JOINT MEETING WITH COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES

July 24, 2000

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

B & A MEMBERS:            Wishnie, Carsky, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson, Young, Abinanti, Noto, Kaplowitz

 

EDUCATION MEMBERS:   Ryan, Swanson, Oros, Abinanti

 

PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS:  Ryan, Kaplowitz, Oros, Swanson, Wishnie

 

OTHERS:                  Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, CBAC: Barbara Strauss, George Hosey; Fran MacEuchron C.E’s Office: Bill Randolph, Liddon Norman BOL: Chris Chang, Robert Boland, Sally Schecter, Peter Neglia, Tara Bernard WCC: Louis J. Torrieri, Fred Boyer DOT: Commisioner Salley, Patty Chemka  Emergency Services:  Patrick Kelly  Youth Bureau:  Susan Lench  Interns: Maria Minino, Latisha Stevens

 

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.

 

Discussion: (There is a tape on file for more information)

 

Legislator Swanson wanted the minutes amended to reflect that she was also present as the Chair of the Committee on Education.

 

 

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Noto, the minutes of July 17, 2000 were approved by a 7-0 vote. (Legislators Abinanti and LaMotte were out for the vote)

 

 

AGENDA ITEMS:

 

 

The committee discussed a gift acceptance from Pepsico Inc. to used by the Parks Department  to sponsor the New York Philharmonic.  A motion to accept the gift was made by Legislator Kaplowitz and seconded by Legislator Carsky.

 

The next item up for discussion was a committee transfer request for the Department of Emergency Services.  Mrs. Carrano stated that this was a mid-year transfer for $126,000.  She went on to say that this is the first year of this department as a start up operation.  Mr. Campbell will serve as an advisor throughout the end of the year.  Once the new Commissioner of Emergency Services came on board and sat down with the Department of Public Works, they looked at all the vehicles transferred in and the mileages on those vehicles were all pretty high.  Savings in salaries will be transferred to get the fleet for EMS up to snuff so there is $100,000 request into Equipment Replacement and $20,000 into Technical Service s to continue the services of Mr. Campbell throughout the remainder of the year.  Mrs. Carrano also stated that this item would not go to A&C until it’s approved by the committee. 

 

Legislator Carsky asked what the vehicles are specifically; are they automobiles?

 

Mrs. Carrano responded by saying yes and notified the Committee that she had a list of the vehicles.  Mr. Wishnie asked Mrs. Carrano if she could provide the Committee with a copy of the vehicle list.  Mrs. Carrano stated that there are four vehicles for staff.  Mrs. Carrano also noted that she had in her possession an outline of what Mr. Campbell will be doing with the Commissioner for the balance of the year.  

 

Legislator Swanson asked in regards to the salary savings, whose salaries are we saving?

 

Mrs. Carrano responded by saying the salary savings come from the savings accruing from the delay in filling the positions that were in the budget on January 1,2000.  Patrick Kelly didn’t come on board until late May and the deputy positions are still vacant.  The department is actively recruiting at this time.

 

Legislator Swanson asked why the costs for the vehicles were not put into the budget?

 

Mrs. Carrano stated that they didn’t include the costs of the vehicles because they were all received at different times and would not have been included until all of the vehicles were received.

 

Mrs. Carrano noted that the County is in the process of getting out of the lease business and beginning to buy the vehicles instead.

 

 

Mr. Kelly noted that the savings would help to bring the vehicles up to par, but not making it an ongoing expense.

 

Legislator Swanson requested a detailed list of the vehicles and whom they have been assigned to.

 

Legislator Carsky requested the same detailed list of vehicles and whom they are assigned to for all the departments.

 

Chairman Wishnie noted that those request should include the policy of who gets vehicles and why.

 

On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the motion to approve the budget transfer was approved by a 7-0 vote.

 

Legislator Swanson called the Education Committee to order at 10:30 a.m.

 

Larry Salley was introduced to discuss the grant acceptance.  Mr. Salley noted that this item was very time sensitive. 

 

Legislator Kaplowitz asked about the status of alternate fuels and what type of mix will be used.

 

Mr. Salley stated that we’ll start seeing them being used in 2001 or 2002 and it’ll be a hybrid fuel diesel/electric

 

Ms. Chenka stated that they are monitoring the progress of the use of hybrid fuels used in NYC

 

Legislator Kaplowitz asked what the percentage of less pollution would be achieved?

 

Patty Chenka said that she would provide that information to Mr. Kaplowitz.

 

Mr. Kaplowitz asked if we have to retrofit any of our facilities to accommodate these new buses.

 

Patty Chenka said no.

 

Legislator Swanson asked if we had the State money in our hands?  Mrs. Swanson also asked of we don’t get the State match will we still go through with the project?

 

Commissioner Salley Said, no in regards to already having the State money in hand.  Commissioner Salley said, yes in regards to the question of will the department still go through with the project even if we don’t get the State match?

 

Commissioner Salley stated that the entire $2 Million is already in the budget.

 

Legislator Stewart Cousins asked about the replacement of the fare boxes and the status of the utilization of the Metro Card.

 

Commissioner Salley stated that they are replacing 61 of the fare boxes.

 

Legislator Kaplowitz asked how many shuttle vehicles the Department of Transportation would be replacing?  Commissioner Salley said nine.

 

 

On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Young the motion to approve the FTA Grant was approved by a 7-0 vote.

 

The next item discussed was the prisoner transfer IMA with the City of

New Rochelle for $6,000.

 

Legislator Kaplowitz asked if the agreement was similar to the one they had last year?

 

Mrs. Carrano stated that is the same except for the salary increases by the City of New Rochelle PBA.

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Carsky the motion to approve the Prisoner Transfer IMA was carried by a 7-0 vote.

 

 

Mr. Scheinkman discussed the lawsuit against the Power Authority.

 

In early January the Power Authority indicated that it was negotiating the sale of its nuclear generating facilities, one located Upstate and one located in Westchester County in Buchanan called Indian Point Three.  On January 6^th the proposed the transfer of all their rights to a company named Entergy.  A negative declaration accompanied that request.  The negative declaration came as they were soliciting comment from the County.  Subsequently the County Executive for Westchester County and Putnam County Executive wrote to PASNY to explain a number of concerns they had with these issues.  The response from PASNY was to issue a second negative declaration.  Efforts to organize a meeting with PASNY to discuss the concerns were unsuccessful.  Since the County was not getting any response from PASNY the County began to see what the County’s legal rights were.  The County ascertained that since PASNY declared a negative declaration before it even proceeded down the path, that the environmental process was thwart.  As a result the County Attorney’s Office filed papers to seek to raise that issue in court.

 

Since that time the County has arranged a meeting with PASNY, in which PASNY made some proposals that would go a long way in addressing the economic, safety, and environmental concerns.

 

The County Attorney is awaiting the proposal from PASNY detailing their plans to address these issues.

 

Mr. Scheinkman asked that the Committee authorize the matter however; he indicated that if there is progress in the deliberations he might ask that this authorization be held over.

 

Legislator Kaplowitz asked if the County Attorney’s Office would be able to handle the financial aspect of the lawsuit.  Mr. Scheinkman said, yes although something has been placed on A&C for the use of outside counsel.

 

Pasney has a long-term agreement to provide power to the County for 5 cents per mega watt and Pasney is buying that power from Entergy for 3 cents.  Pasney should not be in the business of making money so that was another concern that the County Attorney said he was going to look into.

 

Mr. Ryan called the Committee on Public Safety to order at 11:05 a.m.

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson for both the Committee on Public Safety and Budget Appropriation to approve the authority to bring suit against the Power Authority was carried by 7-0 votes for B&A and 5-0 votes for Public Safety.

 

The budget for WCC was the next item up for discussion.  Mr. Wishnie noted that there is a memorandum of additions that is required.

 

Mrs. Carrano stated the Committee does not have to take action on this particular item.

 

Chairman Wishnie noted that the $1,464,000 and the New Instructional Building $1,418,000 and the Deletion $770,00 are already included in the budget document and do not require the Committee to act.

 

Mrs. Carrano suggested that we change the language to say “to support the County Executive’s prerogative making the following additions and deletions to the WCC Capital Budget.”  Otherwise we would be doubling up.

 

Legislator Swanson closed the Education Committee at 11:15

 

Legislator Ryan recessed the Committee on Public Safety at 11:16 until 11:30 a.m.

 

Mrs. Susan Lench, Program Director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau, discussed the next issue regarding Children’s Village. 

 

The county has contracted with Children’s Village to operate the Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter Program.

 

Legislator Carsky asked how many kids were involved in the program?

 

Mrs. Susan Lench stated that it fluctuates but it roughly involved about 10 to 11 kids.

 

Chairman Wishnie asked how big the facility was?

 

Mrs. Lench stated that she would have to get back to the Committee with that information.

 

Chairman Wishnie noted that this item requires a public hearing and twelve votes.

 

Legislator Swanson noted that previously this issue was presented to them as being temporary and noted that Children’s Village does not pay taxes.

 

Legislator Swanson made a motion to postpone the discussion of this item until more information is received.

 

Mrs. Carrano handed out a schedule of the early retirement schedule and stated that if any of the Legislators had any questions to contact her.

 

 

A&C Agenda   Mr. Wishnie notified the members of the Committee to ask Bob Boland or Chris Chang if they had any question and or comments regarding the Acquisition and Contract Agenda.

 

There being no further items to discuss on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart Cousins, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.