It seems like the majority of the Town believes the Roslyn Country Club should become a local park district with the affluent residents in the "Country Club community" paying for their heated pool and year-round tennis courts and a beautiful, pristine 10-acre park. Some of the Country Club residents Tuesday night complained about East Hills Country Club membership being $2200 annually – that is probably a good estimate of what it will cost for the club in Roslyn except the taxpayers will subsidize it.
The Country Club residents indicated they did not want a special park district (it would cost too much?), and Supervisor Jon Kaiman did not answer the question when he was asked about it. Councilman Dwyer said “we are hoping it will be revenue neutral.”
The meeting in general was civil but this is definitely a divisive issue and many residents I spoke with, who live in the “Country Club” area (which is what they referred it as), don’t want it because of the traffic – especially if the catering facility is expanded, and one resident even said she would not be happy if the catering facility was increased in size (which is what would be needed to make it profitable).
Several people asked that this decision be brought to the people in a referendum – something the Country Club residents don’t want for sure. One person asked that valid financial information be provided and discussed in a public forum rather than under a veil of mystery. Unfortunately, it is inherent in all of us to distrust government and this is no exception.
Oh yes, and Supervisor Kaiman assured the school district representative that the Town would pay a pilot (payment in lieu of taxes). We all pay our own school taxes and now we will pay taxes supporting East Williston Schools too.
The next meeting will be on August 23, but no decision will be made until the September meeting. It will be on the agenda to “keep it alive.”
To Be Continued . . .
Let me add some operating expenses: Town employees would be assigned to maintain the property (whether they are stationed full-time or not, their cost will be assigned to the club), probably 10 people in various capacities with an annual cost of $1.35 million, plus or minus. 1-2 vehicles + grounds keeping equipment approx. cost including maintenance of vehicles $100,000/year. Pool, tennis court, landscaping & parking lot upkeep, bookkeeping, tennis court bubble (a new wrinkle in a residential neighborhood) another $200,000, insurance $45,000. Are you keeping track? That’s $1.8 million a year in expenses WITHOUT DEBT SERVICE, throw that in plus amortization and we’re on the hook for $3.8million a year. There must be a bank loan officer out there reading this, check my numbers. Projected income using the Town’s grandiose expectations maxes out around $2million. The numbers don’t work !!!! Please keep reading
There’s a political reason for the Town’s enthusiasm. It came out at the meeting that it is anticipated to create a new corporation. A quasi-public entity that will oversee the operation of the club and the leasing of the catering facility, thereby creating new paid positions for the officers of this enterprise . . . and who do you suppose those officers might be?
A note to readers--If you make up different numbers (and why not?) you get a different result (we say GIGO at work). I don't need others to agree that it is a good project and will benefit many beyond roslyn and be tax neutral (and I do believe that)--but I can't see why these two advocates work so hard to develop opposition. Why not say "I'll oppose it vocally if the numbers the town releases-as promised-don't make sense AND I AM WATCHING..." Answer: it's is purely a political gripe fest. I don't think I'll get either of you to listen (becuase I believe you are dishonest about your motives anyway, so nothing could make you listen). But any readers of this blog should think carefully about the facts they see. Not that 3 exclamation points makes something true--but we shouldn't base political decisions on pretend!!!
My concern is for the community. Under Mr. Kaiman's administration the character of the neighborhood has been totally changed to the detriment of all the residents. Under his watch builders were able to get away with whatever they wanted and as a result bid land prices to $1million+ per lot. Homeowners who never put a dime into their property came away with huge windfalls, while those who expanded their homes and beutified the community could get no more than the value of the land. The assessors valued the land at the market price and added the houses, raising our valuations far above what the market would bear. The Town reaped the benefits of the builder's criminality and we are paying for it in taxes. Then the Town fined the biulders and permitted them to keep what they had built. The fines didn't come back to the community, so we were twice victims. Now the Town wants to create a public park in the center of the community expecting 500-1000 members with no place for them to park unless the Town paves over the "Open Space" they are so concerned about preserving.
But I do think it's sorta cute that he's concerned that no one will join and at the same time the parking lots will be overburdened. No basis in fact or logic.
Down, I hope, on both dubious economics and the obvious toxic self-interest involved.