MINUTES
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Dianne Vanadia, Robert Kopenhaver; CBAC: George Hosey; C.E.’s Office: Ingrid Bent, Bill Randolph; DPW: Commissioner Landi, Ralph Butler, Larry Fasnacht, John Hsu, Sal Carrera; DEF: Commissioner Landi, Bob Matarazzo, Betty Ellis, LWV: Jo Bill; BOL: Legislator Bronz, Barbara Dodds, Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m.
DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information)
2000 PROPOSED BUDGET: DPW:
· Road Maintenance Program: 20 year and out program- after roads are fixed up then it will be time to turn them over to the municipalities. Currently, we no longer do the little extras, only do necessary maintenance. Budget savings will not occur until the later years. Believe the County Executive is on board with this but it would be helpful for the Board to write a letter of support.
· Allocated Share of Motor Vehicle Tax: County committed to allocating a portion to transit system and our road system. Comes in as a General Fund Revenue. According to Mrs. Carrano, Westchester’s auto use tax is very low compared to other counties.
· Auto Fleet Management: decrease in number of cars over the last two years. Commissioner Landi stated that there are days when there are not sufficient amounts of cars in the Motor Pool. Currently there are 56 assigned cars, 24 commissioner cars and the rest are in the Motor Pool Fleet.
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· Buildings & Space: down from 22 in 1998 to 18 currently. Mr. Carrera stated that he is looking at every lease that is coming up . His opinion is that it is more beneficial to own a building than to lease it. There is a possibility of selling the Mt. Kisco building and moving PRC out.
· Debt Service: Mrs. Carrano stated that they are working toward a more thorough debt service breakdown.
· Courthouse: Elevators currently under construction; panels going up on outside.
· Positions: there are currently 14 vacancies. Mrs. Carrano explained that so far the County has only funded ½ of the value of the CSEA and Teamsters contract settlements. Vacant lines are left to allow for departmental flexibility in making up savings. Cost of the contracts county-wide is $6 million so we still need to generate $3 million in savings to cover the costs of the contracts. Mrs. Carrano stated that the departments can meet the savings requirements by evaluating how they deliver services and if they can be delivered more efficiently and effectively.
· Mrs. LaMotte asked about the status of a control room (media room) being put in for taping the Board meetings to put in controls, cables and cameras. There is $140,000 for replacement of the sound system. The control room would be a capital project due to the magnitude of the project. Committee would like to see an estimate for a control room project.
· Overtime (1400): Requested $649,500 and allowed $574,500. This is a figure that is weather related and put in for items such as snow removal.
· Educational Training (4360): $30,000: Training program for employees to meet PESH and OSHA requirements.
· Utility Deregulation: Mr. Fasnacht stated that we have deregulated 20 years ago by buying NYPA power. The current contract expires in 2004 or 2005.
· Valhalla Campus: Square Footage Maintained buildings: increase of 20,000 sq. ft. is for Labs & Research.
· Car Policy: There are some cars that are for use within beeper range. Must pay for mileage if used for personal use. Mr. Wishnie stated that he will send a memo to the C.E. asking for the official car policy and request whatever is in writing.
· Purchase of Equipment: Additional (2400): getting out of leasing cars and buying them instead.
· Water (3180): requested $110,025; allowed $140,596. This increase is due to increased water rates.
· Mrs. LaMotte asked what can be done to encourage the state to make necessary repairs to improve the conditions of 684 as it has been deferred to 2006. Commissioner Landi suggested supporting legislation.
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2000 PROPOSED BUDGET: DEF:
· Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District: Mr. Wishnie stated that this is the only sewer district seeing an increase. He further stated that Legislator Oros had indicated that if more of the fund balance was utilized an increase would not be required for the taxpayers. He asked for this concern to be addressed. Mr. Wishnie asked what the policy is with regard to fund balance. Mrs. Carrano stated that when they look at sewer districts they look at the fund balance as well as debt service. They try to level out the tax levy over a period of time. Mr. Kaplowitz stated that the proposed 4.9% increase in the Peekskill Sewer District would allow the fund balance to stabilize at $1 million when just 2 years ago it was at $2 million. It would further allow is to cut the tax levy increase to the average homeowner almost in half of the previous year when in the previous year the tax levy was flat. The reason we can dot that is because in the year before, even though tax levy stayed the same, the amount of money we charged out was no greater, there were 4,200 less parcels in the district. No one else has come out of the district, in fact there have been some small additions to the district, that even with the 4.9% tax levy increase the average homeowner should see less of an increase than they saw the year before because the appraised value as remained constant.
· There was discussion as to how share district percentages are arrived at. Ms. Ellis explained the formula used which is based on the full value of real estate listed by the tax commission office.
· Debt Service Projections: only issued bonds are part of calculation
·
Ossining: There
was a capital program to reduce odors, emissions and bring the facility up to
standards. A lot of money was invested
in centrifuge and consultants were hired.
Now a decision at the County made to stop burning gas, what effect has
this decision had on the capital work that has already been done and has any
money been spent on work that we needn’t have done because now we’re not going
to burn? Has the project been
stopped? Commissioner Landi stated that
the County is very seriously looking into discontinuing incineration at the
Ossining Waste Water Treatment Facility.
The incinerators must be upgraded to meet the current standards with
regard to air emissions. The
Commissioner stated that he and his staff believe there are other opportunities
out there that may be less expensive (i.e. trucking either a liquid sludge or a
dewatered sludge). The Board of A&C
approved this week for DEF to advertise the trucking of watered (4%) sludge out
of Ossining, Peekskill and Port Chester.
This is first step of the “testing of the waters” to getting out of
incinerator. Once they see how the
prices come in they will evaluate the process.
Another thing on the table is a dewatered sludge approach. They plan
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· to take a step at a time. The Capital improvements made up until this point, according to Commissioner Landi, have not been wasted. If they decide to continue with the liquid sludge, they may have to add some additional facilities such as odor control. They are looking towards the future to see what is the best way to handle the sludge for Westchester County. As it stands now, Westchester is in violation of certain aspects of the current law. Commissioner Landi stated that trucking is a concern. There will be no additional trucking in the first phase. There are only 4 trucks coming in from Peekskill and it will remain the same.
· Legislator LaMotte informed the Committee that in NY Times there was an article about a big sludge facility in New Town Creek in Brooklyn. She asked if there is any possibility of barging it down to that area for processing since Ossining is right on the river. The Commissioner stated that it is part of their analysis but they won’t know the answer until the bids come in (due back Mid-December) on trucking.
· Energy Adjustment Resco (5015): 1999: $26 million; 2000: $27.5 million: The Commissioner explained that this is a fixed number based on a formula as part of the overall agreement based upon the cost of energy. We make the energy (from burning) and sell it to Con Ed. We pay Resco approximately 9 cents and get 3 cents back from Con Ed. Mr. Landi explained that there is a CPI attached to the 9 cents figure, which is part of the formula. Therefore we pay the 9 cents plus the CPI. Unless Con Ed pays us more for our energy the County will have to continue to pay that difference. Assumption of oil per gallon used was requested by the Committee.
· Mr. Abinanti asked if there was still an interest in refinancing Resco. Mrs. Carrano stated that the request for refinancing came from the company. She explained that the County actually refinanced the debt on this resulting in a tremendous reduction. Mr. Abinanti stated that he would like the Administration to look at the amount of money the Resco plant makes, it’s profit, in conjunction with the amount of money the County pays Resco, of which 50% is not for the handling of garbage but for this adjustment. He stated that the bottom line is $44 million, $27 of which is the energy adjustment. He recommended the Administration pursue the refinancing proposal that was sent to the County. He further stated that it should be put on the table that if they want to refinance that we would negotiate the formula on the basis on which we arrive at $27 million because that is where Resco is making its profit. He would like to see the Administration move on this as it a way of saving the taxpayers a significant amount of money.
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· There was a discussion of tons of refuse received at the Charles Point Facility. Commissioner Landi explained that $657,000 is the permanent tonnage for the facility right now. Anything above 500,000 tons we can sell on the open market. The facility tries to maintain the 657,000.Mr. Abinanti asked why we are not selling the full capacity and letting Resco sell the full capacity. Mr. Matarazzo explained that the County has 550,000 tons that they take to market and Resco has 107,000 tons that they take to market. The municipality has the highest priority for their drivers to be taken care of at Resco. The Board of Legislators set the fee at $53.78. When we sell we don’t pay an ash fee, when Resco sells to the market they pay an ash fee. The ash fee is based on a ratio of 25% ash to garbage. Mr. Matarazzo stated that when the numbers are worked out, the difference is pretty close and the $10 ash fee compensates for us not selling it. Instead of just letting it go to waste, it is better that they sell it. Mr. Abinanti stated that the Administration has never come in and discussed the issue of the market price with the Board. Mr. Wishnie asked what the Board can do to make sure that the flexibility is available at either the $53 rate or to be more competitive in pricing. Mr. Matarazzo stated that easiest thing would be for the Commissioner of the Department to have the flexibility to set the tip fee based on market conditions.
MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve the Minutes of September 13, 1999, November 8, 1999 and November 9, 1999 was carried by a vote of 7-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.