MINUTES
COMMUNITY AFFIRS MEMBERS: Carsky, Bronz
OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Teri Waivada Vasyl Yablonski; Budget: Leslie Bennett; Law Department: Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz, Jim Robertson, Daniela Infield, Don McLeod; CBAC: Barbara Strauss; BOL: Sally Schecter, Robert Boland, Chris Chang, Tina Seckerson, Barbara Dodds, Tara Bernard
BUDGET COMMITTEE:
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 10:40 a.m.
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
(No quorum present at the beginning of the meeting.) Chair Carsky called the Community Affairs Committee meeting to order at 11:12 a.m.
DISCUSSION:
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)
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)
· The Committees have discussed these two items in previous meetings. (11/27/00 & 1/4/00)
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· There was discussion as to the 20 year term of the loan and the fact that it assumes that Congress will continue to vote for CDBG funds for 20 years. Ms. Drummond explained that Congress approves the dollars that go into the HUD funds. The County has a letter of credit with HUD that it draws down for projects. Ms. Waivada explained that the County is the borrower of last resort. She further stated that if they do away with HUD funding, Congress will be liable for the outstanding debt in their name.
· This legislation (A16) would also authorize the acceptance of an Economic Development Initiative Grant (EDI Grant) from the U.S Department of Housing & Urban Development in the amount of $1 million to be applied to the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Projects in Peekskill and Ossining ($500,000 each).
· The Peekskill portion of the EDI Grant will be used to assist the City of Peekskill to acquire the building referred to as the Lincoln Train Station. The EDI will be repaid to the County out of Private capital raised to restore the station. Upon repayment, the County will make the revolving EDI funds available for additional Hudson Heritage projects involving Section 108 Loan Guarantee Funds.
· The Ossining portion of the EDI Grant will be used to write down the cost of borrowing Section 108 Loan Guarantee Funds on the waterfront redevelopment project sponsored by Capelli Enterprises to construct parking, create river access, build parks, stabilize the seawall, and construct access from the new ferry dock to the existing Metro-North Station.
· The Westchester County IDA would be the designated agency negotiating the terms and conditions of the Section 108 loans, lend same to the municipalities and/or private persons, and carry out the projects in accordance with HUD regulations and the terms and conditions in the applications and subsequent loan guarantee authorizations. There was discussion as to why the IDA should be named the designated agency and suggested that perhaps they should be designated to administer the program only. There was concern as to the fact that once this legislation is approved and the IDA named the designated agency, the Board of Legislators would no longer have any control over which projects would be funded. Committee requested Administration investigate a way in which EDI funding would have to come back to the Board for approval, without upsetting the HUD regulations.
· Committee discussed possible amendments to the legislation. Mr. Robertson suggested the Committee consider a “sense of the Board resolution ” which would clarify the Board’s intent. Further discussions will be had with Committee members and the Law Department with regard to specific language for amendments before next week’s meeting.
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ADJOURNMENT – COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the Community Affairs meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.
A7: Prisoner Transport: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the Town of Greenburgh in order to provide reimbursement for prisoner transportation to the Westchester County Jail. (12/11/00) (Also referred to PSCJ)
· Terms of the agreement: Commencing January 1, 2001 and terminating December 31, 2003; an amount not to exceed $150,000.
· This IMA will allow the county to reimburse Greenburgh for the costs it incurs in transporting prisoners who have been arraigned from Greenburgh to the Westchester County Jail.
· This legislation was already approved by PSCJ.
On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Noto out for the vote.
A17: Prisoner Transportation: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter
into IMA’s with 32 municipalities in order to provide reimbursement for prisoner transportation to the Westchester County Jail. (12/11/00) (Also referred to PSCJ)
· The term of this IMA will commence January 1, 2001 and terminate December 31, 2002 and the annual reimbursement will not exceed $450,000 for a total amount not to exceed $900,000.
· These IMAs will allow the County to reimburse the municipalities for the costs they incur in transporting prisoners, who have been arraigned in local criminal courts, from each municipality tot he Westchester County Jail.
· Reimbursement to the municipalities will be pursuant to four zone rates which are fixed fees based on the mileage to and from the Westchester County Jail.
· This legislation was already approved by PSCJ.
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On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Noto out for the vote.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.