COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

MARCH 21, 1996

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

OTHERS: Legislators: Oros, Carsky, Stewart-Cousins, Latimer, Donovan, Noto, Mosiello; C.E.’s Office: Phil Gille, Jamie Hastings, Gina Angiulo; ; G.S.: Susan Egginton; WCMC: Comm. Stolzenberg, Fred Miller, Dr. Reed, Steve Galef; Budget: Joe Phelan, Tom Coleman; CBAC: George Hosey; WWA: Amy Paulin; BOL: Pat Gorski, Don Sandford, Gary Kriss, Aldo Vitigliano, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson

NOTE: The Committee on Budget and Appropriations met concurrently with the Committee on the Whole. Chairman Oros opened the meeting of the Committee of the Whole at 1:35 p.m.

Co-Chair Wishnie opened the Budget meeting at 1:40 p.m.

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

• Chairman Oros advised the members that he would call a special meeting next week should this item be held over or recommitted during the course of the regular Board meeting on 3/25. He said that he wanted the matter resolved by the end of next week; members could vote it up or down, but there will be a vote.
• Commissioner Stolzenberg explained that the new version of the lease agreement was formulated by including as much of what the BOL indicated that they would like to see in the lease as possible. He highlighted several provisions of the lease including the fact that it is a 10/10 year lease with no penalty at the end of the first year; it is essentially a net lease; explained what was included in the per square foot price; etc.
• Commissioner Stolzenberg explained that if the lease s approved the Health Department and General Services will remain in the building for up to 5 years, but if WCMC requires that space before the five years is up those departments will be moved out.
• Mr. Galef reiterated the importance that this specific location has to the future economic viability of the Medical Center.
• The Legislators verbally gave Chairman Oros a list of items connected with the lease that they felt would be necessary to have answers to before making an informed decision. Chairman Oros will submit them in written form to the Administration. Ms. Hastings stated that the Administration would provide what they could of the requested items by 11:00 a.m. tomorrow when the Budget meeting would reconvene.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES - MARCH 21, 1996

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• Mr. Gille explained that the BOL $600,000 addition funded 117 new day care slots, coupled with 40 additional slots from an increase in Low Income Day Care funding. There are a total of 160 additional slots available in 1996.
• Representatives of several day care centers were present and reported difficulties being experienced with the new day care allocation system.
• Mr. Gille stated that he would further investigate the effects of this new system suggesting a willingness to make changes as necessary. The day care representatives stated that they have been working with the Administration on this and felt they were being helpful to them.
• The Committee questioned how much of the $600,000 allocated has actually been spent to benefit the children and day care centers. Administration will provide answers.
• The Committee decided to reword the proposed resolution to better reflect their stand on this issue.

At 4:40 p.m. Co-Chair Wishnie recessed the Committee on Budget and Appropriations until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22nd.

On Friday, March 22, 1996 Co-Chairs Swanson and Wishnie reconvened the Committee on Budget and Appropriations meeting at 11:10 a.m. Those in attendance were as follows:

Legislators: Swanson, Wishnie, LaMotte, Darcy, Young, Delfino, Abinanti, Carsky, Stewart-Cousins

Others: Jamie Hastings, Gina Angiulo, Ed Stolzenberg, Fred Miller, Steve Galef, Susan Egginton, Joe Phelan, Tom Coleman

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve the Resolution calling on the County Executive to take all steps necessary to insure that the full allotment of monies for day care reaches the intended recipients without further delay was carried by a vote of 5-0. (Legislator Abinanti and Delfino out for vote)

The Committee reviewed the Administration’s responses to the questions/concerns requested by the Chairman of the Board at yesterday’s meeting. (ON FILE)

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve the legislation authorizing the lease and site lease was carried by a vote of 6-0. (Legislator Abinanti abstained; Legislators Darcy, Young and Delfino signed without prejudice).

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.