COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

MARCH 15, 1999

ATTENDANCE:

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

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

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve the Minutes of March 8, 1999, was carried by a vote of 7-0. (Legislators Abinanti and Young out for vote)

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to Receive and File Items a-k (various gifts, referenced below) was carried by a vote of 9-0.

• This is an increase in the appropriation of the Contractual Services account in the amount of $340,000 for the removal of sludge.
• The increase in appropriation is fully funded by undesignated fund balance available in the District.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0. (Legislators Abinanti and Young out for vote)

• This is for an IMA between the County and the Town of Bedford in order to reimburse an amount not to exceed $60,000 to Bedford for the term January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000.
• Reimbursement to Bedford will be for round trip transportation and will be based on the per hour labor costs of police officers.

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• The County will also reimburse Bedford for the actual and reasonable cost of meals provided to post-arraignment prisoners.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0. (Legislators Abinanti and Young out for vote)

• Under the terms of this IMA the Valhalla Fire District will provide services to the County in connection with the evaluation of fire safety procedures at the Grasslands Reservation and training of the Grasslands Fire Brigade.
• The supplemental training and evaluation of procedures is essential for the enhancement of fire protection on the Reservation and to continue to reduce the number of responses necessary from the Valhalla Fire District to the Reservation.
• The term of the IMA will be from 1/1/99 to 12/31/2001.
• The Valhalla Fire District shall be paid $45,000 annually over 3 years for a total of $135,000.

On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to approve this item was carried y a vote of 7-0. (Legislators Abinanti and Young out for vote)

• Under the terms of this IMA the Hawthorne Fire District will provide services to the County in connection with the evaluation of fire safety procedures at the Grasslands Reservation and training of the Grasslands Fire Brigade.
• The supplemental training and evaluation of procedures is essential for the enhancement of fire protection on the Reservation and to continue to reduce the number of responses necessary from the Hawthorne Fire District to the Reservation.
• The term of the IMA will be from 1/1/99 to 12/31/2001.

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• The Hawthorne Fire District shall be paid $13,000 annually over 3 years for a total of $39,000.

On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to approve this item was carried y a vote of 7-0. (Legislators Abinanti and Young out for vote)

• A Resolution providing for appropriation transfers within the Law Department in the amount of $247,000.
• This transfer is required to provide sufficient appropriation to pay the costs attributable to the finalization of the Transition Agreement with the WCHCC.

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to go into Executive Session to discuss attorney-client privilege was carried by a vote of 9-0.

On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to go out of Executive Session was carried by a vote of 9–0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.

On motion of Legislator seconded by Legislator the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Kaplowitz, Stewart-Cousins, Mosiello, and Young signing "Without Prejudice" and Legislators Carsky, LaMotte and Abinanti out for vote.

• Total amount of transfer: $4,215,730.
• The purpose of the amendment is to fund salary increases awarded under the CSEA contract which were retroactive to 1996 and 1997.
• The payments were made to the affected employees in 1998 and charged to the 1998 budget.

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• The increase in appropriations is funded fully by revenue from restricted fund balance set aside at year-end 1997 for the purpose of funding salary increases retroactive to 1996 and 1997.

On motion of Legislator seconded by Legislator the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislator Carsky signing "Without Prejudice" and Legislator Abinanti out for vote.

• A Resolution transferring funds within the 1998 Miscellaneous Budget in the amount of $183,787 to increase the appropriation in the Tourism account.
• The Room Occupancy Tax receipts in 1998 were $4,025,247.
• The County sets aside, after reimbursement to itself for administration and collection costs, 15% of the tax receipts for the purposes of tourism in the County.
• Using this methodology, the County recognizes $130,000 as its administrative reimbursement, which is deducted from the $4,025,247 for net collections of $3,895,247. 15%, or $584,287, is the calculated "set-aside" for tourism activities. The adopted appropriation for Tourism in the Miscellaneous Budget $400,500; therefore an additional $183,787 should be reflected in the County’s contribution to Tourism activities.

• The transfer is fully funded by savings in the Miscellaneous Budget – Retirement account.

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 the vote.

• The purpose of the amendment is to transfer funds appropriated in the Department of Social Services to the Department of Planning for expenditures in support of community programs aimed at issues raised by the Love litigation.
• Lawsuit cannot reside in DSS since the lawsuit vs. DSS.

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

• Under the IMA, the County will lease approximately 720 square feet on the second floor of the Yorktown Community Center to be used as a satellite office for the Office for the Aging.

• The space is currently being used by the Town for the Yorktown Museum Gift Shop and under the IMA, the County will be granted a license to relocate the present gift shop to a new location in the building on the 2^nd floor and to renovate approximately 720 square feet in the new area to be used as a gift shop by the town. The town will be responsible for all costs, utilities, repair and maintenance of the leased premises.

• The cost of constructing the leased space, including telephone installation and the cost of constructing the new gift shop shall not exceed $27,000.
• The lease by the county of space shall be for a term of 3 years commencing September 1, 1999 and the County shall have the right to extend the lease for an additional 1 year period at its option upon the same terms and conditions.
• The term of the IMA shall commence on April 1, 1999 and terminate on August 31, 2002.

• Most complaints with regard to the discharge of the Peekskill office came from Yorktown.
• Mrs. LaMotte stated that Mt. Kisco should have been considered as the site for such a satellite office.
• Mr. Mosiello stated that there is a need for an outreach center in lower Westchester.

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0 with Legislators Mosiello, Carsky, LaMotte, and Swanson signing "Without Prejudice".

• The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has arrange for the purchase of the Gaisman Estate by the County along with the State of New York and the Town of Greenburgh for its use for park, recreational, open space or residential purposes.

• The Gaisman Estate is intended to be used as a public park and any residential uses within it would be limited to residences within existing buildings on the site.
• The Gaisman Estate will be operated and maintained by the Town and will be open to all County residents.
• Under the proposed purchase, the State, County and Town will acquire the parcel for the purchase price of $8,000,000 and will hold title as tenants in common, with a 50% , 25% and 25% share of the parcel respectively.
• The state will provide $4 million towards the purchase price, while the County and Town will each provide $2 million.
• The Archbishropic will retain an 11 acre parcel which includes a Convent, related buildings, and an approximately 50 by 555 foot access and utility easement on a shared entrance driveway to the proposed park.

• The 123 acre parcel to be acquired will remain a wooded area improved by several buildings.
• The purchase of the Gaisman Estate is part of the County’s Five Year Capital Program for Parkland acquisition.
• The proposed acquisition is consistent with "Patterns" the County’s long range land use policy and the draft 1998 Open Space Policies.
• The acquisition of this property will help protect open space in the County and will provide a natural extension of the County’s Ridge Road Park. The property will be operated and maintained as a public park by the Town and therefore any and all costs associated with such maintenance and operation will likewise be borne by the Town.

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

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.