MINUTES
APRIL 29, 2002
B&A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Abinanti, Alvarado, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Oros, Swanson, Stewart-Cousins
ENV. & HEALTH MEMBERS: Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Ryan Swanson
OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Sal Carrera, David Meyers, Jovy Celaj; CBAC/LWVW: Barbara Strauss; DOT: Larry Salley, J.P. Murray; Airport: Joel Russell; Youth Bureau: Mary Kate Doherty; Budget: Kate Carrano, Arthur Vietro; DPW: Anthony Landi, Ralph Butler, Thomas Hall; Planning: Fran McLaughlin; PRC: Joe Montalto, Joe Stout, David DeLucia; Others: Richard Streicher; Law: David Rothman; BOL: Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.
MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve the Minutes of March 25, 2002 and April 15, 2002 was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Oros out for the vote.
RECEIVE & FILE:
4.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from the National Audubon Society to be used at the Barlow Lane House at Marshlands Conservancy. (4/22/02)
5.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Joseph T. Curcio to be used at Mountain Lakes and Croton Park. (4/22/02)
6.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Cablevision Systems Corporation to be used to sponsor the Third Annual Trailblazer Awards. (4/22/02)
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On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to Receive and File Items A4, A5 and A6 was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislator Abinanti and Oros out for the vote.
INVEST-IN-KIDS IMA AMENDMENT:
· Amendment to Act 86-2002: The New York State Office of Children and Family Services will contribute $18,279 to the City of Mount Vernon Youth Bureau (Safe Places) program; the agency match will be increased to $41,612; the total amount of the program agreement will be $103,224; and the aggregate total of all agency agreements will be $573,979.
· Of the aggregate total amount of all agency agreements, $349,323 will be provided by the County’s Urban Youth Initiative “Invest-in-Kids” program, $206,377 will be provided by the agencies and $18,279 will be provided by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. All of the other terms of Act 86-2002 will remain unchanged.
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Oros and Abinanti out for the vote.
JOINT MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH:
Chairman Kaplowitz called the Environment and Health Committee meeting to order at 9:25 a.m.
A7.* Transportation Legislation: Proposed Acts for various Capital Budget amendments and grant acceptance agreements for the Westchester County Airport. (4/22/02) (Also referred to Env. & Health)
Reference 1:
The County would enter into a grant agreement to accept from the FAA up to approximately $2,205,000 in Airport Improvement Entitlement Funds as Operating Revenue, to offset operating security costs incurred in connection with additional security measures necessitated by the events of September 11, 2001.
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Reference 2:
The County would enter into a grant agreement to accept from the FAA of up to approximately $2,191,113 as Operating Revenue made available under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. These finds would be for operating security costs, incurred in connection with additional security measures necessitated by the events of September 11, 2001.
· The FAA is allowing us to use the $2.2 million for operating rather than capital.
· Capital programs will continue although this will go into operating budget.
· Money will end up in Special Revenue Fund for Airport.
· Will probably find another source of funding (reallocation of other funds such as Passenger Facility Funds) for loss of capital funds. Will receive other discretionary funds.
· PFC increased from $3.00 to $4.50
· Total from References 1 & 2 is $4,396,000; net to County from References 1 & 2 is $2,354,000. Two million will be distributed to the airlines.
· The $2,205,000 (Reference 1) goes solely to the County, not the airlines. Of the $2,191,113 (Reference 2) the County receives a small piece while the rest goes to the airlines.
· Applied for other funding for which the pot was $175 million. The County received $2.2 million.
· The allocation was based on cost centers.
· Breakdown of what airlines have spent and what is being allocated to them.
· County pays about 60% of cost for security.
· Each year we get between 4 and 8 million dollars in discretionary funds for capital.
· Discussion as to revisiting Reference 2 and recasting it so that the County receives a larger percentage (54%-60%).
· Discussion with regard to amending the Committee Report and/or Act to reflect the Board’s wishes for the allocation of the split for Reference 2.
· Estimated incremental police cost to Airport: from 9/11/01-12/31/01 $1,254,619; from 1/1/02 through 9/30/02 $3,543,417 for a total of approximately $4.8 million. Airlines will contribute approximately 40% of those costs. Of the total grant money ($4.4 million) the airlines will receive approximately 46%.
· Due to the need to work with the Law Department on amended language for References 1 & 2 ,no action was taken at this time. Committees will discuss this item next week.
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ADJOURNMENT: ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion for the Environment & Health Committee, on motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
BOND ACTS:
C57: RMAC2: V.E. Macy Park – Design of new ball fields and lighting - $80,000: (Bond Act 89-2002: Recommitted on 4/22/02)
Administration requested Committee hold off on discussing this matter.
C12: B0056: 375 Executive Boulevard – (Bond Act 62-2002: Recommitted on 4/8/02)
· This legislation was previously reviewed by the B&A and PW Committees, signed out and recommitted at the Board meeting of April 8, 2002. It has since been reviewed and signed out by the Committee on Public Works.
· To finance design and construction in connection with certain infrastructure repairs to the County owned facility at 375 Executive Boulevard, including, but not limited to, bringing toilets and elevators into compliance with the ADA and minor construction to relocate various County Departments into the facility.
· In addition, the funds will support the design of the new Westchester County Office of Emergency Management Operations Center and the relocation of the Joint News Center.
· 80,000 square foot building that is currently vacant.
· If this bonding authorization is approved the building will be ready for occupancy by July of 2003.
· Joint News Center will pay a proportionate share of construction.
· There was a discussion with regard to various leased buildings.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote o 6-2 with Legislators LaMotte and Oros signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislators Swanson and Abinanti being recorded
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C71: B0029: Addition to 112 East Post Road/134 Court Street - $100,000:
· To finance the construction of an approximately 8,000 square foot addition (one story and basement) to 112 East Post Road/134 Court Street, which will provide space for the relocation of the Health Clinic and the WICS (Women, Infants and Children) Program from the current location of 85 Court Street.
· This is part of an overall relocation project. There was a discussion as to whether it should be considered as a separate project since it consists of the construction of an addition rather than just a straight relocation. The response was that since the storage facility will be relocated to make room for DSS and since the space is insufficient the addition will be built, therefore it is part of a relocation project.
· 85 Court Street will consist totally of DSS.
· Committee requested a breakdown of moving costs.
On motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Swanson, Oros, Abinanti and LaMotte signing “Without Prejudice”.
C27: WD302: County Water District #3 Water Distribution System Improvements - $1,100,000:
· To finance construction and construction management related to the replacement/rehabilitation of the existing 10-inch water main at the Grasslands Reservation.
· Will show up in water rates.
· From Woods Road to Sunshine Cottage.
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0.
C49: RCP10: Croton Point Park Maintenance Facility - $150,000:
· To finance design of a new maintenance building at Croton Point Park, and a study of the existing historic buildings on site to determine their appropriate use.
· Original brick buildings to be used for things such as a Nature Center and Interpretive area for park
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· Committee requested a breakdown of projects at Croton Point as well as the status of projects
On motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator
C47: RP035: Playland Master Plan - $250,000:
· To finance development of a comprehensive master plan for Playland Park and the Edith Read Nature Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the City of Rye.
· Over time there have been lots of studies and information gathered.
· Discussion re: having a public scoping session.
· Committee will refer this item to the Parks Committee or review and comment before taking any action on it.
C53: RBM01: Blue Mountain Sportsman Center - $4,750,000:
· This item was previously reviewed by the Committee and a site visit was made.
· Required to finance lead remediation work required by a Consent Order with the EPA as well as range and support facility improvements at Blue Mountain Sportsman Center.
· The project includes improvements to the pistol range and shooting stations, the large bore range, as well as the trap and skeet range.
· Drainage, parking and related site work are also included.
· The Board previously authorized the County to issue bonds for this capital project in the amount of $1,000,000 pursuant to Bond Act 167-1993, which funded the initial clean-up of the County’s Sportsman Center.
C17: A056A: Heavy Equipment Acquisition - $475,000:
· Bonding authorization in the amount of $475,000 to finance the acquisition of the following equipment: runway snowplow, aircraft airstart, aircraft pushback tractor, and aircraft rescue and fire fighting (“ARFF”) fire truck.
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· The estimated cost for this component of this capital project is $775,000 to be financed as follows: approximately $270,000 in non-County funds expected to be received from the FAA, a cash component of $30,000 to be received from Airport Special Revenue Funds, as well as the above-referenced County bonds in the amount of $475,000.
Commissioner Salley stated that this item needs to be held until Item A7 is approved.
C35: T0019: White Plains Bus Terminal - $200,000:
· To finance Phase II improvements at the County-owned White Plains TransCenter Bus Terminal.
· The Phase II improvements will include signage, lighting, pavement markings, weather protection and electronic displays.
· The estimated cost for this component of this capital project is $1,000,000 to be financed with approximately $800,000 in non-County funds expected from FAA grants as well as bonds in the amount of $200,000.
On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislators Kaplowitz and Oros out for the vote.
C73: T001K: Articulated Buses - $1,050,000:
· To finance the acquisition of approximately ten articulated buses.
· The 2002 Capital Budget contains an appropriation of funds for this capital project, which contemplates the acquisition of approximately twenty buses.
· It is anticipated that bonding legislation for the remaining ten buses will be requested at a later date.
· The total estimated cost of the current bus acquisition is $5,250,000 to be financed with approximately $4,200,000 in non-County funds expected to be received from New York State Dedicated Transit Funds (“SDTF”) as well as the County bonds in the amount of $1,050,000.
· Justification - Allows for efficiencies of operation. Also, are wheelchair accessible.
· Hold until next week.
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ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 12:06 p.m.