*COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 5, 2001

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

B & A MEMBERS:         Wishnie, Abinanti, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Latimer, Noto,

Stewart-Cousins, Swanson, Young

 

OTHERS:                       C.E.’s Office:  Bill Randolph, David Burton;  Budget Dept.:  Kate Carrano, Leslie Bennett, Arthur Vietro, Vernon Huff;  CBAC/:LWVW:  Barbara Strauss;  Planning:  Fran McLaughlin;  DOT/Airport:  Donna Proft;  Law Dept.:  Tami Altschiller;  Public Safety:  Donna Ritucci, Kevin Reeves; Labs & Research:  Millard Hyland, Tom McGimpsey;  Law:  Charlene Indelicato, Tami Altschiller, Lori Alesio;  CIO:  Norman Jacknis;  IT:  Kay Foster, R. Allen Elliott; BOL: Christopher Chang, Sally Schecter; Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson

 

 

Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.

 

MINUTES:

 

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve the Minutes of October 29, 2001 was carried by a vote of 9-0.

 

 

CAPITAL BUDGET:

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:  (C21):

 

·       BIT02:  Electronic Government and Public Access:  Project includes acquisition of new technology to deal with critical aspects of the project.  Smart cards would be most useful to Westchester residents.  Video conferencing requests have increased.

·       BIT04:  Power Tools:  remains the same as 2001

·       BIT06:  Purchase of Computer Equipment: remains the same as 2001

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 2

 

 

TRANSPORTATION:  (C101):

 

·       T001J:  Bus Acquisition Program – Van Type Buses:  Project will fund the purchase of ADA accessible van-type buses to operate along low-density routes and in areas where large bus access is limited.  There are 2 additional years in here for bus replacement.

·       T001K:  Bus Acquisition Program – Articulated Buses:  Increase of $10 million from last year.  They anticipated getting a new federal grant for $10 million.  Waiting to hear right now so they can draw down on that money.

·       T001P:  Bus Acquisition Program – Standard Transit Buses:  Appropriations are made in advance to provide the local match required to secure federal funding.

·       T009E:  Paratransit Vehicles II:  Funds the purchase of 15 paratransit vehicles.

·       T016A:  Maintenance & Supervisory Vehicles II:  Revised estimated costs.  About six vehicles per year (about 18-20 vehicles total)

·       T0023:  Modernize Maintenance Facilities:  To include central maintenance facility in Yonkers and Valhalla

·       T0030:  Bus Stop Enhancements:  no change in cost from 2001

·       T0034:  Maintenance Facilities Infrastructure:  new project.  To repair and upgrade both the Central Maintenance Facility in Yonkers and the Cerrato Satellite Bus Garage in Valhalla.

·       T0035:  Maintenance Facilities Equipment Upgrade:  Equipment portion of the project

·       T0036:  Preventive Maintenance – Vehicles and Facilities:  All federal dollars.

 

AIRPORT:  (C115):

 

·       A0029:  New Terminal/ARFF/GHE:  Being closed out, spending less than anticipated.

·       A056A:  Heavy equipment Acquisition (2001-2005):  Increase due to purchase of fire truck (cost more than in the past)  Replacing a 15 year old truck.

·       A0063:  Drainage/Safety Improvements:  2002 appropriation is for design of the culvert. 


COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 3

 

 

·       A066A:  Various Airport Infrastructure Improvements/Rehabilitation Program:  2002 appropriation provides for the replacement of the Flight Information Display System in the Main Terminal.

·       A0069:  Aircraft Deicing Study and Implementation:  2002 appropriation will fund the design and first phase construction of a new deicing facility.

·       A0071:  Airport Layout Plan Update and Environmental Management:  2002 appropriation is being requested to continue and expand the Environmental Impact Study as needed.

·       A0077:  Airport Plaza/Intersection Improvements:  Same as 2001

·       A0082:  Cleanup of County Road Staging Area:  Scope of project is larger than originally anticipated.

·       A0087:  Environmental Remediation:  New project for 2002. 

 

 

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

 

Chair Ryan called the Public Safety Committee meeting to order at 10:50 a.m.

 

PSCJ members present:  Ryan, Kaplowitz, Latimer, Mosiello, Swanson, Wishnie

 

A14:  PoliceAcademy Instructor:  Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with one or more of the municipalities located in Westchester and/or the additional municipalities listed whereby the municipality will assign a police officer to the County’s PoliceAcademy as an instructor and in exchange the County shall provide defense and indemnification to such municipality.  (10/29/01)  (Also referred to PSCJ)

 

·       Under NYS law, a newly appointed police officer of any county, city, town, village or police district must satisfactorily complete an approved municipal police basic training program within 12 months of being hired.

·       A police officer may also be required from time to time to take additional training courses as part of their ongoing training and employment requirements. 

·       To satisfy these training requirements, police officers from the County and other municipalities attend the police academy.

·       The IMA will enable the County to utilize police officers from various municipalities who are certified police instructors, to teach police officers certain police training and related courses at the PoliceAcademy.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 4

 

 

·       In exchange for the municipality assigning one or more of its certified police instructors the County would provide defense and indemnification to the municipality for the instructor’s acts or omissions while acting in the scope of his or her duties as an instructor at the PoliceAcademy or at any offsite location where Police academy instruction takes place.

·       Committees requested a copy of the IMA

 

FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.

 

FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0 with Legislator Abinanti signing “Without Prejudice”.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the meeting was adjourned at 10:53 a.m.

 

CAPITAL BUDGET:

 

LABS & RESEARCH (C27)

 

·       BLR2A:  Labs & Research Equipment Acquisition (2001-2005):  same as 2001

·       BLR04:  Expansion and Renovation of Forensic and Toxicology Laboratories:  2002 appropriations funds the design phase of the project.  Did a space and needs analysis, then realized the scope of this project would grow to this size.  Existing building is 80,000 sq ft.  Committee will make a site visit.  This facility is entirely a crime laboratory.

 

 

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:

 

Chairman Kaplowitz called the Environment Committee to order at 11:02 a.m.

 

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 5

 

 

Environment Committee Members Present:  Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Latimer

 

A7:    Water Supply Testing:  Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the City of New York wherein the County will provide testing of New York City’s drinking water supply system.

 

·       NYCDEP has requested that the County, through its Department of Labs & Research, perform many tests on the water supply system.

·       The County began performing these tests on September 11th.

·       The County is now performing tests every day.  Entire Public Health Laboratory is involved in this.

·       The City of New York has proposed that two agreements be entered into.  The first agreement would have a commencement date of September 11, 2001 in order to include those services already performed by the County.  The expiration date will be January 31, 2002.  It is expected that the amount payable by NYCDEP under this agreement will be close to $1 million.  The second agreement will commence on February 1, 2002 and expire on November 30, 2002.  NYDEP would, as in the first agreement, be charged pursuant to the Department of Labs & Research published schedule of fees.  The estimated revenue to the County for this agreement is $3.6 million.

·       Committee requested a copy of the IMA

 

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 3-0.

 

FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0.

 

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the meeting was adjourned at 11:13 a.m.

 

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 6

 

 

HEALTH COMMITTEE:

 

Chairman Abinanti called the Health Committee meeting to order at 11:14 a.m.

 

Health Committee Members Present:  Abinanti, Latimer, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson

 

A22:  COUNTYATTORNEY:  WCHCC Agreements:  (References 3 & 4):  Proposed legislation authorizing the County to enter into various agreements with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation.  (7/23/01)  (Also referred to Health)

 

·       Reference 3:  authorizing the County to amend an agreement with the WCHCC for comprehensive health care services to the inmates at the County’s Department of Correction.

·       WCHCC shall be paid a fee not to exceed $9,300,000 inclusive of all expenses, payable in equal monthly installments in arrears.

·       WCHCC’s health care expenses for services provided to the Department of Correction will no longer be capped, all others terms and conditions of the agreement will remain unchanged.

·       Committees requested a copy of the original agreement for separation for catastrophic insurance and the corrected version.

·       Committee requested a breakdown of costs over the last several years

·       Used to pay $15 million for this program before it was privatized

 

FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Noto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0.

 

FOR THE HEALTH COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 7

 

 

·       Reference 4:  authorizing the County to enter into an agreement with the WCHCC for the term commencing September 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002 whereby the County will provide police services to WCHCC.

·       Will patrol all buildings on the campus including 19 Bradhurst and the parking garage.  This is a new service requested by the President of the hospital.

·       This is going to be paid for on OT because it is an additional post that was not budgeted for.

·       The police officers will be covering expanded posts.  Public Safety is planning to hire a number of police officers.  There was concern expressed over the possibility of overstressing police officers as well as the fact that the new post is only for 9:00 – 5:00.  It was explained that the President of the WCHCC only requested that the post be 9-5.

·       Committee requested a letter of support from the President of the WCHCC.

 

FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Noto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 9-0 with Legislator LaMotte signing “Without Prejudice”.

 

FOR THE HEALTH COMMITTEE:

 

On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0.

 

HEALTH COMMITTEE RECESS:

 

Chairman Abinanti recessed the Health Committee meeting into the Chambers

 

A8:    Airport Special Revenue Budget Amendment:  Proposed Act amending the Airport Special Revenue Budget in the amount of $900,000.  (10/29/01)

 

·       This amendment is funded in full by an appropriation from the airport’s unrestricted fund balance.

·       This is to cover the cost of unbudgeted and unexpected security required since September 11th

·       Subsequent to September 11th the FAA mandated an increase in airport security levels nationwide.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 8

 

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “without Prejudice” and Legislators Noto, Abinanti and Young out for the vote.

 

A12:  2001 Operating Budget Amendment:  Proposed act amending the 2001 Operating Budget +$1,300,000 NYC Disaster Assistance; -$1,300,000 Indirect Social Services.  (10/29/01)

 

·       This transfer will cover expenses incurred by various County departments as related to the terrorist attack on the WorldTradeCenter on September 11, 2001 and events subsequent to that date.

·       Expenses incurred include those related to security, environmental monitoring, as well as emergency services and laboratory assistance.

 

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “without Prejudice” and Legislators Noto, Abinanti and Young out for the vote.

 

3rd QUARTER PROJECTIONS:

 

·       Third quarter forecast indicates a net from operations of $18,994,101 vs. second quarter of $17,907,464.

·       Sales Tax:  projecting a deficit of about $600,000. 

·       Indian point III is on the property tax rolls of the Town of Cortlandt. 

·       PRC:  direct loss of revenue, delay in renovation of Old Mill as well as Plunge late opening.

·       Transportation:  loss – gross receipts down

·       CountyClerk:  spending more in overtime and hourly.  Tax levy is ok.

·       Interest Income:  off almost $1 million due to Fed Reserve rate cuts, worsened since the 2nd quarter.

·       The net savings in retirement reflects absence of an incentive program.

·       Hotel tax:  clear indicators that economy slowed in 3rd quarter such that budgeted figure for 2001 will not be achieved.

·       Shift between state and federal aid in DSS reflects shifts between EAF and Child Care but overall lower revenue due to lower projected expenses.  County will receive unanticipated $1.3 million in federal aid to Corrections for housing illegal aliens.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 5, 2001

PAGE 9

 

 

·       Revenue from sale of County land parcel to the Village of Mamaroneck reflected at $350,000 in miscellaneous revenue.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson the meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.