February is Heart Health Awareness Month!
Vol. 59 No. 8
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Summary of Feb. 21st Riverbay Board Meeting
Updates: CCPD, Apartment Repairs, Local Law 50 and Convectors
BY ROZAAN BOONE
The Riverbay Board of Directors meeting of February 21, 2024 was broadcast live on the Riverbay Crawler for shareholders to see their elected Board members conducting Board business. In addition to the President’s Report from Riverbay Board President Sonia Feliciano, and Management Report from Riverbay Executive General Manager Marvin L. Walton, the Board also voted on two second readings of resolutions and decided on the makers and seconds of three first readings which will be discussed and voted on at a future Board meeting. The following is a summary of the meeting. In the President’s Report, Ms. Feliciano summarized some of the items she has written to the community about recently in her reports published in the Co-op City Times. First, she addressed the 2.1% increase in carrying charges approved by the Board, and HCR’s projection, based on the demands of the Consumer Price Index, and which may be higher than Riverbay’s proposed increase – a matter that concerns many shareholders, President Feliciano said. “In response to HCR’s concerns, we have retained the services of an accountant to go over certain categories presented by the HCR that do appear to be incorrect,” said Board President Feliciano. “We hope to (Continued on page 2)
Management Report
Marvin L. Walton Riverbay Executive General Manager On behalf of Douglas Elliman Property Management, I am pleased to present the Management Report for Riverbay Corporation for the period ending January 31, 2024. This Management report provides updates on staffing for Public Safety, Apartment Repair Reform, Local Law 50, and on-going convector initiatives. Public Safety Staffing CCPD current staffing levels are 32 short of the required 93. Human (Continued on page 4) Resources received over 200 applications and
2023 Income Affidavit Filing Options The 2023 Income Affidavit process will begin in March. The filing deadline is April 30, 2024. This year, shareholders will have two options to file their 2023 Income Affidavit – either the traditional paper form or an electronic form which, once finalized, will be available on the official Co-op City website, https://www.coopcity.com. Shareholders filing a paper income affidavit should be aware that the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has changed the form – it is now in duplicate pink and white copies only. In addition, the paper form must be notarized. Last year’s electronic filing pilot of the 2022 Income Affidavit, which was only open to some shareholders for testing purposes, has resulted in improvements to user experience and a more efficient process in preparation for this year’s roll-out
$1.25
of the option to all shareholders. The finalized 2023 Income Affidavit form is not yet available however shareholders can visit the Home page on the website, https://wwwcoopcity.com, scroll to the bottom of the page under the “Useful Links” heading and click on “Affidavit Digital form,” to watch an instructional video to familiarize themselves with the simple, convenient, three-step digital filing process. While electronic filing of the annual Income Affidavit does not require the form to be notarized, everyone 18 years and older is required to go through a “knowledge-based” identification verification process before being able to access and complete the form. More information will be forthcoming in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to the Riverbay website, coopcity.com; the Riverbay Crawler (channel 12 for MATV subscribers and channel 591 for Altice/ Optimum subscribers) and the Co-op City Times.
BSA to Decide on 500 Baychester Avenue Appeal, Feb. 26 District Manager Matt Cruz of Community Board #10 has confirmed that the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) will convene a public hearing on Monday, February 26, when it is expected that a decision on the appeal of 2001 Bartow Avenue, aka 500 Baychester Avenue, will be forthcoming. Owners of the property located at 2001 Bartow Avenue/500 Baychester Avenue are appealing a 2022 NYC Department of Buildings revocation of permits for electronic advertising signs in a C7 zoned district. The case was reopened at the BSA’s Nov. 13, 2023 public review session when the owners submitted new testimony in support of their case. BSA is located at 22 Reade Street, New York, NY 10007. Although there are several items on the calendar ahead of item 2022-69-75-A (2001 Bartow Avenue, aka 500 Baychester Avenue), shareholders are advised that the February 26th Public Hearing begins at 10 a.m. (Continued on page 2)
Riverbay Phone Service Interruption Sunday, February 25, 8 a.m.— 10 a.m. Riverbay will be performing routine server maintenance on Sunday, February 25, from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. during which time the corporation will not be able to receive or make calls. A Phone Tree notification will be distributed to shareholders when the work is completed and service restored. Shareholders who experience an emergency while the service is down are asked to call 9-1-1. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.
Three Youths Arrested for Slashing and Robbing Delivery Worker On Friday, February 16, 2024 at approximately 8 p.m., CCPD received a call from the pizzeria located at Dreiser Loop stating that one of their delivery workers was robbed and assaulted at 100 Darrow Place. After the incident, the worker returned to the pizza shop bleeding profusely due to a slash/laceration on his face from a knife that one of the suspects used. CCPD Emergency Service Unit Officers treated the victim. Simultaneously, Officers conducted a debriefing, which revealed detailed descriptions of the perpetrators. A canvas was conducted. CCPD Detectives observed three male youths matching the description of the perpetrators who were pushing the stolen electric delivery bicycle, near the Ramada Hotel on Baychester Avenue. CCPD Detectives stopped the youths. One of the youths still had blood all over his footwear. The Pizza delivery worker was transported by CCPD to the location where the youths were being detained. The worker identified all three suspects as the persons who had robbed and assaulted him. He further verified the bicycle being his. The youths were then placed under arrest. A bloody knife, which is believed to be the one used in the assault, was recovered from one of the male youths. None of the arrested youths are Co-op City residents. FDNY E.M.T.’s transported the victim to the hospital where he was further treated and received stitches for a laceration on his face believed to be caused by a knife which was recovered from the youngest apprehended suspect. Two of the three suspects have been released. At this time, one suspect will face no additional action due to the fact that he is 11 years old, and one suspect may be referred to Family Court as he is 14 years old. One 17-year-old suspect is still in custody due to the seriousness of the injuries to the victim. (Continued on page 5)