MINUTES
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEMBERS: Alvarado, Oros, Stewart-Cousins, Young
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH: Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Ryan
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, CBAC: Fran MacEachron; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, David Meyers; WCHD: Alyse Portera, Joe Marcoguese; WCDP: Sabrina Charney; WCDOT: Harry Stanton, Naomi Klein; Law Dept.: Charlene Indelicato; BOL: Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie
called the Budget Committee meeting to order at
Chairman Alvarado
called the Community Affairs Committee meeting to order at
DISCUSSION:
A4: Port
Chester IMA: Proposed Act
authorizing the County to enter into IMA’s with the Village of Port Chester to
provide funds to the Village for a planning and design study of an intermodal
facility at the Village’s Railroad Station.
(
· Each year WCDOT receives federal funding through the NYSDOT
for the purpose of implementing federally mandated transportation related
planning studies. The program is
administered by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. Funding for this program year has been
allocated to conduct a planning and design study to improve intermodal
connections in the
· The planning and design study will identify the needs, goals and objectives of an intermodal facility, as well as develop concept plans for this facility.
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· It is anticipated that the development of an intermodal facility will aid in the Village’s efforts to revitalize its downtown area.
· The County will contribute up to $57,800 toward the cost of the study, which will be reimbursed by the NYSDOT pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement entered into between the county and the NYSDOT.
· Under federal guidelines, the Village is required to contribute 20% in local matching funds toward total project costs of up to $72,250. The village will be solely responsible for any costs incurred which exceed that amount.
· The term of the IMA will commence upon execution by all parties and will continue for a period of one (1) year thereafter.
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Oros, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
FOR THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Oros, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 4-0.
ADJOURNMENT-COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
There being no
further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by
Legislator Young, the Community Affairs meeting was adjourned at
A7: Automated
Surface Observing System:
Proposed Local Law authorizing the County to enter into a lease
agreement with the United States of America for property consisting of
approximately 500 square feet at the south end of the County Airport to permit
the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and removal of
Automated Surface Observing Equipment at the Airport. (
· For automated weather station at Airport
· There is no cost to the county, as the equipment will be maintained by the FAA.
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· A copy of the existing contract will be provided to the Committee.
On motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
A8: WCHCC
Agreements: Proposed Act
authorizing the County to enter into an agreement with the Westchester County
Health Care Corporation whereby WCHCC shall provide various mental health services. (
There was no quorum for the Committee on Environment & Health.
The 2 agreements are 5 year contracts, all state money, and no tax levy.
Reference 1: Authorizing the County to enter into an agreement with WCHCC for a term commencing January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2006 whereby WCHCC shall provide mental health services; services to mentally retarded/developmentally disabled children, adults and their families; and a medically supervised drug free outpatient program for adolescents.
Reference 2: Authorizing the County to enter into an
agreement with WCHCC for a term commencing
On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
A5: Grant
Acceptance: Proposed Act
authorizing the County to accept grant funding from
the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (
· The Board of Health approved this licensing program. The first step is to accept the grant from the EPA.
· No tax levy implications for at least the first 3-4 years
· People who pump septics are licensed by the state.
· There is no licensing program in the state at this point for the people who physically construct septics. This is a first step to insure that they have some proficiency. The Health Department currently approves plans for new homes, new systems.
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· The onus is on the home owner for repairs to septic systems.
· They estimate that there are about 200 contractors in the county that do this work.
· There will be a requirement to pass an examination.
· Estimate thousands of repairs are being done each year. It was suggested that the contractors should be approved before repair work is done. Unfortunately, the Health Department is not staffed to do that.
· $200 fee for 2 years plus cost of test. Training program will be mandated.
· There has been a public education component to this.
· Brochures have been mailed out to individuals. Haven’t received any feedback.
· Data collection report has to be done for construction.
· They need to get the word out to trade associations to
inform other areas such as Putnam and
· Program slated to begin April 1st
· Committee asked for a sense of the annual expenditure if the Health Department has to pick up the cost of the program. The only real ongoing cost would be system engineer and staff assistant positions which would probably be about $175,000.
· Through the Chair, the Committee referred this item to the Committee on the Environment & Health.
· Committee requested a budget for 3 years showing revenues & expenditures.
· Committee did not act on this item at this time.
A10: Bond
Counsel: Proposed Act
authorizing the County of Westchester to retain the law firms of Hawkins,
Delafield and Wood, New York, New York, McGhee & Associates, New York, New
York, Wilkie, Farr & Gallagher, New York, New York and Nixon Peabody LLP,
Garden City, New York to provide bond counsel services to the County of
Westchester in an “of counsel” capacity to the County Attorney for the period
from February 1, 2002 through January 26, 2006.
(
· There was a question with regard to the length of the agreement.
· Affordable housing issue: Hawkins, Delafield & Wood: problem with nature of the agreement between the developer and the county
· McGhee – fully owned minority firm.
· These are all national firms.
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· None of the recommended firms are
· Committee requested the numbers for the last two years on actual cost of bond counsel.
· It was stated that the Clerk of the Board has had some issues with one of the bond counsel firms. Ms. Indelicato responded that she hadn’t heard of any issues but would certainly check with the clerk.
· Committee did not take action on this item at this time.
SCHEDULE:
No meeting next week
Committee will meet on Monday, February 25th and Wednesday, March 6th.
A&C CALENDAR:
The Committee reviewed the A&C Calendar. All questions and requests for back-up materials were referred to Bob Boland.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no
further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by
Legislator Alvarado, the meeting was adjourned at