COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

FEBRUARY 23, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

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

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Barbara Fratianni, Bill Randolph; CIO: Norm Jacknis; Budget Dept: Budget Director Kate Tooher, Dianne Kearney, Brian Fitzpatrick; Law Department: County Attorney Scheinkman; Planning: Fran McLoughlin; Planning Board: George Ilse; CBAC: George Hosey; LWV: Anne Nelson, Jo Brill; General Services: Joe Phelan, John Leonard, Michael Variano; BOL: Legislator Maisano, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.

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

MINUTES: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of February 17, 1998 was carried by a vote of 8-0.

7. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Lease Amendment - 145 Huguenot Street: Proposed Local Law authorizing the County to amend a lease with Rotterdam Ventures, Inc. to provide for alternative parking facilities in conjunction with the lease of space at 145 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle. (1/26/98)

• Mr. Wishnie informed the Committee that he had been informed that the County Atty has signed off on this legislation and all outstanding issues have been settled. It is important to address this as quickly as possible as it is a time sensitive issue.
• Mr. Scheinkman informed the Committee that his office has had conversations with Mayor of New Rochelle, Dr. Adel and Legislator Maisano. The feeling is that there is a firm parking agreement in place all within a 2-block radius. There will be outside parking until the parking structure is completed (a 2-3 year time frame) at which time garage parking will be available.

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• Mrs. Swanson asked how the parking process will work, i.e. will it be on a first-come first-serve basis or will spaces be reserved? Mr. Maisano explained that all of the spaces will be designated Health Department spaces. Mrs. Swanson asked if the New Rochelle Police are going to be willing to enforce the parking plan? Mr. Maisano assured the Committee that the Mayor and the Police Department are willing to do whatever it takes as the City is committed to keeping the Health Department in New Rochelle. In fact, signs designating the parking for the Health Department have already been posted.
• Mrs. LaMotte stressed her concern that in the instance that something happens to these lots (i.e. a construction site for some other purpose) there should be some written stipulation in the lease obligating the landlord to provide transportation from an off-site parking lot. Mr. Scheinkman assured the Committee that it is written into the lease that there is a guarantee for either the alternative site or the new garage when it is built for parking spaces.
• Mrs. Carsky asked where the $125,000 came from. Mr. Scheinkman explained that the $125,000 number was derived in November as the cost of relocating the Health Department to another facility.
• **Mrs. Carsky asked why this is not a 5/5 year lease instead of a 10 year lease? Was this lease done illegally through A&C rather than the Board of Legislators? Mr. Scheinkman will research and get back to the Committee.
• Mr. Scheinkman informed the Committee that there will be a license agreement to use some additional storage space in the building at no extra charge.
• **Mrs. Swanson requested an accurate map of the parking sites. Mr. Scheinkman will provide.

On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0. (Legislators Swanson, Young, LaMotte, and Carsky signed Without Prejudice)

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BOND ACTS:

2. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $200,000 in bonds - Westnet Infrastructure/Lan Data Network Upgrade. (1/26/98)

• Dr. Jacknis explained that the County’s system is antiquated and this authorization would fund upgrades to the County’s data network (Westnet). They have been getting in all of the major vendors of hardware and picking their brains for free, getting at least a day’s worth of consulting out of each of them in terms of what they have to offer and why they think it’s appropriate. A formal RFP will be issued at a later date.

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0 (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

Mrs. LaMotte requested a time be set up for Dr. Jacknis to have a work session with the Legislators with regard to the County’s MIS as well as the Year 2000. Mr. Wishnie suggested that the best forum would be a Committee of the Whole.

3. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $1,250,000 in bonds - Year 2000 PC Conversion. (1/26/98)

• Dr. Jacknis explained that there are a number of PC ‘s in the County that are very old and are not Year 2000 compatible and are not capable of supporting Windows 95 of Microsoft Office 97.
• Mrs. Carsky stated that it is her understanding that the National Association of Counties Financial Services can be used to get good prices (slightly over cost) on computers. The County of Los Angeles saved millions of dollars using this resource. She offered to get more information with regard to this for Dr. Jacknis.

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

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4. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $6,000,000 in bonds - Year 2000 Software Conversion. (1/26/98)

• Dr. Jacknis explained that the County has approximately 250 systems on different computers in the County which flush out to thousands of individual programs. All of these have to be reviewed, at the very least, to see whether or not they will collapse when January 1, 2000 occurs, if not before in 1999. For each one it needs to be decided whether it is worth fixing or replacing the program with something new which is Year 2000 compliant.
• There are roughly 5 sub-categories which total $12 million. First there is a county-wide financial system, primarily LGFS, which will cost approximately $2.5 million for review. Secondly, the county-wide personnel and payroll systems will cost approximately $2.5 million to review. There are a large number of systems on the Unisys mainframe that various departments use which are mainly all Mapper applications which are very difficult problems to deal with. This portion will cost approximately $3.6 million. There are various systems that run on the IBM mainframe which cost will be approximately $1.4 million. Then there are a variety of other systems. This last category is actually part of Phase I of the program. The County issued an RFP at the end of last year, they are in the final evaluation phase. The estimate is roughly a little more than $200,000 for the first phase of that which is an assessment project, a review of all the codes. The estimate they have received is that there will another project of approximately $1.75 million to actually renovate and test the codes.
• Dr. Jacknis stated that just because a vendor tells them that something is Year 2000 compliant, doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be tested. There is no place that will insure that their product is Year 2000 compliant.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

A. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $265,000 in bonds - Exterior Infrastructure Repairs - White Plains

Complex. (1/26/98)

• Resealing, waterproofing & painting of the exterior of the White Plains Complex - which will be done in 3 phases. This is year 2 of a program that started in 1997.

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• The total cost of the project is $400,000 consisting of $265,000 in bonds and $135,000 in cash.

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

1. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $1,375,000 in bonds - Fuel Tank Replacement and Testing. (1/26/98)

• This is a continuation of the Fuel Tank Replacement and Testing Project. This will conclude the 2nd to last phase of work of this project.
• To date the total project cost is $8,150,000 of which $6,775,000 has already been authorized.
• **The Committee wanted to know how many of all the 180 tanks have been replaced. Ms. Tooher will provide a schedule with this information.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

5. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $500,000 in bonds - Laboratories and Research Equipment Acquisition. (1/26/98)

• This is an ongoing project for the acquisition of equipment.

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

6. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $475,000 in bonds - Public Safety Headquarters Infrastructure Improvements. (1/26/98)

• This is for improvements to the main building and garage.

On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

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7. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $400,000 in bonds - Infrastructure Improvements - Correctional Complex. (1/26/98)

• This is for the roof replacement, water proofing and window replacement of the M Unit.
• **Mrs. LaMotte asked how much of the asbestos abatement program has been completed. Ms. Tooher will get back to the Committee.

On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0. (Legislator Latimer out for vote)

The Committee will meet on the next set of Bond Acts (DPW) #8-18 on Monday, March 2nd at 10:00 a.m.

Mr. Kaplowitz requested that the segmentation rate, which was previously discussed by the Committee be addressed at the March 2nd meeting also.

Mr. Boland reviewed the February, 19, 1998 A&C Calendar (on file) with the Committee. Included in his review were the following points:

(1.) License Agreement Funtastic Amusements: Withdrawn by the Administration

(3.) Contract with Leake and Watts for Woodfield Cottage: Amount amended to $1,770,000

(5.) Contract with Unisys Corp. for provision of MIS services: Held over by the Administration

(6.) Food Contract at Mohansic Golf Course: Held over by Board of Legislators

(9.) Final Contract with Briante Building Corp. for low rise building renovations:

DPW was asked whether they were satisfied with this project. Commissioner Landi stated that there were no problems.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m.