Renegotiated cable contract big news
at Open Board Meeting New Deal
NST Open Board Meeting comes to order (l. to r.) Board Members Warren Glenn, George Nagelberg, Steve Redlich, President Mario
Carmiciano, Fred Chernow, Bob Ricken, Stanley Goldsmith, Phyllis Goldstein, General Consul Errol Brett and General Manager Glen Kotowski
BY STEPHEN VRATTOS
Photo by Stephen Vrattos
Thursday Evening, September
28, the Open Board Meeting
commenced in the Towers
Cinema. Board President Mario
Carmiciano began by introducing
special guest Janet Sharkey, Project
Manager for Sam Schwartz
Transportation Consultants, who
presented the Parking and Traffic
Assessment report she and her team
had been putting together since
last summer (See pages 12-13 for
a comprehensive look at Sharkey’s
presentation).
The traditional committee reports
from respective chairs ensued, but
perhaps the biggest news came
from an unlikely source. General
Manager Glen Kotowski took to
the lectern amid the Committee
overviews to announce a new
cable TV deal for residents with
Spectrum, which purchased former
supplier Time Warner Cable last
year. Although the current 7-year
contract was not due to expire for
another couple of years, Spectrum’s
purchase of Time Warner opened
the door for NST management to
renegotiate.
The new contract goes into effect
November 1 and knocks down the
monthly cable fee to $69.95 from its
previous $80 cost. Residents will
receive 2 cable boxes, all the basic
cable stations, plus HBO, HBO
On Demand, Showtime and The
Movie Channel, as well as digital
recording of programs for later
viewing. Telephone and internet are
also included with the latter service
increasing from 100 megabytes to
300 megabytes, the fastest speed
currently available.
In return, Greenthal Management
would now handle the cable billing,
adding the new cable charge to the
monthly bill residents receive from
management. Any additional cable
expenses ordered by individual
residents, such as Pay-Per-View
events, other premium channels,
more cable boxes, etc., will be billed
separately by Spectrum. The Board
and Management agreed on a
5-year contract, figuring conditions
will have significantly changed in
that time, given meteoric advances
in technology, necessitating
an upgrade to account for such.
Kotowski also pointed out that
participation was not mandatory.
The favorable oohs and aahs and
applause from the audience were
proof enough the deal is a good
one, further supported by various
residents, who complimented
Kotowski on it at the mic during
the QA period.
On the financial front, Treasurer
Steve Redlich reported a dramatic
increased assessment by New York
City of $1.5 million dollars in taxes.
“My back is against the wall,” he
lamented. The news overshadowed
the otherwise positive financial
state of North Shore Towers.
According to Redlich, the overall
revenue stream was only off a scant
four-tenths of a percent from what
was predicted and the operating
surplus had grown to more than
$1.2 million. Still, with taxes
increasing 24% in the past two
years, Redlich predicts the surplus
will “shrink a little.” Fortunately,
the operating escrow on the 2019
and 2020 principal payments will
save residents approximately 2.5%
increase in maintenance.
Other news of note came from
Capitol Improvements Chair
George Nagelberg, who warned of
impending Local Law 87, which
mandates that buildings of a certain
size—which would include North
Shore Towers—must address energy
costs and reduction. Though the
law would not immediately affect
NST, Nagelberg is proactively
submitting a study of NST, which
would include the complex’s new
generators. Nagelberg’s foresight
will allow NST to be credited
for their positive energy initiatives,
which would otherwise go
uncredited, if NST waited for Local
Law 87 to come to term, since the
law allows buildings to report on
improvements within the past four
years only.
Cultural Affairs and New Resident
Sales Chair Fred Chernow’s green
tie indicated continued growth in
the value of homes, up to an average
of $178 share. GAP Chair Phyllis
Goldstein announced the return
of the Labor Day White Dinner
in 2018 due to the tremendous
success of the inaugural event in
September. The foretold two new
treadmills have been installed in
the gym and a pair of potential outdoor
loungers to replace the old
ones for next season’s pool opening
will be on display by the pool. And
Special Projects Chair Bob Ricken
announced the return of the Art
Show next August.
NEW DEAL
Breakdown of new
cable contract with
Spectrum, which goes
into effect November 1
• Monthly cost: $69.95
• 2 cable boxes and remotes
for each
• Digital recording
• Basic cable stations, plus…
a HBO
aHBO On Demand
aShowtime
aThe Movie Channel
• Telephone
• Internet (300 megabytes)
• Cost included on monthly
Maintenance bill
November 2017 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 3