COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES
ATTENDANCE:
B & A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Kaplowitz, Swanson, Carsky,
LaMotte, Abinanti
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Leslie Bennett; Law: James Robertson, David Rothman; C.E’s Office: Bill Randolph; Corrections: Pasquale Miscioscia; BOL: Chris Chang, Robert Boland, Sally Schecter
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.
Discussion:
MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the minutes of April 23, 2001 were approved by a 5-0 vote.
AGENDA ITEMS:
· Chairman Wishnie noted that item A8 – Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS was pulled from the agenda.
· Chairman Wishnie opened the meeting by introducing Pat D’Imperio who represented the District Attorney’s Office. Mr. D’Imperio stated that the D.A.’s Office is allowed to have $65,000 for petty cash in their budget annually. The $65,000 is given to the D.A.’s Office in $5,000 dollar increments. The D.A.’s Office is now requesting that the whole $65,000 be given to the department up front so that they have the ability to spend what they need to when time sensitive issues arise. Mr. D’Imperio stated that the cost of buying drugs for their sting operations have increased. Mr. D’Imperio wanted to make it clear that the department is not asking for more than the $65,000 given to them annually but rather that the funds be given to them in its entirety at the beginning of the year.
· Legislator Wishnie inquired about the accountability of the funds if they are to be managed by the department and/or it’s officers. Mr. D’Imperio noted that there would be internal mechanisms in place to account for the funds. Mr. D’Imperio went on to say that no less than four people would have to approve of the release of funds. One of those four people would be Mr. D’Imperio himself along with Chief Investigator, Chief of the Investigations Division and the Chief’s Assistant. If the funds exceed $10,000 for a buy then the District Attorney sign off on the release as well. In addition to the established procedures for the release of funds for the intent purpose of buying drugs the District Attorney’s Office also will have three investigators supervising the exchange of money to informants
· Bob Boland noted that he does not believe that $65,000 should be considered petty cash and that all funds be reconciled monthly with the checks being made out to an individual not cash.
· Bob Boland asked if Risk Management was in accord with the District Attorney’s plan. Mr. D’Imperio stated that The Department of Risk Management did not have a problem with the D.A.’s plan.
· Mr. D’Imperio noted that once the D.A.’s Office given the total amount up front, they would account for every expenditure of those funds and if monies were left over at the end of the year then the D.A.’s Office would write the County a check for the balance.
· Chairman Wishnie asked what happens to the drugs and money seized from successful drug busts. Mr. D’Imperio responded by stating that the number of agencies involved in the operation determines how much of the seized drugs and money comes back to the D.A.’s Office. The County’s District Attorney usually gets 28% of the proceeds.
· On motion by Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion was approved by a vote of 4-1.
A1: Prisoner Transport IMA: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the City of Yonkers in order to provide reimbursement for prisoner transportation to the Westchester County Jail (4/23/01)
· Mr. Pasquale Miscioscia was present to discuss the item. Chairman Wishnie asked if Pasquale Miscioscia reviewed this agreement. Mr. Miscioscia stated that he was in accord with the agreement and saw nothing wrong with its terms.
· Legislator Carsky asked why this agreement is half over and why is it coming to us now. Mr. Miscioscia explained that the Department lost the Deputy Commissioner who was handling the issue; therefore it basically fell between the cracks.
· Chairman Wishnie asked if Mr. Miscioscia if he reviewed the agreement. Mr. Miscioscia responded by saying that he reviewed the agreement and that he had no problem with the item.
· On motion by Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion was approved by a vote of 5-0.
· Legislator Carsky inquired about the use of videoconferencing for arraignments instead of transporting the prisoners back and forth. Chairman Wishnie stated that he thought it would be better to set up a separate meeting to discuss that matter. Legislator Carsky agreed and asked that a meeting between the Department of Probation, the D.A.’s Office and Legal Services be arranged.
· Legislator LaMotte inquired about the status of Bedford. Mr. Miscioscia stated that negotiations with Bedford had not started as of yet.
· The next item for discussion was item A4, Designation and Retention of Outside Counsel.
· Chairman Wishnie stated that this item involved the payment of an old bill for legal services. Item A4 deals with the retention of private counsel by the Board of Legislators to represent it in the matter of CSEA v. O’Rourke, due to a conflict of interest between the former County Executive and the Board of Legislators.
· Legislator Kaplowitz noted for the record that he was not a member of the Board when this situation arose.
· On the motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion was approved by a vote of (3-2)
A2: Hudson Valley Counties’ Energy Initiative: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the Counties of Rockland, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam for the Hudson Valley Counties Energy Initiative. (4/23/01)
· Mr. Alan Scheinkman came before the Committee to discuss the item.
· Mr. Scheinkman stated that at this point this item does not require the expenditure of funds or the approval of a specific contract but rather to authorize a grouping of the other Hudson Valley Counties to work together to pursue common interest in a memorandum of understanding.
· Mr. Scheinkman noted that if these Counties determine that there are common plans that need to be pursed then the issue of cost will have to be negotiated, but there is no cost associated with this item. Mr. Scheinkman went on to say that no further action can be taken without a contract in terms of the expenditure of money.
· Chairman Wishnie requested that a sentence be added to the second paragraph of the Act that states that if there are to be any expenditure of funds that the administration has to come back before the Board of Legislators of approval. Legislator Kaplowitz requested that a sun set provision be added to the Act also. Legislator Abinanti then requested that the language in the second paragraph in the act be changed to state, “the County Executive or his designee be and herby is authorized and empowered to execute instruments which shall not exceed five years in length.” Legislator Kaplowitz also wanted language inserted saying “and the aforementioned authorization shall expire one year from the Board’s approval.”
· Chairman Wishnie stated that the Committee would wait to sign the item out until the revised copy is ready.
A3: WCHCC Contracts: Proposed Legislation authorizing the County to enter into various contracts with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation. (4/23/01)
· Mr. Boland noted that he and his staff reviewed the agreements and they seem to be in good order. The agreements included services by the County, to the Westchester County Health Care Corporation for record storage, retrieval services, medical consulting services, ambulance services, graphic, copying, printing, mail delivery, access to the Human Resources database, provision Bureau of Purchase and supply services, provision of automotive repair services and support for WCHCC’s payroll and Human Resources System. Gasoline was overlooked as an item and added in an amended version.
· On motion by Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion was approved by a vote of 5-0.
A&C:
· A&C calendar was distributed
· Chairman Wishnie stated that A&C agenda and if any of the Legislators had any question to ask Mr. Boland.
ADJOURNMENT:
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz and seconded by Legislator Abinanti the Committee adjourned at 11:45 AM.