COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

JANUARY 26, 1998

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

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

 

OTHERS: CIO: Norm Jacknis; Budget Dept: Budget Director Kate Tooher, Tom Coleman; DPW: Commissioner Landi; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; BOL: Robert J. Boland, Glenn Guzi, Tina Seckerson

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:25 a.m.

 

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

 

MINUTES: On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of January 20, 1998 was carried by a vote of 7-0. (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)

 

ACQUISITION & CONTRACT MATTERS:

 

  1. Norm Jacknis, CIO re: Authority to amend GS-802 with EDP Temps, Inc. for the provision of professional contract systems, programming technical services, from 1/1/98 - 12/31/98, by increasing the amount from $895,402 to a new amount not to exceed $1,747,402.

 

  • County has been using data processing temps for 18 years.
  • Mr. Jacknis gave the following breakdown for the above referenced contract: $600,000 for WCC and $252,000 for DSS (which amounts were approved in A& C last November.)
  • Mr. Mosiello asked how many data processing employees were offered their jobs back (with the County) and how many were planning to return. Mr. Jacknis stated that 35 employees came back last fall and letters were sent to the 40 remaining former employees. (*See attached Schedule "A") He estimated that approximately 30 will come back.

 

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  • Mr. Young stated that prior to IBM the County was spending approximately $895,000 for the services of EDP Temps. He further stated that now that IBM is leaving it appears that the amount is being doubled. Mr. Jacknis explained that it is not doubling and this is for additional services to be used during the transition when IBM leaves and in effect puts the County back to where it was before the outsourcing.
  • Mrs. LaMotte stated that last year she believed WCC’s IS department was separated from the County’s IS department. Ms. Tooher stated that the transfer to purchase the equipment was never completed.
  • Mrs. Swanson asked if this extra money was paid out while IBM was under contract with the County. Mr. Jacknis explained that while under contract, IBM was responsible for paying for whatever services were necessary, including the EDP Temps policy. This responsibility will now be shifted back over to the County.

 

 

b) Commissioner Landi, DPW re: Contract 95-415 with County Asphalt, Inc. for Resurfacing Drainage Improvements, Access Road, Westchester County Airport, Town of North Castle and Village of Rye Brook. Acceptance of completed work and approval of Final Contract Amount of $730,218.14.

 

  • Mrs. Carsky asked where the money is coming from to pay for this project and if it is appropriate to transfer bonding from one project to another? Commissioner Landi explained that there has been no commingling of funds, these two projects were just bid out together.
  • Mrs. Swanson asked what the change orders were for. Mr. Landi stated that change orders are approved by A&C. The Commissioner stated that he would have to look to see what the change orders were for specifically. He will get back to the Committee with this information.
  • Mrs. Carsky asked that the Committee get the following information with regard to this item:

    1. obtain a map of the footprint of the airport as delineated for Enterprise Funding purposes.

    2. Why Westchester’s taxpayers should be funding improvements to the Airport Access Road (RB060) when it is within the footprint of the Westchester County Airport as delineated in the Capital Budget? Why wouldn’t these road improvements be funded within the Airport Enterprise account?

 

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    1. Is the maintenance of the Access Entrance Roads (A0031) which were bonded by the County ($6,500,000) in the early 90’s considered to be part of the Airport Enterprise Fund and therefore a continuing responsibility of the Enterprise Fund rather than the taxpayers?

    2. The specifics of the 1997 settlement agreement between the FAA and the County.

 

 

c) Bob Boland reviewed the January 22, 1998 A&C Calendar (copy on file) with the Committee.

 

  • Item #23 on the A&C Calendar was a request from the Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) for authority to apply for NYS Financial Assistance for the 1998 Household Chemical Waste Collection Program under Chapter 610 of the Laws of 1993. Mrs. LaMotte asked if there would be any financial assistance if the County had a permanent site. This matter is being looked into. Mrs. Carsky asked what percentage of the total cost of this program the County currently receives financial assistance for? Ms. Tooher stated that the County is currently applying for a 50% grant.
  • Mr. Mosiello inquired as to why the Budget Committee is reviewing A&C spending when the Board’s approval is not needed to expend the money. Mr. Wishnie replied that there is a huge amount of money being spent on behalf of the County by the Board of Acquisition and Contract which consists of three voting members (the County Executive, the Chairman of the Board of Legislators and the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works). He stated that reviewing the A&C calendar and spending is an educational process to keep the Board apprised of the issues and the many contracts that are entered into.
  • Mr. Abinanti stated that everything dollar spent through A&C has some basis in the budget.
  • Mr. Boland informed the Committee that the Chairman has requested a list of the current short form contracts from the Law Department.

 

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BOND ACTS:

 

Mr. Wishnie informed the Committee that there will be 44 bond acts on the blue sheet that will be referred to the Budget Committee at this evening’s Board meeting. It is his intention to divide the bond acts amongst the Committee members for review and will then set a meeting(s) for the Committee to be briefed by Committee members as well as the Administration on these matters.

 

WCMC BUDGET TRANSFER:

 

Ms. Tooher reminded the Committee that there will also be an act amending the WCMC budget referred to the Committee tonight. She stressed that approval of this act is critical to allow the vendors to be paid.

The Committee will discuss this matter at their next meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

 

SCHEDULE "A"

 

 

 

 

Employees Privatized 91

Vacant Positions 20

Employees Retained 6

Total MIS Staff 117

 

 

MIS Employees Rehired 9/97 31

In the process of rehiring 2/98 46

MIS Employees Retained 6

Potential MIS Staff 2/98 83

MIS Employees to be recruited

Vacant Positions 20

MIS Employees Accepting

Other Positions 14

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