PRESENT: Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: V. Pinto, J. Maisano.

Staff: Rob Hoch, Charlotte Ryer, Sec’y.

ALSO PRESENT: Carol Coggeshall (Soil & Water Bd.); Gudrun LeLash (FCWC); Irene Saltzburg (Friends/Marshland); Karen & Jules Shultz (Sierra Club); Harry Stanton, Patty Chambers (WC/DOT); Katherine McLoughlin (NY League Consv. Voters); Bill Randolph (CEO).

The meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m.. The minutes for December 1, 1998 were approved on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Chair Kaplowitz, with a vote of 2-0. (Legislator Maisano was out for the vote.)

Chair Kaplowitz introduced the visitors, and briefly reviewed past business before the visitors present their reports. He mentioned the news articles relating to the de-icing fluids found in the Kensico Reservoir, and asked Rob to coordinate with the Administration during the next week, to get a response to the 14-points presented by the Airport Sub-committee in their final report. Due to the importance and critical nature, and timeliness of this issue, it was also requested that this subject be worked into the Committee schedule as early as January 26^th. Chair introduced Jules Shultz, who will present his report (dated today) "Follow-up Report on recent Airport Matters". Mr. Shultz briefly outlined his report (a copy is in the Environment Committee file.) Legislator Pinto suggested holding a joint meeting with the Committees on Public Works and Health, to follow through and continue discussions on this issue in full detail (Rob will follow-up on this arrangement.)

The next issue of discussion is the update of the Tappan Zee Bridge and I-287. Chair Kaplowitz introduced Maureen Morgan, who gave an outline on the current existing conditions of the bridge. Ms. Morgan spoke of the rapid deterioration of the bridge due to the volume of traffic over the last ten years, and other decaying factors. (A copy of her report is in the Committee file.) Ms. Morgan mentioned that there is a conference being planned for sometime in early June, called "Meeting of the Minds", to discuss the future of the bridge, congestion-relief-pricing, freight rail, and light-rail.

Legislator Maisano asked if economics and the cost of light-rail has been discussed. Ms. Morgan explained that it involves more than just stating a cost, the economic support factor has to be defined. She then read gave an update from the I-287 Task Force, stating that there had only been two (2) meetings held, and read a letter from Harold Vogt, County Chamber of Commerce – expressing his disappointment of the present conditions of the bridge – and its need for expansion.

With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Legislator Maisano, seconded by Legislator Pinto, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.