COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

JANUARY 12, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

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

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Karen Pasquale; Budget Dept: Budget Director Kate Tooher, Tom Coleman, Leslie Bennett; Finance: Commissioner Pucillo; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; BOL: Legislator Ryan, Robert J. Boland, Glenn Guzi, Tina Seckerson

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

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

• The Committee’s regular meeting time will be Mondays at 10:00 a.m. The Committee will meet next Tuesday, January 20th due to the holiday on Monday.
• Mr. Wishnie discussed the possibility of creating sub-committees (i.e., A&C, CBAC, Capital Projects, Courthouse project). Mrs. LaMotte suggested the Committee meet with or attend the Department of Planning’s Capital Projects Committee meetings.
• Mr. Wishnie informed the Committee that he felt it would be appropriate and beneficial for the Committee to be given a review of A&C matters at each Budget Committee meeting.
• Quorum: On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the motion to set the quorum for Budget Committee meetings at 4 was carried by a vote of 10-0.

The Committee discussed a proposed resolution that would reconstitute the CBAC, two minor ministerial changes were made.

On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve the resolution, as amended, was carried by a vote of 10-0.

• Ms. Tooher stated that the Budget Department will continue to provide Quarterly Reports to the Committee. She further stated that they are streamlining their automation system to cut down on the 6 week turn-around time the quarterly reports currently take.

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• Mr. Wishnie asked if any discussion has been had with regard to a "user-friendly" budget format. He informed Ms. Tooher and the Committee that he has written to the County Executive asking him to make this a priority and appoint a task force on this matter. Ms. Tooher stated that they are already given consideration to this matter and plan to discuss it further.
• The Budget Department will have an open-door policy and will make themselves available to answer Legislators’ questions.
• There was some discussion as to the Budget Department getting back to long-range forecasting for the County.
• Mr. Wishnie inquired as to a mechanism that can be set into place whereby the BOL can "audit" the County funding received by private agencies (i.e. be sure the organization receives the funding put into the Budget, monitor how the money is spent, etc.). Ms. Tooher stated that this is an area that she and Commissioner Pucillo have already been discussing and will be working closely on.
• Commissioner Pucillo stated that one of his objectives will be to monitor cash flow closely with a goal of reducing the TAN sale. He stated that they are not yet sure what impact the PBC will have on cash flow this year.
• Mr. Wishnie inquired as to when the 1997 year end figures will be finalized. Mr. Pucillo stated that with the cooperation of both branches of government and the Finance and Budget Departments, the date for closing the County’s year end books can be pushed up.
• Ms. Tooher informed the Committee that the possibility of changing the timing of budgetary transfers is currently being considered. She stated that to avoid the end of year clean-up that has taken place in the past there is consideration being given to mid-year or three-quarter year transfers.
• Ms. Tooher informed the Committee that the Medical Center has some unpaid bills from 1997 that need to be paid, therefore there will be a request for a transfer coming down to the Board for the next Board meeting. Mrs. Swanson stated that the Committee needs to hear the rationale for this transfer and stated that the lack of an explanation is what held the transfer up last year.
• Mrs. LaMotte suggested that the Committee be supplied with a list of items with regard to the PBC that will be coming up in the next couple of months (a timeline of major items).
• Mr. Boland requested the Committee be given a concise listing of roll-forwards by department and account numbers (itemized and summarized listings).
• Mr. Pucillo informed the Committee that he will be meeting with representatives of Peat, Marwick this week to discuss open as well as possible new audits they will be performing for the County.

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AGENDA REFERRALS:

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)

• Mr. Wishnie informed the Committee that the County Attorney has requested more time to review this matter before the Committee takes any action.

2.* HON. GEORGE LATIMER: Fiscal Year Budget Cycle: Suggesting that an analysis be done by the Committee on Budget and Appropriations on the proposal to change the County’s fiscal year from the current calendar year basis to a mid-year basis. (1/5/98)

• As this would require a Charter change, Mr. Wishnie stated that a sub-committee will be set up to review this matter. Ms. Tooher informed the Committee that when Nassau changed their fiscal year it was an administrative nightmare. Mr. Abinanti informed the Committee that this matter had been discussed in the Legislation Committee and one of the concerns raised was the effect changing the fiscal year would have on the timing of federal and state funding. Mr. Pucillo informed the Committee that changing the fiscal year could have a possible negative effect on taxpayers due to the timing of tax bills being sent out.

3.* HON. GEORGE LATIMER: Tourism - Hotel and Sales Tax Revenue Growth: Urging the Committee on Budget and Appropriations to meet with key representatives of the County’s Tourism Community to discuss measures that may help increase the level of tourism and convention business in Westchester. (1/5/98)

• Mr. Wishnie stated the Committee will set up a meeting on this matter in the future.

4.* HON. MICHAEL KAPLOWITZ: Segmentation Rate - Lakeland School District: Forwarding a report dealing with the tax segmentation rate which he believes is improperly applied in the Lakeland School District. (1/5/98)

• This matter will be discussed by the Committee on Tuesday, January 20th at 10:00 a.m. with the County’s Tax Director, Margaret Iacomini. Mr. Wishnie asked Mr. Kaplowitz to invite anyone with an interest in this matter.

5.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE (ANDREW P. O’ROURKE): Gift - New Year Celebration: Acceptance of a gift from Hudson Valley Bank to be used for the non-alcoholic New Year Celebration. (1/5/98)

• On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to Receive and File this item as carried by a vote of 10-0.

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6.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE (ANDREW P. O’ROURKE): Gift - New Year Celebration: Acceptance of a gift from Chock Full O’Nuts to be used for the non-alcoholic New Year Celebration. (1/5/98)

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to Receive and File this item as carried by a vote of 10-0.

*NOTE: Mr. Abinanti requested that the County Attorney’s opinion (rendered last year) as to the Board’s role in the acceptance of gifts be distributed to the Committee members.

Mr. Abinanti suggested that a book of rules and procedures (i.e. the County Attorney’s opinion on the Board’s role in the acceptance of gifts) be compiled.

Mr. Latimer stated that he is requesting that each Committee look in advance and plan backwards with regard to hard and fast target dates to avoid the calling of special meetings of the Board.

Since the majority of the Board meetings will be held on Monday nights the Blue Sheet closes on Monday afternoons. Mr. Latimer stated that although it is within the Committee’s prerogative to blue sheet items, he would encourage the Committee to use this prerogative judiciously in order to give all Board members enough time to consider the issues.

Mrs. Carsky suggested that the Committee have department heads in throughout the year to give periodic updates.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.