(L to R) Legislator Toback, Carl Shroeter, County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Michael Held

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi today presented the first award of $1,000 from the Nassau Innovation Fund. "We created the Nassau Innovation Reward Fund Program to award County employees for saving the County government money," said County Executive Suozzi. The fund is privately run and administered by prominent business leaders Michael Held, President of Michael Roger Press, Inc., and Bert Mitchell, President and CEO of Mitchell and Titus, LLP. Other members of the committee administering the fund include Marvin Schein, Director of Henry Schein, Inc.; Rhonda Brown, President and CEO of Nine West and President and CEO of the footwear, accessories and retail group for Nine West's parent company Jones Apparel Group; and Milton Cooper, Chariman and CEO of Kimco Realty Corp.

Carl Schroeter, a real estate negotiator in the County Attorney's office, presented several suggestions for cost savings to the committee, one of which will be implemented almost immediately and save Nassau County $360,000 a year. The Purchasing Department, currently located in leased property at 1551 Franklin Ave, will move to 240 Old Country Road on March 1, 2002, in a building owned by the County. "The rent for the space costs the County $30,166 a month. The County leases other space as well. My goal is to eliminate $1 million worth of leases per year," said the County Executive.

The Nassau Innovation Fund received dozens of suggestions, Carl Schroeter's letter being one of the first received by the Fund. "I'm very pleased to be able to help the County and our new County Executive," Schroeter said. "The Innovation Fund is a great idea and I know many other employees have wonderful ideas that will be seriously considered if they submit letters with their suggestions."

County Executive Suozzi and Fund Co-Chair Held presented Schroeter with a check for $1,000 as an award for his cost saving proposal. Through private donations, $20,000 has been raised for the fund. In order to initially qualify for consideration, each savings identified should have an equivalent value of $50,000 or more in direct savings to Nassau County.

"It's wasteful, paying for a lease each month when there is plenty of available space in buildings that the County owns," Michael Held said. "Carl's plan is one of many good suggestions we have received."

Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer Jeff Toback, also in attendance, said, "For the past two years both sides of the aisle in the Legislature have been pointing out situations where the county is throwing away money. I am glad that the new administration this is addressing this problem." Toback is a member of the Government Services and Operations Committee.

Nassau County employees may continue to forward their suggestions to the Nassau Innovation Reward Fund, P.O. Box 65, Glen Cove, NY 11542.