MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

March 31, 1997

PRESENT: Chair Bronz, Legs: Spreckman and

Stewart-Cousins

Co-Chairs Swanson & Wishnie: Legs:

Darcy, Abinanti, Delfino, Young

ALSO PRESENT: Comm. Oliva, Mr. & Mrs. Herbek, Ms.

Drummond, Ms. Slovene, Mr. Blau, Mr.

Zaino, Mr. Massari, Mr. Boland, Mr.

Hosey, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Bennett,

Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Boland, Mrs.

Wuster, Ms. Monahan, Mr. Guzi, Ms.

Ms. Strauss, Ms. Nelson. Ms. Rhodes,

Mrs. Richman.

ITEMS DISCUSSED:

Co-Chair Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order. Chair Bronz called the Community Affairs meeting to order.

Comm. Oliva opened the meeting. The CDBG program is a big block grant. It is a partnership with the municipalities. This program began 22 years ago. If the communities banded together, the County Planning Department would be able to assist them with grants. When they first began there were 12 communities and there are now 37. The Cities of Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and White Plains can get grants on their own and do not belong to the County consortiums. Mount Pleasant, Pound Ridge and Pelham Manor are not in the consortium.

There are communities that are in the consortium that help to bring in dollars and do not use them, but in turn, enhances the pot for other municipalities.

Page 2 Community Affairs/ Budget March 31

Leg. Abinanti asked if each year is a new three year program and Comm. Oliva stated no. We receive the money each year, but we come to you to know how to spend the money over three years. Leg. Abinanti asked if there was a guarantee for 1998 and 1999, and Comm. Oliva said no. There were requests totaling $50 million and we will only be receiving $15 million and we must go the communities and get their priorities to try and fund them in the second or third year.

Leg. Abinanti also asked that we get notice of any change but we do not vote on these changes. Leg. Abinanti wants to know who has the authority to do this. Comm. Oliva explained how the money was taken from one community and given to another. Leg. Abinanti was concerned that it was done only Administratively and that the Board does not have a vote on this matter.

Leg. Abinanti suggests that the Board should be consulted on this issues and the guidelines should be changed.

Mr. Boland pointed out that her memo of February 21 and the fact that we did not receive it until March 27.

Leg. Delfino asked why Peekskill and Tarrytown were not part of the consortium. Comm. Oliva stated that Peekskill was on its own but they can receive more as a member of the consortium.

Leg. Darcy asked if communities match funds. Comm. Oliva stated that some do. Comm. Oliva stated that it has to meet certain thresholds or urgent need - such as a tornado. Income and programmatic items must be answered first. We must make sure that the projects are ready to go. If a community is matching, that receives a level of importance.

Indirect cost is money set aside to pay the bills that they receive from the Law Department, Maintenance, Lighting, Public Works, etc.

Leg. Abinanti would like to see a breakdown on these figures.

Page 3 Budget and Community Affairs March 31, 1997

Leg. Stewart-Cousins asked about minorities and women contractors and Comm. Oliva stated that she will supply Leg. Cousins with last year’s contractors.

Co-Chair Swanson asked for a time frame and Comm. Oliva stated that they must get the completed information to HUD in May.

Leg. Darcy suggested that the legislator of the District receive notice of change and that might satisfy all. Mr. Herbek commented on the fact that if the Board of Legislators gets involved in the changes it may turn into a political circus. He feels that this could turn into a disservice to the CDBG Program. Mr. Herbek stated that the municipalities meet four or five times a year and discuss items but they do not decide either. Comm. Oliva states that this is a give and take. They go out and inspect the sites, they don’t just sit in their office and pick this or that.

Some projects do come in under bid which save money that can be allocated to another project. Comm. Oliva will show how they do this.

Leg. Darcy asked when you set up your 3 year spread, if money is turned back, do you move up a program?

Ms. Richman explained that the Planning Board questions the staff on the projects and goes over them.

Co-Chair Wishnie asked that the Legislator involved be notified. He feels that this has been an excellent program over the past 22 years. The details can be worked out.

Chair Bronz stated that the Committee can also let the Legislator know when their project is before the Committee.

Comm. Oliva stated that they will always be available to discuss anything at any time.

Page 4 Budget and Community Affairs March 31, 1997

Co-Chair Swanson asked the Comm. if she knew that the Tuckahoe project needed more money and she said did when they initially came to them.

Leg. Delfino asked if some of the blight communities are given more money than others. He feels that much money has been poured into those communities over others. The Commissioner stated that Port Chester gets the largest amount of money because they meet the most criteria. The Planning Dept. must show that this money goes to low and middle income.

Co-Chair Wishnie thanked all for coming and stated that we will have a future joint meeting soon..

The Committee on Community Affairs moved to Chair Bronz’s office.

The Committee discussed the situation at the North Ridge Equestrian Center and dictated a letter to the County Attorney to ask her what options the Board has regarding the violations in the lease.

On motion of Leg. Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Leg. Spreckman, the meeting adjourned at 2:25 P.M.