MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
Monday, February 3, 2003
3:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Kaplowitz, Chair; U. LaMotte; V. Pinto; S. Swanson.
BOL STAFF: T. Bernard, P. Neglia, S. Kirkpatrick, Rafael Vega, Chris Chang.
GUESTS: Jim Nordgren (FCWC), Hope Corbin, Ron Gatto (Dir. Of Envir. Security), Amy Parekh (FCWC), Paula DeCaro (LWV), Bill Randolph (CEO).
DISCUSSION:
Chair Kaplowitz called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm. He thanked Peter Neglia and Tara Bernard, Program Specialists, for preparing a series of meetings in Peekskill (Feb. 13), Yorktown (Feb. 19), New Castle (Feb. 24) and Yonkers (Mar. 12) on Sewage Diversion. The schedule will go to all legislators who are welcome to join Legislators Kaplowitz, Pinto, Young and Wishnie who are chairs of the four committeesHANDLING/OVERSEEING sewage diversion.
Ron Gatto, Director of Environmental Security, a new position with County, was introduced.
Mr. Gatto expressed a desire to keep open communication with the Legislature. Legislator Kaplowitz expressed the same. He described his 20 years of experience as a police captain in charge of security with the DEP east and west of Hudson covering 2000 sq. miles of dams, aqueducts and reservoirs.
He sees the job as doing a little of everything, including overseeing the sewage treatment plants, transfer stations, reservoirs, dams and additional responsibilities in time. Recently, he dealt with the mercury spill at the hospital.
Mr. Gatto reaches out to other police departments and can assist them with
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COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
February 3, 2003
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security and environmental issues. He is a police officer and believes his police powers are important. He reports directly to the Commissioner of
Public Safety and through Comm. D’Aliso to the County Executive. Although the protocol is not yet clear, he does take referrals from some departments or municipalities if they see something that might be criminal.
Legislator LaMotte expressed concern that he look in to the issue of beach pollution and beach closures.
Currently Mr. Gatto is scheduling tours of all facilities. But complaints are delaying his review of the facilities. In response to Legis. Kaplowitz inquiry, Mr. Gatto expressed his desire to also be proactive and to have a staff to assist him. Complaints and arrests will be forwarded to the DA to be prosecuted. The hospital mercury spill was criminal because of the degree of the spill and that the contractor should have done a better job because of his years of experience. Mr. Gatto is comfortable that his experience allows him to differentiate between criminal and civil violations. He works with the Environmental Crimes Bureau in the County DA’s office.
At the Committee’s request, Mr. Gatto agreed to provide his job description.
Mr. Kaplowitz asked about the recent fuel oil spill in Mt. Vernon. Mr. Gatto explained that the fuel oil was delivered by Mystic Oil to the wrong building. Because that tank was already full, the tank seam spilt causing 5,000 gallons to spill into the building and some into the Bronx River. Most of the oil was retrieved. This cost was $200,000- $300,000 to clean up. Although the insurance company got there right away, his job was to review the situation and work with the DEC, local police, Health Dept. and other parties to be sure everything is done properly. He also looked to see if there was criminal liability.
Legislator Kaplowitz asked that quarterly updates on his work be provided to E&H, PW, PS&CJ committees. E&H keeps close communication with Elaine Price in Consumer Affairs and Health Dept. and Mr. Gatto should connect with them also.
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COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
February 3, 2003
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Environmental audits are important to E&H committee and will be also to Environmental Security.
Amy Parekh and Jim Nordgren, representing the Federated Conservationists updated the Committee on their activities. The high school environmental fall activities included a training retreat, Otter Creek restoration in Mamaroneck and mock legislature with George Latimer. This spring there will be a trip to Albany, and they will look at the Bronx River. Legislator LaMotte asked for a copy of the participating schools.
FCWC also has ongoing projects such as beautification of the Mt. Vernon Boys and Girls Club and a streambed restoration behind the Scarsdale HS. There are also intergenerational projects in Yonkers and Scarsdale with senior and high school students. There is some connection with the WCC Native Plants Center. They also have planned a May 22 Storm Water Phase II conference to get communities together to share “best practices” for prevention and remediation.
A new Phase II federal law requires municipal governments to sign off that they are policing, inspecting and have on-going maintenance for septic systems and so forth. Ann Arbor, Michigan has an innovative plan to pay for these requirements though a regional taxing district.
Legislator Kaplowitz reviewed future committee meetings:
1. Monday, Feb. 10 at noon – A Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled so that a storm water report can be given to the full Board by the Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC). [This meeting was subsequently changed to 2:00 pm.]
2. Monday, Feb. 10 at 3:00 p.m. – At the regularly scheduled E&H committee, proponents and opponents will be present to discuss sewage diversion
3. Monday, Feb. 24 at 3:00 p.m. – Supervisor Marion Sinek of New Castle and Supervisor Linda Cooper of Yorktown will present specifics of the sewage diversion issue in their towns.
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4. Monday, March 3 at 3:00 p.m. – Gina D’Agrosa (Planning Dept.), the County Water Master, will make a SEQRA presentation. Attempts are being made to make this a joint meeting with B&A,PW and CED so the sewage diversion matter can be voted out to the full Board meeting on March 17.
The Minutes of January 13 and 21 were approved as written.
The committee reviewed the agenda. The following items were marked “Received and Filed”: #5, 38, 95, 133, 157, 159,160, 172, 173, 177, 178, 180, 183, 193, 194 and 200.
Legislator LaMotte requested the item #185 be discussed by the Committee as soon as possible since it is time sensitive. Legislator Kaplowitz noted that the Board was named as lead agency on this issue.
Upon motion made and seconded the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.