MINUTES
EDUCATION MEMBERS: Swanson, Ryan
OTHERS: C.E.’s
Office: Bill Randolph; Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano; Journal News:
Keith Eddings; Law Dept.: Charlene Indelicato, David Vutera, Jim
Robertson, Tami Altschiller; PRC: Stanley Motley, Peter Tartaglia, Lorraine
Velez; WCC: Joseph Hankin, Louis Torrieri, Fred
Boyar; WCC Fund/CBAC: Fran MacEachron; DEF:
Robert Matarazzo, James Hogan;
Planning Dept.: Bill Brady; DOT:
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to
order at
MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator
Carsky, the motion to approve the Minutes of
AGENDA ITEMS:
A1.* Gift
Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from the Arthritis
Foundation for use by the Department of Social Services. (
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
A12.* Court-Ordered
Certiorari Refunds:
Forwarding a package of court-ordered certiorari refunds. (
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
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A15. Budget Transfer: Proposed Act authorizing transfer of funds
from the 2001 Miscellaneous Certiorari Proceedings Budget to the District
Attorney Capital Prosecution Case Account.
(
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
A26. Budget Transfer Act: Proposed Act which would authorize the
transfer of funds from the 2001 Department of Social Services Budget to the
Department of Public Safety Budget. (
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
A28. Court-Ordered Certiorari Refunds: Forwarding a package of Court-Ordered
Certiorari Refunds. (
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
A31. Annual Financial Report: Forwarding the County’s Annual Financial
Report. (
Legislator Carsky requested that this item be held until the Committee has a chance to discuss it.
C1. SY013:
Authorizing the issuance of $1,300,000 in bonds –
Legislator Stewart-Cousins stated that this project has been put on hold until the closing of the doors has progressed.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
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C12.SM010:
Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $350,000 in bonds –
Mamaroneck WWTP Automation. (
Legislator LaMotte requested this item be held for further clarification as to why it is being received and filed.
C17.SY075:
Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $800,000 in bonds – Pump
Station Rehab-Saw Mill Sanitary Sewer District.
(
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to Receive and File this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
A20.* Amawalk Filtration Plant Lease: Proposed legislation authorizing the County
to lease the Amawalk Filtration Plant and Pumping Station to the Westchester
Joint Water Works. (
·
Mr. Kaplowitz
disclosed the fact that he owns a home that will be removed from this water
district at a future date and has abstained from any discussion and/or vote
pertaining to this matter, but since this legislation has nothing to do with
the removal of properties asked if it was necessary to recuse himself from this
discussion and/or vote. The
· This is a long-term lease whereby the County would lease the Amawalk Filtration Plant, and transfer all responsibilities to the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works through an IMA.
· The transfer of ownership cannot be done without a referendum and bonds are satisfied which takes us out to 2017
· This will serve to simplify operations.
· The CSEA employees being transferred to the JWW will become employees of the JWW with equivalent offices, positions and employment. There will be no layoffs of any former County employees employed in the facility who are transferred to the JWW.
· JWW shall be subject to Civil Service Law and bound by all existing collective bargaining agreements.
· There will be some savings
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0.
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A16.* Cortlandt IMA: Proposed legislation authorizing the County
to enter into an IMA with the Town of Cortlandt pursuant to which the Town
would lease to the County a parcel of property located off Roa Hook Road for
the purpose of constructing and operating a Recyclable Solid Waste Material
Transfer Station and Material Recovery Facility. (
·
Communities in
Solid Waste District #1 that are distant from the
· Towns and Villages in the northern part of the County (the Northern Tier) have had no municipal land suitable for placement of such containers. These communities have had to contract with private vendors to conduct their material transfer activity.
·
Currently, the
Northern Tier communities transfer their recyclable materials to the Charles
Point Resource Recovery Facility in
· Wheelabrator has informed the Northern Tier group that it no longer has the capacity to accommodate them and that it would not be renewing its contract for material transfer services.
·
A renewed
search for a municipal site resulted in the Town’s decision to acquire a vacant
lot off of
· The Transfer Station/MRF will be built by the County on this lot which the Town will lease to the County free of charge.
· The property is currently being leased to the Town by the Condon family with an option to buy. The Town has agreed to purchase the land and is committed to insuring the availability of the site for the term of the IMA.
· The County, at its sole cost and expense, will construct the Transfer Station/MRF and will operate it reserving the right to use outside contractors retained by the County.
·
The Transfer
Station/MRF will be used as a receptacle for recyclables originating from the
Northern Tier communities which are currently include the Town of Cortlandt,
the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, the Village of Buchanan, the Town of Yorktown,
the Village of Ossining and the Town of Ossining. The Town of
· Recyclable materials will be transferred by the County to the County MRF in Yonkers, or, if economically advantageous at a later date, may be prepared, baled or otherwise packaged to market specifications and thereafter transferred directly to market by either the County or by private vendors. Organic yard waste will be transferred to a commercial composting facility.
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·
The County
will charge the Town of
· According to Mr. Wood, all of the communities are supportive of this.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
A18.* Liberty Plaza Affordable Housing
Project: Proposed
legislation authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the City of Mount
Vernon in connection with the Housing Implementation Fund Project known as the
Liberty Plaza Affordable Housing Development.
(
· This legislation includes the authority to accept a grant at no cost to the County of all necessary property rights in connection with providing funds to purchase, construct or develop public parking and other infrastructure improvements for the development of an affordable housing project.
· It also includes a request for bonds in the amount of $4,214,000 to provide funds for parking and other infrastructure improvements in conjunction with the development of this affordable independent living rental project in the City of Mt. Vernon to be known as the Liberty Plaza Affordable Housing Development, consisting of 120 rental apartments of independent living with services. It will be located across from city hall & the hospital.
· Approximately $3,300,000 will be used for the construction of approximately 131 new parking spaces, with the remaining funds for additional infrastructure improvements to facilitate the rest of the project, including sidewalks and curbs, sewer and water lines, grading, landscaping, lighting and engineering.
· The City will construct, on behalf of the County, the parking and other infrastructure improvements and will be responsible for the costs of operation and maintenance of the improvements.
· The County will own all of the parking and other infrastructure improvements upon completion of the life of the County bonds.
·
The Proposed
affordable housing will be constructed above the existing
· There are currently 3 levels of parking at the Hospital Garage. The HIF funds will enable the addition of 131 spaces of parking to the garage, thus assisting in the creation of the 5 story, 120 unit apartment building.
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· The Mt. Vernon IDA, which owns the air rights over the site and which will enter into a lease with the developer to construct the project within the air rights above the garage, will also grant an easement to the County and City for the area of the HIF funded parking and infrastructure improvements on the project development site.
· The City will grant an easement to the County for the area of the improvements on City-owned property adjacent to the site.
· The term of the IMA will be 15 years.
· The development will consist of 120 independent living rental apartments with services for senior citizens. Seventy-two of the rental apartments will be rented to seniors with incomes at or below 60% of the County’s median income and 48 rental apartments will be rented to seniors with incomes at or below 50% of the County’s median income, in accordance with the HIF requirements.
· Additional permanent financing for the project will be provided from the City of Mt. Vernon HOME Program ($800,000), County of Westchester IDA tax-exempt bonds ($7,311,231), Low Income Housing Credit Equity ($6,970,000), NYS Housing Trust Fund ($2,340,000) and New Homes Land Acquisition ($200,000).
· The City of Mt. Vernon is in complete support of this project
· 1st floor of housing will be space for doctor’s office or health related services (21,000 sq ft of commercial space)
· The residents of the building will be able to secure parking space for a monthly fee.
· There was a discussion with regard to the period of affordability. Mrs. LaMotte stressed that it should be at least 40 years, and longer if possible. Commissioner Salley explained that there is a PILOT with the City and there is nothing longer than 40 years in the federal guidelines. There could be a problem if the PILOT and tax agreements expire before the term of affordability. Legislation will be amended to a period of 40 years of affordability.
· The IDA and other creditors would step in if the developer were to go belly-up. It will be kept as affordable housing because of the layers of funding that are involved.
On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item, as amended, was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislator Carsky signing “Without Prejudice”.
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
Education Committee Chair Swanson called the Education
Committee meeting to order at
A8.* 2001/2002 Westchester Community College
Budget: Forwarding the
2001/2002
· WCC President Hankin reviewed several areas of the College budget, including:
Ø Utilities (3200): reflects an increase in rates
Ø Equipment Contract Service(4070) & Equipment Rental (4075): reflects a better rate being given by Unisys
Ø Telephone (4160): WCC took over the contract that the County had and stopped paying an instrument charge
Ø Non-recurring R & R (4310): reflects a cut back
Ø Contract Guard Service (4390): reflects the beefing up of security
Ø Capital financing (4460): Increase mainly due to Library construction
Ø Data Processing Services (5260): WCC took over a lot of their own data processing services
Ø State Aid; If the State increases the formula the college could receive one-half to one million dollars more (not reflected in their numbers)
Ø Student Tuition: holding the line, no increase for the 6th straight year
· Dr. Hankin stated that there is a private donor who wants to give money to the College to start on an instructional building.
· There was a discussion as to the College’s recycling plan. Bins have been ordered ad are being placed around the campus. They have set up an e-mail address for their recycling coordinator and well as distributed a hand-out for students. Housekeeping and Food Service are looking into purchasing recycled napkins, etc. The College has made recycling a priority. Dr. Hankin stated that they are accomplishing this with current staff and he doesn’t see a need to hire new people for this function.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve the Deletions Report was carried by a vote of 8-0.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve the WCC Budget was carried by a vote of 8-0.
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of
Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the Education Committee
meeting was adjourned at
A4. Capital
Budget Amendment: Proposed
Act which would amend the 2001 Capital Budget and revise the financing plans
for County project RP23E. (
· This item has been discussed in detail previously.
· The Committee was told that in order for the design to move forward they need the appropriation to be in place. The administration will come back for bonding authorization after the design is in place.
A22.*
Hold for a joint meeting with the Health Committee.
D9.* Rye
Property Purchase Environmental:
Finding that there will be no significant impact on the environment from
the adoption of an act which would authorize the County to purchase
approximately 6.74 acres of real property in the City of Rye. (
D10.* Rye
Property Purchase Authorization: Authorizing
the County to acquire an interest in certain property as tenants in common with
the City of Rye, consisting of approximately 6.74 acres of real property in the
City of Rye. (
D11.* Rye
Property Purchase Bond Act: Authorizing
the issuance of $1,875,000 in bonds to finance the acquisition for the public
park purposes of an undivided interest in land and improvements thereon
adjacent to Playland Parkway in the City of Rye. (
On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to Receive and File Items D 9, 10 & 11 was carried by a vote of 8-0.
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D12.* Rye
Property Purchase:
Authorizing the County to purchase approximately 6.74 acres of real
property in the City of
D13.*
· Items D12 & D13 have been discussed in detail at previous meetings. Mr. Latimer requested the Committee sign the items out “Without Prejudice” to go to the floor of the Board.
On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve Items D12 & D13 was carried by a vote of 8-0 with all members signing “Without Prejudice”.
RECESS:
At
ADJOURNMENT:
There being
no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by
Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at