MINUTES
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEMBERS: Carsky, Bronz
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Arthur Vietro, Diane Nolan; CBAC: Barbara Strauss; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph; DPW: Commissioner Landi; CSEA: Jane Fiore; Corrections: Rocco Pozzi, Joseph Miranda Tony Czarnecki, Brian Fitzpatrick; Office for the Disabled: Richard Manley; DOT: Larry Salley, Kathy Napolitano; economic Development: Terry Waivada; National Development Center: D. Marsh; Probation: Rocco Pozzi, Jacolyn Levin, Dennis Capalbo; My Sister’s Place/WWA: Thea DuBow; Public Safety: Louis D’Aliso, Donna Ritucci, Martin McGllynn; BOL: Sally Schecter, Rafael Vega, Tara Bernard, Robert Boland, Chris Chang, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m.
DISCUSSION:
BOND ACTS:
C1: BCC01: County Clerk: Electronic Exchange of Data:
· For $325,000 required to finance the conversion of County Clerk Legal Division data from the current Mapper database to a new relational database structure.
· Will also fund a new system to allow the purchase and assignment of index numbers via the internet and electronic filing of certain legal documents through a Web interface. The system to obtain index numbers via the internet is also a required function for the NYS pilot project of electronic filing of certioraris.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
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C9: T009D: ParaTransit Vehicles:
· Adding 6 new vehicles and replacing 12
· Plan to bump up replacement cycle from 3 to 4 years
· Ridership is growing
· Drivers for extra 6 vehicles is in the operating budget
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
C2: RB01A: Playland Parkway over Blind Brook, Rye
· Bonding legislation in the amount of $1,300,000 to finance the partial reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Playland Parkway Bridge over the Blind Brook.
· The project consists of replacement of the bridge superstructure.
· Abutments will be saved and repaired/repointed as necessary.
· In order to work in the streambed and to protect the bridge from future scouring action, silt removal and erosion control will also be components of the project.
· Is the firm that did the design going to build it? Mrs. Carrano will find out
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
Chair Carsky called the Community Affairs Committee meeting to order at 9:24 a.m.
A14: Westchester Urban Consortium: Proposed Act amending the FY 2000-
2000 Consolidated plan of the Westchester Urban Consortium to include (1) Section 108 Loan Guarantee project in the Village of Port Chester. (11/13/00) (Also referred to CA)
A16: Westchester Urban Consortium: Proposed Act amending the FY 2000-
2004 Consolidated plan of the Westchester Urban Consortium to include (2) Section 108 Loan Guarantee Projects in the City of Peekskill and the Village of Ossining. (11/13/00) (Also referred to CA
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· 108 loan guarantee program allows a community up to 5 times their annual grant
· first time we are doing this.
· HUD has made changes in the program to make it more user friendly
· Object is to underwrite a package.
· Village of PC is making a commitment to the County that they will pay back principal and interest. It is a pledge of revenue from mortgage recording taxes, utility taxes and other taxes the village collects.
· Village has title to property. If they default the county would have the right to the title.
· 5 times the amount would be $30 million. It was asked if there a process within the CDBG process to determine what projects will be done and where. All the communities have been made aware and three communities submitted applications (Port Chester, Peekskill, Ossining)
· Committee members expressed concern as to whether this is this a sound fiscal way to go
· Responsible for interest payments as due. 20 year term If the program ceased the federal government would have to make good on those obligations. HUD could not terminate the program
· County Attorney to opine on chain of default and who is responsible
· Asking village to provide existing revenue sources as a pledge for repayment
· Committee members expressed concern that the act covers the county and expressed interest in seeing the contract. They just want to make sure we do everything we have to do fiduciarily
· Requested copy of appraisal
· Committee requested a draft copy of the agreement
· HUD has the ultimate say in what is approved.
· Committee requested the CBAC and BKS review the Section 108 Loan Program.
Committees did not act on these items at this time.
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion by the Community Affairs Committee, on motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
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2001 PROPOSED BUDGET: DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY:
· Civil Division: Police Officer Grade IX: losing two positions: transferred to different expenses account (TLC). For 2 uniformed officers that have already been assigned to TLC
· Uniform Bureau: Communications Operators: had 8, requested 12, allowed 10. Long range plan is to civilianize the communications staff. $35,000 vs. $68,000. May want to look at expediting this process to save money. Communications Operators are CSEA. Expect to receive funding for a grant
· Advance to Grants (4912): our portion of the grants that the county has to put up as matching funds. If grant money is less then our contribution has to be increased to keep officers
· Job Injury (207C) (5020): Large increase- at the moment 12 people are out injured. Hope a good number will be resolved by retirement. A number of accidents on the highways put out a total of 3-4 officers. Investigating accidents is dangerous and where most of these injuries occur. Procedures are being followed. Budget Dept meets with Pub Safety on a regular basis. Made sense to institutionalize lines down below the lines on 207C where they could fill them with people who could work. Proposal is for an additional 4 next year
· State & Federal Aid: have been decreasing – grants tend to stay the same
· Grant pays for 23 officers to patrol the parkways – started out at 26. The tax levy is supporting 4 of the 26 positions. We have the same manpower out there now as we did 10 years ago
· Revenue: Dept Income: transfer of interdepartmental money to departmental money. (from Airport)
· Covering over gas pumps: project is in design stage
· Educational training line increase (4360) due to increased costs associated with training new recruits and existing officers
2001 PROPOSED BUDGET: CORRECTION:
· No new positions in 2001
· Anticipate approximately 14 correction officer lines to be created during 2001 as officers return from job injury
· Vacancies as of 11/00: 35 correction officers; 33 correction officers to be hired 12/11/00. Intent was to fill all 35 but 2 did not fill requirements
· 74 currently on 207C, was up to 120 at some point
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· Commissioner Pozzi recommended to CE not to renew contract for health care. Not happy with level of health care inmates have had. Will recommend recontracting with the medical center. Have been negotiating with Ed Stolzenberg. Difference in cost is approximately $2 million more (Line 4380-contractual services) . Employees at Medical Center are union employees, employees of private companies were not. Salary scales were lower and they had a high turnover rate.
· Job Injury 207C: Estimate 64 positions at January 1, 2001 and expect it to decrease to 50 positions by year end 2001.
· Educational Training (4360): just finished sensitivity training for all management staff. Looking at same kind of training for correction officers.
· Drug Treatment Program: had to be cut down in size. Figure reflects potential for 100 people
· Training: looking at possibility in 2001 to see what we can do over and above
· Revenues: Inmate pay phone/collect calls: previously was in IT
· State ready Prisoners: $34 per day
· Women’s Units: Book & Periodicals: (3070): decrease; certain materials are delivered through the law libraries. Number may be adjusted due to a decrease in population. Access to West. Library System: will look into it
· Telephone (4160): increase due to new telephones they are using
2001 PROPOSED BUDGET: PROBATION:
· Increase in probation officers due to day reporting center. Hope to have it operational in December.
· Day Reporting Center (4133): supplies, contractual services; will provide breakdown
A&C Item: Emergency Resolution for Contract No. 00-585: emergency Stabilization of Damaged Bulkhead – Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant
· In October 31 a tug boat with a barge traveling on the Hudson River, the barge hit the YJTP and damaged the bulkhead. Fortunately the barge was empty. Sent engineers down to establish the amount of damage. Decided to protect ourselves by stabilizing what is going on out there. Will require additional work. This is just the first phase. This is internal electrical work.
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· Anticipate this to be a $1 million project and anticipate reimbursement from insurance company. Spoke to risk management – we have coverage for this. Good chance of getting 100% recovery. What were conditions? Coast guard took over – trying to ascertain a copy of the report – has been turned over to the law department.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:08 a.m.