COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION
MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2003
MEMBERS PRESENT
Budget & Appropriations: Wishnie, Abinanti, Alvarado, Bronz, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Oros
Public Safety: Ryan, Bronz, Kaplowitz, Wishnie
Public Works: Pinto, Wishnie, Rogowsky, Oros, Bronz
Environment & Health: Kaplowitz, Bronz, Lamotte, Pinto, Ryan, Rogowsky
Community Affairs: Alvarado, Bronz, Oros
OTHERS PRESENT: CE’s office: B. Randolph, A. Neuman, S. Carrera; Budget: K. Carrano, L. Bennett, A. Vietro; DES: T. Sutton, M. Volk; Parks: J. Stout, D. Lucia; DEF: R. Matarazzo; Planning: J. Mulligan; DPW: R. Butler; Supervisor Sy Globerman; Youth Bureau: M. Doherty; M. Weingarten, B. Poulin; LWV: B. Strauss; BOL: B. Boland, S. Schecter, C. Chang, R. Vega, S. Vanderberg, R. Indelicato
An Act amending the 2003 County Operating Budget by reallocating funds, in the amount of $930,640 dollars in the DPS Overtime Account in order to extend 28 officer positions through December 31, 2003. Mrs. Carrano said the funds were secured by the redeployment of personnel.
The 28 officers (all entry level) currently patrol State-owned parkways, an arrangement which will expire at midnight on April 30, 2003, as the County will no longer have legal authority to perform the patrols thereafter. The officers will assume responsibility of preexisting posts currently covered by scheduled overtime.
Because the funds to be reallocated were appropriated within the personal Services category of the DPS budget, no additional action from the Board will be required.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 3-1, with Legislator LaMotte opposing. Legislators Alvarado, Oros and Abinanti were out for vote.
For Public Safety: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item was carried 4-0.
Authorizing the County to enter into 5 year IMA’s with various municipalities for the distribution of specialized equipment in accordance with the State’s 3 year Domestic Preparedness Strategy.
Deputy Commissioner Sutton said the equipment will be contained in mobile trailers and will include personal protection, detection, decontamination and communication hardware supplies.
Federal funding for the equipment, to be utilized by the County’s Hazmat team, has passed to the County via the State.
Legislator Kaplowitz suggested amending Section 3 of the Legislation to read “This Act shall take effect immediately and shall be effective thru December 31, 2003.”
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item was carried as amended 5-0. Legislators Abinanti and Oros were out for the vote.
For Public Safety: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item was carried as amended 4-0.
Authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the County of Putnam, New York for the purpose of conducting a wastewater study of Peach Lake. Since Peach Lake straddles both Westchester and Putnam Counties, each County has agreed to contribute $75,000 dollars towards the study. The RFP process for a consultant to conduct the study is underway and Putnam will act as the coordinator once it commences. It is estimated the study will take 4-6 months.
Peach Lake was identified as one of the highest priority Focus Areas in the County Sewage Diversion Study, with the highest number of suspected and potential for failing septic systems which can threaten the quality of wells and overall water quality in the Croton Watershed, a major source of drinking water for both County and New York City residents.
$5.5 of the $45 million dollars in the East of Hudson Fund has been appropriated for Westchester’s share of the Peach Lake Project. It is hoped grants can be obtained to offset yearly maintenance and capital costs to the residents.
Supervisor Globerman said New York City has placed Peach Lake at the top of their list of un-sewered areas. He suggested the County have one of its own engineers present during the course of the study.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 6-0. Legislator Abinanti was out for the vote.
For Environment: On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 6-0.
An Act authorizing the County to enter into intermunicipal agreements under the “Invest-in-Kids” program with various municipalities for the indicated respective amounts. All agreed this was a worthwhile commitment.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item was carried 6-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Oros the item was carried 4-0.
Authorizing the acceptance of 1-acre property located in Yonkers from the State DOT, and the sale of the property to the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA) for $220,000 dollars. The YIDA will then lease the property to the adjacent below-market cost housing project for use as a parking lot.
The landlocked property was originally acquired as part of a larger parcel by the County in 1925 for parkway purposes, because it was never used for such, ownership reverts to the county.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Alvarado seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 5-0. Legislator Bronz was out for the vote.
Acceptance of 10 electric motorcars from Global Electric Motorcars. Mr. Carrera said the cars, similar to golf carts, will be used by the Parks and DEF and can be re-energized through a 110 volt outlet. The County has taken out a 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty at $750 dollars each.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item was carried 5-0. Legislators Abinanti and Bronz were out for the vote.
A Bond Act amending Bond Act No. 39-2001 by increasing the initial funding by $2,000,000 to fund the cost of construction related to the closure of Cell 3B and related monitoring at the Sprout Brook Ash Landfill for Refuse Disposal district No. 1. This will bring the total amount of bonding to $2,500,000. Bond 39-2001 funded design and construction management costs. Mr. Butler said the cost is based on acreage.
He said there is a time issue as there is an allotted amount of time by which filled cells must be closed. To date, all cell closure designs have been done in-house, and monitoring parameters are the same as that for landfills and must be submitted to the State and meet current regulations. All results are submitted to the respective town for approval.
Legislator Oros suggested air monitoring as well as ways to sell the ash be investigated. Legislator Rogowsky suggested a review of Refuse District Budgets be considered.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the item was carried 5-0. Legislators Abinanti and Bronz were out for the vote.
For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the item was carried 5-0.
A $220,000 dollar Bond Act for the Hutchinson Pump Station Stream Bank stabilization. The amount will fund the design and construction management costs in connection with the construction of a permanent bulkhead and other shoreline improvements along the Hutchinson River, adjacent to the pump station for the Hutchinson Sanitary Sewer District.
DEF has advised erosion to the riverbank is now within 10 feet of the 36-inch diameter influent sewage pipe to the pumping station. If allowed to continue the integrity of the pipeline will be compromised and raw sewage may leak into the river. DPW has begun the design process.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 5-0. Legislators Abinanti and Bronz were out for the vote.
For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky, seconded by Legislator Oros the item was carried 5-0.
ITEM C144 (SM076)
$700,000 Bond Act for a Pump Station Generator Program in the Mamaroneck Sewer District. to fund the cost of design, construction management and construction in connection with providing emergency generators and controls at Edgewater Point, Cove Road and East Basin Pump Stations for the Mamaroneck Valley Sanitary Sewer District. DEF has advised that in the event of a power failure the sewage flow to any of the aforementioned pump stations could be bypassed into the nearest watercourse, thereby temporarily compromising the water quality in that watercourse. The installation of emergency generators at these pump stations will provide backup power to keep the stations operational should a localized or widespread power failure occur.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 5-0. Legislators Abinanti and Bronz were out for the vote.
For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item was carried 5-0.
ITEM C145
A $550,000 Bond Act for Pump Station Rehabilitation in the fund cost of design and construction management in connection with the rehabilitation of the equipment and structure a the Flint Avenue Pump Station, New Rochelle Sanitary Sewer District. The rehabilitation will include pumps, drives and controls, process piping, electrical, heating and ventilating, plumbing lighting flow metering and instrumentation.
DEF says they have developed a comprehensive pump station rehabilitation program to examine, prioritize and rehabilitate or reconstruct all County owned sewage pumping stations which suffer significant wear due to use and require rehabilitation and replacement of equipment every 15 to 20 years.
Legislator Rogowsky suggested DEF work with NYPA to make sure all new technology is explored.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item was carried 6-0. Legislator Bronz was out for the vote.
For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item was carried 5-0.
ITEM A10
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item was carried 6-0.
With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Legislator Kaplowtz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 am.