Bethpage-Tribune_1987-09-03

              BErHB«CE
Island Trees Plainedge
also serving
Seaford Old Bethpage Plainview
VOL. 32 NO. 18 September 3,1987 to September 10,1987 20 cents per copy
$2 Million In MTA Billing Errors:
Phantom Employees and Double Billing
Nassau County Gomp-troller
Peter T. King today
charged the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority
with overbilling the county
by $2,141,574 by inventing a
new form of bookkeeping
which uses 54 weeks in a
year and phantom workers.
King set forth his findings in
his annual audit report of
the MTA LIRR station
maintenance bill which he
released today. The report
covers the April 1, 1986 -
March 31, 1987 fiscal year.
The total billing was
$14,140,189.
"The MTA, in its arro­gance,
is no longer satisfied
to bill us for work not done,"
King stated^ "now it has
developed a new bookkeep­ing
method that enables the
agency to bill the county for
employees that do not exist
and to add 2 extra weeks to
the year."
Ice Hockey Tryouts
Tryouts for .Nassau County's Ice Hockey teams will take
place during September.
Advanced ice-hockey players ages 10-17 are urged to try
out for the Nassau County Teams that compete in the Long
Island Hockey League. The evening tryouts will begin on
Wednesday, September 9 at 6 p.m. and will continue
through the month of September at Cantiague Park. Call
542-4440 for the tryout schedule.
Players are encouraged to come to all the tryouts in their
respective age divisions. Squirts, Pee Wee, Bantam or
Midget. The fee for each tryout is $6, payable before each
session. All participants must wear AHAUS-approved
equipment on the ice at all times. The fee for each player
selected for the final team in each division is $360 or $375,
depending on the division.
Cantiague Park, a facility of Nassau County Department
of Recreation and Parks, is located on West John Street in
Hicksville. For further information, call 542-4440 between
9:00-4:45 p.m.
Board Seeks Grant
To Enforce Drinking Laws
Hempstead Presiding
Supervisor Joseph N. Mon-dello
and Oyster Bay Super­visor
Joseph Colby have
announced that the Nassau
County Board of Supervi­sors
has applied for a grant
from the New York State
Liquor Athority to prevent
the sale of alcoholic bever­ages
to minors.
The grant application was
approved at the Monday,
August 24, 1987, meeting of
the Board of Supervisors.
"Alcoholism among tee­nagers
is a problem that
affects each and every one of
us," stated Presiding Super­visor
Mondello, who also
serves as Vice Chairman of
the Board. "The grant will
allow for better enforcement
ot already-existing laws
which are aimed at prevent­ing
the sale o( alcohol to
minors."
Supervisor Colby noted
that funds from the State
Liquor Authority would be
used to enforce the Alco­holic
and Beverage Control
Law through undercover
surveillance of licensed
premises which serve under­age
drinkers, such as delica­tessens
and convenience
stores.
"Our laws cannot be effec­tive
unless they are strictly
enforced," concluded Pre­siding
Supervisor Mon­dello.
"This grant will help
the County in its fight to
stop alcohol abuse by tee­nagers
and provide the Nas­sau
County Police Depart-ment
with adequate
personnel to assure that our
laws are enforced."
Don'f Forget
The Annual
Flea Market
Saturday
Sept. 12, 1987
On The Lihmry Lawn
King detailed the abuses
explaining that Nassau
county was billed the full
twelve months for one
employee who retired two
months into the fiscal year
and was overcharged the
higher salary of another
worker who received a raise
mid-year. In addition, the
MTA added $306,600 extra
to this year's bill by billing
the county for two weeks of
payroll costs paid after the
March 31,1987 cut-off date.
"The audit also revealed
double billing practices by
the MTA for fire insurance.
In addition to the outright
charge of the premiums, the
expense was added into gen­eral
and administration
overhead resulting in a dou:
ble billing of Nassau County
taxpayers of $77,006," King
stated.
"The MTA," King added,
"has a long history of over­charging
the county fcr sta­tion
maintenance, by simply
mislabeling ' c a p i t a l'
expenses as 'operating' costs
and the 1987 bill was no
exception. The audit by my
office showed this year's bill
included $82,622 for the
construction of a fence at the
Long Beach station and
lighting fixtures at the Belle-rose
station, both obvious
capital expenses."
' 'The complete list of
errors, miscalculations
and inapplicable charges
uncovered by our audit,"
King stated, "includes
the outrageous charge of
$1,392,912 which was based
on estimated budget
amounts. The county has
consistently explained to the
MTA that it requires docu­mentation
in support of all
claims and will not accept
estimated amounts."
"And in addition to all
this," King said in conclu­sion,
"the MTA provides
completely inadequate ser­vice
to the railroad stations
in Nassau County. The
County is charged for the
cleaning and upkeep of these
stations and our inspection
last month showed 23 of the
58 remain in unsatisfactory
condition with dirty waiting
rooms, intolerable bath­rooms
and waiting rooms in
need of paint and other
repairs."
Based upon his audit
report. King has advised the
County Budget Office to
withhold $2,141,574 from its
payment to the MTA.
Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta proclaimed Mason/ Eastern Star Day in
the County of Nassau at a Recephion which was recently held. The Reception was held in
recognition of the outstanding contributions that the Masons and the Eastern Star have
provided for the Community. Joining the County Executive;
Members of the Manetto
Lodge #1025 of Free and Accepted Masons: Wayland Strong of Bethpage; Worshipful G.
Gregory Wood, Master who resides in Hicksville; Stratos Filou of Bethpage; William
Belcher of Hicksville; Richard A. Wicks of Hicksville; Frank Behrik of Bethpage; George
Hayes of Bethpage; W. Jack R. Schee! of Hicksville; Frank J. Capelli of Hicksville,
SecretaFy; Julian E. Pools of North Babylon; and Charles Sherman of West Hempstead.
Members of the Bethpage Chapter #661 Order of the Eastern Star: Trudy D. and Robert
M. Flesher of South Farmingdale; Robert Pieron of Farmingdale; Mary B. and Robert L.
Dockweiler of Bethpage; Worthy Matron Deborah A. Schafer of Valley Stream, and her
son Paul.
Members of the Bethpage Lodge #975 of Free and Accepted Masons: Robert M. Flesher,
Sr. of South Farmingdale; Robert M. Flesher, Jr. of Huntington; Worshipful Louis
Irizarry, Master, of Central Islip; Richard Bouwense of Farmingdale; Robert Jonassen of
Farmingdale; Robert L. Dockweiler of Bethpage; James P. Bacon of Farmingdale; Wil­liam
H. Mueller of Levittown; Robert H. Pieron of Farmingdale; and Frank J. Smith of
New Hyde Park.
(More photos on page 4)