Bethpage-Tribune_1987-08-27

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VOL. 32 NO. 17 August 27,1987 to Sept. 3,1987 20 cents per copy
Guhtta Saues Miilions In Taxpayer Money
Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta has issued a
six-month progress report on his administration's cost sav­ings
efforts on behalf of County taxpayers which indicates a
substantial reduction in overtime and overall personnel/-
payroll expenses. Guloita. termed the report, which was
prepared by the Budget Office, a solid indication that his
cost cutting procedures are working and are saving taxpayer
dollars for all County residents.
"When I fisrt met with Commissioners and Department
Heads in February, I established procedures designed to
save County taxpayers millions of dollars," Gulotta said.
This report, which is the first in a series of periodic up-dates,
details some of the areas where savings have already been
achieved. Clearly, we have turned Ihe corner and are begin­ning
to reduce the cost of government for our hard working
middle income taxpayers, who bear the burden of financing
government through their property taxes.
Among the findings of the report are:
OVERTIME: Over $3.5 million will be saved in 1987
through reduction in overtime expenses. This is based upon
a projection of the 16% savings already accrued to date in
those departments subject to the cap. "Overtime is not an
entitlement...it should be used only when necessary to pro­vide
need services. We are working on substantially reducing
the cost of overtime which peaked at $21 million in 1986.
Just as every household must, our County departments must
learn to live within their budgets."
PERSONNEL: Following an extensive review of posi­tions
and personnel requirements, the County has reduced
the total number of non-law enforcement employees by 137,
which should result in a projected savings of approximately
$3.5 million to County taxpayers. An additional $3.5 million
in projected savings on personnel expenses will be achieved
this year through various cost-cutting procedures.
RHNIAl, SPACE: Upon assuming office, Gulotta
initiated a comprehensive review of the County's office leas­ing
policy. As a result of this review, a consolidation pro­gram
has been established which will enable the County to
discontinue leasing certain properties. It is projected ihat
upon the expiration of certain leases this year, t!.e program
will result in an annual savings of over $600,000, beginning
in 1988.
"We are achieving our cost-cutting measures while
addressing the major issues which face our residents. So too,
we must be responsive to our residents with day to day
problems. Good governments cuts through red tape and
bureaucracy and is flexible enough to respond to emergency
needs. That's the type of government our residents deserve
and that is the type of government they will receive," Gulotta
stated.
"Together, we must strive to achieve a harmonious bal­ance
in County Government, by providing necessary servi­ces
while reducing costs through instituting greater effi­ciency
procedures and cut-backs where appropriate. I am
confident that by working together, we can make Nassau an
even better County in which to live, work and raise a family
in the years ahead," Gulotta concluded.
Beach Water Gets Us Again!
The potential of contract­ing
"swimmer's itch" (also
knows as "clam digger's
itch") cxisis at this time of
year at several North Shore
beaches. This type of derma­titis
is caused by the almost
microscopic, transparent,
immature larval form of
Mid-Island Hospital Enhances Coronary Care Services
Mid-Island Hospital's '" '"hythni allows staff to every five minutes, as well as
Executive Director F^obert
J. Reed announces the
installation of state-of-the-art
Hewlett-Packard moni­toring
equipment in the
hospital's Intensive Care
and Coronary Care units
(ICU/CCU).
The new computerized
ICU/CCU monitors have
intelligence capability, ena­bling
them to learn each
patient's individual rhythms
and provide a continuous
read-out of each patient.
Quick detection of changes
react immediately for life-saving
intervention. This
capability is of the utmost
importance to the cardiac
patient whose stability is
tenuous. Each Central Sta­tion
monitor is also
equipped with a printer
which records and docu­ments
all potential problems
and permits the reader to
detect trends in patients'
rhythms.
Bedside monitors are
capable of reading a
patient's blood pressure
Registered Nurse Karen Jennerich oh duty at MID-ISLAND
HOSPITAL'S new computerized ICU/CCU
Centrail Station monitors.
blood values (gasscs), arte­rial
and pulmonary pres­sures,
heartrate and the
most subtle changes in
arrhythmias. Data is trans­ferred
to the Central Station
which is watched continu-
.ally. The bedside monitors
permit a nurse to remain
informed of all her patients'
conditions while tending
personally to one.
Additionally, the Pro­gressive
Care Unit has a tele­metry
unit which monitors
patients as their medical
stability and levels of activ­ity
increase, but who still
warrant close observation.
The addition of this
sophisticated system has
expanded Mid-Island Hos­pital's
24-'Hour Emergency
Department service to the
community. Since time is
the critical factor in treating
cardiac patients, it is most
important to stabilize the
condition.
In announcing the install­ation
of the monitoring sys­tem,
Mr. Reed noted, "This
is yet another example of
Mid-Island Hospital's
commitment to the com­munity
and our efforts to
continually enhance our
service to the people who
live here."
flatworms which are para­sitic
in certain species offish,
birds, waterfowls and snails.
When the larvae escape
from one of these hosts and
swim in the water seeking
the next host animal, a
swimmer can become an
accidental target. The larvae
will try to burrow into the
skin. Our bodies come to the
defense and the reaction
creates, extemely unsightly
red, raised, weepy, itchy,
bite-like pustules which can
last from several days to two
weeks. Each spot indicates
where a larval worm tried
unsuccessfully to enter. This
dermatitis is not contagious
and will not spread. No
immunity is conferred; in
fact, sensitivity may increase
with each repeated episode.
To avoid penetration, wear
a protective layer of clo­thing,
rinse off with fresh
water, and rub briskly with a
towel immediately upon
emerging, especially if a
prickly sensation is expe­rienced
and mud snails and
periwinkles are observed in
the area. In the tropics, a
related malady, schistoso-miais,
can be deadly when a
species specific to humans
does penetrate the skin
layer.
Don'f Forgmt
The Annual
Flea Market
Saturday
Sept. 12, 1987
On Thtt Ubfary Lawn
He's A Lifesaver
New York Telephone switched services fore­man
Jim Martellaro, of Enness Avenue, Beth-page^
holds still for special thanks from his super­visor,
area operation manager Rose Getty. When
Getty began to choke on a piece of tuna at lunch
recently in Garden City, Martellaro quickly app­lied
the Heimlich Maneuver, a highly successful
method for dislodging foreign objects from the
windpipe or throat. It worked, as photo shows.
"Jim saved my life, even though most of the time
he feels like killing me," Getty Quipped. Marta-rello,
who has worked with Getty for almost six
years said, "We disagree all the time, but we have
a very healthy working relationship."
Nassau Crime Rate
Declines
Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillion has
announced that the crime rate in Nassau County continued
to go down in 1986 and Nassau County again had one of the
lowest crime rates in the New York-metropolitan area. Nas­sau's
statistics are even more impressive when you cqnsider
that the statewide crime rate increased in 1986 by 3.1
percent.
According to Dillon, "The statistics are compiled by the
State Division of Criminal Justice Services. The categories of
crime considered include both violent and property crimes,
in Nassau County the crime rate per 1000 people in 1986 was
32.6. This figure is down from 34.7 in J985. Meanwhile, in
Suffolk County the crime rate in 1986 per 1000 people was
38.7. In.Weschester the rate was 40.1. in Queens the crime
rate was 69.1."
The DA says he believes the biggest reason for the drop in
Crime in Nassau County involves demographics, Nassau
has an aging population and studies have shown that young
people in the so-called crime prone years commit the most
crimes, in addition, law enforcement in Nassau County hias
certainly had an impact. The District Attorney's office and
Nassau I^olice have conducted a number of "Sting" opera­tions
in the last few years. As a result, we have arrested
hundreds of burglars and drug pushers. Using a tough plea
bargaining position we have been able to put these criminals
behind bars arid prevent them from committing more crimes
in our County.
The crime statistics released by the State show that Nas­sau
County led the Statein prosecutions of Vehicular Mans­laughter
and Criminally Negligent Homicide. These are laws
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