Roslyn Country Club Issue

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.”