COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

COMMUNITY ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND HOUSING

MINUTES

AUGUST 16, 1999

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

B&A MEMBERS:           Wishnie, Abinanti, Carsky, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Latimer

Stewart-Cousins, Swanson, Young

 

CAH MEMBERS:Oros, Bronz, Latimer, Young

 

OTHERS:                       C.E.’s Office:  Bill Randolph; Budget Dept.:  Kate Carrano, Leslie Bennett;  Youth Bureau:  Anne Boyer;  DOT:  Rob Bracchitta, Patty Chemka;  CBAC:  George Hosey;  Planning Dept.:  Commissioner Lannert;  BOL:  Barbara Dodds, Sally Schecter, Charlie Pollak (Intern), Chris Chang, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson

 

Chairman Wishnie called the B&A 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 LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of August 11, 1999 was carried by a vote of 9-0.

 

WCC BUDGET:

 

An Act adopting the Westchester County Community College Budget and making appropriations for the operation of the College.

 

·       The Committee discussed the WCC Budget in detail at a previous meeting at which time $700,000 was added.  The $700,000 represented an increase in state aid of $75 per FTE approved by the State Legislature (9202 FTE x $75.00).  Therefore, this amount represents an increase in state aid and a decrease in fund balance.

·       Tax levy increase of 1.6%.

 

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item, as amended by the Memorandum of Additions, was carried by a vote of 9-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “Without Prejudice”.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING

MINUTES – AUGUST 16, 1999

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CAH MEETING:

 

Acting CAH Chair Young called the CAH meeting to order at 10:20 a.m.

 

INVEST-IN-KIDS:

 

(19)      Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into IMA’s with various municipalities under the Invest-in-Kids Program.  (7/26/99)  (Also referred to CAH)

 

·       Ms. Boyer explained that this is the last of the invest activities based upon their plan for transition. The transition is being made so that the contract will be based upon the same fiscal year as the appropriation.

·       These IMA’s will cover funding for the school year Arts Bridging Cultures (ABC) Programs that will operate September 1999 through June 2000 and from September 2000 through December 2000.

·       Ms. LaMotte asked how the summer programs have gone.  Mrs. Bronz stated that she spent the early part of the summer visiting Invest-in-Kids Programs and reported that the programs she visited were run exceptionally well and had quite a positive on the lives of the young people.

·       Mrs. Stewart-Cousins inquired about funding for Yonkers.  Ms. Boyer responded that Yonkers did not have any municipal applications (school district and city) although they did have other programs funded.  A directory of programs is to be released momentarily.

 

FOR THE B&A COMMITTEE:

 

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

 

FOR THE CAH COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

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NEW ROCHELLE INTER-MODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER:

 

(23)   Proposed Act authorizing the County to amend an IMA with the City of New Rochelle which would enable the city to construct an Intermodal Transportation Center. (7/26/99)  (Also referred to CAH)

 

·       This legislation requests the authority to amend an IMA with the City of New Rochelle.  Ms. Chemka explained that through the IMA the County is acting on behalf of the City as the “designated recipient” for federal funds through the Federal Transit Administration to allow them to construct the Intermodal Transportation Center at the train station.

·       There will be no improvements made to the train station.  An inter-city bus terminal constructed and a parking car garage for 1,000 cars.  There is currently parking for 800 cars.

·       The relocation of inter-City buses and Bee-Line System buses from their present locations to the proposed Intermodal Transportation center will aid in the city’s efforts to revitalize New Rochelle’s downtown.

·       The amendment is necessary because the in the original IMA in 1997 the City was still considering working with Metro-North in terms of constructing the garage portion.  They have since decided not to work with Metro-North and continue the relationship they have with the County.  The original IMA also referred only to ISTEA funding.  The new funds are T-21 funds.

·       Mr. Wishnie inquired as to the timing on this project.  Ms. Chemka responded that they are currently concluding the environmental review process.  They are hoping to be able to complete the design work by the spring of next year and construction to start shortly thereafter.

 

 

FOR THE B&A COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “Without Prejudice”.

 

FOR THE CAH COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING

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NOISE ABATEMENT COMPUTER EQUIPMENT:

 

An Act to authorize the acceptance of grants from the United States of America, acting through the FAA, and the State of New York, acting through DOT, to upgrade noise abatement computer equipment at Westchester County Airport to be Year 2000 compliant.

 

·       Mr. Wishnie explained that although this item is coming in on the Board’s agenda this evening the Administration has asked the Committee to address it today due to its time sensitivity.

·       Mr. Bracchita explained that this legislation would authorize the County to accept Federal and State grant funds to upgrade noise abatement equipment to make it Y2K compliant.

·       Mrs. Swanson stated that we have yet to receive any feedback on how the noise abatement equipment is working.  Mr. Bracchita explained that this is for software.  He further stated that the noise abatement monitors are a different project under a different grant and a study is currently underway.  The monitors are a capital project while this is an operating budget project just to make the existing equipment currently located at the Airport Y2K compliant.

·       Mrs. Stewart-Cousins inquired as to what the specific function of the noise abatement equipment is.  Mr. Bracchita explained that there are 14 monitors throughout the surrounding area of the Airport which monitors noise, the information is then compiled into a computer to get feedback to allow them to address various complaints from throughout the community.

 

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

 

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING

MINUTES – AUGUST 16, 1999

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QUITCLAIM DEED CONVEYANCE – TOWN OF GREENBURGH:

 

(24)   Proposed legislation authorizing the County to convey, by quitclaim deed, any interest the County may have in a parcel of land situated in the Town of Greenburgh and adjacent to the Saw Mill River Parkway, to the State of New York in connection with a land exchange agreement between the State of New York and Robert Martin Rosedale Corporation and Syracuse Brothers, Inc. (7/26/99)  (Also referred to CAH)

 

·       Commissioner Lannert explained that in 1968, County owned land that was adjacent to the Saw Mill Parkway property was conveyed to the State.  Robert Martin and Syracuse Brothers, which own a piece of property forming a portion of Titus Mill Pond, have since bought this land from NYS.  They are willing to convey the ownership of their portion of Titus Mill to New Rochelle and not go forward with their marina plans in exchange for the aforementioned portion of land in Greenburgh.  The NYSDOT has agreed to this exchange, but the County must consent to any disposition of such property.  In order for the parties to complete the land exchange, the County must first relinquish its interest in the Saw Mill River property.  The NYSDOT has requested that the County execute and deliver a quit claim deed to this property to NYS.

·       In exchange for the County’s release of any rights to the parcel adjacent to the Saw Mill River, Rosedale and Syracuse have agreed to make certain needed improvements to the right-of-way of the county’s trailway along the eastern boundary of the Elmsford Distribution Center, at no cost to the County.  The improvements would include filling and grading the path of the trailway to reduce steep sloping, saving the County approximately $100,000.

·       Commissioner Lannert stated that the Town of Greenburgh is entertaining a proposal for senior housing on this site as well as some small retail stores.

·       Mrs. Swanson voiced her concerns about the Town of Greenburgh (Elmsford) piece stating that due to the ramifications for Elmsford she would not be able to support this item.  When this was presented to the Village of Elmsford it was presented as an assisted living facility with access only by way of the Saw Mill Parkway.  Therefore, commercial vehicles will not be able to make deliveries to the facility via the parkway.  The only access they will be able to get is off a small street in Elmsford adding to Elmsford’s traffic problems.  She stressed her concern about what it will bring in the future.

 

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING

MINUTES – AUGUST 16, 1999

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·       Mr. Kaplowitz asked Commissioner Lannert to discuss the land exchange as it pertains to the Titus Mill Pond.  Commissioner Lannert stated that 7.6 acres had been conveyed to the DEC in 1995 by Syracuse Brothers.  Now they are proposing to convey an additional 4 acres.  Mr. Kaplowitz asked if any of he County’s requested action contingent upon that occurring.  Commissioner Lannert stated that it is her understanding that the conveyance is contingent upon the swap.

·       Mr. Kaplowitz asked the Commissioner about environmental aspects of Titus Mill Pond.  Mrs. Carsky stated that she recollected that Con Ed had a facility on Titus Mill Pond that was closed that had PCB problems that was leaching into Titus Mill Pond.  She inquired as to the resolution of Con Ed’s liability into Titus Mill Pond and its affect on the County.  Commissioner Lannert stated that we are minute players in this and she is not sure of all the details.  Mr. Kaplowitz stated that the Environment Committee has had representatives of the DEC in to discuss matters such as PCBs and they indicated that by the end of this year the clean-up should be completed at the Con Ed site.  He further stated that there is agreement by all that there is environmental value to the protection of this 4 acres.

 

 

FOR THE B&A COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-1 with Legislator Swanson voting in the negative and Legislators Kaplowitz, Stewart-Cousins, Young, LaMotte and Carsky signing “Without Prejudice”.

 

FOR THE CAH COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 3-1 with Legislator Oros voting in the negative and Legislators Bronz and Young signing “Without Prejudice”.

 

 

CAH ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Young, the meeting was adjourned at 11:08 a.m.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING

MINUTES – AUGUST 16, 1999

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A&C CALENDAR:

 

As part of the discussion of the A&C Calendar Mrs. LaMotte requested the Committee have Jim Hogan, Director of Recycling, in to discuss recycling markets, projected markets, etc.  The Committee agreed that this would be a beneficial discussion but felt it would be more appropriate to have the discussion in the Public Works Committee.

 

 

OTHER MATTERS:

 

·       Mrs. LaMotte informed the Committee that she read about cuts to the CDBG Home and other HUD Programs in the recent NACo newsletter and stressed her concern with regard to the impacts on Westchester.  She urged her colleagues to work with the Administration in urging Westchester’s Congressional representatives to increase funding for these programs.  Mrs. Stewart-Cousins stated that this issue was addressed in the joint federal package so therefore we are already working together on this matter.  Mrs. LaMotte requested the Budget Department cost out the impact of the cuts.  Mrs. Stewart-Cousins will follow-up on this matter. 

·       Mrs. Carsky inquired as to when the Committee will be receiving the 3 year projection report.  Mr. Wishnie stated that he would be pursing that today.  He stated that he would be receiving the financial report for 1998 today and hoped to also see the 3 year projections at the same time.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.