MINUTES
OTHERS: C.E.’s
Office: Bill Randolph, David Burton; Budget Dept.:
Leslie Bennett, Arthur Vietro; Planning
Dept.: Jerry Mulligan, Linda Pina, Fran
McLaughlin; CBAC/LWVW: Barbara
Strauss;
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to
order at
MINUTES: On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve the Minutes of September 17, 2001 was carried by a vote 6-0 with Legislators Swanson and Abinanti out for the vote.
DISCUSSION:
C4. BPS07: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $285,000 in bonds, Enclosed Shelter next to Public Safety Garage. (8/20/01)
· This would finance the construction of an enclosed shelter adjacent to the existing garage at Public Safety Headquarters in the Town of Mount Pleasant to be utilized for special vehicles, as well as the extension of the existing parking area on the south side of the garage.
· The construction of this project includes a cash component of $215,000 that will be funded entirely from E911 surcharge funds. Since one of the vehicles is an emergency communication vehicle that was purchased with E911 funds it is appropriate to use E911 funds. Law Department has opined verbally on this matter. Committee requested Law Department opine in writing.
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On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Swanson and Abinanti out for the vote and Legislators Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Latimer, Carsky and Young signing “Without Prejudice”.
C1. Bond Act Amendment: Proposed Bond Act amending Bond Act 81-2001 which authorized funding for the purchase of a 10-wheel dump truck with plow assembly and sanding equipment. (8/20/01)
· This bond act, in the amount of $510,000, would amend Bond Act 81-2001, which authorized funding for the project B035A in the amount of $360,000.
· This will fund the purchase of a vehicle to replace a 1980 ten-wheel dump truck with plow assembly and sanding equipment to assist in snow removal operations along the Bronx River Parkway.
· This vehicle will be used for plowing/sanding, hauling/black topping and on associated projects throughout the year.
· This is a scheduled replacement.
· Appropriated with last year’s capital plan
· This is a DPW truck for road maintenance, to be stored at Lake Street
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 Swanson out for the vote and Legislators Carsky and Young signing “Without Prejudice”.
C2. Bond Act Amendment: Proposed Bond Act amending Bond Act 227-1998 which authorized funding for design and construction of a closure enhancement to upgrade the existing landfill at the Railroad I Solid Waste Landfill at Croton Point. (8/20/01)
· This Bond Act in the amount of $,8,700,000 which would amend Bond Act 227-1998 which authorized funding for design of the project RD010 in the amount of $700,000. Designed by consultants, Savin Engineers, design has to meet DEC regulations for landfills.
· This would fund the construction of a closure enhancement to upgrade the existing landfill at the Railroad I Solid Waste Landfill at Croton Point.
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On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Swanson out for the vote and Legislator Carsky signing “Without Prejudice”.
C5. Bond Act Amendment: Amending Bond Act 65-2000 – Renovations of floors one through five – 85 Court Street. (8/20/01)
· This bond act would amend Bond Act 65-2000 adopted on April 10,2000, which authorized the issuance of bonds in the amount of $600,000 to finance the design of the renovations of the 1st through the 5th floors of 85 Court Street.
· The design is completed and County is ready to proceed with the construction.
· No lines for debt service in DSS account, the debt service is shown in debt service line in operating budget.
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Swanson out for the vote and Legislators Carsky, Young, LaMotte and Latimer signing “Without Prejudice”.
C21.T002B: Proposed Bond Act authorizing the issuance of $200,000 in bonds – Maintenance Facilities Needs Assessment. (5/21/01)
· Required to finance a study of the bus maintenance and storage facility requirements of the Bee-Line System for the next 30 years, in order to evaluate and address the adequacy of the facilities to support the on-going development of the County’s transit system.
· Looking at hybrid buses, diesel & electric
· Have 61 articulated buses
· Have to look at space to accommodate 7 new vehicles
· Looking to see if buses will run on this low sulfur fuel
· Will be testing maintenance and efficiency of different types of fuel.
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Latimer out for the vote.
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A14. Capital Budget Amendments: Proposed Acts amending the 2001 County Capital Budget regarding Transportation/Bus Acquisition Program – Standard Transit Buses and Transportation/Modernize Maintenance Facilities. (6/4/01)
Transportation/Bus Acquisition Program – Standard Transit Buses (T001P):
· Amendment would increase the project appropriation by $1,250,000, the bonds and/or notes method of financing by $250,000 and the non-County method of financing by $1,000,000.
· This project provides funding for the replacement of 120 forty-foot flexible transit buses. These buses currently comprise more than one-third of the Bee-Line system full size bus fleet. The average age of the bus fleet is over 12 years old. Over the next 5 years they want to reduce the age of the fleet to 6 years.
On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
Transportation/Modernize Maintenance Facilities (T0023):
· Amendment would increase the project appropriation by $3,000,000 the Bond and Notes method of financing by $600,000 and the non-County method of financing by $2,400,000.
· This project provides funding for the continued upkeep, modernization and regulatory compliance of the Bee-Line System’s Central Maintenance Facility.
· A five-year capital program for capital improvements to the facility has been developed by the DOT in connection with Liberty Lines, Inc. which currently leases the facility as part of an agreement whereby it provides bus services.
On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote and Legislators LaMotte, Latimer, Carsky, and Swanson signing “Without Prejudice”.
A4. Mount Pleasant IMA: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the Town of Mount Pleasant to utilize an approximately 5 acre site located on the Grasslands Reservation. (9/10/01)
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· The Town has proposed a new five year license agreement in order to continue its use of the site commencing August 1, 2001.
· The license agreement, with an annual fee of $200, will require the town to be solely responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the property.
· The town will defend and indemnify the county for all liability which may arise concerning the site, including but not limited to any claims arising from operation, maintenance, repair, improvements and hazardous environmental matters.
· Legislator Kaplowitz expressed concern as to whether this site is open to non-Mt. Pleasant residents. Deputy Commissioner Stout stated that it is and in fact there is significant use by non-Mt. Pleasant residents. Mr. Kaplowitz stated that he was not convinced that it is open to non-Mt. Pleasant residents.
On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1 with Legislator Kaplowitz being recorded in the negative, Legislator Carsky signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
A8. Pocantico Lake Easement: Proposed Local Law granting a permanent easement running with the land over part of Pocantico Lake Park. (8/20/01)
· This would authorize the County to grant a permanent easement running with the land over part of Pocantico Lake Park to Anthony and Elizabeth Pagello for the maintenance of a driveway to their home located at 30 Pocantico Lake Road in Mt. Pleasant.
· They have been using this property as a driveway for many years without any apparent adverse impact on the public’s use of the park. Public use of the park is not inhibited by the easement because a county-installed fence prevents the public from even reaching this area except by walking in a streambed. The proposed permanent easement will formalize this arrangement.
· This has been going on for about 9 years
· The easement area measures approximately 987 feet.
· The Pagellos will pay the County $500 for the easement.
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· There was a discussion with regard to oversight and responsibility. It was asked whether the title company involved in the county’s purchase of Pocantico Lake was at fault because it did not note the Pagello’s access over part of the property. It was explained that the permission granted by the former owner of Pocantico Lake to the Pagello’s predecessor in title was apparently unrecorded.
· Thus, it would not have been discovered upon a search of public records relating to the property. In fact, the Pagello’s were given a copy of an agreement from New Rochelle Water Company to use this easement
· This is the only ingress & egress to the property
· Legislator Abinanti requested that the easement be attached to the legislation.
· There was some question as to why the Pagello’s are only paying $500 for the easement considering the significant legal and administrative time spent by the county on this matter. It was explained that $500 was the amount that appraiser came up with as fair market value.
On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item, with the easement attached, was carried by a vote of 7-1 with Legislator Kaplowitz being recorded in the negative and Legislators Carsky and LaMotte signing “Without Prejudice”.
20. Graham Windham Property Purchase: Proposed legislation authorizing the County to acquire as tenants in common with the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson an approximately 14.25 acre parcel for park purposes located in the Village from Graham Windham Services to Children and Families. (8/20/01)
· The property is located in the Village just north of the Yonkers border in an area of vacant land which slopes down to the Hudson river and is traversed by the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Warburton Avenue and Metro-North railroad tracks.
· The acquisition of this waterfront property would preserve an area of open space preserving views and facilitating public access to the Hudson River through the development of a segment of the county’s proposed River Walk.
· The preservation of this property as park land would also provide an important trail link between the Old Croton Aqueduct and the Village waterfront area.
· The total purchase price of the property is $670,000 with the County and the Village each paying $335,000 plus ancillary closing costs.
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· The County’s share of the closing costs are not expected to exceed $50,000.
· The County and the Village will be tenants in common by Bargain and Sale Deed.
· Mr. Mulligan informed the Committee that the Negative Declaration was not included in the package and will be forwarded by Monday night’s meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.