By Nick Buglione
The committee, on which the Democrats have the majority, was expected to vote in favor of the county executive-backed proposal in a July 14 hearing, but tabled the matter a week so that details of the contract could be ironed out.
The details apparently weren't ironed out enough, as Nassau County Legislator Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck) surprisingly voted across party lines to give the outnumbered Republican committee members a slight and seldom-seen advantage at the July 21 hearing.
We should have more time to review a contract that's going to be a five-year length, said Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), noting that he and other legislators got a copy of the revised contract only late Friday afternoon, though the vote was scheduled for first thing Monday. They wanted us to vote on something we didn't have the chance to read.
How much the county would pay the YMCA was among the chief concerns for those opposed to letting the youth organization help run the Aquatic Center, which has been losing over $2 million a year.
Under the initial contract, the YMCA was to receive 10 percent of the center's gross revenue for its services. The agreement was later renegotiated so it would get a $120,000 annual payment, plus 15 percent of only the net revenue. That's a lot of money, Dunne said. There were a few other things that just didn't sit right.
Other committee members also seemed confused about whether plans called for the YMCA to manage the 80,000-square-foot Eisenhower Park pool or simply to act as a consultant on its operations.
The contract left more questions unanswered than answered, said Legislator Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), the Legislature's minority leader. There was a lot of gang-that-couldn't-shoot-straight mentality, and that's why it was voted down.
Michael Famiglietti, president and CEO of YMCA Long Island, maintains that it was clearly spelled out in the contract that his organization would not manage the center, but rather offer recommendations on how to increase its revenue -- recommendations that would have been subject to county approval.
We were not going to manage; we could not hire or fire staff, said Famiglietti. All we could do is work with the county.
He also noted that he was upset over some of the potshots that those attending the Rules Committee hearing took before the vote. We took a lot of shots that are untrue, Famiglietti said. We have stupendous operations.
Legislator David Denenberg (D-Merrick), who was one of four legislators to vote for the YMCA plan, said that in recent months, members of the Long Island Aquatic Center regularly attended hearings on the YMCA's involvement at the center. According to Denenberg, they were highly vocal and often spoke out against the YMCA. The legislator, however, believes their negative comments didn't reflect the sentiments of the general public.
According to Denenberg, David Ferris, who is head coach of the Long Island Aquatic Club and also the Aquatic Center director, has enjoyed the spoils of running the center, a position he's held since it opened in 1998. The legislator said Ferris, of Merrick, wants to keep managing the pool and opposes bringing in any outside help that might compromise his power.
The Long Island Aquatic Club gets all the choice times at the pool, said Denenberg, saying it's because of Ferris' position.
The county is also looking into a complaint that Ferris has funneled business from the Aquatic Center to a swimming school he runs nearby, according to Denenberg and a published report.
Calls to Ferris were not returned as of press time.
The Rules Committee vote essentially nixes the YMCA plan, sending the county back to the drawing board on what to do with the struggling Aquatic Center.
We could have made quite an impact in that facility and complement the competitive aspect that was going on, Famiglietti said. The YMCA, which runs nine pools throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, hoped to have the center breaking even by 2006 and turning a profit by 2007.
Privatizing the facility, an option some officials were receptive to in the past, once again becomes a possibility. I don't think that anyone could say privatization will not be considered, said Legislature Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), who also voted in favor of the YMCA plan. I am disappointed. I certainly felt it was an opportunity to do something innovative.
She seemed equally disappointed in Altmann's decision to vote across party lines. I was surprised, Jacobs said. However, everyone has a right to their opinion.
