‘first-rate’ accomplishments BY MAGGIE HAYES Board highlights The North Shore Towers Board kicked off October’s open meeting by introducing new members and sharing overall stellar committee reports. Bruce Savid of the Country Club committee, Felice Hannah of the Political Action Committee and Maria Termini-Miller of the GAP committee were warmly welcomed by both their fellow board members and the present residents. General Manager Glen Kotowski then took the podium and introduced his “talented” department heads, and Board President Bob Ricken stepped in to share NST news. The facility is approaching 40 years old and Ricken said “we have to do things to keep the place sharp, keep it something you’re proud to live in.” By November, Ricken and the Board will be studying the 2014 budget. The golf course continues to be worked on, and the country club is still experiencing a surplus in budget because of mandatory membership. For the first time in history, Ricken said, NST has more Country Club members than apartments, totaling 1,904 members. Additionally, in sponsored golf membership over four years, NST has taken in $1,200,000. A new cleaning service for the Country Club has also saved the club $100,000 in a calendar year. The mortgage was refinanced, and after Sandy, the Towers recovered $275,000 in insurance. Since 2010, there has been a zero percent increase in maintenance fees, and as of September 30, the Towers had $24,132,516 in reserve funds and cash balance. The number is projected to be reduced by the end of the year. “The lower we keep that, the better it is,” Ricken said. “Not one co-op could match what we’ve done here.” Because of budget workings over the years, the Towers will be able to fund over $13 million of new generators without increasing maintenance. That project is set to begin in early November. Ricken also noted that Time Warner changed the NST in-house channels, which are now 994, 995 and 998. Mort Gitter began the committee reports, and first stated their aim is to “keep the North Shore Towers a firstrate community.” “It requires a lot of money to keep this place going, but you have our assurance we’re going to do the best we can,” he said. For 2014, the budget is approaching $3 million. A copy of the budget will be available in the Management office. “Financially, we haven’t suffered,” Gitter said. “Expenses are very closely watched.” Capital improvements are being made to the golf course, indoor pool, VIP facility and Country Club areas. Gitter expects to spend $600,000 on capital improvements for the Country Club. Residents are also advised to get in their STAR exemption for their abatement before December 31. Fred Chernow then stepped up, and told the audience their average share price went up 14.7 percent from the same period last year, and the number of sales has grown from 106 to 128 units so far in 2013. “Home equity is growing much faster,” he said. “You’re making money while sleeping and while enjoying the amenities at the North Shore Towers.” Bruce Savid then shared his Country Club news, after just three months as chair of the committee. He has initiated a new model of subcommittees for different areas of the Country Club, and finds that model successful and efficient. He also plans on implementing policies that will attract new, active members and maximize attendance at NST events. Herb Cooper of Capital Improvements detailed the “largest and most important project at the North Shore Towers since its inception,” the $13 million project for new generators. This will replace the currently aging generators with up-to-date, highefficiency units. Cooper and his committee have been working for a year to determine the right supplier, the right cost and the right time for implementation. The generators will be ready for the 2014 “air conditioning season,” Cooper said. Felice Hannah detailed the various political candidates coming on weekends and other elected officials that have visited the Towers recently, thanks to the Political Action Committee. Hannah is driven and determined to keep the NST public informed. On November 4, Hannah and her committee will host an event to show residents and prepare them for voting procedures so everybody is ready for the November 5 general election. On November 13, she has invited state representatives for Medicare and navigators for the health exchange to speak, non-politically, about the Affordable Health Care Act. Mario Camiciano then graced the podium to speak about the House and Grounds committee and its work. Movie theater improvements and upgrades are still underway, front and center plazas and the playground are being beautified and efforts to establish an express bus service are still in effect. Online amenities are also being improved, and you can now put in a maintenance request online. NST directories will also be online, so as to reduce the quantity of paper books printed. Also, officials are looking to create an app for smartphones, and residents with the app can receive Towers news about maintenance or alerts. Public lighting is also being upgraded and will total a 66 percent savings in energy as well as decrease the load on the new generators. Officials are also welcoming suggestions for improvements in the Beaumont Lounge. Maria Termini-Miller gave her Gym, Aerobics and Pool presentation and showed residents “a way to have fun while you’re exercising.” The club offers 45 classes a week, and weekday hours have been extended to 11 p.m. Non-members can join the club now and get the rest of the year for free. Termini-Miller also hopes to upgrade the NST website, become compatible with new technology and get on social media, all with the intentions to “change people’s perception about our community.” Errol Brett, NST attorney, then gave closing remarks and answered questions from residents. He shared that the operators of the VIP Room have signed an agreement and can now serve dinner on Tuesday, Sunday and at Friday night happy hours, as well as operate concessions at the pool during the summer. The VIP Room will also have the opportunity to host private parties for club members. Finally, met with a resounding round of applause, Brett said the Towers restaurant is here to stay, for at least another five years. At the end of that five years, they then have the option to sign on for another five. North Shore Towers Courier n November 2013 3
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