MINUTES
OTHERS: C.E.’S Office: Bill Randolph; Budget: Kate Carrano, Leslie Bennett, Arthur Vietro, Robert Kopenhaver, Fran Piskorowski, Vernon Huff, Daniel Cabrera; Public Safety: Commissioner D’Aliso, Martin McGlynn, Donna Ritucci; PBA: Leonard Spano; Health Dept.: Commissioner Lipsman, Ira Cohen, Alyse Portera, Patsy Yang-Lewis; Community Mental Health: Commissioner Friedman; Airport: Joel Russell; CBAC: Barbara Strauss; BOL: Legislator Ryan, Rafael Vega, Steve Bass, Sally Schecter, Chris Chang, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.
2002 Capital Budget:
Community Mental Health: (C227):
· Commissioner Friedman stated that the most significant change in the budget is line (4439) NYS Expanded PINS in the amount of $150,000. This is for 6 months of funding to be phased in. The program now covers older children that are out of control. The child is covered by PINS, the family is not. There is nothing that mandates parental involvement. The money here is explicit to buying services for specific children. They don’t know how many children will be in this program. The program also includes 5 probation officers ($200,000 in Probation Budget) and $550,000 in the DSS Budget. All combined there is $900,000 in the budget for only a portion of the year. Committee requested the cost per department for this program.
· Annual Regular (1010): base was low by 3.5% , then there are increments & step increments that had to be allowed for. Committee requested a schedule of this account.
· Advance to Grants (4912): Increase due to a transfer of $42,000 that was part of $200,000 in additional psych services
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· Departmental income includes the running of four state licensed out-patient mental clinics. Vast majority of payment is Medicaid.
· Services by DPW Buildings & Space: (5220) Includes increases on existing space and new space. The question was asked if part of the space is being paid for out of a trust why isn’t some indication made on the revenue side. Budget will check.
· Pay to Addl Psych Services (4500): What is gross payment? Commissioner stated that it is $50 million. Committee requested a schedule indicating various vendors and cost to the county. Most is in the trust accounts
· Homeless Assessment Unit (4353): many more of the individuals are not Medicaid eligible. This turned out to be the actual cost to the department.
· Trusts: Why are T343 and T422 listed in this proposed budget but not listed in last year’s adopted budget? Budget Department will check.
Public Safety: (C321)
· The Commissioner reported that burn out is a serious concern since September 11th Police officers are working double shifts. There is concern for their safety. There was a discussion as to how they came to the determination of an additional 50 officers at the airport. It was stated that they looked at airport and had discussions with the FAA.
· Where are the new 78 police officers coming from? Canvassed two lists. General police officer list and Spanish speaking police officers list. There are police officers on the lists that are on other police forces. Not taking retirees unless they are retired during the last year and want to be reinstated. Discussion regarding the possibility of using some surveillance type equipment instead of manpower. It was stated that it is not feasible at this point. They canvassed about 105 candidates form both lists combined. They have to go by civil service regulations. Will have a combination of already trained officers as well as new recruits. Estimating 50 new recruits in the next class at the Police Academy which will require 18 weeks of training for each.
· ATLE Grant: lost funding for 7 officers. Rolled back into existing vacancies. Have 7 vacancies (police officers) currently.
· 83 new positions includes 78 police officers and 5 civilians. This includes the additional 50 officers for the airport for 8 new posts
· 10 posts at the airport now, previously there were two.
· Overtime (1400): have to cover posts while new recruits are being trained.
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· It was asked if there will be any aid for additional security at the Airport. The Commissioner stated that they are hopeful.
· National Guard is in place for 60 days. When they leave the county will have to go back to 11 posts instead of the current 10.
· If things change at the airport, these additional officers will be part of the county payroll.
· More expensive to fill posts on OT than to hire new officers
· Discussion regarding the checking cars. The possibility of designating a central place to park cars and bringing people over to airport by van was discussed.
· Services by Public Safety in Airport Special Revenue Fund: $8,073,350. Based on projections through end of September. Budget will provide revised forecast for Public Safety (projected & revenue columns)
· 5499: Svcs by Advocacy & Community Services: grant writers
· Committee requested additional revenue numbers from Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC)
· Will meet with Public Safety again.
A7 WCC Lease: Proposed Local Law authorizing the County to enter into a
lease agreement for space located at 175 Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon for use by Westchester Community College as part of an effort to provide educational opportunities to residents of the County who are currently unable to attend classes at the Valhalla campus. (11/26/01)
· Plenty of parking and numerous local stores
· Triple net lease at a base rent, similar deal in Peekskill, Yonkers and Ossining where it will be torn apart and built to suit.
· Anticipating $1.2 m to be put into the building
· Committee asked for the number of people that will use the facility as well as numbers for existing satellites.
· Hope to open in September of 2002
· Committee had questions regarding the cost of running the building (electricity, air conditioning, heating, etc) Unknown at this point.
· Committee will sign out to set the public hearing and meet with representatives of WCC for more detail before signing out for Board approval.
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On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item for the purpose of setting a public hearing, was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislators Carsky and Swanson out for the vote.
A8: Lease Agreement with Citiflight: Proposed Local Law authorizing the County to enter into a lease agreement with Citiflight, Inc. (11/26/01)
· Existing lease doesn’t expire until March, 2005.
· Citigroup is interested in doing extensive interior renovations to their leasehold and has asked to enter into a new lease, that if all renewal options are exercised, will extend their tenancy into 2026, allowing them to amortize the cost of these improvements over a manageable timeframe.
· Committee requested a copy of lease or term sheet
· Section to say adjusted upwards. Sal Carerra will talk to Law about amending Section 2 to read “…such monthly rent shall be adjusted upwards…”
· Committee will sign out to set the public hearing and consider signing our for full Board approval at a later date.
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item for the purpose of setting a public hearing, was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislators Carsky and Swanson out for the vote.
Health: (C245)
· Sanitarians are being used for a variety of different things such as increased restaurant inspections, West Nile, swimming pool inspections, etc.
· Discussion re: bi-lingual sanitarians. The Commissioner stated that they have not been getting complaints from sanitarians or community with regard to the inability to communicate.
· Pre-school population: 6 fold increase in 11 years. Are we collating information to identify where this is happening? Rate of increase in Westchester is faster than in other areas. Working with NYSAC and state to jointly go into a research program to see differences between Westchester and other counties that aren’t growing as quickly.
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· Committee requested schedules for the following:
Ø Mosquito Service Program (4358)
Ø Tobacco Control Program (4359)
Ø TB Control Program (4238)
Ø Rabies Program (4443)
· Committee requested schedules for the following from Services for Children with Disabilities:
Ø Education & Transportation Program (4532)
Ø 3-5 Evaluations (4533)
Ø SEIT (4534)
Ø Related Services (4536)
Ø CPSE Administration (4537)
Ø SCD 4410 Tuition (4538)
Ø SCD 4410 Transportation (4539)
Ø Early Intervention (4541)
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the meeting was adjourned at 12:11 p.m.