Village Parks Commission opposes Lawrence club layoffs

All six members of the Village of Lawrence’s Park Commission 22 voted on Oct. 22 to oppose the layoff of eight workers at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club. The meeting, like all Park Commission meetings, took place at the club.
A final decision could be made at the village board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. at Village Hall at 196 Central Ave. in Lawrence.
The layoffs would impact the number of days staff would be available to assist members and services would be limited. The pro shop would be open only four days instead of seven. Club members such as Ken Friedman of Atlantic Beach said he thought everything discussed about the layoffs needed clarification.
“Has the village looked at other ways to save money?” he asked the commission. “Will the driving range be closed? Will there be access through the winter? I just think that four days a week to get clubs is not good. Everything is very vague.”
Robert Weinberg, the president of the men’s section of the Lawrence Golf Club, wrote a letter he sent to the village board to oppose the layoffs. “The Lawrence Yacht and Country Club has become a premier Long Island experience,” he said. “Contracting with Royalton (a catering company) has made it a great experience. Members don’t just pay for the rounds of golf. Reducing the availability to just four days a week is forcing people who have paid their dues to have to make different arrangements. It’s reducing what they’ve paid for.”

Women’s section President Theresa Papilliardo, of Atlantic Beach, expressed her support for the workers. “We support what the men have said here,” she said. “Our ladies’ club has increased in numbers over the past years. Businesses have to go at full speed throughout the year to remain successful and thriving.”
The layoffs affect the bottom line, said Hewlett resident and club member Louis Stark. “These layoffs affect the members of the club, especially since many of these workers to get laid off have worked at the club for years,” he said. “What happens after the proposed layoffs, many of these workers don’t come back? That’s a cost, not a saving, in the long run. People will be new and not know what they’re doing.”
Village of Lawrence Trustee Michael Fragin attended the meeting and said he did not support the layoffs. “I unfortunately do not have any new information at the moment,” he said, referring to what his fellow board members are thinking.
Howard Siskind, the Park Commission’s chairman, said he would take everyone’s comments to the mayor. “I think the trustees are hoping for a fair and balanced reconciliation,” he said. “I’m sure they will vote to rescind the layoffs. I think they’ll vote with their hearts.”
Nearly four years ago the village eliminated eight full-time positions at the club and hired a private company to perform maintenance duties and grounds keeping. The move was expected to save Lawrence about $100,000 per year.