Page Title

Minutes from 3/27 FRC meeting

Meeting started @ 7:15

Guest Speakers – Theo Dorian, President of St. George Civic Assoc.
Officer Clinton Hawthorns, Community Affairs Officer

****************************************************
        Ann Marie Selzer introduced herself as the Chairwoman and provided her background.
                   Background in Film Financing and Festival Directing
                   Currently consulting for SIEDC, RCSF and JCC
                   Involved in many local community projects

        Theo Dorian, President of the SGCA gave a brief history of FRC
                   Theo Founded committee 15 years ago
                   Committee left off with a campaign for ½ hour service 24/7
                   City council unanimously passed a bill mandating the ½ hr 24/7 service
                            Mayor Bloomberg vetoed it and threaten to sue
                            A compromise was reach that got us more service
                   Refreshments on ferry
                   Seats on new ferries
                   Adequate service
                   Connections
                   Open Air preachers

        MTA Report Card
If you haven’t filled one out – please go to http://enterprise.mtanyct.info/statenIslandBusSurvey/start.htm

        Website – www.siferryriders.org
        Subcommittees
           FRC is currently looking to set up sub-committees (ie, web design, fundraising, etc)

        Wifi
            DOT is currently working with ATT to provide Wifi on the Ferry and in the Terminals

        Retail Space – Last meeting we were told that JUNE 08 would be when we would see the stores opening but that has
now changed. There are no utilities in the spaces.

Officer Hawthorne needed to leave so we moved to discuss Preaching issue.

FRC made the decision to NOT call it a preaching issue but we were concerned about all disturbances. Officer Hawthorne is
addressing specifically the preaching.

Hawthorne will attempt to mediate. Everyone agreed that it was an annoyance.
He said that Police Officers patrolling the ferry have been told that they can use discretion on how they approach the
preachers. (BTW – Ferry Crew are not allowed to do anything concerning the preachers except to bring the situation to a
police officer)

Borough commander Gerimonte is now in charge of Ferry Security and officers from all three precincts now report on the
ferry. (as it was before – it was only the 120 precinct)

The open air preaching is currently considered a “freedom of Religion”
It is NOT allowed to Preach on MTA
Ferry Rule :
This rule was give to officer Hawthorne as he was asked why this can not be enforced. He will follow up.
One member spoke about the Federal Law was that Freedom of speech needed to be reasonable as to time, place and
manner.
Members voiced their opinions, experiences and “anecdotes” on the subject.
Selzer steered the discussion to “what we can do”
She stated that there were not enough official 311 complaints and that in order to make the “annoyance” an official complaint –
members need to call not only 311 but the borough commander and the 120 precinct. (Please see numbers on home page of
siferryriders.org)

There will be a smaller follow up meeting among member to come up with an “initiative” to work towards solving this problem.

Officer Hawthorn thanked us and said that we can continue to work with him and include him in not only the “town hall”
meetings but also with smaller “working groups”

The meeting turned back to retail space –
Members questioned that there was supposed to be a Temporary Post office set up and a member let us know that there was
indeed a Truck set up on the Taxi Ramp. – Great! 
Selzer announced that the EDC will be at the SI Conference on Tuesday April 29th at the SI Hilton Garden to address the retail
space @ ferry.

Open Forum

Tourism
Kiosk Information
Ideas were offered
We will follow up.

Vibrations on Boat
New boats have an “awful vibration” and wanted to know why.
Member Freddy Rodrigez explained voit-schneider propulsion system and that the old boats have it and the new boats are
propeller driven.

Announcements
Noted that saying the same announcement twice during each ride was not necessary
Noted that they are usually too loud
They should maybe be in different languages

Possibility of hosting a second meeting on South Shore

Please check back @ siferryriders.org for updated information on this meeting.