COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES
JULY 8, 2002
ATTENDANCE:
B&A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Abinanti, Bronz, Kaplowitz,
Latimer, Oros, Stewart-Cousins,
Swanson
OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Andrew
Neuman, Richard Ian Riley-Clendenen
(Intern); PRC: Joe Stout, David
DeLucia, Jack Robbins; Budget: Arthur
Vietro, Leslie Bennett, Kate Carrano;
Law: Stewart Glass; Planning: Joyce
Lannert, Jerry Mulligan; DEF: Robert
Matarazzo; CBC/LWVW: Barbara
Strauss; DPW: James Antonaccio; BOL: Matthew Rosenfeld (Intern),
Justin Guido (Intern), Peter Neglia,
Tara Bernard, Sally Schecter; Citizens:
Goldie Solomon, Murray Bodin
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve the minutes of June 24 was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislators Latimer, Oros and Abinanti out for the vote.
RECEIVE AND FILE:
JOINT MEETING WITH COMMITTEE ON PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS:
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, the Public Works committee with Chair Bronz, Legislators Rogowsky and Wishnie in attendance was called to order. On the motion of Legislator Mosiello, the Special Committee on Parks with Chair Bronz and Legislator Pinto present was called to order.
Legislator Mosiello’s Special Committee on Parks held several public hearings in May and June regarding the $250,000 item for a master plan for Rye Playland that is on B&A’s Agenda. His Committee has issued a report with 5 recommendations (see “Report on a Comprehensive Master Plan for Playland Park”). He went on to say that no one at the hearings spoke negatively about Playland. He also said that he spoke to several community groups in his own district and again no one spoke negatively about Playland. Legislator Mosiello thanked David Simpson, Peter Neglia and Andrea Ettere of his staff and also his committee for doing such a comprehensive job. It is now up to B & A to determine when the bond act should be moved out of that committee.
Bond RGC08, a Club House for Hudson Hills Golf Course amounting to $1,000,000. This would include storage for the golf carts, men and women’s locker rooms, etc. It is a small building 3031 square feet. Legislator Swanson is concerned that this will bring us over the $10,000,000 and would like it in writing from the Bond counsel that we are not over that amount. This money is for the construction as the design has already been paid for. $750,000 is in the operating budget for this year and next year to grow in the course. This is the last piece of capital bonding for Hudson Hills. Legislator Rogowsky requested a 5-year projection. According to the Parks Department, there are 400,000 rounds of golf that are not being played in Westchester County. It is expected that the course will be up and running in the spring of 2004. It hasn’t been decided yet who will operate the course. John Sullivan is the architect and he has the specs. It was also suggested that an on-site visit is in order. This item was not voted on.
RBR01 Bronx River Reservation Pathways - $150,000: This is a continuation of a 1-1/2 mile pathway that has already been completed. In 1999 the Parks Department discovered an old footpath that still had bench frames. The bonding is for a survey and design to complete the missing link of approximately 1-1/2 miles. There was concern about what the impact would be in next year’s budget, especially if we are anticipating a 29% increase in property tax. There was a discussion of the process that is involved before a project appears in the Capital Budget.
It was requested that Budget give to Bob Boland, if they have not already done so, a list of what bonds are coming due and what our debt service is. On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Public Works committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 4-0 with Legislator Oros voting “without prejudice” and Legislator Rogowsky voting no. On a motion of Vito Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Special Committee on Parks, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Mosiello voting “without prejudice.” On a motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart Cousins for the Budget and Appropriation Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Abinanti out for the vote and Legislators Swanson, Oros, Stewart-Cousins and Kaplowitz voting “without prejudice.”
Bond RCP09 for the Croton Point Seawall Stabilization in the amount of $500,000. The Point is a 508-acre peninsula jutting into the Hudson River that is subject to wind, erosion, etc. The seawall has deteriorated and needs to be replaced and stabilized. The total cost will be $10,000,000. It is a public safety issue as well as the need to protect the shoreline from erosion. Legislator Rogowsky feels we cannot operate business as usual, we need to ask hard questions. Can this be put off for 6 or 12 months? Parks told the committee that the design process will take about a year and construction would not start until 2004. Legislator Latimer said he was not prepared to vote for the project today even through it would stimulate the economy and the longer the project is put off, the more expensive it becomes. If the design is done today and the project is put off, will the design have to be redone. He had two questions – what happens if it isn’t done now and what danger is it to the public? The Parks department answered that it is a public safety issue – there are holes and gaps in the sea wall and they have put large stones in the holes but they still have a concern. This item was not voted on.x
Bond RP23E for Playland Music Tower Stage in the amount of $1,550,000. The Parks Department would like a professional performance stage that would attract bigger talent, would be a revenue generator by expanding the schedule and having more events. The revenues could be as high as $500,000 for the season or as low as $150,000. The project would expand the immediate seating in front of the stage and allow seating on the lawn. The stage also serves as a family oriented musical revue five times a day. The work would be done over the winter so there would be no disruption in the service. They would start right after the season. It is a 15-year bond and ties into the master plan. The public expects entertainment and if the stage is closed, it would result in a loss of revenue.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky for the Public Works Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislator Oros signing “without prejudice.”
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Special Committee on Parks, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Mosiello signing ”without prejudice.” On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart Cousins for the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Oros, Stewart-Cousins and Latimer signing “without prejudice” and Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Oros, the Public Works Committee was adjourned.
Bond BLA01, Parkland Acquisition/Westchester Legacy, in the amount of $200,000: This is part of the Unification Church property that was acquired last year. There is an agreement with The National Trust, who runs Lyndhurst, and Historic Hudson to manage the property. This bond is to fund a master plan with The National Trust being hired as a consultant.
On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Mosiello, for the Special Committee on Parks, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Mosiello signing “without prejudice.” On the motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Oros for the Budget and Appropriation Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Latimer and Swanson signing “without prejudice” and Legislator Abinanti out for the vote.
BLA01 Parkland Acquisition/Westchester Legacy, in the amount of $100,000. This project is to finance design of 3 segments of Riverwalk in the Village of Tarrytown, Village of Croton-on-Hudson and the City of Peekskill. This is the first phase of what will eventually be a 46 mile stretch along the Hudson River.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Special Committee on Parks, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Mosiello signing “without prejudice. On the motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Latimer for the Budget and Appropriation Committee the motion was passed by a vote of 8-0 with Legislator Latimer signing “without prejudice.”
Bond B0045 Putnam Right-of-Way/County Trailway, in the amount of $105,000. This is to finance design of the South County Trailway from Dunwoodie Golf Course in the City of Yonkers to the New York City border, approximately 1.75 miles. There has been no community opposition to this portion of the trailway, however, there is concern about the missing link from people that are living close to the right-of-way.
On motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Special Committee on Parks, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Mosiello signing “without prejudice.” On the motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Budget and Appropriation Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Latimer, Oros and Swanson signing ”without prejudice.”
Bond RTB04 Tibbetts Brook Park Site Work, in the amount of $110,000. This is to finance design and construction management of the gazebo restoration, drainage improvements and pathway resurfacing throughout Tibbetts Brook Park in the City of Yonkers.
On motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz for the Special Committee on Parks, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0. On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Abinanti for the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Latimer, Oros and Swanson signing ”without prejudice.”
On motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz, the Special Committee on Parks was adjourned.
PILOT agreement with Entergy and the Town of Cortlandt and Hendrick Hudson School District. The Committee wanted to know what would happen to this agreement if the plant closed and what would happen without this agreement. It was suggested that this be voted out for a public hearing. A special date may be needed. There was discussion as to what the real property tax impact would be in the Lakeland School District, Yorktown and Somers and in Cortlandt. The County is not affected that much as is the School District and the Town. It took and Town and School approximately one year to work out this agreement with Entergy. There is a rush as the school district has to send out their tax bill.
On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Oros, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Kaplowitz, Abinanti, Stewart Cousins and Latimer signing “without prejudice.”
An IMA with Peekskill that would authorize the County to enter into an agreement with the City of Peekskill and the City of Peekskill IDA to release and terminate certain easement rights in favor of the County. Peekskill needs this property so a bus garage can be built. In turn for relinquishing this easement, they are granting the County an easement South of this easement. It was suggested that Legislators Abinanti and Oros pay a visit to the site so that Legislator Abinanti can become familiar with the site.
On motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators Kaplowitz, Abinanti, Stewart-Cousins and Latimer signing ”without prejudice.”
The A & C calendar was distributed and any questions were referred to Mr. Boland.
There will not be a meeting on July 29 but it will be held on July 31 instead so that President Hankin will be available to discuss the College budget.
On Motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.