COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

MARCH 30, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

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

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Jay Hashmall, Larry Schwartz, Bill Randolph; Budget Dept: (Absent due to a meeting at the County Center); Law Department: County Attorney Scheinkman, Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz, Tom Gardiner, Daniella Infield; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss, LWV: Barbara Strauss, Anne Nelson; Yorktown: Supervisor Linda Cooper, Assessor Robert Killeen, Councilman Nick Bianco; Tax Commission: Margaret Iacomini; BOL: Legislator Oros, Robert J. Boland, 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):

MINUTES: On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of March 16, 1998 was carried by a vote of 9-0.

SEGMENTATION RATE:

The Committee discussed this matter in detail at previous meetings.

Mrs. LaMotte asked how many municipalities will be affected by a segmentation rate. Ms. Iacomini responded that right now according to the rules the only affected municipality in Westchester is the Town of Cortlandt.

This legislation is a first step in moving forward to correct inequities.

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0.

3. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Budget amendment to the 1998 County

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• Mr. Hashmall explained that this is an attempt to save money and have titles appropriately reflect the responsibilities of the jobs.
• There are approximately 15-17 titles of Assistant to the County Executive I & II. Most of the employees are not being eliminated. This legislation deals simply with titles and money. The Administration assured the Committee that an attempt will be made to find another position in county government for anyone adversely affected by this legislation. This is not an attempt to fire anyone.
• The Committee inquired as to why some of these positions are funded in the Miscellaneous Budget. Mr. Hashmall stated that some appear in Trust & Grants, some in Miscellaneous Budget, and some not at all. He further stated that the Administration plans to deal with all of these titles/positions by placing them in the proper departmental budget thereby eliminating any hidden titles.
• Mr. Schwartz stated that by doing this budget amendment now, will begin to generate savings immediately.
• Mr. Hashmall stated that this is the first time the Executive branch has brought these issues in front of the Legislature being taking action.
• The Committee inquired as to how the salary range for confidential secretaries is determined. Mr. Hashmall replied that the salary range is recommended by the Personnel Office. (i.e. Grade 11 - for secretaries for the C.E.; Deputy C.E. & Chief Advisor; Grade 10 for other Confidential secretaries; Scheduling secretary will be a Grade 12).
• Mr. Mosiello stated that we all want to save money and have a more efficient government and he doesn’t want to deny the C.E. the ability to hire his own staff but still had some questions about the way this is being handled. He inquired as to the practice of "red circle rate" and asked if it is illegal to change a title and lower salary. He stated that it was his understanding that if changes in titles were made the employee would be held harmless and kept at the same salary rate. He asked if this legislation would in fact violate the CSEA contract. Mr. Hashmall stated that the Administration will not be continuing the practice of the red circle rate. Mr. Scheinkman stated that the red circle rate provision does not apply when titles are being abolished. In fact, there is nothing in the contract that prohibits abolition of titles.
• With regard to the Taxi & Limo Commission: they are living within lump sum of money-just restructuring positions.

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• The Committee asked to go line by line for each title to see where they are and where they are going. Mr. Hashmall stated that there is no direct relationship between the deletions and the additions. The Committee inquired as to why these titles were selected when there are people in the positions instead of some of the "phantom army" positions. Mr. Hashmall responded that some of the positions are filled and some are vacant. This legislation has to do with positions and efficiency.
• Mrs. Carsky asked if the auditors should be auditing the Trusts & Grants accounts. Messrs. Schwartz and Hashmall informed the Committee that the auditors are working with Administration on "user-friendly" budget.
• Mr. Mosiello stated that he would like to hear from the department heads of the department being affected before taking action.
• Since the Director of Labor Relations has retired the Administration is taking a new approach by having the Law Department handle these matters.

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve this legislation was carried by a vote of 5-3 with Legislators Swanson out for the vote and Legislators Mosiello, Carsky and LaMotte being recorded in the negative. Mr. Mosiello was recorded in the negative due to the fact that he was unsatisfied with the explanations received for this legislation.

A. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Resolutions authorizing the County

• Discussed in detail at PSCJ meeting this morning.
• The Committee is waiting for an accounting of how the surpluses were spent in the past.
• The surcharge is 35 cents per line for up to 50 lines.

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislator LaMotte and Carsky signing "without prejudice" and Legislators Abinanti, Swanson and Mosiello out of the room.

The Bond acts will discussed at next week’s meeting an were assigned as follows:

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Item III, 2: Utility Reinforcement - Valhalla (B0006): Legislators LaMotte &

Kaplowitz

Item III, 3: Playland Infrastructure (RP030): Legislators LaMotte & Kaplowitz

Item III, 4: Bradhurst Modifications (BH003): Legislators Swanson & Abinanti

Item III, 5: WCC-Children’s Center (WCC51): Legislators Carsky & Mosiello

Item III, 6: WCC-Campus Wide Traffic (WCC52): Legislators: Carsky & Mosiello

Item III, 1: No. County Trailway (BPL16): Legislators Young, Stewart-Cousins &

Wishnie

Item III, 7: HIF-Lawn Ave-New Rochelle (BPL01): Legislators Young, Wishnie &

Stewart-Cousins

15.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Certiorari Refunds: Forwarding a package of

court- ordered certiorari refunds. (3/23/98)

On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 (Legislator Mosiello out for vote)

21. HON. KATHERINE CARSKY: Parking at New Rochelle Department of

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 (Legislator Mosiello out for vote)

Mr. Boland reviewed the March 26th A&C Calendar with the Committee.

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