COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wishnie, Alvarado, Bronz,
Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Latimer, Oros,
Stewart-Cousins
OTHERS PRESENT: Planning: Fran McLaughlin; Law:
Lori Alesio; CE’s Office: Andrew Neuman, Bill Randolph:Journal
News: Keith Eddings; Prks: Jack
Robbins, David DeLucia, Women’s Enterprise Development Center: Anne Janiak; Budget: Arthur Vietro, Katie Carrano, Leslie Bennett; Arts Council: Joanne Mongelli; Law/Risk Mgt.: Tony Arena; Westchester Library System: Maurice Freedman; Westchester D.A. Investigators PBA: Aldo Nestasi, Dennis Galliigo; Westchester County PBA: Leonard Spano, Michael O’Connor; Hudson River Museum: Dennis Power; BOL: Sally Schecter, Bob Boland, Peter Neglia, David Simpson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Chair Bronz, the minutes were approved.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0 to have the following items received and filed:
B55 - WestHELP Agreement
B2 – Certificate of Authorization – Commissioner of Parks
B16 – Certificate of Authorization – Gerard Mulligan
A19 – Settle a lawsuit of Mr. & Ms. W. on behalf of JW
A24 – Capital Budget Amendment
And Legislator Latimer added B1 – Municipally owned Power System and B3 – Program Analyst Position.
C104 – RSP02: Authorizing the issuance of up to $610,000 in bonds for the modernization of the Sprain Ridge Pool. The design is complete and the Parks Department would like construction to begin in the spring so it will be completed by July. It will be similar to Saxon Woods with an aquatic playground system. On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the motion was carried by a vote of 6-0 with Legislators Oros and LaMotte voting no. Legislator LaMotte said she would not vote for any more bond acts until the capital project for the paving of Long Ridge Road in Bedford is done. She went on to say she has been discussing this since 1999 and the road is very dangerous.
A5 – Compromise a claim against TIG Insurance Company and A9 – Legal proceedings against Moran Towing: Structural damage was done to the seawall of the Yonkers Joint Waste Water Treatment Plant. Because the County was concerned that sewage might leak into the river, Spearin, Preston & Burrows was hired to stabilize the damage and complete the repairs The total amount of the project was $1,799,029.26. The County’s insurance company at the time, TIG, disputed the cost and agreed to pay $1,254,224.36. The difference of $544,804.90 includes $250,000 deductible. TIG felt we should have waited before going ahead with the repairs. Now we are in the process of negotiating with Moran for the balance but we need to settle with TIG before we can go any further. The County is optimistic that they will collect the $300,000 balance.
On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins for both items, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0.
A18 – Compromise a claim against the estate of Domenick Carota: The total amount of the Medicaid claim is $200,852.75. Mrs. Carota was institutionalized and applied for and received Medical Assistance from DSS. Mr. Carota was responsible for his wife and possessed funds in excess of Medicaid limits. Mr. Carota executed the spousal refusal form and refused to provide financial support for his wife’s medical needs. There were long negotiations with DSS to be sure Ms. Carota would not be harmed. It was agreed to settle this for $160,000.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion was carried by a vote of 8-0.
The Act amending the 2003 County Operating Budget for the purpose of abolishing certain positions in various County departments and reducing appropriations with various County departments and an act fixing and determining the amounts of the County and Special District taxes for 2003 and levying such amounts upon the real property was distributed. Legislator Oros asked for a written opinion as to whether the fixing and determining the amount of the County and Special District taxes and levying such amounts upon the real property is legal.
Budget Director Carrano discussed the items on the contingency plan, explaining that the positions that were abolished will be eliminated on the first pay period after the act is adopted. The police will be laid off on March 31 which is when the State Budget expires. If the State continues to fund the police, the money will be put in as a trust account.
The Budget and Appropriation Committee was recessed at the call of the Chair at 10:40 a.m.
CONTINUATION OF RECESSED MEETING OF
BUDGET & APPROPRIATION MEETING
FEBRUARY 11, 2003
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wishnie, Alvarado, Bronz,
Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Oros,
Stewart-Cousins, Latimer
LEGISLATORS: Pinto, Mosiello, Maisano
OTHERS PRESENT: News 12: Katishia Cosley,
Kenneth Collazo; Housing Action
Council: Alan Gordon; Women’s
Agenda: Julie Domonkos,
Barbara Finkelstein, Toni
Downes, Anne Janiak; D.A.
Investigator PBA: Aldo Nastasi;
Police Department PBA: Lenny
Spano; CSEA: Jack McPhillips;
NY Times: Marek Fuchs, George
Gutierrez,Yilu Zhao; Pace
Women’s Justice Center: Vicki
Lutz; CBAC: Arthur Stampleman;
Journal News: Keith Eddings:
A.P.: Jim Fitzgerald; Arts
Council: Joanne Mongelli;
Hudson River Museum: Dennis
Power; CUTS: Kelly Jones:
WABC – TV: Kevin Pultz, Calvin
deMond: Jo Brill: Budget: Leslie
Bennett; Arthur Vietro; CE”s
Office: Andrew Neuman; BOL:
Barbara Dodds, Peter Neglia,
Steve Bass, Rafael, Sally
Schecter, Bob Boland
The Chair reconvened the meeting at 7:57 p.m. The proposed amended operating budget and tax levy was presented by the Budget Director. She reviewed the document. Legislator LaMotte is concerned about the CAIT program and the safety of children. The Budget Director advised that the child abuse program is not being discontinued but delivered in a different fashion. Legislator Oros feels this budget is being short sighted with cuts to the D.A. and the police department when we are on a high alert.
On the motion of Chair Bronz, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion was carried by a vote of 6-2. Legislators LaMotte and Oros voted no.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.