★ ★ ★ Riverbay Board of Directors Election 2025 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1,027 ballots still needed for Quorum. Please VOTE Today!!! ★ ★
August 2, 2025
Vol. 60 No. 31
$1.25
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Quorum Not Met; Election Extended to Aug. 18 1,027 Ballots still Needed
By ROZAAN BOONE
The Riverbay Board of Directors election has been extended for a second time this year as the quorum was not obtained by the first extension deadline on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. As of Tuesday’s voting deadline, one thousand, one hundred and twenty-six (1,126) ballots were still needed to make this year’s quorum of 5,041 ballots being cast to validate the election and conclude the process. By press time yesterday, Friday, 99 additional ballots were received by YesElections, the independent
election company responsible for administering the Board election. “So far, we have received 4,014 votes,” said Riverbay Board Director Leah Graham, co-chair of the 2025 Election. “We still need 1,027 votes to meet quorum. Since quorum has not yet been reached, the election has been extended. Shareholders will incur the cost of this second election extension.” The 2025 Election Committee, also co-chaired by Board Director Monique Coleman, has arranged with YesElections to provide another in-person voting opportunity on Tuesday, August 5, at National
July Open Board Meeting By DANIELLE CRUZ
The Riverbay Board of Directors met in open session at the Dreiser Community Center Auditorium on Wednesday, July 30. Before the Board meeting, shareholders were able to address the Board and Management during a Gallery Session. Several shareholders signed up to speak during the Gallery Session, asking questions about community and quality of concerns to the Board and Management. After the Gallery Session, the Board Meeting was called to order by Board President Rod Saunders, who started the meeting by discussing the work that the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) began in July as part of their plan to change the traffic flow pattern around Education Park. Board President Saunders explained that the first time he and other Co-op City shareholders heard about these plans was during a DOT presentation at a Community Board 10 meeting on April 30. The DOT’s plans for the area around Education
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Park, which include Baychester Ave. and Donzetti Place, calls for the removal of one lane of traffic in both direction, sidewalk extensions and the creation of medians. Board President Saunders said that when he heard the plans, he knew it would not work and that having only one lane would make it even harder for shareholders trying to get in and out of the community, especially during arrival and dismissal times for the schools. That was why during the June Open Board meeting, he made a presentation alerting shareholders about the changes and urged people to reach out to the DOT and local officials to raise their concerns. “Four days after I made the presentation, DOT sent out a letter saying they would start in July and indeed they have,” said Board President Saunders. “Also, I would like to just say this, it was said during that presentation that they spoke to the staff at the Education Park. It was said that they spoke to the MTA and that they both approved of that (Continued on page 10)
Message from the 2025 Election Committee
The following message is from the co-chairs of the 2025 Election Committee, Board Director Leah Graham and Board Director Monique Coleman. Co-op City, There’s Still Time to Vote. Help us Reach Quorum! Board Director Leah Graham said: “So far, we have received 4,014 votes. We still need 1,027 votes to meet quorum. Since quorum has not yet been reached, the election has been extended. Shareholders will incur the cost of this second election extension. “As a Mitchell-Lama cooperative governed by NYS HCR, Co-op City is required to hold annual Board of Directors elections. “As shareholders, it is our responsibility to meet quorum; that means we must vote. Participation in our annual election is not only important; it is our responsibility. “Join us on Tuesday, August 5, at National Night Leah Graham Monique Coleman Out. In-person voting will be available, and ballots (Continued on page 7) will be provided. Your community is counting on
Douglas Elliman’s Riverbay Management Report - July 30, 2025 Management Report
Marvin L. Walton
Executive General Manager On behalf of Douglas Elliman Property Management, managing agent, we are pleased to present the Management Report for Riverbay Corporation for the period ending June 30, 2025. This Management Report provides updates with the following elements: • Public Safety – Peace Officer Staffing Levels • Building 4A, B&C Gas Outage Update • Demand Response Programs • Convector Initiative Tracker • Informational Updates (Continued on page 2)
Gallery Session at July 30th Open Board Meeting By ROZAAN BOONE
The following is a summarized version of new issues and concerns raised by shareholders with the Riverbay Board and Management at the Wednesday, July 30th Open Board meeting held in the Dreiser Auditorium. Shareholder Julie Brown spoke about her experiences with extensive wait time at the Riverbay Call Center, and then having to make additional phone calls or having to get dressed and going to the respective office to get her concerns addressed. She also said that callers should be issued a reference number in case there’s a need for them to call back. “A lot of times what ends up happening is that I'll make an appointment and nobody will come… When I call the Call Center back, it's well, we don't know and there's no appointment. But if I have a reference number, then I can always say to you, well, this is the reference number that you gave me and then we can work from there,” said Ms. Brown. Another point Ms. Brown raised is that sometimes, the representative who answers the phone, does not know the answer to questions being asked, offers to take the shareholder’s name and have someone call them back, which prompts the shareholder to get dressed and go to the office simply to ask a question. Riverbay Executive General Manager Marvin L. Walton explained that shareholders are supposed to be issued Work Order numbers when they contact the Call Center. “We have a work order system, and the work order system…If you're not encountering that, if you (Continued on page 7)