COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPORIATONS
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 12, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wishnie, Alvarado, Abinanti, Bronz, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Stewart-Cousins
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Pinto, Rogowsky, Ryan, Bronz
PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS
PRESENT: Ryan, Kaplowitz, Wishnie, Bronz
OTHERS PRESENT: Budget: K. Carrano, A. Vietro; DEF: A. Landi, R. Matarazzo, J. Morris, A. Zabinski; DOT: H. Stanton; WC Airport: P. Scherrer; Law: J. Robertson; Planning: F. McLaughlin; WCPD: B. Rhem, D. Ritucci; DSS: C. Little, N. Travers; CBAC: A. Stampleman, B. Strauss; Personnel: P. Zeman; County Clerk’s Office: BOL: B. Boland, R. Indelicato, S. Schecter, S. Vanderberg
On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mrs. Bronz, the minutes of November 4, 2002 were moved, 4-0.
RECEIVE & FILE
On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mrs. LaMotte, agenda items B6, B30, B51, B53 and B54 were received and filed, 4-0.
ITEM A19
Mr. Stanton said under the proposed lease agreement (to expire in 2007) National Car Rental, poised to merge with Alamo care rental through corporate reorganization, would be introducing the Alamo line to Westchester County airport consumers. The merger would provide the County with some additional revenue and a small permit fee.
Mr. wishnie noted this action would require both a Public Hearing and Local Law.
On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mrs. LaMotte, the item was carried for all purposes, 4-0.
With a quorum present Chairman Kaplowitz called the Committee on Environment & Health to order at 9:27 a.m.
ITEM A12
Ms. Travers said under the proposed agreement the Child Advocacy Center would conduct sexual abuse assessments of alleged juvenile victims. The increased amount of the agreement is in direct correlation to the increased number of children being seen. There were 444 cases in 2001 and 378 cases as of November 8, 2002. 65% of funding is provided through Federal Grants.
For Environment & Health: On the motion of Mr. Pinto, seconded by Mr. Rogowsky the item was carried, 5-0.
For Budget & Appropriations: On the motion of Mr. Alvarado, seconded by Mrs. LaMotte, the item was carried, 5-0.
On the motion of Mr. Pinto seconded by Mrs. LaMotte, the Committee on Environment & Health was adjourned at 9:29 a.m.
ITEM A10
Ms. Alesio said Mary Jenkins lost her balance and fell down the back steps of an articulated bus during her 26th week of pregnancy. Five days after the accident suffering from complications, Ms. Jenkins was admitted into Phelps Memorial Hospital where she underwent an emergency c-section. The male child weighing 2 pounds 5 ounces, suffered from a host of life threatening complications at birth and will consequently require a lifetime of care, and possible institutionalization. It was Ms. Alesio’s opinion that the County not go to trial but settle the case for $250,000. She added AIG would be contributing $600,000 for a total of $850,000 to be placed in a special needs trust for the child.
On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mr. Alvarado, the item was carried, 5-0. Mrs. LaMotte voted without prejudice.
ITEM A11
Mr. Roberston said under Act 16-2002 the Board approved the County Attorney’s request to hire Mr. Alan scheinkman who was employed at the time with Epstein, Becker and Green as outside counsel on energy matters. This proposed agreement would allow the County to continue to use Mr. Scheinkman’s services despite his recent change in law firms through the end of the year. Mr. Scheinkman’s expertise was still needed for issues such as the Millennium Pipeline and the Con Edison monthly adjustment clause case.
Due to his profesdional relationship with certain parties mentioned in the agreement, Mr. Robertson said Mr. Kaplowitz might want to recuse his vote on this issue.
On the motion of Mr. Alvarado, seconded by Mrs. Bronz the item was carried, 5-0. Mrs. LaMotte voted without prejudice and Mr. Kaplowitz recused his vote.
With a quorum present, Chairman Ryan called the Committee on Public Safety & Criminal Justice to order at 9:42 a.m.
ITEM A14
This proposed act authorizes the County to enter into an MOU with various law enforcement agencies and the Cities of Mount Vernon and Yonkers. Ms. Ritucci said he agreement would enable this joint task to continue their work of identifying and targeting violent street gangs for prosecution. This agreement would provide for the overtime reimbursement of officer assigned to the force. The task force also receives Federal funding. The task force, which has been very successful to date, is responsible for the 14-15 members of a violent street who presently face federal time. The task force is open for any municipality to join.
For the Committee on Public Safety: On the motion of Mr. Wishnie, seconded by Mr. Kaplowitz the item was carried, 4-0.
For the Committee on Budget: On the motion of Mr. Alvarado, seconded by Mrs. LaMotte the item was carried, 6-0.
On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mr. Wishnie the Committee on Public Safety was adjourned at 9:49 a.m.
ITEM B52
Mr. Boland said, as is the custom, every 3 years the County has the responsibility of choosing an auditor. Of all the RFP’s submitted, Bennett Kielson was the only accounting firm to respond. Mrs. Carrano said a new accounting firm would probably be very hesitant about approaching such an undertaking for the first time. Mr. Wishnie said Bennett Kielson had agreed to reduce their fees for services rendered by 5%.
Mr. Rogowsky suggested adjustments be made to secure competitive bids in the upcoming years.
On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mrs. Stewart-Cousins the item was carried 6-0. Mrs. LaMotte voted without prejudice.
CAPITAL BUDGET:
Refuse, Sewer, and Water District:
Commissioner Landi, Environmental facilities said the requested budget for 2003 was roughly $850,000 for refuse, $12,800,000 fore sewer, and $820,000 for water for a total of 414,470,000. By way of a quick overview, Mr. Landi highlighted the following items:
O15 Series: Refers to an upgrade to the remote monitoring control system at 35 pump stations.
O75 Series: Refers to the emergency generator program at the 3 pump stations in the Mamaroneck district.
Odor control at the North Yonkers and Peekskill Pump stations (as requested by Legislator Oros), the replacement of some force mains and the upgrade of 40 pump stations, at a cost of 2.3 million were among some of the more costly projects the department plans to under take in the upcoming year.
Responding to Mr. Boland’s question, Mrs. Carrano explained due to the time expended from design through construction and completion, the money allocated for these projects was moved from the operating budget to capital budget until the project is completed and then is cashed up.
SH001: According to the Black & Veetch report indicated the stream bank along which this pump station is located was suffering from erosion and required stabilization.
SM002: This project, in Mamaroneck will be held off until a recently established municipal Committee decides which course of action they wish to see take place.
SMR02: Based on the findings of a study on the condition of the pipe, the design phase will conclude in 2003 with replacement in 2004.
SMR75: The 75 Series that was initially kept in general capital is now being moved to the specific districts scheduled for rehab.
In response to Mr. Abinanti, Mr. Landi said the North Yonkers is a manned station, with 2 emergency feeders.
SBC01: For the replacement of the rbc’s at the treatment plant, this is the combination of 2 projects.
SBK01: Odor control projects, increased to anticipate cost in upcoming years.
SBK05: Odor control at the Peekskill plant, at the request of Legislator Oros.
SPS01: Odor control project for North Yonkers pump station due to its close proximity to the Yonkers Waterfront Project.
SY020: Force main which has suffered several breaks, study to determine feasibility of running it along Metro-North train route.
SY122: Replacement of system important to plant operations could provide potential cost savings therefore important to move up.
SYO80: Declorination of Yonkers Point Treatment Plant, subsidized by a $1million dollar grant from State.
SWO98: Nutrient removal project at the Mamaroneck Waste Water Treatment Plant, subsidized by $3.8 million grant from the State.
WD101: Increased cost by $200,000, investigate requests from Cities of Mount Vernon and Yonkers to tap into the Hillside Reservoir for water.
WD102: New project to investigate the possibility of reducing the pressure on Water District 1’s line (built in the 1800’s) to help reduce leaks.
In response to Mr. Wishnie’s inquiry, Mr. Landi said the $400,000 the board allocated to investigate plans going forward for the Ossining, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck and Blind Brook Sewer Districts would require an update from the Planning Department. Mr. Newman said he would provide the Committee with a report on the issue.
Mr. Landi submitted information regarding the County’s Energy policy and the strides made for the Committee’s review.
A&C
Mr. Abinanti expressed his concern at the untimely fashion with which Board staff receives requested information.
Item #4: Mr. Boland said of the $2 million in additional County revenue this item would allocate a good portion of it to the County Clerk’s office for staffing. In response to Mr. Abinanti’s skepticism, Mrs. Carrano said the volume handled by the County Clerk’s office has surpassed the speculated amount.
Mr. Abinanti said the 1999 actual was 233,000 documents and the budget was far less than what was appropriated in comparison to the lesser number
processed to date. Mrs. Carrano said the debt service charged by the IT Department for system upgrades hit the County Clerk’s budget over the last year raising their tax levy.
Item #18: In response to Mr. Rogowsky’s concern, Mr. Boland said a cutback resulted in $200,000 in additional monies for Westhab. He said he is awaiting backup information on this issue.
Item #4: Ms. Zeman said the nature of the work handled by the County Clerk’s office is difficult to predict, as such it is much wiser to bring in temps when necessary according to the influx of work. As commissioner of Human Resources she has the authority to oversee the hiring of temp employees, which are covered by an individual department’s budget. Mrs. Carrano said the Clerk’s office is coming in below the tax levy. Mr. Rogers said to date the Clerk’s office has recorded 130,000 land record documents and taken in well over 157,000 documents. Mr. Abinanti remained skeptical of the amount of money being requested by the County Clerk’s office for personnel.
Mr. Rogers said he would provide the Committee with an analysis going back to 1999.
With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Mrs. LaMotte, seconded by the meeting was adjourned at 11:15a.m.