Vol. 60 No. 9
March 1, 2025
$1.25
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Management Report
(The following Management Report was presented at the February 26, 2025 Open Board Meeting held in the Bartow Center.) Management Report
Marvin Walton
Executive General Manager On behalf of Douglas Elliman Property Management, Managing Agent, we are delighted to present the Management Report for Riverbay Corporation for the period ending January 31, 2024. This Management Report provides updates with the following elements: • Public Safety – Peace Officer Staffing Levels • 2025 Spotted Lanternfly Control Program • Recycling Efforts in the Community • 2-Year Budget Planning • Convector initiatives Public Safety Staffing Peace Officer staffing levels in the Public Safety department are currently 77 or 82.7% of the 93 Peace Officer positions budgeted in the department. As of today, the following provides a summary of activities that took place since the last reporting period: • 18 recruits started our in-house Peace Officer Training Academy on 2/3/2025. • 1 former Peace Officer was reinstated on 2/3/2025. • 1 former Peace Officer who attained their special status was reinstated on 2/23/2025. • 16 vacancies will be advertised in March (Continued on page 4)
February 26th Gallery Session and Board Meeting held in Bartow Center
and regulations. We need to do that for that mall in Dreiser,” said Director Johnson. “Who is going to The Open Board meeting of Wednesday, Feb. 26, shop over there with these types of conditions? … held in Rm. 31 in the Bartow Center, commenced We need to definitely tighten up our policies here promptly at 7 p.m. with the Gallery Session. and make sure that we operate this community in a Riverbay Board President Rod Saunders opened far better manner than what we're doing now.” the session and announced the first speaker, Jeffrey “We can have that discussion,” said Board PresMabry, who addressed a personal legal matter that is ongoing with Riverbay. The second speaker, Ms. Barbara Rose, spoke about safety issues around the community, and smoking and vaping in public spaces, especially at Dreiser Loop. Board President Saunders said that even though the Board would be voting on a smoking resolution that night, it does not cover public spaces in the manner that the speaker would like. “The city law apparently has sections that are specifically for around schools, churches, and certain places, but unfortunately, I don't think shopping centers are covered Riverbay Board Directors met in open session in the Bartow by that.” Director Daryl Johnson pointed out Center on Feb. 26 to discuss and vote on several impactful that Dreiser Mall belongs to Riverbay resolutions. Photo by Danielle Cruz ident Saunders. Corporation and agreed with the cooperator that The next speaker, Lauren Lassiter, president of something has to be done. the Building 6 Association, spoke about a letter “If you look around our buildings, folks used to she received from Riverbay informing her that she hang out there at night, all night long. Public Safewould not be able to run for re-election because of ty put a notice up around all buildings where folks non-compliance with responsibilities associated used to hang out, ‘you cannot come around here with her current role. Ms. Lassiter questioned the like at 10 o'clock’. That mall belongs to us. Ev(Continued on page 2) ery mall across the United States, they have rules By ROZAAN BOONE
New Feature! Directors’ Corner, see p. 4
Governor Hochul Provides Update on Congestion Pricing By BRANDON ORTIZ
In a message to the MTA Board and New Yorkers on Wednesday, February 26, Governor Kathy Hochul reiterated her commitment to congestion pricing. The Governor attended Wednesday’s MTA Board meeting following last week’s announcement from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), in which USDOT terminated the approval of the pilot for the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP). In her remarks, Governor Hochul provided a positive spin on the impact of congestion pricing, claiming the early returns from the program have been promising. She also offered her view of where public transit stands in terms of federal funding. “Public transit is facing an existential threat from Washington right now, whether it is the overall funding or whether it is the attack on congestion pricing…I had an interesting trip to the White House. I did my very best, but the fight is not over. I had considerable time in the White House and I want to thank my team for putting together what I envisioned. I said I want something that encapsulates in real simple terms, real nice pictures of what we’re getting with (Continued on page 3) congestion pricing,” Gov. Hochul said.
Riverbay Board of Directors Resolutions, see p. 6
Riverbay Board of Directors Approves Two-Year Budget and Other Resolutions BY DANIELLE CRUZ
The Riverbay Board of Directors held their Open Board Meeting at the Bartow Community Center on Wednesday, February 26. Before the Board voted on several resolutions, shareholders were able to address the Board and Riverbay Management during the Gallery Session. After the Gallery Session was concluded, the meeting was then called to order by Board President Rod Saunders, who presented his President’s Report to the community before handing the mic over to Executive General Manager Marvin L. Walton, who presented the Management Report. After both reports were shared with the community, the first Emergency Resolution was brough forth by Riverbay Finance Director Averil James-Bonnette, who presented Emergency Resolution #25-05. This resolution pertained to Riverbay’s two-year budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 and Fiscal Year 2026/2027. For Fiscal Year 2025/2026, the proposed budget is $315,071,999, which includes $293,851,800 for operating expenses (Continued on page 14)