COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

APRIL 22, 1996

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

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Neil DeLuca, Jamie Hastings, Gina Angiulo; Capital Projects: Dave Laemle, Gina D’Agrosa; Budget: Joe Phelan; WCMC: Marianne Oros; DPW: Comm. Landi, Ralph Butler; LWV: Esther Shay; DOT: Comm. Petrocelli, John Murray, Rich Stiller, Patty Chemka; CBAC: George Hosey; BOL: Pat Gorski, Don Sandford, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson

Co-Chairs Swanson and Wishnie called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.

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

Item 24: Sprain Lake Golf Course Clubhouse Renovation

funding for design & construction

work includes renovation & rebuilding of the clubhouse roof as well as siding repairs, window modifications

Mr. DeLuca was in to discuss this item with the Committee. Included in the discussion were the following:

• Central Maintenance facility is comprised of 365,000 sq. ft on 9.5 acres
• Storage for 287 buses & maintenance for all fleet vehicles
• Original cost to build this facility in 1980 was $17 million

• Cerrato Satellite Maintenance Facility is comprised of 109,000 sq. ft on 15 acres
• Storage for 100 buses, light maintenance for those 100 vehicles
• Original cost: $13 million in 1993

• Requirements for a new facility: building size - 309,000 sq. ft; access- proximate to major roadways; land - 10-12 acres in Yonkers, 12-14 acres in New Rochelle; 10-12 acres in Mt. Vernon (based on municipal zoning requirements for industrial zoned land in each community) According to Messrs. DeLuca and Petrocelli size negates looking at Valhalla as a real possibility. The Valhalla facility was built with 90% federal and state aid (total cost $15 million)
• Currently looking at $2.2 million in federal money that is available.
• Our current lease payments are $2.3 million per year.

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MINUTES - APRIL 22, 1996

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• Co-Chair Swanson stated that the Committee had previously discussed this issue and would like something in writing, from the Administration, explaining what the County’s obligations would be if this money was to be accepted. Mr. DeLuca replied that he will request and provide the County Attorney’s opinion on this matter.
• Will the Yonkers bus garage was originally built for $17 million, Commissioner Petrocelli informed the Committee that the building has appreciated greatly.
• Mr., Abinanti asked, "Why do we want to buy this in light of the fact that we are looking to privatize other services?" Mr. DeLuca responded that privatization is not always the way to go, as in this case where the County would benefit from owning the garage.

Item 26 Muscoot Park, Phase II Improvements

• To continue a program to refurbish facilities at Muscoot Park.
• Current request will fund the construction to restore the main barn and the main house.
• Co-Chair Swanson asked why it wasn’t done all together? The answer was that a lot has to do with phasing out the capital projects.

Item 29: Picnic Pavilion Rehabilitation, Playland

• Involves restoration of the existing picnic pavilions
• For design and reconstruction

Item 32: Interior Modernization, Patient Rooms/Nursing Stations

• Project will fund interior modernization of the patient rooms and nursing stations at WCMC.
• This is Phase I of a three year program to replace room furnishings and nursing stations at the Main Hospital and Psychiatric Institute.
• Most of the furnishings were acquired with the building in the original bond act according to Mr. Phelan.

Item 33: Acquisition and Replacement of Major Medical Equipment

• Request to bond for major medical equipment.
• In order to remain competitive, WCMC must be able to acquire the latest medical equipment and keep current with technological advances in the health care field.
• Process: interview physicians to find out their needs; go over contracts and service agreements; talk to administrators and review spending plan with the executive staff
• Co-Chair Swanson asked why we don’t lease some of this equipment. Ms. Oros responded that we get reimbursed for capital (about 60%)

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Item 38: Acquisition and Replacement of RTI Equipment and Furniture

• Ongoing project to replace furniture; a lot of which is 18 years old.
• Reimbursement stream (about 90%) at RTI favors bonding

Item 42: CWD#3 Pump Station Rehabilitation

• For Water District #3 (Valhalla Campus) design and construction
• Specific number of off-campus users
• Amend description so as not to be misleading
• How is rate determined? (will come back to it)

Item 51: Life Safety Renovations, Correctional Complex

• This request continues a multi-year program involving the construction of additional fire stairwells as secondary means of egress, and the installation of smoke detection and fire alarm systems in various buildings at the Correctional Complex.
• This work is all to take place at the old Jail.
• Mr. Phelan will amend wording in description
• increase cost from $1.1 to $1.2 million but it doesn’t say why. Reasonable to assume that $100,000 was for design and the rest was for the work. Now need another $100,000 for design of Phase II. The Committee felt it should be stated more clearly.
• Mr. Abinanti asked if there is a Masterplan for that facility? Mr. Phelan responded that there is a Masterplan for the Correctional facility. Mr. Abinanti requested that the Committee have an opportunity to see it.
• Mr. Phelan stated that he will come back and explain in more detail what work is to be done

Item 9: Fire Training Center, Renovation/Main Building Expansion

• For construction of an expansion to the main building (funding for the 4 classrooms)
• Co-Chair Wishnie stated that PSCJ saw a drawing of how this will all be done and it would be helpful for B & A to see.
• The Committee would like to have Walter Groden in to explain this matter further.
• The Committee would like to know how much has been bonded already, what will be bonded etc. - Mr. Phelan will provide the answers.

Item 11: Renovation of Pen F-Unit Heating and Ventilation

• F-Unit built in the late 1960’s which is presently closed due to deficiencies in heating/ventilation and locking systems. This project will renovate the unit, providing capacity for an additional 108 inmates at the Penitentiary. This will be used at swing space during renovations of old pen.
• Committee requested info on the number of prisoners in jail

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Item 25: Lasdon Park Infrastructure reconstruction

• This project is a request to complete construction of Phase I and for design completion and construction of Phase II. Phase I includes widening and repaving; construction of an 80 car parking lot; a comfort station; improvements to walking trails; and related landscaping. Phase II works includes construction of a turning lane on Rte 35; conversion of utility poles and above-ground power lines to underground systems; replacement of electrical systems and rehabilitation and conversion of a pool bathhouse into handicapped accessible public bathrooms with an area for display of park maps and brochures.

Item 30: Playland Infrastructure Reconstruction

• This project request is for the design of the first phase of a five phase construction program.
• It will provide for state-of-the-art telecommunications and emergency generator systems.

Item 35: Upgrade of Hospital Computer Center, WCMC

• Ms. Oros distributed the 1995/1996 spending plan (on file)
• Current funding request will continue the computerization program, which will include the upgrade of the Laboratory System, acquisition of a Decision Support System, and additional disk upgrade and optical storage.
• Ms. Swanson stated that there had been some problems with computerization training at WCMC. Ms. Oros stated that it is coming along much better now and they are beginning to see the benefits of it so people are taking the time to learn it.
• Mr. Darcy asked how long to get everyone who needs to be on line and the system implemented? Ms. Oros responded that it will probably take a couple of years; although most physicians are using computers at the nursing stations now.
• WCMC has its own mainframe in Elmwood Hall. It is a 24 hour per day, 7 days per week operation. (Run by WCMC separate from County MIS.)

The following bond acts (Discussed in detail at previous meetings) were considered for action:

Item 1: Replacement of Water Supply, County Airport

The Committee asked if there is anyone else (i.e. new construction) who could help pay for this. Commissioner Petrocelli stated that there isn’t anyone since this will be coming in on the other side (light general aviation side)

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Item 12: Reconstruction of BRP over Bronx River (N. of Leewood Drive)

Item 13: Reconstruction of BRP over Bronx River (S. of Leewood Drive)

Item 14: Reconstruction of Tuckahoe Road over Bronx River

Item 15: Reconstruction of Bedford Road, Pleasantville

Item 16: Reconstruction of Fenimore Road over Bronx River

Item 17: Reconstruction of Sandford Blvd.-Extension over Hutch Rvr.

Mr. Darcy stated that he wanted to be sure that once this work is done the site will not be caught up in the Memorial Field reconstruction

He was assured that it will not be

Item 18: Reconstruction of Playland Parkway, Rye

Item 19: Reconstruction of Washington Avenue, Pleasantville

Item 20: Reconstruction of North State Road, Briarcliff/Ossining

Item 22: Reconstruction of Scarsdale Road over Bronx River

Item 23: Reconstruction of Lincoln Avenue over Blind Brook, Harrison

On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve bond act items 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, and 23 was carried by a vote of 7-0.

Mr. Abinanti requested that the Committee be updated as to the current status of bonding and where the County is going. Mr. Phelan stated that it could be explained in an hour long presentation by the Administration at a future meeting. The Co-Chairs stated that it was a good idea and would schedule it in the future.

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve the Minutes of April 15, 1996 was carried by a vote of 7-0.

There being no further items for discussion on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.