MINUTES
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEMBERS: Carsky, Bronz
ENVIRONMENT MEMBERS: Kaplowitz, LaMotte
OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Teri Waivada; National Development Council: David Trevisani; Budget: Kate Carrano, Diane Nolan; WCC: Marge Glusker; Port Chester Village Manager: Michael Murphy; DA’s Office: Robert Maccarone, Pat D’Imperio; Planning: Larry Salley, Bill Brady, Norma Drummond; Intern: Hope Corbin; Law Department: Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz, Jim Robertson; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; DOT: Larry Salley; BOL:, Barbara Dodds, Sally Schecter, Robert Boland, Chris Chang, Tina Seckerson
BUDGET COMMITTEE:
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
HOUSING COMMITTEE:
Chair Bronz called the Housing Committee meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
DISCUSSION:
A6: Mount Vernon Property Purchase: Proposed legislation authorizing the
County to purchase and, subsequently, convey approximately 5,000 square feet of vacant real property, located at 142-144 North Eighth Avenue in the City of Mount Vernon for the purpose of providing the property for development of eleven affordable condominium units. (12/11/00) (Also referred to Housing)
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· The property is currently owned by Equine Properties Corp. which will sell the property to the County for $125,000 for the purpose of development of eleven affordable condominium units.
· Legislation includes a bond act in the amount of $125,000 to finance the purchase.
Project being taken in accordance with the County’s New H
· It was asked why the $125,000 is being bonded rather than cashed up. Mrs. Carrano stated that they are trying to get the cash to capital number up. This project was not in the cash plan. We will probably end up paying it over a 5-7 year period.
· There is approximately $100,000 in back taxes that need to be cleared up.
· There was concern expressed by Committee members that that all of these projects are going into the cities. Mr. Salley stated that they have ongoing conversations with other municipalities in all parts of the county with regard to this.
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators LaMotte, Carsky and Swanson signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislators Abinanti and Noto out for the vote.
FOR THE HOUSING COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 2-0.
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A5: Mount Vernon IMA: Proposed legislation authorizing the County to
rescind Act 200-2000 in order to increase the term of an IMA with the City of Mount Vernon to assign a Mount Vernon Police Officer to the Westchester County Counter-Intelligence Center from one year to two years and increase the contract amount from $30,000 to $60,000. (12/11/))
· It was asked why one police officer was being assigned for two years rather than two officers for one year. The reply was that there is no need for two officers at this time.
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Noto out for vote.
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
Chair Carsky called the Community Affairs Committee meeting to order at 10:23 a.m.
A14: Westchester Urban Consortium: Proposed Act amending the FY 2000
–2004 Consolidated Plan of the of the Westchester Urban County Consortium to include (1) Section 108 Loan Guarantee project in the Village of Port Chester. (11/13/00) (Also referred to CA)
· The 108 loan program allows municipalities that receive CDBG funds to leverage up to 5 times their annual allocation.
· Concern was expressed by Committee members that if there was a default on the loan the rest of the CDBG funding ($6.6 million) would be jeopardized. The response was that if there was a default in this case only Port Chester’s share of funding would be impacted.
· Guided by very strict underwriting guidelines.
· Committee requested a copy of the HUD regulations for the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program
· It was suggested by committee members that the chain of collateral be referenced in the committee report and act. Mr. Robertson suggested just changing committee report not section of the act as an exclusionary matter precaution.
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· It was pointed out that Yonkers has had success with the loan program.
· Port Chester project is different in that it is a public facility not an economic development project like Peekskill and Ossining
· Interest rates with 108 will be lower than with any other mechanism
· Ms. Waivada stated that Port Chester is willing to enter into any collateral agreement that the county requires.
· It is up to the county’s discretion to establish a fee structure.
· Committee members expressed concern that the county is protected in case of default. The Committee was reminded that there is no taxpayer money involved here, it is CDBG money.
· Application has to be approved by HUD before contract can be written
A16: Westchester Urban Consortium: Proposed Act amending the FY 2000
–2004 Consolidated Plan of the of the Westchester Urban County Consortium to include two (2) Section 108 Loan Guarantee Projects in the City of Peekskill and the Village of Ossining. (11/13/00) (Also referred to CA)
· Most communities use an economic development agency as an administrator for projects such as these.
· Committee members questioned the designation of the Westchester County IDA as the administering agency and discussed the possibility of curtailing its power with regard to deciding which projects to fund. It was suggested that perhaps the Board of A&C should be approving the project funding. Mrs. Waivada stated that the IDA wants to have the loan power otherwise it doesn’t make sense for them to be involved. She cited the IDA’s experience and fact that they can act on items more quickly.
· Peekskill Project:
· Waterfront project from north of the train station
· For purposes of acquiring property to develop it into a Lincoln Museum
· Ossining:
· High end manufacturing operation
· The terms of the loan do not require the County to guarantee the loans by pledging its full faith and credit. The required security will be limited to the projects and future federal grant monies.
Committees will discuss these two items further.
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ADJOURNMENT – COMMUNITY AFFAIRS:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT – HOUSING:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:
Chairman Kaplowitz called the Environment Committee meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
A21. Airport Sublease: Proposed Local Law to approve a sublease by
Interlaken Capitol of portions of an Airport hangar to Novus Credit
Services Inc.
· Chairman Wishnie reminded the Committees that a public hearing will be held on this matter on January 8th at 7:30 p.m.
· The Board of Legislators authorized the current lease on April 19, 1995, which provides for parking, storage, servicing, repair and maintenance of aircraft owned or operated by Interlaken and its subsidiaries, affiliates, sublessees and certain other nonaffiliated entities.
· Under the lease Interlaken may not sublease the premises without written consent of the County.
· Interlaken has requested permission to sublease a portion of the premises to Novus. Novus presently utilizes a different hangar at the Airport, but their current location will no longer be available to them after December 31, 2000.
· In consideration of the County’s consent, Interlaken has agreed, pursuant to the County’s Good Neighbor Policy to include in the sublease a provision whereby Novus agrees to abide by the County’s voluntary restraint from flying (VRFF). The VRFF provision requires Novus to pay the County a non-compliance penalty of $1,000 for each breach and gives rise to a County right of termination upon the occurrence of 7 breaches.
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FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1, with Legislator Swanson being recorded in the negative and Legislators Noto and Young out for the vote.
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 2-0.
A2. Panorama Flight Service Lease: Proposed Local Law authorizing the
County to amend a lease agreement with Panorama Flight Service. (11/27/00)
· This Local Law would amend a lease agreement with Panorama Flight Service, Inc. for the construction and operation of a light general aviation facility at Westchester County Airport to add a provision wherein except in an emergency situation, Panorama agrees to not provide fuel or service to any aircraft at its site during the hours of the VRFF program, except that the office will open at 6:00 a.m. for the purpose of providing services for aircraft departing after 6:30 a.m.
· The County assured Panorama that the County will negotiate with the other fixed based operators at the Airport for the inclusion of a clause requiring compliance with the VRFF.
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1, with Legislator Swanson being recorded in the negative and Legislators Noto and Young out for the vote.
ADJOURNMENT – ENVIRONMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator LaMotte, Seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting of the Environment Committee was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
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A18. WCC IMA: Proposed Act authorizing an IMA with the Board of Education
for the City of Yonkers for the use of Yonkers Public Schools facilities by Westchester Community College for evening courses.
· The term of the IMA would run for one year commencing January 22, 2001 and terminate on January 21, 2002 with the County’s option to renew for 4 additional one year periods.
On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Noto and Young out for the vote.
A19. Budget Transfer: Forwarding a proposed Budget Transfer Resolution.
(12/11/00)
· This transfer, in the amount $500,000, is required to fund a contract with an outside vendor, on State contract, to scan approximately 30,000 boxes of DSS files.
· The vendor will scan the hard copy customer records, store the data electronically for DSS use and store the original source documents.
· This project has the full concurrence of the Department of Information Technology.
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Noto and Young out for the vote.
MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this Minutes of November 17, 27, and 29, 2000 and December 1, 4, 5, 8, and 11, 2000 was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Noto and Young out for the vote.
RECEIVE & FILE:
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to Receive and File items A3, A4 & A20 (Gifts) was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Noto and Young out for the vote.
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ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.