COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

JUNE 15, 1998

 

ATTENDANCE:

B & A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Abinanti, Carsky, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Mosiello, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson, Young

OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Tooher; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph; Personnel Office: Paula Redd Zeman; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; BOL: Robert Hoch, David Marcus, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:45 a.m.

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

BUDGET TRANSFER:
  1. Proposed Resolution authorizing the transfer of funds within the

Miscellaneous Budget. (6/1/98)

  • Ms. Tooher informed the Committee that the money for Special Studies is for authorization of a contract with Bennett Kielson. They held off going to A&C pending approval of this transfer.
  • The increase in County property taxes is to pay for sewer taxes on Hudson Hills property. Ms. Tooher shared a memo from the Law Department with the Committee stating that the County is not exempt from paying sewer taxes.

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0. (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)

AGENDA ITEMS:

1. COUNTY EXECUTIVE (ANDREW P. O’ROURKE): Settlement of Arbitration-Westhab: Proposed Act authorizing the County Attorney to settle the matter of the arbitration between the County of Westchester and Westhab, Inc. (1/5/98)

Check with County Attorney on this matter

 

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4. HON. ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS AND HON. GEORGE LATIMER: Super Majority Vote to Raise Taxes: Forwarding a memorandum from the League of Women Voters expressing opposition to the proposal to require a super majority vote to raise taxes. (5/18/98)

To be discussed at a future meeting.

5. HON. GEORGE LATIMER: Program Funding - Abused and Neglected Children: Forwarding a letter from the President and Executive Director of the Mental Health Association requesting funding for a program that advocates for abused and neglected children. (3/9/98) (Also referred to HMC)

Committee will refer this item to the Task Force on Families for their input.

9. HON. LOUIS MOSIELLO: Super Majority Vote to Raise Property Taxes: Renewing his call for the enactment of legislation requiring a super majority vote of the Board of Legislators to raise property taxes. (1/26/98) (Also referred to Legislation Committee)

To be discussed at a future meeting

  1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: HON. PAUL FEINER: Dobbs Ferry Commuter Bus Line: Urging the County to restore the Dobbs Ferry Commuter Bus Line. (3/23/98) (Also referred to CA)

Check status of this item with Community Affairs Committee

14. COUNTY ATTORNEY: Agreements - WCHCC: Transmitting proposed legislation which would authorize the County to enter into various agreements with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation. (3/23/98) (Also referred to Health Comm.)

Check status of this item with HMC

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15. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Fund Audits: Transmitting the 1997 and 1996 Insurance Reserve Fund and Workers’ Compensation Reserve Fund Audits. [ON FILE] (6/1/98)

Mr. Boland informed the Committee that there is a possibility that the County will owe the Medical Center an additional $10 million. There are currently discussions on this matter being held between the Medical Center and the County Administration. Ms. Tooher informed the Committee that the final Medical Center transfer piece will be coming down to the Board shortly.

16. COUNTY ATTORNEY: Agreements – WCHCC: Transmitting proposed legislation which would authorize the County to enter into various agreements with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation. (5/18/98) (Also referred to HMC)

Check status of this item with HMC

17. HON. MICHAEL KAPLOWITZ: Funding for Pest Management

Committee: Forwarding a funding request from the Chair of the Westchester County Pest Management Committee. (5/4/98) (Also referred to Env)

Mr. Kaplowitz informed the Committee that the environment Committee has discussed this matter and is in favor of it from an environmental standpoint. The budgetary piece is a request for $10,000 for IPM. A letter will be sent to the Administration asking for clarification as to whether this request should be with the Board of Legislators or a County department, recommending that they poll the appropriate departments to determine where this should be housed.

 

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23. HON. LOUIS MOSIELLO: Removal of "Bus Wraps": Forwarding a copy of his letter to the County Executive which expresses his opposition to the practice of putting "bus wraps" on County buses. (2/23/98) (Also referred to CA)

Awaiting info from Administration. Mr. Mosiello informed the Committee that he has been verbally assured by the Administration that this matter will be okay. He stated that he would like to see something more formal, in writing.

28. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Amendment to Solid Waste Disposal Service Agreement: Proposed Act authorizing the County’s Refuse Disposal District No. 1 to enter into a second amendment of the Solid Waste Disposal Service Agreement, between the District and the County of Westchester Industrial Development Agency. (2/23/98) (Also referred to PW)

The Committee requested that the CBAC look into this matter.

A&C CALENDAR

Mr. Boland reviewed the results of the June 11th A& C Calendar.

 

PAY PLAN AMENDMENT:

13. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Pay Plan Amendment: Proposed Act amending the Personnel Rules with regard to the schedules of pay. (6/1/98)
  • Ms. Zeman informed the Committee that this pay plan is a "clean-up" measure.
  • Supervisor of PC applications: new title which has been approved.- Office for the Aging – change in title to reflect position. No one currently in the position

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  • Supervising case manager: Two incumbents in this title. Going from Grade X to Grade XI due to comparability aspects of supervisibility of case work. No additional cost for upgrade – Mr. Boland would like confirmation from Budget Director. Ms. Zeman will get back with exact dollar figures.
  • Supervisor – Budget Control: maintaining position control – title change only
  • Reallocation: Deputy Purchasing Agent: Reclassifying not deleting title. Moving a lot of titles that are fiscal and purchasing in nature to Finance Department
  • Pathologist: long standing compensation policy with this title that was upset with first Teamster contract which erroneously picked up salary at the time rather than the flat rate that was approved. Paula will double check. People in these positions were given a flat rate. The increase in the "not to exceed" rate is to give flexibility to give increases. Mrs. Swanson asked where the money will come from to grant the increases? Labs & Research would have to prove to Budget Dept that they have money in savings to cover the cost of the increase – it would not come back to BOL until 1999 budget appropriation.
  • Clinical Laboratory Director: Lab cannot operate without incumbent’s license which is issued by NYS.
  • Director of Small Business Initiatives & Deputy Director of Small Business: will be under DSS – POWER Program and POWER Plus Program – Proposed non-competitive. Mrs. Carsky suggested that they should look to SCORE-Senior Business Executives before venturing into this. Ms. Zeman responded that they currently deal with the corporate culture and they will do that in conjunction with this to supplement efforts of Director and Deputy Director. Account locations should be in Salaries not Annual Other.
  • Insurance Clerk-Hospital; being deleted from Medical Center because that is where it exists. Creating a generic title –title change only- Insurance Clerk - to ensure that the County can have an insurance clerk in a different department. Indicates department as Medical Center because that is where it is being proposed to remain for now.
  • Due to some ministerial errors, Ms. Zeman will resubmit this legislation to the Committee.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business for discussion, on motion to Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the meeting was adjourned at

12:15 p.m.