ATTENDANCE:
B & A
MEMBERS: Wishnie, Carsky, LaMotte, Kaplowitz, LaMotte,
MosielloMosiello,
Stewart-Cousins, Stewart-Cousins,
Swanson, Young, Young
CAH
MEMBERS: Oros, Spreckman, Bronz, Young
OTHERS:
Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Leslie Bennett,
Arthur VietroLeslie Bennett,
Dianne KearneyVanadia;
PRC: Dave DeLucia; Law
Department: County Attorney Scheinkman; CBAC: George Hosey; C.E.’s
Office: Bill Randolph, Jay
Hashmall, Robin
Schlaff, Henry CampbellBill
RandolphSymra Brandon,
Michael Goodstein,
David Meyers; BKS: Les
Storch, Nick DeSantis; DEF:
Commissioner Landi; Planning:
Fran
McLaughlin, Joe Adelman; aePRC:
Commissioner DeSantis, Paul ReitanoDPW:
Commissioner Landi;; CBAC:
George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; LWV: Jo
Brill; BOL: Robert
Hoch, Barbara Dodds, Sally Schecter,
Chris Chang, RBarbara Dodds, Robert
Boland, Chris Chang, Tina
Seckerson
Chairman
Chairmean Wishnie and Oros called
the meeting to order at 10:10 10a.m.
DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information)
MINUTES:
AGENDA ITEMSMAINTENANCE OF
BRIARCLIFF-PEEKSKILL PARKWAY:
· Mr. DeLucia explained that the County has entered into IMA agreements with the Town of Cortlandt for the operation and maintenance if 2.5 acres of County parkland for municipal recreation purposes.
· Mr. DeLucia explained that this parcel of land was originally acquired for a parkway which was never built. The area is adjacent to Maple Avenue and has been used by the Town as the Maple Avenue playground.
· Term of the agreement is November 1, 1999 through October 31, 2004 with a 5 year option to renew at the sole discretion of the County.
· The Town of Cortlandt will pay an annual license fee of $200 and will maintain and supervise the licensed premises at their sole expense.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – OCTOBER 4, 1999
PAGE 2
PSCJ MEETING: Chairman Ryan called the meeting to order at 10:25 a.m.
PSCJ Members Present: Ryan, Wishnie, Carsky, Kaplowitz Mosiello, Swanson
CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES:
Recommended by the Task Force
This would allow for the restructuring of the delivery of fire and emergency
services in Westchester.
Merging
60 control with emergency medical coordinators, bring in HazMat Unit, as well as
ODES. This would allow for a global approach to emergencies.
SRS: $80,000
for training – can we get any 911 money for that? Jay: will look
into it.
· Deputy County Executive Jay Hashmall was in to discuss the proposed creation of the Department of Emergency Services, which would allow for the restructuring of the delivery of fire and emergency services in Westchester County.
· ***See Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee Minutes for October 4, 1999 for text.
PSCJ MEETING ADJOURNMENT:
There
being no further items for discussion, on motion of
Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, Public
Safety Committee meeting was adjourned at RGW,
MBK, 11:25
a.m.
MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION:
· Mr. DeSantis explained that the Multi-Year Projection is to be used as a financial tool.
·
The County has traditionally been able to produce a
budget surplus which results in an undesignated fund balance somewhere in the
amount of $15-20 million dollars annually. BKS disregards that when
preparing this report. Mr. DeSantis
explained that one of the
reasons they do that is because after just adopting
a budget, to declare at the point of preparing the multi-year plan that there’s
a $20 million surplus would create a lot of misunderstanding.
Mr. Storch stated that iIt'’s
too early in the year to predict,with any degree of certainty, what revenues
will exceed the expectations and what expenditures will
fall below the level anticipated in the budget.
· Mr. Storch reminded the Committee, that with any level of projection, the further you go out the more difficulty you have in being accurate.
·
COMMITTEE
ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – OCTOBER 4, 1999
PAGE 3
·
Mr. DeSantis explained that in
preparation of this document thethey
are anticipateding
a surplus of about $17 million. (The actual surplus came in at $26.79
million) They indicated that $18 million of that surplus was utilized for
the FY2000 projection and which results in
the lowering of the FY 2000 tax increase to .10%. The balance of $8.9
million was utilized for 2001 which .
· Mr. DeSantis stated that in May when the audit was finished the undesignated surplus as of 12/31/98 was higher than they anticipated when they began the multi-year projection.
· This does not take into account the hit the County just took from the state.
· The tobacco monies are in the projections. The tobacco money is in the FY 2000 and 2001 projections (as a general revenue). Mrs. Carsky suggested that there be a discussion with regard to the best options for dealing with the $17 million windfall. She will discuss the matter further with Chairman Latimer.
· Mrs. Carrano stated that every County has had to use the tobacco settlement money to back fill State aid cuts.
· Mr. Storch stated that it is important for the Board of Legislators to use this document as a comparison as to what will come forth in a month and a half when the budget comes out and to see how perhaps you might have to change a policy this year to affect future years.
· Mr. DeSantis stated that management initiatives have been quantified within the plan as approximately $4.2 million in the Year 2000 and approximately $8.6 million in 2001.
· Mr. Boland pointed out that at this point if we didn’t do anything there would be another 5% or more increase in tax levy for 2000 and 2001.
·
A&C CALENDAR:
The Committee reviewed the October 7, 1999 A&C Calendar. Back-up info to questions will be provided by Mr. Boland when received.
ADJOURNMENT:
There
being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins,
seconded by Legislator Swanson, the meeting
was adjourned at 12:08 p.m.7.*COUNTY
EXECUTIVE: Early Retirement (County): Proposed Local Law in
relation to electing a retirement incentive program for eligible County of
Westchester employees (except Westchester Community College employees) pursuant
to the provisions of Chapter Seventy of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred and
Ninety-Nine. (7/12/99)
8.* COUNTY
EXECUTIVE: Early Retirement (WCC): Proposed Local Law approving a
Resolution by the Westchester Community College Board of Trustees, dated June
30, 1999, electing to provide the benefits of a retirement incentive program
pursuant to the provisions of Chapter Seventy of the Laws of Nineteen Hundred
and Ninety-Nine. (7/12/99)
net net . $150,
000 is contractsalary
with CSEA and WCCFT Salaries
at the College have not been increased in 10 years.Under
Ethnic Studies (4480)reduction $140,000 because those
people were moved up into net annual regular salaries. WCC has
not increased its share of salaries in 10 years. As a result positions
have had to be left open for a longer period of time resulting in
less service from those jobs just to pay for the salary increase. Dr. Hankin
explained that they have also had to rely on early retirement savings.
For the 1998-1999 period, early retirement cost was $313,000 but they saved
over $564,000 over the 2
years.speciapositionslists
Even in the height of the College’s growth they did not add any new faculty
members and are beginning to hurt in this area. full-time eachper
He further stated that WCC has one of the highest ratios of part-time faculty
to full-time faculty in the State of New York and people (i.e. State
Education Department, Regional Accrediting bodies, SUNY, etc.) are beginning to
look at it and question it.Increase in
employee health insurance is because there
are a number of new positions as well as increasing
rates.
There are 8 new jobs that were not in there next year. Mr. Phillips
stated that if the College had its own health insurance it would save a lot of
money.
COMMITTEE ON
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – JULY
21, 1999
PAGE 3
Dr. Hankin
stated that the partly
because it was an inflated number in 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 Due to the Peekskill satellite and becausethey had
in such a large number for increase in tax levy and they decided to make up
savings here.
– made savings here
Capital financing – 125 tax levy & 125
financingCapital
financing – The Budget department recommended they put another $250,000
in. WCC balked at that so as a compromise they added $125,000 in tax levy
& $125,000 into the financing account itself.
Workers Compensation Insurance: Dr. Hankin
stated that they are now chargedon the basis of own experience. They went out and
got three independent bids showing that they could do it for less, so the
County
dropped their
rates.
Data Processing – will need cty services for
another year
Workers
Compensation Insurance is down Dr. Hankin explained due to an agreement reached
last year that the county would stop charging them on the basis of pro-rated
salary and instead charge them on the basis of their own experience. They
went out and got three independent bids showing that they could do it for less,
so the County dropped their rates.
Data Processing
– will need county services for another year
Although the State
budget has yet to be adopted Dr. Hankin said he received a call from Albany that they State
will be giving them $75.00 more per FTE student in aid. He further stated
that reductionthe
College is very cautious and therefore the budget does –
does If
the funding is received it would amount to $690,000. They would
have to make another adjustment because as the State aid increases the charge
back rate decreases due to the
formula and so they would have to subtract $100,000. The net savings
would be $575,000 by which number they could lower the fund balance they are
using.
Dr. Hankin reminded the Committee that State aid lags one year. The
College had a reduction in FTE’s
last year which is now being reversed. That reduction as well projects
like the Peekskill expansion project reduces State aid because they have to use
more of the State aid in the island account.
Student Tuition: at 2350 max state will allow
is 2500. Student
Tuition: Student tuition has risen 74% over the last several years.
Tuition at the College is currently at $2350. The maximum the State will
allow is $2500. Dr. Hankin stated that he does not believe that tuition
should be increased without getting State and/or County aid. The Board of
Trustees is holding the line on tuition increases until it sees the willingness
of the County to participate.
Dr. Hankin
explained that they are asking for a large fund balance to balance this budget
because without additional tax levy increases there are no other sources.
COMMITTEE ON
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – JULY
21, 1999
PAGE 4
Bdo ftrustees holding line on tuition increases
County share - Tax levy 1.63% increase County
share - Tax levy 1.63% increase in the College’s budget. If you look at
it as a total of the County tax levy it is .0006% of increase.
Mr. Kaplowitz
inquired as to the cC.
According to Mr. Boyar, the fund balance is :
$. As of
August 1998, the College’s last fiscal year end, it is $3.7 million.The
expectation for August of 1999 isanticipate.
Dr. Hankin
stated that student enrollment is on the increase.
for this year
Mr. Boyar stated
that as they were getting closer to printing the budget it was identified that
they would have to make a oorinterest
only on the library project of
approximately .
for interest only on library project bonding.Working
with the Budget Department
they reached a compromise to increase tax levy by Compromise
– tax levy went up $.
at the College
Mrs.
Stewart-Cousins inquired if the budget reflects the possibility of an extension
somewhere in the southern tier of the county. Dr. Hankin stated that it
is not because that is done through the island accounts and hopefully would be
self-sustaining. Dr. Hankin that they are talking about making a branch
campus rather than an extension campus.
Mrs.
Stewart-Cousins inquired as to the decrease in Ethnic Studies.
Dr. Hankin stated that it is due to the
multi-cultural program project that was moved up into net annual regular salaries. Mr. Boyar
further
explained
that 2 positions which were previously
in Ethnic Studies were moved into net annual regular
salary
account but there was no decrease in the program itself.
Mrs. Carsky
asked what the percentage increase in employee health insurance
after 8 new employees. Mr. Boyar stated that they estimate 10-12%. Dr.
Hankin stated that school districts that have the same
basic coverage as the College pay a lot less per employee. He said given the
opportunity they would go out on their
own they may be able to do better than they are now. Mrs.
Swanson stated that if the College goes out on its own for insurance they would
have to look at the impact on the rest of the County.
Mr. Kaplowitz
congratulated the College on saving $1.5 million in expenses (actual projected
1998 vs. projected 1998) and asked how it was accomplished. Mr. Boyar
stated that a lot of it was due to salary savings because of early retirement. Dr.
Hankin stated that positions are being kept vacant longer and longer.
COMMITTEE ON
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – JULY
21, 1999
PAGE 5
Mr. Boland asked
when the Committee can expect to receive the list of reserves and accounts
payable that was previously requested. Mr. Boyar stated that they are
working on it. Mr. Boland asked for a more definitive time frame. Mr. Boyar
stated that they will provide it as soon as they can.
ASC – satellite
% increase in employee health insurance costs – 10-12%
plan on doubling size of Peekskill office.
Start-up costs
The Committee
will discuss the WCC Budget further at next
week’s
meeting.
TEAMSTERS AGREEMENT:
4.* COUNTY
EXECUTIVE: Teamsters Agreement: Forwarding an Act to approve the
agreement between the County of Westchester and Local 456, International
Brotherhood of Teamsters. (7/12/99)
Due toconcerns of Legislator
Abinanti it was decided by the Administration that the scheduled pWESTCHESTER
COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUDGET:
was carried by a vote of
8-06-0.
AGENDA ITEMS:
16.* Hudson River Waterfront
Acquisition: Proposed legislation authorizing the County to acquire
Hudson River Waterfront Property known as the Habirshaw Club Property.
(6/21/99) (Also referred to CAH)
The property is located at 35 Alexander Street in
Yonkers and was the site of the Habirshaw Club and consists of approximately
1.97 acres of land (1.23 acres above water, .74 acres under water) with a
one-story structure.
The site has approximately 124 linear feet of
water.
The property is contiguous to the County’s former
Naval Militia site, which is the
northern boundary of the proposed County esplanade park component of the
Yonkers Waterfront Revitalization Project.
The property, once improved as a park, would form a
natural terminus to the County esplanade park.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING
MINUTES – JUNE 28, 1999
PAGE 2
Mr. Pietropaolo assured the Committees that there
would be expansion of the Yonkers Pump Station.
Mr. Oros asked if the Yonkers City Council passed a
resolution in support of the acquisition of this property. Ms. Brandon
stated that they did recently pass a resolution and are in support
of this acquisition.
Mr. Oros inquired as to whether an appraisal had
been done. Mr. Pietropaolo stated that Scenic Hudson had an appraisal done. The
Committees would like to see the appraisal.
Scenic Hudson has an option to purchase the
property for $850,000 which must be exercised no later than July 13, 1999.
Scenic Hudson will contribute approximately
$682,716 toward the purchase price of a conservation easement on the property
and the County will pay the remaining approximate amount of $167,284, which is expected to be reimbursed
to a State account.
The property will be conveyed to the County, via an
assignment agreement with Scenic Hudson, subject to the conservation easement running to Scenic
Hudson that would restrict development on the property, require its use as a public
park and provide for indemnification of Scenic Hudson by the County for
personal injury, death, accidents, negligence or damage relating to the property.
Bond Counsel is Hawkins, Delafield & Wood
Mr. Oros expressed his concernas to bonding the $950,000 (taken from the
general purpose – acquisition account) rather than using cash. The Committees would like a detailed explanation on
this matter from the Administration.
Breakdown of the $950,000 is: $682,000 for
Scenic Hudson; $167,000 anticipated State grant; $100,000 combined County &
Scenic Hudson closing costs.
Under the terms of this agreement, the County will
put approximately $682,716 from bond proceedsinto an escrow account as
security to ensure the timely completion of park improvements. If the
park is not constructed according to the material terms set forth in the
development agreement,
Scenic Hudson will either a) draw down on the funds in order to finish the
work, with any remaining money to be retained by the County, or b) take the
full $682,716 as consideration for its investment.
Mrs. Carsky asked if there would be any need in the
future to expand the Yonkers Pump Station. Mr. Robertson stated that dechlorination facilities are a
concern for all of the County’s sewage plants but there .
Mrs. Stewart-Cousins assured the Committee that the
City of Yonkers’ plan is for recreational purposes only and would remain open
to all.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & HOUSING
MINUTES – JUNE 28, 1999
PAGE 3
The County Planning Board has approved this
project.
FOR B&A COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins,
seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by
a vote of 9-0 with Legislators Swanson, Young, LaMotte, Carsky and Mosiello
signing “Without
Prejudice”.
<