Relates to the management of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation

BILL NUMBER:S7985A

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 899 of the laws of 1984, relating to the creation of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation, in relation to the management of such corporation

Purpose or general idea of bill

To improve the governance of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, in order to make it more representative of Island residents,

Summary of specific provisions

-reconstitutes the RIOC board into a nine member body, with the commissioner of the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) and the NYS Budget Director serving as ex-officio members, and seven public members appointed by the governor subject to the advice and consent of the senate-one upon the recommendation of the local member of the state senate, one upon the recommendation of the local member of the state assembly, and two upon the recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York, all seven public members being residents of Roosevelt Island;

-provides that all meetings of the board of directors or any committee of the board shall be subject to the open meetings law;

-requires purchase and contracts to be entered into in accordance with a program adopted under § 2879 of the public authorities law;

-provides that prior to hiring the chief executive officer of the corporation, the board shall hold a public hearing to interview at least three qualified candidates for the position where at residents of Roosevelt Island can question the candidates;

-requires that any expenditures of the corporation be in accordance with the adopted budget or a modification approved by the board of directors; and

-act to take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.

Justification

RIOC was created in 1984 to manage Roosevelt Island, oversee its continued development through the Master Plan and allocate state capital funding and operational support. In recent years however, state assistance has dwindled and the Island has had to become more self-sufficient. At the same time, residents have become increasingly disenchanted with RIOC's governance. This bill would make RIOC more representative of Island residents by reconstituting the RIOC board and requiring that all of its public members be residents of the Island. It also

improves the board's accountability by providing for some of its public members to be appointed upon the recommendation of the local elected officials who represent the Island. These elected officials are familiar with the Island and the unique and complex issues surrounding its governance, and they are, of necessity, responsive to the concerns expressed by Island residents. The legislation also improves the board's governance and transparency by requiring a more robust search process prior to the hiring of a chief executive officer, by specifying that meetings of the board or any committee of the board are subject to the open meetings law, by requiring that the corporation's expenditures be made in accordance with the budget adopted by the board (or any modifications made by the board to the budget), and by requiring-that purchases and contracts made by the corporation be in accordance with the requirements of .2879 of the public authorities law.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Act to take effect immediately after it shall have become a law.