COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

JULY 15, 1996

ATTENDANCE:

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

OTHERS: Law Dept: Denise D’Ambrosio; WCMC: Fred Miller; C.E.’s Office: Gina Angiulo, Jamie Hastings; Budget Dept.: Joe Phelan, Tom Coleman, Brian Fitzpatrick; CBAC: Barbara Strauss, George Hosey; BOL: Pat Gorski, Robert J. Boland, Glenn Guzi, Tina Seckerson

Co-Chairs Swanson called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.

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

• This is a claim, not a lawsuit yet, by the United States against WCMC for alleged improper Medicare reimbursement. Inspector General has audited the billing practices of both public and private hospitals throughout the U.S. that receive Medicare reimbursement.
• Inspector General alleges that WCMC overbilled Medicare 191 times during 12/1/87-10/31/90; 66 times from 11/1/90 to 12/31/91 and over 1,000 times from 1/1/92 to 12/31/95.
• According to Attorney General’s letter of June 10, 1996, if a settlement offer is not accepted by July 28, 1996, there will be no settlement and a suit will be filed.
• Attorney General’s Office willing to settle all its claims with respect to the alleged overbillings from 12/1/87 up to and including the date of the signing of the settlement by payment from the County to the United States in the amount of $111,800.69.
• According to Mr. Miller the billing procedure is in the process of being corrected.

At 3:25 p.m. on motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to go into Executive Session to discuss the merits of this claim was carried by a vote of 4-0 (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)

At 3:31 p.m. on motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to come out of Executive Session was carried by a vote of 4-0 (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0. (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)

Legislator Young shared a memo with the Committee that he was sending to Jamie Hastings requesting the status of these funds.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

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8. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into IMA’s with municipalities, school districts and Boards of Cooperative Education located within the County for the purpose of obtaining classroom space for the Adult Education Program of Westchester Community College and for other related matters on an annual basis during the period of September 1, 1996 to August 31, 2001. (4/22/96)

• Committee received amended Committee Report and Act (2 years rather than 5 years)
• Mr. Abinanti cautioned the Committee that this will be giving the College blanket authority for 2 years to enter into IMAs. He stated that the IMAs will not come to the BOL for review.
• According to Mr. Phelan the College never formalized rental of classroom space before and is now trying to correct this oversight. BOL can request details of any IMA during the two year period.
• Messrs. Darcy and Abinanti would like the College to come to the BOL with the IMA for approval. They voiced concern that once the IMA is entered into the BOL will not have any say in it.
• Mr. Boland noted that the BOL has been requesting and still has not received copies of the Minutes of WCC Board of Trustee meetings.
• Co-Chair Swanson requested that authorization for IMAs be brought to the Budget Committee individually for approval.
• Ms. Hastings stated for the record that the Board has never approved the actual IMA itself but instead has approved legislation approving the authority to enter into IMAs. She requested that the Committee put their request for IMA approvals in writing to her office.

1. * COUNTY EXECUTIVE: acceptance of a gift of examination tables from Kaiser Permanente to be used by the Department of health in the Port Chester and New Rochelle Clinic facilities. (6/17/96)

On motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 5-0.

2.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Acceptance of a gift of a Passive Breath Alcohol Tester from Nationwide Insurance enterprises to be used by the Department of Public Safety. (6/17/96)

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 5-0.

3.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Acceptance of a gift from the Hudson Valley Bank to be used for the New York Philharmonic’s Outdoor Concert. (6/17/96)

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 5-0.

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4.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Acceptance of a gift from Westchester RESCO Co., L.P. to be used for the New York Philharmonic’s Outdoor Concert. (6/17/96)

On motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 5-0.

Mr. Abinanti asked that the Committee check with the County Attorney’s Office as to whether the BOL needs to take any action with regard to gifts such as the above or if they are sent to the Board strictly for informational purposes and require nothing more than being received and filed.

26. HON. THOMAS ABINANTI: Forwarding a constituent letter re: elimination of community service aides in the Office for the Aging. (5/20/96)

Mr. Abinanti requested the following questions be answered before acting on this item:

What is happening to employees who are being replaced by senior citizen volunteers, are they being transferred or placed elsewhere?

What is happening to the quality of the program? (Volunteers are not there consistently)

30. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act amending the 1996 County Current Operating Budget (+$1,404,138 - WCMC) (3/25/96)

To be discussed after the Committee receives an update on the impact of the state budget.

Mr. Abinanti asked when the Committee can expect a presentation on the 2nd Quarter Projections. Mr. Phelan stated that they should be ready sometime during the 2nd week of August.

Minutes: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve the Minutes of July 1, 1996, was carried by a vote of 5-0.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Darcy, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.