MINUTES
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Dianne Vanadia; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; IT: Norm Jacknis, Stu Wadler, Kay Foster, Alan Elliott; Planning: Fran McLaughlin; PRC: Dave DeLucia; Finance: Commissioner Pucillo; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph; Law Dept.: Alan Scheinkman; BOL: Legislator Bronz, Barbara Dodds, Sally Schecter, Chris Chang, 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 Swanson, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to approve the Minutes of August 30, 1999 was carried by a vote of 8-0.
BOND ACT: WORKFORCE AUTOMATION:
· Request for bonding legislation for $1,900,000 required to finance the cost of ongoing efforts to provide computer access to County workers.
· Included will be the purchase and/or customization of the following information systems: videoconferencing, PRC-Point of Sale, Geographic Information System, Health Dept.-Management Information System, Local Government Financial System/Human Resource System, Voice Response System and Jail Management System.
· Necessary for Y2K compliance as well as end of Comdisco lease which will require packing up the current mainframe.
· Videoconferencing: Up until this point the County’s involvement in videoconferencing has been limited. This would allow for videoconferencing capabilities amongst County departments. The cost of the equipment has gone down considerably. Working toward putting some low end videoconferencing
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· equipment and putting it into libraries. They have worked out an agreement with the libraries. The cost for videoconferencing will be $350,000. There is a 2000 Capital Request (BIT02) to start a formal project which includes the wide spread use of videoconferencing. However, this request for 1999 does not impact the 2000 request.
· Voice Response: Total request: $250,000. Helps to reduce workload on switchboard operations and will save money.
On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0.
BOND ACT: PLAYLAND:
· Extensive review done by DPW and it was found that the existing system in worse shape than originally anticipated therefore adding to the cost.
· Previous bonding in the amount of $200,000 was adopted under Act 28-1997 for this project. The scope at that time was for the replacement of the fire lines for the Derby Racer, the Carousel and the Dragon Coaster. The project has since been expanded to include two more rides, the Whip and the Old Mill.
· Upon review, after expansion of the project, the cost of repair is estimated at $650,000, not $200,000.
· Safety protections of the rides are checked on daily basis.
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0.
JOINT MEETING WITH HMC:
HMC Members Present: Abinanti, Swanson, Stewart-Cousins, LaMotte
Chairman Abinanti called the HMC meeting to order at 10:32 a.m.
This legislation consists of a Guarantee Act, Capital Budget Amendment, Bond Act and Agreement Act.
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· The Guarantee: WCHCC has requested the County to guarantee WCHCC’s bonds in connection with the purchase of the parking garage and various other non-parking related capital projects of the WCHCC with a total amount not to exceed $24,750,000.
· Breakdown of the $24,750,000 is as follows: $10 million to finance a portion of WCHCC’s purchase of the parking garage and approximately $14,750,000 for WCHCC’s non-parking related capital projects. The $14,750,000 is broken down as follows: $13,250,000 for WCHCC non-parking related capital projects and $1,500,000 to cover the financing costs related to these non-parking capital projects.
· WCHCC will be issuing approximately $33,477,000 in bonds. The Board of Legislators is only being requested to authorize the County’s guarantee for up to $24,750,000 of those bonds. WCHCC is therefore issuing $8.7 million in bonds without the County’s guarantee.
· WCHCC has requested that the County’s right to be reimbursed from WCHCC revenues be subordinate to the senior liens granted to WCHCC bondholders with respect to such bonds.
· The Transition Agreement provides that the reasonable and necessary costs of the County incurred in guaranteeing the debt of WCHCC including legal, financial or accounting services shall be reimbursed to the County by WCHCC.
· Capital Budget Amendment and Bond Act: The County desires to fund various parking lot improvements at the Grasslands Reservation.
· By issuing $2.3 million in general obligation bonds, the County is enabling WCHCC to free up funds to apply directly towards reducing the parking rates. In order to accomplish this goal the Board of Legislators will have to authorize a Capital Budget Amendment and two Bond Acts. The purpose of the Capital Budget Amendment is to appropriate $2.3 million in additional funds in the County’s Capital Budget for BPF03 Parking Lots and Control Devices, an already existing project, which addresses parking needs at the Grasslands Reservation.
· The sum of the two bond acts is $2.3 million. $230,000 is for study/design and $2,070,000is for the construction phase and will be submitted after study/design is completed.
· The Agreement: If the contract permitting WCHCC to administer the parking lot improvements project is approved, WCHCC will provide project management services to the County in connection with certain parking lot improvements at the Grasslands Reservation.
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· WCHCC shall receive an amount not to exceed $230,000 to finance the cost of the preparation of surveys, preliminary and detailed plans, specifications and estimates necessary for planning various parking improvements at the Westchester County Medical Center.
· The County’s guarantee and issue of general obligation bonds will enable WCHCC to achieve its goal of financial independence and also enable them to maintain reasonable parking rates into the future.
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislator Mosiello signing “Without Prejudice”.
FOR THE HMC COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0.
A&C CALENDAR:
The September 16th A&C Calendar was distributed with instructions that all questioned be directed to Mr. Boland
ADJOURNMENT:
FOR THE HMC COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.