COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 4, 1996

ATTENDANCE:

B & A MEMBERS: Swanson, LaMotte, Darcy, Young, Delfino

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Barbara Monohan; Jamie Hastings, Dave Laemle; Planning: Comm. Oliva, Gerry Mulligan, Sam Wear; Budget: Joe Phelan, Brian Fitzpatrick, Dianne Kearney; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; LWV: Esther Shay, Ann Nelson, Women’s Agenda: Martha Greenawalt; Women’s Advisory Board: Bette Wurster; WCMC-Planning: Marianne Oros; General Services: Susan Egginton, John Leonard, Robert Gallagher; DEF: Dan Donohue; DOT: Comm. Petrocelli; BOL: Legislator Carsky, Robert J. Boland, Glenn Guzi, Tina Seckerson

Co-Chair Swanson called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m.

DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information):

BOND ACTS: Items III: (from the July Bond Package):

55. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $270,000 - GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS.

Commissioner Oliva gave an overview of the GIS accomplishments to date, GIS development work in-progress, and 1996 Capital Budget Request. (Hand-out on file)

This would finance the cost of hardware and software for database development for the County’s GIS. The requested authorization would fund:

Land use, zoning, demographic, cultural economic & environmental data development

Application development

Hardware & software to expand GIS capabilities and client server technology

Legislator Swanson asked if there has been any other money bonded on this issue. Mr. Phelan responded that $1.2 million has already been bonded.

 

 

65. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $800,000 - CEDARWOOD HALL ASBESTOS REMOVAL.

$800,000 for phased abatement project to begin in the basement of Cedarwood Hall. This would fund removal of asbestos containing fireproofing and minor pipe insulation, re-spraying fireproofing, and related necessary construction/renovation over approximately 32,000 sq. ft.

Have already spent $300,000 on selective abatement

Abatement for entire building would be approximately $3 million

Replacement cost for building would be much more

 

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Legislator Carsky asked how we will recover the abatement costs. Ms. Oros stated that we probably will not since we own the building.

Ms. Oros stated that they hope to do the abatement in three phases. They need to plan out the swing space while abatement is being done.

Mr. Phelan stated that rather than closing down the building, when it does not pose a public health risk, they will do the abatement in phases.

 

 

66. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $100,000 - ELMWOOD HALL - NORTH AND SOUTH.

This $100,000 is required to finance the cost of infrastructure upgrade design costs at Elmwood Hall. The requested authorization would fund design of refurbishment of elevators; repair and replacement of plumbing supply, and water heating and waste supply piping.

Study of Elmwood done in 1989, a number of things identified as being in need or repair and/or replacement

 

 

67. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $390,000 - INTERIOR MODERNIZATION.

This would finance the cost of construction of building alterations to patient rooms and nursing stations at WCMC.

This would fund the first phase of a 3 year program to replace room furnishings and nursing stations. In addition to equipment acquisitions, project scope includes design and construction of associated renovations.

Previous bonding - $150,000 - for interior modernization of Burn Center already spent on design and construction.

 

 

68. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $3,000,000 - MAJOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

This funding is required for WCMC to finance the cost of both additional replacement and additional medical equipment. The requested authorization would fund equipment acquisitions for a variety of areas including: Cardiology, Pediatrics, Respiratory Care, Surgery, Gastroenterology, Biomedicine, Radiology and Radiation Medicine.

 

 

56. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $200,000 - WESTNET INFRASTRUCTURE/LAN UPGRADE.

This would finance the cost of hardware installation and software development to upgrade WESTNET. It would accommodate ever increasing traffic and bandwidth demands, and achieve increased traffic speeds and improved transmission methodologies.

 

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Mrs. Swanson asked how many telecommuters there are in the County. Mr. Leonard gave the following breakdown:

Probation: 30

BOL - 1 (and one pending)

County Clerk: 2 or 3

Information Systems: 20 - use on a regular basis with own personal computers or lap tops

DOT: has recently made request

Ms. Egginton stated that Robert Gallagher is working on policy recommendations.

Breakdown: $50,000 for remote access

$75,000 for routers

$75,000 for segmentation of departments

64. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $210,000 - BUS MINI-TERMINALS.

This is required to finance the cost of construction of building alterations to the TransCenter Bus Terminal located in White Plains, and to shuttle stops along Westchester Avenue and adjacent to the White Plains Railroad station. It would fund improvements that would include the addition of a radiant heat system at the TransCenter, passenger amenities such as bus shelters and benches, signage, wind protection, and electronic bus information.

Total cost: $3,150,000 Federal Aid: $920,000

 

 

61. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $1,384,000 - TRANSIT COMMUNICATIONS LOCATION SYSTEM.

This is a request for a Bond Act Amendment of Act No. 90-1994, adopted by the Board of Legislators on June 6, 1994 in the amount of $175,000 to increase the amount of the bonds to be issued to $1,384,000.

This is required to finance the cost of the Countywide Transit Communications System. It would fund equipment, including radios and consoles for vehicle location and communication, and computers.

Legislator LaMotte asked why the decision was made not to sell the bonds originally. Mr. Phelan stated that is was due to timing of the project.

 

 

62. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $680,000 - PERSONALIZED LOCAL TRANSIT VEHICLES PHASE II.

This is a request for a Bond Act amendment of Act No. 91-1994 adopted by the Board of Legislators on June 6, 1994 in the amount of $360,000 to increase the amount of the bonds to be issued to $680,000.

This would finance the cost of approximately 17 Personalized Local Transit (PLT) vehicles.

 

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The PLT vehicles would replace 14 1978 RTS buses and 3 1983 Bluebird buses. PLT vehicles have a twenty-five to thirty passenger capacity and are typically used as feeder services to railroad stations and on various loops providing curb to curb bus service between downtown White Plains and the major corporate addresses in the Westchester Avenue corridor.

Commissioner Petrocelli stated that the original bonds were not sold due to a timing issue. DOT is looking to switch to smaller buses whenever and wherever appropriate.

Mrs. LaMotte asked if there is less pollution with the smaller buses. Commissioner Petrocelli responded that all the County buses meet the standards required.

63. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $192,000 - PERSONALIZED LOCAL TRANSIT VEHICLES PHASE III.

This $192,000 is required to finance the cost of the acquisition and replacement of approximately 16 PLT vehicles.

The requested authorization would fund 10 of these PLT vehicles that would replace PLT vans currently in service and six that would serve to expand current shuttle services. The PLT vehicles have an eighteen to twenty-five passenger capacity and are typically used as feeder services to railroad stations and on various loops providing curb to curb bus service between downtown locations and the major corporate addresses along highway corridors.

When asked by Co-Chair Swanson why authorization for Phases II & III is being requested at the same time, Commissioner Petrocelli responded that it is a timing issue.

Mr. Boland Asked if there is any cash funding this project. Mr. Phelan responded there is not. He further stated that there is federal aid for this project.

Legislator LaMotte requested the full cost of this project.

Commissioner Petrocelli stated that ridership numbers are up. Mr. Phelan added that there is no fare differential between small and large buses.

 

 

70. PROPOSED BOND ACT: $3,500,000 - REFURBISH INFLUENT HEADWORKS.

This is a request for a Bond Act amendment of Act No. 171-1995 adopted by the Board of Legislators on November 20, 1995 in the amount of $300,000 to increase the amount of bonds to be issued to $3,500,000.

This would finance the cost of replacement and upgrading of the influent process equipment and communicators, installation of an automatic bar screen, automation of the influent slide gate, updating of the influent pump controls, and other related items and construction. This project will also involve the physical removal of the uncontrolled bypass of untreated sewage. Bonding legislation will fund project design and construction.

Mr. Donohue explained that the Blind Brook Wastewater Treatment facility equipment protects other treatment processes.

$254,000 against authorization of $300,000 has already been spent.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Darcy, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.