I would like to offer the people of Manhasset a report on the first months of the Rolston/Roberts progress in cleaning up the Manhasset Park District. As you know three commissioners control the park district; Ms. Roberts who was elected a year ago could not effect any change until Mr. Rolston who was elected and took office in January joined her.

I am pleased to report that the Rolston/Roberts team has saved the taxpayers of the district over $90,000 which is more than 10 percent of the district budget without cutting any services to the citizens.

One of the biggest single savings came by instituting a revenue control system. Any businessman who handles cash, as the park district does, knows that you have to control your income stream. The new system of checks and balances in collecting funds from the parking meters should yield over $26,000 in additional income. The same system eliminates parking decal abuses and should also produce an annual increase in revenue from the commuter parking lots.

The Rolston/Roberts team saved about $42,000 by changing accounting firms and $13,000 by changing law firms. By changing insurance carriers we were able to increase insurance coverage, and at the same time we will realize a savings of over $4,000.

They have found an additional 18 parking spots where we will be installing meters for shopper parking and should yield about $19,700 to the district.

Other changes which the people of the district have started to notice is the maintenance program that has been installed. Our direct employees will be doing more of the work rather than sub-contractors. The Rolston/Roberts team is planning a five-year capital projects program to fix up our parking lots. The lots have never been resurfaced in 35 years. The plan is to do a major job each year with the money that has been saved.

The Rolston/Roberts team has also opened up a discussion with Nassau County to acquire Manhasset Valley Park and bring more land under the control of the park district.

In less than three months, the Rolston/Roberts team have corrected the mismanagement that was part of the previous administration of the park district as was cited by the Office of State Comptroller Carl McCall. I believe that the problems in the district arose out of people being in office too long.

Bernard C. Rolston

Commissioner, Manhasset Park District