MINUTES
MAY 13, 2002
B&A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Abinanti, Alvarado, Bronz, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson
PSCJ MEMBERS: Ryan, Kaplowitz, Bronz, Swanson, Wishnie
FAMILIES MEMBERS: LaMotte, Alvarado, Bronz
OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, David Meyers, CBAC/LWVW: Barbara Strauss; Budget: Leslie Bennett, Arthur Vietro; DoIT: Norm Jacknis, Kay Foster, Sam Wear, John Elliott, Stuart Wadler; DOT: Harry Stanton; DPS: Maryellen Martirano; DA Investigators PBA: Michael Occhicone; DA’s Office: Cheryl Mattiace, Pat Storino; Others: Mike Wittenberg; BOL: Rafael Vega, Sunday Vanderberg, Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.
RECEIVE & FILE:
4.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Jonathan Schiffer to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
5.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Elizabeth Bishop to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
6.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Bicycle World to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
7.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Violette Christen to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
11.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Laila Korde of Ossining to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – MAY 13, 2002
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12.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Jose Violin to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
13.* Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from Ann Miller to be used by the Tree Trust. (5/6/02)
14.* Certiorari Refunds: Forwarding a package of court-ordered certiorari refunds. (5/6/02)
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to Receive and File Items A4, A5, A6, A7, A11, A12, A13 & A14 was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
23. Retirement Plan: Proposed legislation authorizing Tier 3 and 4 employees engaged directly in criminal law enforcement activities in the employ of the Westchester County District Attorney’s office to elect to participate in a Twenty Year Retirement Plan (3/25/02)
· The current alternative 20 year plane is available to those Tier 3 and Tier 4 employees with 20 years of creditable service, with regard to age, and who are directly engaged in criminal law enforcement activities in the office of the D.A. provided they opt to participate on or before December 31, 2002 or within 3 years of entering employment in the office of the D.A.
· There are three eligible employees.
· The cost would be $57,000
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
JOINT MTG WITH PSCJ:
PSCJ Chair Ryan called the meeting to order at 9:27 a.m.
A3: E911 Surcharge: Proposed Act authorizing the expenditure of $2,600,000 in Enhanced 911 surcharge funds for the operation of the E911 system in Westchester County for the year 2002. (3/11/02) (Also referred to PSCJ)
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· Dr. Jacknis stated that there has been little change since last year’s E911 budget.
· The biggest expense is to Verizon, which handles the switching pf public calls to the county’s 50+ primary answering points and support for the Trailway emergency call box system.
· Line 5125: Community Services: $426,320: normal equipment turnovers and laptops for wireless data transmission program for local police departments. The program has worked well and the number of laptops exceeded expectations
· 2.5% increase in salaries from 2001 to 2002 due to retirement and FICA
· The fiscal year goes from Jan – Dec.
· Committees requested a breakdown of the fund balance from 2001
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
FOR THE PSCJ COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 5-0.
Special Committee on Families Chair LaMotte called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.
A9: Child Abuse Investigative Task Force: Proposed Act authorizing the County to amend IMA’s with the City of New Rochelle and the City of Yonkers in connection with the County’s Child Abuse Investigative Team. (4/22/02) (Also referred to PSCJ & Families)
· Amendment with the City of Yonkers & New Rochelle due to the fact that the County has had a chance to reevaluate and better assess the actual operating needs of the CAIT.
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· Certain funding, staffing and transportation issues were not adequately addressed or inadvertently omitted from the original legislation.
· Amendment would: increase salary and overtime; provide for an additional detective from Yonkers; provide for special training; and authorize the use of County-owned vehicles by CAIT officers.
· Would also address an oversight in Yonkers IMA; actual fringe for Yonkers was not included in the original.
· Request for revised budget reflecting the amendment.
· This is a 2 year IMA (October 1, 2002-September 30, 2003)
· Ms. Martirano reported that they have been operating with only 4 detectives, which is not enough. They can only go out on 50% of hot line calls and cannot be on call 24 hours a day. They only have 10 CPS workers, which is not enough. Have been operating with too few from the beginning. They get approximately 40 hot line calls a month. In addition, they take referrals from local police departments. Most municipalities invite CAIT in to help or to conduct the investigation.
· They currently do not have a Spanish speaking officer. In the beginning it was difficult to get interest from the locals. They do not want inexperienced people on the team as it is not productive. Yonkers has given 3 of their best, including one sergeant. They have identified a second county officer who has a lot of experience in interrogation. The goal of the Team is to maintain a high level of expertise, lessen the number of victim interviews and secure a Spanish speaking officer.
· The Committees amended the act to reflect the term. In the future the term should be indicated in the act.
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item, as amended, was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
FOR THE PSCJ COMMITTEE:
On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item, as amended, was carried by a vote of 5-0.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – MAY 20, 2002
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FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES:
On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion to approve this item, as amended, was carried by a vote of 3-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
Families:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the Committee on Families meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
PSCJ:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the PSCJ Committee meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
BONDS:
C30: BCR5A: Infrastructure Improvements - $750,000 (3/11/02)
· To finance design and construction related to the renovation of the one story Training Center at the Correctional Complex at the Valhalla Campus.
· Work will include the following: window replacement, upgrade of HVAC, upgrade bathroom facilities, provide shower unit in women’s bathroom, provide limited locker room space for Correction Officer Trainees enrolled in Correction Academy programs, and installation of new front and back door with card access/security system. Also included, the relocation and renovation of the offices of the Superior Officer Association.
On motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Swanson signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
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C31: BIT02: Electronic Government and Public Access - $700,000 (3/11/02)
· Required to finance continued implementation of web-based applications including, the acquisition and installation of hardware and software related to smart cards.
· Private industry is cause of delay – getting their act together.
· Smart cards are multi-use cards. Eventually will be able to eliminate the use of passwords on computers.
· Bond Act 72-2001 & Bond Act 46-2001 were for video conferencing and web software
· Thumbprint is key to the card.
· Concern re: doors closing so slowly-can follow someone else in – no cop to stop anyone. Will look into concern.
On motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Swanson out for the vote.
C33: BIT06: Purchase of Computer Equipment - $500,000 (3/11/02)
· Required to finance acquisition and installation of computer hardware and related software, including large servers for multi-departmental and county wide applications, departmental servers, exchange servers, emergency back-up servers and data storage devices. All new equipment, not replacements. Replacements come out of operating. Have a small percentage of back-up equipment
· Not a lot of room for delay
· Buying through capital is cheaper than leasing equipment.
On motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislator LaMotte signing “Without Prejudice” and Legislators Abinanti and Swanson out for the vote.
C34: BIT09: Geographic Information Systems - $265,000 (3/11/02)
· Required to finance acquisition of geographic information systems (GIS) computer hardware and software, consultant services and database development.
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· The Board previously authorized the County to issue bonds for this capital project in the amount of $705,000, pursuant to Bond Act 74-2001, which funded the development of a global positioning system.
· Discussion re: funding, cost avoidance, reimbursement
On motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Abinanti and Swanson out for the vote.
C36: T0023: Modernize Maintenance Facility - $40,000 (3/11/02)
· To finance the design of a 165,000 square foot new roof at the County’s Central Maintenance Facility in Yonkers.
· This is just for design piece. Estimated cost of the project is $200,000; with approximately $160,000 in non-County funds expected from FTA grants and the additional $40,000 in county bonds.
· This project was always predicated on bonds, never expected to have cash in it
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 5-1 with Legislator LaMotte being recorded in the negative and Legislators Abinanti and Swanson out for the vote.
BUDGET TRANSFER RESOLUTIONS & AMENDMENTS:
22.* Water District Transfer Resolution: Proposed Resolution Transferring funds within various County Water District funds. (5/6/02)
19.* Water District Budget Amendment: Proposed Act amending the 2001 Water District #3 Budget. (5/6/02)
21.* Budget Transfer Resolution: Proposed Resolution transferring funds within various County Departments. (5/6/02)
24.* Operating Budget Amendment: Proposed Act amending the 2001 Operating Budget. (5/6/02)
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
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· Committee began discussion on these items.
· A major concern was about 13 months of interdepartmental charges being recorded in the 2001 operating budgets of the departments. It was suggested that BKS be contacted for an opinion on this matter.
· Committee will discuss these items further next week.
A&C CALENDAR:
All questions and requests for information should be referred to Bob Boland.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.