LEGISLATORS: DELFINO, STEWART-COUSINS

MEMBERS: HAROLD VOGT (WEST. COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE), JAY BILOTTA (SANPORT SUPPLY), BRUCE LORD (GRAND WEST ASSOCIATES)

STAFF: KRISS, MORO (BOL)

Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins called the meeting to order at 3:23 p.m.

On motion of Harold Vogt and seconded by Jay Bilotta the minutes of March 27, 1997 were approved by a vote of 5-0.

Jay Bilotta stated that the PLA agreements are already in effect. There are some jobs that are going out, he thinks one job was a million dollar job and another was a five million dollar job. Ross Pepe told him about it when he called Mr. Pepe to bring him up to date on what we are doing. Mr. Bilotta was not sure if it had anything to do with highway road construction but it was definitely in the building trades. Mr. Vogt remarked that the one the Tappan Zee bridge is under is a PLA agreement. Mr. Bilotta stated that, that one is the model for the PLA agreement that everyone is endorsing, it seems to be working out really well. Co-Chair Delfino thought that Mr. Pepe was now supporting it but originally had written a letter opposing the Executive Order. Mr. Bilotta stated that Mr. Pepe had opposed the Executive Order based on the dollar amount, it was too low. Mr. Bilotta stated that he believes it should go up to a minimum of seven million because that is when you can realize a savings. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins interjected that this PLA agreement was a result of the Executive Order, it may be in effect now, but next year, with a new County Executive it may not be. She went on to say that if it is going to become legislation, the law of the County, it needs more than an Executive Order. Mr. Bilotta stated that this Task Force should bring in the people who drafted the PLA agreement. Co-Chair Delfino

agreed, he would like to do that as soon as possible. Mr. Bilotta stated that everyone who is going to bid on a contract that has a PLA agreement must be union. Someone who is a nonunion bidder will have to bid union wages and benefits. That may increase the price. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins brought up a point that is important to her which is how would people who have traditionally been locked out of these labor unions get some access. Mr. Bilotta stated that this will provide an avenue for that because if you want to bid a job and you meet all the qualifications then the unions will be more that happy to sign you up. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins stated that, that hasn’t always been the case. Mr. Bilotta stated that at all the construction projects he has been at, if there are non union people, you see delegates and then a strike, to force you to sign up, that is a choice, you don’t have to sign up but they try to intimidate you. Mr. Lord stated that there should be some kind of collective bargaining agreement so people of color can participate in this process. There may be people who are not in the union but would like to bid on it that can not because they are not in the union. Mr. Bilotta responded that they would be able to. Mr. Vogt interjected that the unions will take them in even thought they are non union contractors but then they have to pay all the add-ons and that has to be part of their bid, so everyone will be bidding on equal footing. Mr. Bilotta stated that it protects him as a union contractor and also lets people come in who are non union contractors and not worry about any kind of labor disputes. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins stated that the Task Force should bring in the appropriate people to answer the many questions they have, about how it works. She wants to be sure it is a win-win situation for everyone. In her city they are not seeing a diverse participation. She needs to negotiate or talk to someone who is going to allow people who are not presently in these unions to start coming in. Mr. Lord agreed that we need to get a presentation on how this is going to work because in some cases it can really drive up the cost for the person who is not in the union. Mr. Vogt stated that it does not drive the cost up any higher than it does for the union participant, however it will be costing the tax payer because there will be no bidding. Mr. Bilotta stated it is a double edge

sword, it does bring everyone to an even playing field but it makes the unions very strong. It effects their collective bargaining. Co-Chair Delfino stated you don’t want to drive the little man out of business by passing legislation. Co-Chair Delfino went on to say that we should bring in Commissioner Landi. He gets all the public works bids, we can have him give us an explanation of how it benefits the County of Westchester and keeps everybody in harmony. Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins and Co-Chair Delfino discussed who to bring in at what time, it was decided that Commissioner Landi will be asked in for the next meeting, then Mr. Pepe and Mr. Doyle.

Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins then addressed the Investment Policy. As a result of our discussions and with the assistance of Mr. Vogt we have developed a proposed bank survey. Mr. Vogt stated that he has only been able to make contact with Steve Cohen who is the president of the Westchester Bank Association earlier this week. He faxed Mr. Cohen a copy of the survey but has not heard back from him yet. Co-Chair Delfino asked everyone to review the draft letter which would accompany the survey, if it is agreeable to them and if Mr. Vogt calls us before the next meeting, we will send it out. Mr. Vogt distributed a list of potential banks.

Co-Chair Stewart-Cousins next addressed the Economic Development initiative and the arts in reference to the hotel industry. Mr. Vogt stated that it has been difficult to sort through the requests on this issue. We have been given a lot of information. The Task Force members have lots of questions and concerns with this issue. They are not all familiar with the Arts or Historic Hudson Valley. Co-Chair Delfino stated that we will have someone come in for the Arts to explain it all. Co-Chair Delfino explained that the Tourism Bureau is under jurisdiction of the Regional Chamber of Commerce which Mr. Vogt chairs. It is being funded now through a small portion of a 3% hotel tax of Westchester County. They are not being supplemented in respect to what the original agreement was with the hotels. About six years ago they added another 1% because of the homeless. Of

that, the hotels were supposed to get a portion but they never did. Now they get another dollar, but Co-Chair Delfino’s feeling is that there will not be an agreement until they have in writing that they will be supplemented . There is going to have to be a compromise. Mr. O’Rourke is meeting with the hotel industry to try and talk it through. Mr. Vogt will be at that meeting, as well as the Arts Council. Mr. Vogt stated that in order to get this dollar a day tax there has to be a home rule legislation on it. That has to be approved before the County can move forward with it. Until the issue is clarified, he hopes that the Board will not act on it. Mr. Bilotta asked if the Westchester Arts Council was an extension of Westchester County, or a private organization. Co-Chair Delfino responded that it is a not for profit organization. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins interjected that it is however funded by Westchester County dollars. Co-Chair Delfino serves as liaison for the committee and he stated that he believes they are receiving $450, 000 from the County, which is a larger number than Tourism is getting. Mr. Vogt stated that their source of funding comes from different areas. They get money form the State and the Federal Government, but those programs have been cut back significantly, which puts a lot of pressure on the arts council locally to make that up some way. Co-Chair Delfino stated that corporations who were large contributors in the past have cut back significantly, so they are struggling for dollars. Mr. Vogt stated that we have a lot of spill over between Tourism and Arts, but they are separate units both trying to draw from the same money. Mr. Vogt brought up a point that if you put the burden of funding on the service provider, are you now going to make them less competitive. We don’t want to make the big businesses do business elsewhere. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins suggested we get a copy of the 1995 and 1996 budget filed from the Bureau and distribute it to all the Task Force members. Mr. Vogt suggested we also bring in someone from the Bureau. Mr. Bilotta thought it would be a good idea if they send us the information before they come in. Mr. Bilotta also suggested the possibility of changing the amount to twenty five cents instead of a dollar. Co-Chair Delfino stated we could also bring in our Budget Director, Joe Phelan. Mr.

Vogt thought other Legislators should be in on these meetings. Mr. Vogt suggested a concept where the dollar would be added on to the price of admission to the cultural event. Co-Chair Stewart Cousins stated that at some events they can barely get people in the door, raising the price would be even more detrimental. Mr. Vogt suggested putting the extra dollar on the successful functions, not to do it across the board. Have the successful art programs help fund the others. Mr. Bilotta asked if we could get an annual report , a breakdown of the arts. Co-Chair Delfino responded that Janet could bring it in with her. The Task Force agreed that at our next meeting, set for May 8, at 3:00 p.m. we will have Commissioner Landi in to discuss project labor and at 3:30 p.m. we will have Janet Langsam in to discuss the arts. Some of the Task Force members were concerned that the Board of Legislators may take action on these items before hearing from this Task Force first. Co-Chair Delfino explained the process to put their minds at ease. Any member of the Board can submit an item to be put on the Board agenda. At their mark up session they decide which Committee or Task Force to refer the item to. No committee supersedes another, so if an item is referred to two committees, there would probably be at some point a joint meeting of the two committees.

Harold Vogt motioned to close the meeting at 4:27, and was seconded by Jay Bilotta.