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WAYNE BASS

ON THE OCCASION OF HIS APPROVAL AS NEW WHITE PLAINS COMMISSIONER OF RECREATION AND PARKS TUESDAY EVENING.

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT.By John F. Bailey. December 30, 2011. UPDATED 4:40 P.M. E.S.T. UPDATED JANUARY 4, 2012 10:20 P.M. E.S.T.:

Wayne Bass, a former skate guard at Ebersole Ice Rink, and facilitator of youth programs throughout the county was installed as Commissioner of  Recreation and Parks in White Plains, beginning January 17, replacing departed Commissioner Albert Moroni, WPCNR notes from the Common Council agenda.Fran Crogan had been operating as Acting Commissioner since Mr. Moroni’s abrupt departure in November.

Tom Roach, Mayor of White Plains, said he had worked with Mr. Bass when he was a recreation supervisor for White Plains from 2003-2007, and said he would do a fine job. Mr. Bass told WPCNR he was very excited about the opportunity but had no immediate plans he had in mind at this time for recreation, saying he would begin the job January 17. In other recreation news, Councilman John Martin was appointed Chairman of the city’s Recreation Committee.

John Callahan, Chief of Staff for Mayor Tom Roach,confirmed Saturday to WPCNR, that Mr. Bass,previously Assistant Superintendent of New Castle Recreation and Parks, had been selected to be the new Commissioner. He also runs Next Level Athletics, a high profile coaching clinic in the county, according Mr. Bass’s “Linked-In” profile.

He is in his mid-50s, has strong White Plains connections, and, coincidentally,was formerly a skate guard at Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains. He worked for the White Plains Recreation and Parks department from 2003 to 2007, in the Delfino administration.

He is a graduate of City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College with a Master of Education degree in Recreation Management. He received his BBA degree from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business in Management.received his undergraduate degree from Pace University where he was a three year letterman in Basketball.

Mr. Bass’s background is basketball with extensive experience with a variety of youth recreational programs at all age levels.

According to his Next Level Athletics website, he is “recognized as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) by the National Recreation and Parks Association and the New York State Recreation and Parks Society. His contributions to the Next Level Program include vast experience as an organizer of special events and programs for the Village of Elmsford, Town of Greenburgh, and the City of White Plains. Wayne (Mr. Bass) is the coordinator of such programs, as the: MPSL Basketball league, Pro-Am Michelob 3 on 3 Competition, Greenburgh Traveling All-stars Basketball Team, Elmsford Recreation Youth Basketball Program, Greenburgh Super 16 Invitational Basketball Tourney, and the Sport�s Authority Three Point Shootout. In addition, he is a former head coach at Alexander Hamilton High School.

Next Level Athletics specializes in basketball training and programs, and  counts as its clients: The Jewish Community Center of Manhattan, the Mt. Vernon Family YMCA, the Tarrytown Family YMCA, Temple Beth Abraham-Robert Jacobson Fund, the Town of Greenburgh, the Urban Marketing Corporation of America, the Village of Elmsford, Westchester Wildfire, White Plains Recreation and Parks, and the City of New Rochelle School District, and the White Plains Family YMCA.

Mr. Bass will earn $137,484 a year in the post of Commissioner of Recreation and Parks. He is a resident of Elmsford.

Mayor Roach said that Fran Crogan, current Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, had not indicated she would be leaving the department. At this time, she is expected apparently to continue in her Deputy Commissionership at $118,406 a year.

WPCNR Greenburg Gazette. From the Greenburgh Library. December 28,2011:

The Greenburgh Town Board has released its 2012 adopted budget.  The newly released budget includes a cut of $250,000 on top of the original $320,000 cut imposed on the Library in the tentative budget published on October 31, 2011.  These drastic cost-cutting measures translate to an 18% reduction in the Town’s 2012 appropriation to the Greenburgh Public Library, as compared to the 2011 appropriation.

The Greenburgh Public Library Board of Trustees has decided to maintain a schedule of six days per week.  Consequently the budget for books, DVDs, music CDs, audio books, newspapers, and magazines was eliminated.  In addition, three part-time employees were laid off.  The very popular online service used by students, Tutor.com, was cancelled.  These painful decisions were based on the Trustees’ commitment to maintaining the current schedule of providing six-days per week service rather than further reducing our schedule to five days per week. 

 As recently as 2009 the Library was open seven days a week.  Further reducing hours jeopardizes the Library’s charter, as the New York State standard minimum hours are not being met.  Furthermore, the Library Trustees recognize the evolving role of libraries in the community as a place to meet, learn, study and explore. 

The Greenburgh Public Library Trustees are working with the Friends of the Greenburgh Library and the Greenburgh Public Library Foundation to establish a book-buying campaign in order to fill the library shelves with new materials.

The adopted budget as published by the Town does not reflect the changes to the particular budget lines mentioned in this press release.  Contact the Library for a copy of the revised Library budget.