What's happening
This bill establishes requirements and an appointment process for the chief executive officer of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, including residency and eligibility criteria.
Why it matters
Increases local accountability and representation. by requiring the CEO of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) to be a resident of Roosevelt Island (or become one within a year), ensuring the top executive has a direct stake in the community’s well-being.
Establishes transparent and merit-based hiring. for the CEO position, mandating the board to create clear eligibility criteria and an open process for screening and recommending candidates, which may help prevent political patronage or opaque appointments.
Gives the board significant oversight and flexibility. over the CEO, including setting term length, compensation (with budget director approval), job responsibilities, and removal for cause—potentially ensuring the CEO remains accountable to the board and, indirectly, to the community.
Clarifies legal status and ethics requirements. for the CEO, explicitly applying state public officer laws and ethics provisions, which may increase public trust and reduce the risk of conflicts of interest or misconduct.
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Who cares
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation board
The bill would require the board to appoint a CEO through an open and transparent screening process, set the position’s term and duties, and establish eligibility criteria.
Roosevelt Island residents
The CEO would have to live on the island or move there within one year, unless the board grants a written waiver for extraordinary circumstances before appointment.
Current CEO and prospective candidates
The current CEO’s term would end when a successor is appointed, and the bill would establish residency requirements and grounds and procedures for removal.
State budget director
The director would approve the CEO’s compensation but would be barred from applying for the position.
Headline styles
Reform Roosevelt Island CEO Role
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 29
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.333
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Appoint Roosevelt Island CEO
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Rebecca Seawright
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1427
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend chapter 899 of the laws of 1984, relating to the creation of a public benefit corporation to plan, develop, operate, maintain and manage Roosevelt Island, in relation to the office of chief executive officer of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 3 of chapter 899 of the laws of 1984, relating to the creation of a public benefit corporation to plan, develop, operate, maintain and manage Roosevelt Island, as amended by chapter 766 of the laws of 2005, is amended and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
2. The board of directors of the corporation shall be composed of nine members. One member shall be the commissioner, who shall serve as the chair; one member shall be the director of the budget; and seven public members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Of the seven public members, two members, one of whom shall be a resident of Roosevelt Island, shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the mayor of the city; and four additional members shall be residents of Roosevelt Island. Each member shall serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor shall have been appointed and shall have qualified, except that (a) two of the initial public members appointed by the governor, one of whom is a resident of Roosevelt Island, and the Roosevelt Island resident member appointed upon the recommendation of the mayor of the city shall serve for terms of two years each, and (b) the commissioner and the director of the budget shall serve so long as they continue to hold their respective offices. Any action taken by the directors of the corporation shall be taken by majority vote of the directors then in office. The elected
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01914-01-9
S. 1427 2
public officials who represent Roosevelt Island shall be representatives to the board of directors of the corporation entitled to receive notice of and attend all meetings of such board but shall not be entitled to vote. Failure to give such notice shall not [effect] affect the validity of any action taken at a meeting of such board.
6. (a) The board of directors shall appoint a chief executive officer of the corporation. Subject to subdivision 1 of section 3 of the public officers law, any individual, except the director of the budget, shall be eligible to apply for the position. The board shall develop eligibility criteria for the position, and an open and transparent process for screening and recommending eligible candidates for appointment.
(b) The chief executive officer shall be a resident of Roosevelt Island or shall become a resident within one year of the date of appointment. Failure to comply with this paragraph shall be grounds for automatic removal of the successful candidate from the position. The provisions of this paragraph relating to residency for the chief executive officer may be waived by the board of directors provided that the board finds that there are extraordinary circumstances warranting such waiver. Such waiver shall be in writing and by a majority vote prior to the appointment of the chief executive officer.
(c) The board of directors also:
(i) shall determine the term of office for the position; and fix the compensation to be paid, subject to the approval of the director of budget;
(ii) shall prescribe the duties and responsibilities for the position; and
(iii) may remove the chief executive officer for inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office, after notice and an opportunity to be heard.
(d) The chief executive officer shall be considered:
(i) an "employee" for the purposes of section 18 of the public officers law;
(ii) a "state officer" for the purposes of sections 73 and 73-a of the public officers law; and
(iii) an "officer or employee of a state agency" for the purposes of section 74 of the public officers law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, except that the term of the current chief executive officer shall end at such time as a successor chief executive officer is appointed.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 899 of the laws of 1984, relating to the creation of a public benefit corporation to plan, develop, operate, maintain and manage Roosevelt Island, in relation to the office of chief executive officer of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation
Purpose or general idea of bill
To establish the position of chief executive officer of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation, and the requirements for such position.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill makes a technical amendment, and provides the following:
1. The board shall appoint a chief executive officer of RIOC, who must be a resident of Roosevelt Island or become a resident within 6 months of appointment;
2. The board shall determine the term of office, fix the compensation and prescribe the duties for the position; and
3. The CEO must comply with, and be subject to, certain rules that apply to public officers.
Section two provides that this act shall take effect immediately, except that the term of the current chief executive officer shall end at such time as a successor chief executive officer is appointed.
Justification
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (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. The directors of RIOC board are not elected but rather appointed. Pres- ently, there is neither residency requirement for all RIOC board direc- tors nor for the President/Chief Executive Officer. The President/CEO is primarily responsible for operations of daily life on Roosevelt Island. There has never been a RI resident appointed to this position but rather only persons who reside outside the community once appointed, the President/CEO has never moved into the community.
This bill provides a step toward self-governance for Roosevelt Island residents by requiring the next newly appointed CEO to be a resident or become a resident within six months of his/her appointment. This resi- dency requirement will ensure the CEO is a member of the community. This bill would make the next CEO more accountable to the residents he/she will serve. The RIOC Board of Directors will appoint the CEO, determine the term of office, fix the compensation to be paid, prescribe the duties and responsibilities and may remove him/her for cause. This bill requires greater transparency because the next CEO will be subject to the Public Officers Law including financial disclosures and a Code of Conduct.
Prior legislative history
2017-2018: S3109 - Passed in Assembly Died in Senate. Passed in Assem- bly. Delivered to Senate. Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2016: S7114A- Amended & Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commis- sions
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
Immediately, except that the term of the current chief executive officer shall end at such time as a successor chief executive officer is appointed.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.