COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPORIATONS
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 20, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wishnie, Alvarado, Bronz, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Oros
LEGISLATORS PRESENT: Pinto
OTHERS PRESENT: CE: B. Randolph, A. Newman; Budget: A. Vietro, L. Bennett, V. Huff, C. Burkart; County Clerk’s Office: L. Spano, E. Rogers, J. Delaney; Law: L. David, A. Arena, S. Dolgin-Kmetz, C. Indelicato; DPW: M. Waltman, W. Fallow, R. Butler; DEF: A. Landi, A. Zabinski, J. Phelan, B. Ellison, R. Matarazzo; Journal News: K. Eddings; CBAC: B. Strauss; BOL: B. Boland, R. Indelicato, S. Schecter, S. Vanderberg, P. Neglia
COUNTY CLERK:
Technical Services, line 4420:
The department has been able to reduce its $357,000 expenditure on hourly employees to $325,000 by using temps instead. This arrangement has proven to be easier to monitor. It was necessary to eliminate the hourly positions due to union issues. Mr. Rogers explained the number of indexes do not completely reflect the amount of work necessary to process them. In the past the department has had to pull personnel from other areas to help process the workload. The difference in rates paid for temps denotes different skill levels. A schedule for this line will be provided for the Committee to review. The department has a 28-day backlog on average.
A breakdown for this line was requested for Committee review.
Personnel
The department had 2 early retirements that have yet to be replaced.
Line 5485
Moving the Record Center from a leased location in Elmsford to a County owned building has saved the department addition money.
LAW:
Ms. Indelicato said the increases in intra-departmental charges were due to an increase in rates for services from $107 to $113. The formula used includes the costs for postal, and IT rate increases as well.
Litigation, line 4293:
A line item breakdown for this line for the 2001 and 2003 will be provided for Committee review.
Ms. Indelicato said the Department has been handling more cases “in-house” as opposed to using outside counsel, which is more fiscally prudent. The savings accrued by doing this is reflected in the Annual Financial Statement.
The department has been successful in collecting money from both Medicaid and child support.
A reconciliation between the 2002 and 2003 salaries budget was requested for review.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONNENTAL FACILITIES:
Commissioner Landi said a recent incident at the Medical Center has caused severe water damage to the facility and equipment. Responsibility remains undecided as there are conflicting details on the matter and it is unclear if the damage was caused during a routine paint job of a Water District #3 (of which the Medical Center is a part).
Mrs. Carrano said the movement of several SSO’s has raised the fund balance. Mr. Boland suggested each individual Legislator review this line for their district to determine the necessity. An analysis of the debt service will provided for each district for Committee review.
Personnel
The department has reduced 8 fulltime positions, the total number of reductions since 1998 is 30, and there are 393 fulltime employees now. The budget supports the continued education and training in the OSHA Program.
The fund balance for the refuse district is divided into groups, a portion will not be appropriated until 2005 and although the retrofitting project has been completed it will not hit the Department’s budget until 2004-2005. A written explanation will be provided for review.
PUBLIC WORKS:
According to its submitted information, the Department expects a reduction in the tax levy and gross expenses.
Mr. Butler said the department has received 2.8 million in revenue from the State for cleaning services performed in the Courthouse. A feasibility analysis for refinancing the Courthouse project will be provided for review.
The Department has been working with Planning and Parks to further the County Road transfer program. To date 8.1 miles have been transferred to local municipalities. Anticipates the transfer of another 10 miles to 3 municipalities.
Materials and Supplies, line 3200:
The decease in this line is due to the Department’s use of oil instead of gas during the earlier part of the year. At the time oil prices were significantly lower than gas. Which resulted in a big savings.
Equipment Replacement, line 2300:
A schedule for this line will be provided for review.
General Supplies, line 3240:
This line has been reduced as much as possible without jeopardizing operations. Mr. Butler said the Department is monitoring utilities, materials and supplies on a month-to-month basis.
Repairs & Maintenance, line 4200:
There are a number of “life safety” projects that must be done on all County maintained properties. A schedule was requested for this line.
State Aid
Line reflects a new reimbursement program begun in 2002 where State reimburses the Department for services rendered at the Courthouse. The lost in this line is due to a reduction in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program-CHIPS program and changes to the DASNY payments.
Rental/ Taxes, line 4320:
Schedules were requested for lines: 4320- Rental/Taxes, 4380-Contractual Services, 4420-Technical Services, 50-Departmental Income and 97-State Aid.
With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Mr. Alvarado, seconded by Mr. Wishnie the meeting was adjourned at 11:33 a.m.