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February 14, 2001 Democrats back bond for Fine Arts Museum
Mineola, NY - The Democratic majority of the Nassau County Legislature beat back an effort by GOP lawmakers at a February 9 meeting to rescind a $4.3 million bond that was approved in 1998 by the then Republican-controlled legislature for the construction/improvement of the Fine Arts Museum in Roslyn. The ordinance to rescind the bond failed in the Government Services Committee of the Nassau County Legislature by a 4-5 vote along party lines. The Republican minority had argued that lease with the county's lease with the museum requires state legislative approval because it involves dedicated parkland. Therefore, the county should not be permitting construction/improvement of another building on the property. Counsel for the Democratic majority disagreed with the interpretation of the law and following a lengthy and at times contentious meeting, voted against rescinding the bond. "Their argument had absolutely no legal standing and would have resulted in the county being placed in a legally vulnerable position. We are not in the business of breaking long-standing lease agreements that were made in good faith without some legal or moral justification for doing so," said Legislator Patrick Williams (D-Uniondale), Vice Chair of the Government Services Committee on behalf of the Democratic majority. In other business, the legislature unanimously voted to amend the county's local law adopted in September 2000, that imposed a $1.50 entertainment surcharge on tickets for events held in facilities with permanent seating in excess of 2,500 located in Nassau County. That would involve the Westbury Music Fair, Jones Beach Theater, and the Nassau Coliseum. The amendment clarified that the open space adjacent to a facility, which is not within the physical structure of the facility itself, should not be deemed to be a facility for events, which have occurred prior to the legislation's being adopted and occurring thereafter. Events currently or previously held inside a facility, may not choose to move the event to the parking area or open space as a way of avoiding the ticket surcharge. The clarification in the law does not have any revenue impact. The full legislature approved a resolution authorizing the county to execute an agreement with Rolling Hills of Woodbury for the purpose of allowing an out of district connection to the Nassau County Sewage Disposal District III. County Health Department officials believe it is in the public interest and would better protect the county's groundwater resources to accept the sewage flow rather than to require on-site discharge of wastewater. The connection would be associated with the building of 33 single family homes by Rolling Hills at Woodbury. The developer would construct the sewer line, and would form a homeowners association that would have the responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the sewer line. The association would be responsible for paying sewer charges assessed by the county for the sewage flow of 18,150 gallons per day. The fees would be paid to the Nassau County Department of Public Works. The legislature authorized putting out to bid a contract for the renovation of the Nassau County Police Department Marine Bureau facility located in Bay Park. The renovation would specifically include an upgrade the electrical system; the installation of security fencing; replacement of rails and necessary bulkheading; installation of a Butler building; installation and replacement of five overhead garage doors; installation of a new steel door; resurfacing of the existing pavement and the paving of the east side of the facility. This is a two-phase renovation. Members of the legislature also approved an ordinance providing for a capital expenditure to finance the acquisition and installation of new computer assisted integrated financial management accounting systems, including computer hardware and incidental software. This item, which was tabled last year while additional information was solicited, is Phase II of a project for the Civil Service Commission and is of particular importance for school districts that rely on these services for processing their hiring. The original cost of the system was $1.9 million, however in January the legislature was informed certain items were reduced in cost; including the consultant cost, the construction, the DPW management fee, the equipment, and financing costs. As a result, Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), Chair of the Government Services Committee, offered an amendment in committee that reduced the bond ordinance by $600,000, thereby bringing the total to $1.3 million. |