Executive Search Continues; Open Board Meeting to be held in March Dear Fellow Shareholders, President’s Report As we have communicated over the last several months, we have lost our General Manager Noel Ellison due to retirement on January 31, 2023, and our Executive General Manager Bob Klehammer will be retiring in the April/May time frame. This leaves us with a vacuum of leadership in the Riverbay Corporation. Our management company, Douglas Elliman Property Management, has been HQJDJHG ZLWK WKH %RDUG WR ¿QG WKH EHVW WDOHQW SRVVLEOH to continue running Riverbay Corporation’s operations and capital projects. We are identifying candidates who bring the breadth and expertise to run a corporation of this size. Once the Board completes its assessments, we will share with the community the strategic plans as we move forward with new leadership. We thank you for your patience as we go through the process of restructuring Riverbay. (Continued on page 2)
Sonia Feliciano
NYSDOH Updates Mask Guidance for Healthcare Settings BY BRANDON ORTIZ
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued an update to their mask guidance for healthcare settings. The changes went into effect on February 12 and bring NYSDOH’s guidance in line with the current CDC recommendations, which are based on transmission levels, as opposed to Covid-19 community levels. Under the new guidance, staff at all NYSDOH facilities regulated under Articles 28, 36 and 40 of the Public Health Law are allowed to implement their own mask guidance based on the current CDC recommendations. Facilities regulated under Articles 28, 36 and 40 include hospitals, nursing homes, home health care and hospice agencies, and diagnostic and treatment centers. In other words, masks will only be required during situations where Covid-19 transmission levels reach D FHUWDLQ WKUHVKROG GH¿QHG E\ WKH &'& 7KH 1<6'2+ VWLOO UHFRPPHQGV ZHDULQJ D SURSHUO\ ¿WWLQJ PDVN LQ SXEOLF LQGRRU VHWWLQJV VXFK DV KHDOWKcare facilities. Private medical and dental practices “are strongly advised to also adhere to these Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures,” the NYSDOH explained in a recent press release. The agency also recommends that adult care facilities follow the CDC’s “community guidance” and “guidance for congregate living settings.” (Continued on page 2)
Riverbay Holiday Closing & CCTimes deadline notice In observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, Riverbay Administrative Offices will be closed. For emergency services, please call: MAINTENANCE: 718-320-3300, press option 2 PUBLIC SAFETY: 718-671-3050 Because of the shortened work week, all articles and directors’ viewpoints submitted for publication in the Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 issue must be received before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Material received after this time will be considered on a first come basis as space allows. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a safe and enjoyable Presidents’ Day!
MTA Spotlights On-Time Performance for Access-A-Ride Service BY BRANDON ORTIZ
07$ RI¿FLDOV UHFHQWO\ DQQRXQFHG $FFHVV $ Ride service achieved record on-time performance in recent months. On-time performance for Access-A-Ride’s blue and white primary carrier vans has increased from 90% in September 2021 to 98% as of last month, according to MTA data. During that same period of time, MTA data also showed a decrease in drivers failing to show up from 6.6% down to 0.6% per 1000 scheduled trips. As for brokered services through Access-ARide, such as taxis and for-hire vehicles, MTA data showed an increase in on-time performance from 84% in November 2021 to 95% last month. In a recent online MTA survey, the Access-ARide program received a new high of 76% customer satisfaction. As a result of the positive feedback, the MTA’s press release noted that the agency is in the process of adjusting its criteria for its on-time (Continued on page 4)