COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

MARCH 18, 1996

BA MEMBERS: Swanson, Wishnie, Darcy, Young, Delfino, Abinanti, LaMotte

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Jamie Hastings, Gina Angiulo, Phil Gille, Barbara Fratianni; Budget Dept: Joe Phelan, Tom Coleman, Leslie Bennett, Brian Fitzpatrick; DOT: Comm. Petrocelli, Robert Bracchitta; Airport: Joel Russell; Finance: Comm. Langeloh, Kate Tooher, Thurston Hartford; DPW: Comm. Landi, Ralph Butler; Capital Projects: Dave Laemle, Gina D’Agrossa; LWV: Barbara Strauss; Planning Board: George Hosey; Legislators: Carsky, Noto, Oros, Stewart-Cousins; Labor Relations: Mike Wittenberg; N.Y. Times: Susan Ball BOL: Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson

Co-Chairs Swanson and Wishnie opened the meeting at 3:07 p.m.

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

MINUTES: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of March 6, 1996 and March 11, 1996 was carried by a vote of 7-0.

1. Proposed Act authorizing the acceptance of grants from the Federal and State governments to purchase an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle for the County Airport.

• Funding breakdown: 80% FAA; $360,000 federal share; $20,000 state share; anticipated county share is $20,000.
• Comm. Petrocelli stated that the current trucks are 1978 and 1985 vintage models. This grant will be used to replace the ‘78 trucks.
• Once grant is awarded will go through the Bureau of Purchase and Supply bid process; after the bid goes out for the equipment approximate delivery date is 12 months.

On motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

2. Proposed legislation authorizing the acceptance of grants from the Federal and State governments for improvements to the Airport Storm Water Drainage System - Phase I at the County Airport.

• This is for Phase I of a multi-phase project to divert storm water away from Rye Lake (which is a drinking water supply) to Blind Brook.
• using FAA entitlement money which comes to us by formula
• Funding breakdown: $2,375,000 total; $1,210,000 federal share; $67,000 state share; $1,098,000 County’s share with bonding for $1,165,000
• All entitlement money has to be exhausted before being allowed discretionary funds.
• anticipate getting another half million in state aid - but it is not for certain

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

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• This is a necessary project as the County is under a consent order by the DEC (timeframe is the year 2000) work must begin now
• There is intense support from the surrounding areas for this project
• Mr. Young expressed his concern that there seems to be a blatant exclusion of minorities and women owned businesses in construction projects at the Airport. The Commissioner assured the Committee that the DPW bid process is strictly adhered to.
• It was asked why there was a decrease in federal funding from the previous year. The Answer was that this project was not a high priority on the FAA list.
• If approved the fall of 1996 would be the commencement date with a 6 month interest payment due in 1997 and a 12 month principal and interest payment due at the end of 1997.
• Debt service for all Airport projects is charged to the Airport.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1 with Legislator Young being recorded in the negative.

Mr. Gille reported that the County will be hit most severely by state budget cuts in the following areas: RTI, Criminal Justice, Probation, and DSS. He expressed concern that the County will have problems housing its homeless as there is no way to anticipate the number of homeless Westchester will have at any given time. (There is a copy of a handout on file)

• The Committee discussed adopting a resolution instructing the County Executive to immediately unfreeze the $600,000 that the Board of Legislators had added to the 1996 County Operating Budget for day care. Legislators Young, Stewart-Cousins and Swanson stated that they had received numerous complaints from day care centers about the lack of available scholarships and the new electronic system instituted by DSS for day care registration. Legislator Swanson reported that she had tried to call the number several times within the past couple of days and could never get through as it was always busy.
• Mr. Gille responded that the Administration had not frozen the additional $600,000 allocation for day care. He told the Committee he would investigate the situation with the new telephone registration system used by DSS and would report back to them within two days (most definitely by the time of the Committee of the Whole on Thursday). Based on this the Committee held off signing the resolution.

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The Committee questioned Commissioner Langeloh regarding the apparent discrepancy between the starting cash balance as of January 1, 1995 which indicated an additional $14 million dollars. The Commissioner explained that the health insurance service fund had been combined with the general fund cash balance. He distributed a statement indicating the revised opening balance (on file).

He was also questioned about the need for $30 million in Revenue Anticipation Notes which the County would require as of December 1996. The Commissioner responded that these additional funds were required because of the delay in the receipt of state and federal aid.

Members of the Committee questioned the Commissioner regarding the amounts of state and federal aid in 1995 and 1996. The cash flows indicate approximately the same amount of aid in each year.

The Commissioner advised the Committee that Moody’s had reviewed the cash flows and assigned a rating of MIG 1, which is the highest rating for short term obligations.

• Co-Chair Swanson stated that appointment letters had been written to all of the candidates for the CBAC and were ready be mailed. The Committee agreed that the letters should go out.
• Mr. Hosey stated that he would be contacting the newly appointed members of the CBAC to set up a meeting on Monday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m. He further stated that all of the resumes had been shared and he feels that bringing the number of members up to 10 is very helpful and they will all be fine additions.

Co-Chair Wishnie informed the Committee that Supervisor Cavanaugh had written the Town of Eastchester had received a $1 million grant for Lake Isle and was going to return it to the state. since this grant money can only be used for acquisition of a golf course the Supervisor suggested that the County might want to use it toward the purchase of Hudson Hills. Mr. Delfino expressed his concern that Supervisor Cavanaugh had come to the BOL without going to the Administration. Ms. Hastings assured the Committee that the Supervisor had gone to the Administration and they were investigating the options.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.