COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 20, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.

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

• Data Processing (5260): Increase due to billing out of data processing services
• Committee requested a schedule of Departmental Income (9050)
• Rental & Taxes (4320): $7,715,593 Lease payment on courthouse to Dormitory Authority
• Departmental Income (9050): District Offices – leased and owned - Transfer from General Services : Committee requested an explanation of the decline shown
• Utilities (3200): Increase due to electricity for Labs & Research, change from #6 oil to gas (Grasslands) and weather conditions. Will give a breakdown
• Net Annual Regular (1010): Will give a breakdown

• Departmental Income (9050): Fleet Replacement: Increase due to replacement of 45 vehicles. 23 cars will be retired. Committee asked what the increase in cost would be if the vehicles are air-conditioned.
• Explore initiative to have municipalities maintain County roads.
• Buildings & Space Management: Budget Department will provide a listing
• Trusts: T-96: Prior Year: $183,902 Current Year: $128,076 Change due to time frame change. The prior year figure represents 18 months, the current year figure represents 12 months.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

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• Annual Other (1100): Appropriated 1998: $15,000: Committee requested a breakdown
• Mamaroneck Valley Sanitary Sewer District: Position Request Requested 25 Allowed 27: Left in 2 positions due to re-evaluation of automation Phase 2
• Contribution from General Fund (9695): money borrowed from the general fund so they don’t have to go to the bond market (interest). Budget will provide a schedule.
• Odor Abatement: specifically there is no odor abatement study but they are aware of some of the problems and are working on it in-house.
• Cost of taking care of sewers is thirteen cents per day, per person

• Municipalities (36 participate) collect residential refuse. The municipalities below I-287 go directly to the transfer stations. The northern municipalities go directly to RESCO. RESCO handles 450,000 tons of municipal garbage per year.
• Transfer stations are at 70-80% of capacity.
• Trying to develop a program to keep organic materials separate.

• Municipalities collect garbage, they pay a tip fee ($21.00) to County. The County Solid Waste District pays a $25.00 tip fee to RESCO. The County sells the recyclables.
• Milo settlement: $2.1 million paid out over 4 years. Committee requested a schedule of payments.
• Fund Balance: Refusal Disposal District: $18,355,347 Committee requested a schedule of restrictions on fund balance.
• Committee requested a listing of who has Class D Permits.
• Refuse Disposal District – Recycling: Contractual Services (4380): Increase due to the budgeting of four chemical clean-up days for $100,000 each.

• Charles Point-Tons of Refuse received: 657,000 tons (allowed by permit) 740,000 total capacity

• Committee requested a schedule showing the breakdown of operations at RESCO

• Community Services (5125): Committee requested an explanation of the types of agreements with municipalities that are covered by this account

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 20, 1998

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• For a demonstration project of a gas recovery system at the Croton Landfill.
• This project will utilize methane gas produced by the landfill toward beneficial re-uses such as aquaculture, hydroponic greenhouse systems and the utilization of compressed natural gas to fuel heavy duty vehicles.
• Commissioner Landi informed the Committee that there are successful programs such as this in Cornell and Montreal.
• The Committee questioned the cost benefit of this project. The Commissioner stated that he had numbers to support that the fish farm could be an economical venture.
• The agriculture portion of this project is $1.3 million. The other $700,000 is basically for conversion of gas into electricity. There is no subsidy or public/private partnership.
• It will become cost beneficial in 3-4 years for the electricity to the park.
• Legislator Carsky expressed her concern with regard to using taxpayer dollars to fund a demonstration project.
• Mrs. Carsky stated that this $2 million project becomes $9.5 million (in Capital Budget), just short of what is necessary for referendum. She suggested that the remaining $7.5 million which does not have to be committed to now go into "In Review". It was explained by the Budget Department that the only option is to delete from the Capital Budget and then have it resubmitted by going through the Capital Budget process for next year.
• Commissioner Landi will arrange for the consultant for this project to give a presentation to the Committee.

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve this item was 8-0 with Legislators Young, Swanson, LaMotte, Carsky, Stewart-Cousins, Abinanti and Kaplowitz signing "Without Prejudice".

5. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $700,000 in bonds – Croton Landfill Railroad 1 Closure Enhancements. (10/19/98)

• To finance the design for an upgraded capping of the Railroad I Solid Waste Landfill site at Croton Point.

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Swanson and Young signing "Without Prejudice".

• Design is 95% complete.
• Construction due to start in the spring.

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Swanson, Young, Abinanti and Kaplowitz signing "Without Prejudice".

• To fund the design and construction of the riverbank stabilization project located on the Bronx River near Elm Street in the Village of Tuckahoe.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

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On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0.

18. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $4,500,000 in bonds – Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant – Sludge Long Term Solution. (6/1/98)

• Commissioner Landi stated that he is going to ask the Administration to withdraw this as the issue needs to be revisited. Committee will await letter so stating before removing it from the agenda.

• Mr. Kaplowitz stated that he has spoken with Dr. Jacknis on this matter. He suggested that this be held up until we get a design on automation on this entire project with the possibility that it could ultimately save money.

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislator Kaplowitz signing "Without Prejudice".

38. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act authorizing the issuance of $500,000 in bonds – Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant – Primary Boiler System addition. (7/20/98)

• 20 x 20 one story building to locate the boiler.
• There was some discussion with regard to integrating this project with another.
• The Committee will discuss this matter further.

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• Mr. Butler explained that this project is being driven by the 1980 Clean Air Act.
• This is to replace refrigeration units in the pen kitchen which were installed in 1966.
• According to previous studies this structure will be kept into the future.
• Cooking is done in the jail kitchen and the pen kitchen is used for food storage.

• Mrs. Swanson asked why the legislation refers to replacing air conditioning systems at the pen kitchen if this is for refrigeration. Mr. Butler stated that this is for replacement of refrigerant and a new piece of legislation clarifying this matter can be submitted.
• Mr. Kaplowitz expressed his concern with regard to the description of this project also as well as the fact that he is not convinced that this building will remain after the study of what to do with the pen is completed.
• The Committee will discuss this item further.

• The Commissioner informed the Committee that this project has been put on hold due to an ongoing diversion study.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.