Matt Slater Joins Parents Asking for Pass Registration Online

Yorktown Supervisor candidate Matt Slater has voiced his support for parents who are requesting that the Town of Yorktown begin using the Community Pass program so they can register for a Yorktown Parks Pass online. Currently, the parents said, signing up for a Parks Pass in person can require them to take time off from their jobs.

Joining Slater in support of the change are Yorktown Town Board members Tom Diana and Ed Lachterman, and Town Clerk candidate Mary Capoccia.

"Yorktown is the only community where one cannot sign up for a park pass online, and the extra dollars generated from this new system could go a long way to getting Yorktown to operate in the 21st Century," Slater said.

"It’s time Yorktown got with the times. We are here today to take the first step toward redefining service delivery for the citizens of Yorktown and frankly it is a pretty simple one."

Neighboring communities, including Carmel, Cortlandt, Mount Kisco, New Castle, Peekskill and Somers, all participate in Community Pass, he added. In those communities, said Slater, the program has saved time and money by making the registration process more secure, efficient and convenient for residents.

Among parents advocating the option for online registration is Jillian Sherman, a Shrub Oak resident and small-business owner who operates her business during the hours when residents must appear in person at the Parks Department to register.

"I have a two-and-half year old son and I operate my own business, so it is difficult for someone like me to take off time from work to register in person all the way across town," said Sherman. "We want to be able to take part in what our town offers."

Rosemarie Panio, chairperson of the Yorktown Senior Advisory Committee, said, "This will be a convenience for seniors, and while some of us are not computer literate, with the help of our children and grandchildren, this will be a very easy way to apply for all these programs. Anything we can do to help seniors improve our quality of life, and make us feel more a part of our community is certainly worth doing."

Under Slater's plan, residents still could sign up for programs in person or by mail, at their discretion. However, adopting an online registration system will cut down on hours of data entry at the town's Parks and Recreation department, saving time and money, while expanding participation in town programs, and generating revenue, he added.

"Our Parks department is one of the best, but they're bogged down and it's tough for our residents to get to the Parks office to sign up," said Town Board member Tom Diana. "We have to give our residents the quality of service that they deserve."

"We are so far behind the times," said Town Board member Ed Lachterman. "Community Pass would tie everything together. It would make the registration process easier for town employees, and save the town money, as well as extending the reach of our programs by using the internet. We need the leadership to move this through."

"Four years ago we called for online registration and the current town clerk, who is a member of the recreation commission, paid lip service to the idea," Town Clerk candidate Mary Capoccia said. "It is clear this administration is unable to execute on any initiative that would move our town toward greater efficiencies. For the taxes we pay, we deserve a responsive local government that will turn words into action. The status quo just isn't good enough."

Slater said the issue is indicative of a larger problem, with the current administration leaving local taxpayers behind instead of leading the way. "Under my administration, we will not only make the Community Pass a reality but we will redefine how we deliver services to and communicate with all of Yorktown," he concluded.