COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES
AUGUST 12, 2002
B&A MEMBERS: Alvarado, Abinanti, Bronz, Kaplowitz,
LaMotte, Oros, Stewart-Cousins,
Swanson
OTHERS: Counsel for Leonard Spano: John M.
Flannerly; DEF: Anthony Landi; Finance: Peter Pucillo; Law: Jim Robertson, Lori Alesio; DOT: Larry Salley; Parks: Stanley Motley, DES:
Pat Kelly; Planning: Patrick Natarelli, Fran McLaughlin, Joyce Lannert; IT:
Sam Wear, Allen Elliott; Budget: Arthur Vietro, Katie Carrano, Leslie Bennett;
DPW: Ralph Butler; CSEA: Jack McPhillips; CEO: Ian Riley-Clendenen, Andrew Neuman, Bill Randolph; County
Clerk: Eugene Rogers; BOL: Matthew Rosenfeld (Intern), Justin Guido (Intern), Tara Bernard, Sally Schecter
The meeting was called to order at 9:20 a.m. by Legislator Kaplowitz. Legislator Wishnie is on vacation. On the motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the minutes of July 29, 2002 were accepted by a vote of 7-0. Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote. On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the minutes of August 5, 2002 were accepted by a vote of 7-0. Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote.
Legislator Kaplowitz pointed out that there was a notice in everyone’s mailbox from Moody’s that the County has again received a Triple A bond rating.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATION
PAGE 2
8/12/02
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSISON:
A8, Sewer District Modification Peekskill Sanitary Sewer: Eighty parcels had been removed from the Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District
in 1998. They are now requesting to be returned to that district. A surcharge has been imposed, $3,276 to be collected in ten annual payments of $327.60. The resolution needed to be corrected as it stated that these parcels had never been part of a sewer district. Based on a corrected resolution, on the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Chair Bronz, the motion was carried by a vote of 7-0. Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote. (A corrected resolution has been received.)
On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to Receive & File A13, Certiorari Refunds was carried by a vote of 7-0. Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote.
C45, Playland Pool Infrastructure $300,000 – RPO44: This is to pay for the design of new pool facilities at Playland Park. The Master Plan won’t change the design of the pool and bathhouse. It is to be on the same site. It was decided to build a new pool as it would be more cost effective then continuing to repair the existing pool. The cost of the new pool with slides would be approximately $3,000,000. When the Parks Commissioner was questioned, he said the pool presently doesn’t break even but enhancing it, he expected it would generate more income. It was pointed out that $3,000,000 in these economic times is a lot of money and we should be trying to cut costs.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Chair Bronz, the motion was passed by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators LaMotte, Swanson and Oros signing “without prejudice.” Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote.
C89, Electronic Exchange of Legal Data, $400,000 BCC01: This is for bonding legislation to finance the completion of design and
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATION
PAGE 3
8/12/02
implementation of a new system to allow the purchase and assignment of index numbers via the internet, the electronic filing of certain legal documents through a Web interface, integration of the Legal Division activities into the County Clerk’s office workflow and acquisition of the necessary hardware and software to support these activities. This is the first step in the certification process. Once the system is up and running, they will be moving from the old system. The total cost will be $800,000. So far $325,000 has been bonded. The balance of $75,000 was cash. There was discussion about the $75,000 and it was decided to have a new Committee Report issued that will indicate the $75,000 was cashed up.
Legislator Kaplowitz called the Committee on Environmental and Health to order. He had a quorum. Present were Legislators LaMotte, Pinto, and Swanson.
A6 – Bond Acts and Capital Budget Amendment – C94 is the Saw Mill River Ecosystem Restoration (BPL19) $961,000 and C95 is Main Street, Town of Eastchester and Village of Tuckahoe (RBO79) $1,200,000: The Capital Budget Amendment and related Bond act for BPL19 is needed to fund administrative costs associated with the Saw Mill River Basin feasibility study in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. RBO79 is to fund the reconstruction of approximately 1 mile of Main Street from its intersection with White Plains Post Road in the Town of Eastchester to approximately 175 feet west of its intersection with Fairview Avenue in the Village of Tuckahoe. A contract cannot be signed with the Corps until BPL19 is passed. The design would be shared 50/50 and then the actual cost of the construction would be 65% for the Corps and the County would pay 35%. This is an important project as the Saw Mill floods all the time. The increase of $41,000 is due to the Town of New Castle and City of Yonkers dropping out of this project. This would also include the stump dump in Elmsford and enable us to link portions of the South County Trailway and dredging of Woodlands Lake in Macy Park. The information we have received needs to be corrected to show that on the design portion the County will share with the Army
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATION
PAGE 4
8/12/02
Corps 50/50 and when it is implemented the Army Corps will pay 65% and the County 35%.
RBO79 – This section of Main Street has deteriorated. On a scale of 0 – 100, 100 is brand new and under 60 requires major renovation, this part is rated 56. Public Works requires that this be moved up in the Capital Budget. The design will be done over the winter and rehabilitation would start in the spring of 2003. Supervisor Cavanaugh and Mayor White would like it done. The actual resolution and the act need to be revised to include 0.2 miles of Main Street in Tuckahoe. The two roads are County Road 37 and 69II.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the Committee Environment/Health was adjourned by a vote of 4-0.
A16 – Lawsuit Settlement Martinelli v. Spano: The need to go into executive session was discussed. Legislator Rogowsky was not present and he had a question as to why the case was being settled. It was decided to put this over until next week.
C72 Dept. of Emergency Service Fire Training Center Equipment and Apparatus - $395,000 BFT08 – This is the 2nd part of the Bond Act. The first part was for an engine that cost $275,000 and this is for a basic ladder truck for $395,000. The old ladder truck was condemned. The local departments are not charged to use the Center. Some bring their own ladder trucks but others don’t want to take them out of the community in case it is needed. Commissioner Kelly pointed out that in 1998 he inherited the training center and it was in shambles. Firefighters would not even train there and went out of the County. The Board decided to reverse this and made decisions to turn the Center around. There are rumors that the County is on the way to making a career fire fighting force. This is not true. In order to do this, the state law would have to be changed. Legislator Swanson felt that radios were more important then the ladder truck. Because the Center obtains a fire truck doesn’t mean that they won’t get radios. There is presently a study that is about
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATION
PAGE 5
8/12/02
95% finished concerning antenna sites. A report is due this week. The next step is a licensing issue through the SEC. Hiring a consultant will take 45 to 60 days. This should be finished by the end of the year. Bids will go out early next year. Motorola is the largest company. It will take 12-14 months to finish the process. To put the system in will cost money and a capital project is needed. The radios are for the fire departments and EMS and hospitals can be built into the system.
On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion was carried by a vote of 6-1 with Legislator Swanson voting no and Legislator Abinanti out for the vote. Legislators LaMotte and Oros voted “without prejudice.”
A15 Geographic Information System IMA: This is authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with municipalities located in Westchester for the purpose of sharing geographic information system (GIS) data. There is no cost to the County, it is to formalize an exchange of data with various municipalities. There was discussion about charging municipalities but the taxpayers have already paid through property taxes and it would be billing them twice. The Committee report and Resolution have to be changed as it says “little or no cost.” The Act needs to have “if any” removed and Legislator Abinanti feels that the Committee Report should also have in it “with no option to renew.” Based on the above amendments, on the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, this motion was passed by a vote of 8-0.
A2 White Plains IMA to service the center mall on Bryant Avenue: This IMA is for the period April 15, 2002 through October 31, 2004 wherein the City shall service the center mall for three consecutive seasonal periods running from April 15 to October 31 of each year at a cost to the County of $2,500 per season. The service shall consist of weekly removal of litter and watering and grass
PAGE 6
8/12/02
cutting as needed. The White Plains Beautification Committee is looking at other IMA’s in White Plains.
On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Oros and Swanson voting “without prejudice.” Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote.
A5 Agreement and Amendment between County & Westchester Airport Associates: This would settle and resolve an existing dispute between the County and Westchester Airport Associates, L.P., as to the amount due the County for Excess Rent under the Lease for the Parking Facility at the County Airport. The excess rent was calculated incorrectly. County owed them money but the Finance Department and the Department of Transportation disagreed in 2001. It went to arbitration. A settlement was reached wherein the County would receive $461,914 plus interest through July 31, 2000, and $527,115 plus interest through July 31,2001. If this is rejected by the Board, it would go back to arbitration. This money would be put in the airport fund. It was suggested putting this out for a public hearing. Questions that were asked. Who paid for the alterations in the garage for security? What did it cost? Commissioner Salley said we paid 55% and Airport Associates paid 45%. He has the breakdown and will get it to us. The total cost was $700,000. This is a private garage, why should we pay? Why didn’t we just say close the garage.
There were too many unanswered questions. On the motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, this was signed out for a public hearing only. The vote was 8-0.
A7 Glen Island Bridge Repair RGI02 Capital Budget Amendment and Bond Act, $2,000,000: This is for the complete reconstruction of the bridge. The mechanical and electrical system need to be replaced. This is located under a slab of concrete. Design work was done four years ago but there were no visible signs, no structural
8/12/02
cracks. Bridge was stuck in an up position. Someone from the Parks Department came out and lowered it. Time is of the essence because if this gets stuck in a down position, the Coast Guard can assess the County $25,000 a day. Work would start in September.
The A & C calendar was handed out. Any questions were directed to Mr. Boland.
On the motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion to adjourn the Budget and Appropriation Committee was approved by a vote of 7-0. Legislator Stewart-Cousins was out for the vote.