ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
MINUTES OF SENATE COUNCIL MEETING

May 17, 2017

FINAL

PRESENT: Drs. Jeffrey Segall, Elyse Sussman, John Blanchard, Jill Crandall, Chandan Guha, Nadine Katz, Pamela Stanley, Steve Walkley, Elena Martynova, Allison Ludwig, Mr. Paul Johnston,

EXCUSED: Drs. Allen Spiegel, Julia Arnsten, Johanna Daily, Ellie Schoenbaum, Victor Schuster, Ed Burns, Ms Nina Flerin

ABSENT:

GUEST: Ms Shelly Motzkin

An overview of postdoc housing was presented by Dr. Anne Bresnick (Director of the Belfer Institute), Mr. Sal Ciampo (Senior Director of Facilities Management), Mr. Fernando Quiles (Director of Auxiliary Services), Mr. Neil Kaplan (Chief of Security and Transportation), and Mr. Jed Shivers (Associate Dean for Finance and Administration).

Total postdoc numbers have dropped from 357 in 2012 to 278 in 2016. Due to this reduction, housing that was subsidized in 2100 Eastchester has been dropped and there is only housing now in Rhinelander. There are 126 postdoc apartments overseen by the Belfer Institute: 12 studios, 91 1 bedrooms, and 23 2 bedrooms, ranging from $891 to $1420 per month. The last rent increase was in 9/13. There is wifi and heating/water covered. Electricity is not. There is full occupancy for studios/1 bedrooms while there are open 2 bedroom apartments. The waiting lists are 0 – 3 months depending on the apartment desired. Temporary housing for newly arrived postdocs who have to wait for a room is now arranged for up to 9 people. The housing office also administers some transient apartments available to a range of different people.

Engineering is responsible for the roof, windows, boiler, major preventative maintenance, and backup during emergencies. The roof was redone a few years back. Rhinelander was just repointed. Student housing and a number of other buildings were also done – all Einstein buildings are rated safe by NYC. The boiler was changed from burning #6 to #4 oil.

There are 3 full time staff – a live in super and 2 housekeepers. The super is available 24/7 and the two housekeepers maintain public spaces. Renovation of apartments happens with turnover – 71 have been renovated. There is an online work request system as well. Pest control visits once a week. Roach control is noted as an issue because access to apartments sometimes is not provided by the tenants, making it difficult to fully address infestations. Currently, air conditioners must be purchased by the tenants and installation then performed by engineering. The tenants can then take the air conditioners when they leave.

Security provides personnel during high traffic evening hours, and has updated locks and security cameras.

Finances are in good shape – however it is unclear what the appropriate financial buffer should be for covering preventive maintenance.

Overall there is a strong commitment to improving postdoc housing. Several suggestions arose during the presentation:

1. Explore mechanisms for enabling pest control (under appropriate supervision) to have access to apartments in order to address roach infestations.
2. Determine what the appropriate financial buffer should be for funding ongoing and long term maintenance.
3. Consider using some of the funds to provide permanent air conditioners rather than having postdocs buy their own.
4. Consider converting some of the excess two bedroom apartments into adjoining one bedrooms that switch between single and two bedroom depending on need. There are not many free 2 bedroom apartments but converting a few might be helpful and provide additional revenue.

The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey E. Segall, Ph.D.
Speaker, Einstein Senate