COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION

MINUTES

JANUARY 21, 2003

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:          Wishnie, Alvarado, Bronz, Kaplowitz,

                                                  Stewart-Cousins, Swanson

 

LEGISLATORS:                      Pinto, Rogowsky

 

OTHERS PRESENT:              Airport:  Joel Russell; DOT:  Lawrence

                                                  Salley; Parks:  David DeLucia; DEF:

                                                  Adam Zasbinski, Tom Lauro, Tony

                                                  Landi; CBAC/LWVVW:  Barbara

                                                  Strauss; DES:  Tony Sutton, Michael

                                                  Volk; Planning:  Fran McLaughlin;

                                                  Budget:  Arthur Vietro:  Law:  Lori

                                                  Alesio; CEO:  Andrew Neuman, Bill

                                                  Randolph, Sal Carrera; BOL:  Susan

Kirkpatrick, Peter Neglia, Barbara

Dodds, Tara Bernard, Sally Schecter,

Ray Indelicato, Bob Boland

 

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.

 

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, a motion was made to approve the January 6, 2003 minutes.

 

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, a motion was made to receive and file Court Ordered Certioraris.

 

Legislator Pinto, called the Public Works Committee to order.

 

SYO85 is a sewer system rehab in Elmsford for $2,000,000 for an emergency contract.  The pipe in question is near the south bound lane of the Saw Mill River Parkway, before Route 119.  The pipe dates back to the ‘30’s.  This pipe is part of the Saw Mill Valley Trunk Sewer which in turn is part of the Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant District.  The collapse happened mid-December.  Emergency bids were received and ELQ was the lowest bidder.  They secured the site at a cost of $100,000 until bonding could be approved.  There was discussion about the section pertaining to bonding for 40 years.  (This was subsequently explained by Commissioner Pucillo that when he sells bonds he cannot go beyond 40 years but he determines at the time of sale what the time frame of the bonds should be depending on the number of bonds that are being sold.)  The $2,000,000 is for design and construction.

 

On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky, seconded by Legislator Wishnie for the Public Works Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 4-0.  On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz for Budget & Appropriation, the motion was carried by a vote of 4-0 with Legislator Swanson voting no and Legislator Stewart-Cousins out for the vote.

 

Inasmuch as the Public Works Committee was still in session, Legislator Pinto requested that they consider a motion to remove a parcel from the Eastchester Sewer District.  On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky, a motion was made.  The motion was carried by a vote of 4-0.  On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky, the Public Works Committee was adjourned.

 

A21 – COMPROMISE OF CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES:  There were eight items which were settled with the County receiving two-thirds of the lien on seven items and one-third on one.  The County agreed to the one-third because the amount was small.  On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Chair Bronz, the motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.  Legislator Stewart-Cousins was out for the vote.

 

A22 – INITIATION OF A LAWSUIT:  The operator of the concession at Glen Island Park, Betwarda, entered into a five year license agreement.  One payment was made over the course of two years.  The County is owed $63,900.  Legislator Kaplowitz believed he had worked with Betwarda on financial matters and asked if he should be recused.  Because there was no financial benefit to him, there was no conflict.  It was suggested in the future, when the County enters into agreements with various companies that bonding should be considered.  On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislator Stewart-Cousins out for the vote.

 

A23 – Authorization to settle a lawsuit of Marrow v. Westchester:  Aubrey Marrow, 3rd was placed with a foster family and subsequently was severely burned on his hands from hot tap water.  The amount of the settlement is $237,000 which will be used to pay for the child’s medical care and should there be any money left it will be placed in trust for him.  On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislator Stewart-Cousins out for the vote.

 

A25 – Authorization to settle a lawsuit of Pawlowska v. Westchester:  The estate of Alexandra Pawlowska sued the County. It is recommended that the case be settled in the amount of $150,000.  Ms Pawlowska was being treated for TB by the Department of Health (DOH).  She subsequently decided to seek her own doctor and eventually died.  It is claimed that the County was responsible because the DOH did not stress that a blood test needed to be done every 30 days.  DOH did not document this and so it was decided to settle the case.  The system has now changed so cases are monitored more closely.  On the motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion was carried by a vote of 6-0.

 

The Committee on Environment/Health was called to order. 

 

A6 – Mark 1 Nerve Agent Antidote Kits:  The County will provide the Westchester County Health Care Corp. with 50 kits to treat patients who may have been exposed to large amounts of nerve agent.  Each kit costs $16.  On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Swanson for Budget and Appropriation, the motion was carried by a vote of 6-0.  On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Swanson for Environment/Health, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Pinto out for the vote.

 

A16 – Lease agreement with Panorama Flight Service:  Two sites were made available in 1990 to operate a Light General Aviation facility.  Panorama was given Echo  site that needed to have the soil replaced which amounted to $100,000.  The County has agreed to abate Panorama’s rent by $100,000 over the course of the next 5 years.  On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz for the Environment/Health Committee, the motion was carried by a vote of 3-0 with Legislator Swanson voting no.  On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado for Budget & Appropriation, the motion was carried by a vote of 5-0 with Legislator Swanson voting no.

 

On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Bronz, the Environment/Health Committee was adjourned.

 

C-105 – Capital Project RGIP2 authorizing the issuance of up to $950,000 in bonds for parkwide comfort station rehab:  There are 34 toilet buildings in the park system.  Nine have already been completed.  This project is for eight comfort stations – 1 Dunwoodie Golf Course, 2 at Sprain Ridge Park, 1 at Saxon Woods Park, 3 at Blue Mountain Park and 1 at Mohansic Golf Course.  On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Chair Bronz, the motion was carried by a vote of  6-0 with Legislator Stewart-Cousins voting “without prejudice.”

 

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the meeting was adjourned at 10:47 a.m.