MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
at the HAMMOND MUSEUM
w/MASS TRANSIT SUBCOMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 13, 2000
7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: U. LaMotte.
STAFF: Sally Schecter, Charlotte Ryer.
ALSO PRESENT: *See Attached Visitor’s List.
DISCUSSION:
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m., with a quorum by Chair Kaplowitz, at the Hammond Museum in North Salem. He then introduced Legislator LaMotte, the Mayors, Supervisors, and other guests – and gave a brief overview of the agenda.
Chair announced that a letter was received from the Honorable Linda Cooper (Yorktown Supervisor) and the Yorktown Town Board, regarding a proposed referendum county-wide for the November ballot as to whether the County should use moneys for open space and land acquisitions.
Ms. Cooper began the meeting with a visual slide presentation on open space, with regard to the proposed referendum to protect open space and its relationship to impact on water quality; traffic; strain on services; quality of life; scenic vistas; bio-diversity; and access to recreational opportunities. The Board of Legislators has the discretion to purchase lands within the confines of the County Budget. Around the United States referendums have been passing - in 1998, 84% of the 148 elections to create funding for the acquisition of parks or open space have passed. Surveys have been positive and receptive to preserving open space, and several municipalities are spearheading individual municipal referendums (No. Salem, Lewisboro, Bedford, and Pound Ridge.)
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COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
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Ms. Cooper expressed that Yorktown, however, suggests that a County-wide effort has more advantages, i.e., greater funding availability than if added to local budgets; have the ability to utilize substantial dollars in a timely fashion to purchase access, development rights, reconstruct and supplement under-funded parks; and not limit open space just to those who can afford to pay for it. The proposal indicates that the referendum is to be put on the ballot for November 2000, to be decided by the people of Westchester. The proposal suggests that the sum of $100,000,000 in bonds will be divided into $20,000,000 over a five-year period. The County Executive has pledged $5,000,000 for land purchase to pay off the debt services, thus leveraging $5-million in $20M. In regard to interest payments, land is allowable for 30-year borrowing, and municipalities may collaborate and purchase land together through an inter-municipal agreement. Ms. Cooper added that open space could keep Westchester from becoming part of the sprawling “megalopolis”, and suggested that the action needed is for the Environment Committee to favorably pass on the concept of a referendum, along with requesting formal opinions from the County’s bond counsel. Ms. Cooper also stated, that should the Board be successful with executing this referendum, it will help establish a new leadership legacy that the County and municipalities will share for the next century - which is comparable to the beginning of this century when the County Commissioners bought parkland and began to build parkways that have become taken for granted. She explained that to borrow money through the County (for land and space purchases) carries less of a financial impact than having to go through the municipalities. Legislator LaMotte noted that all space does not have to be purchased. Larry Salley clarified that the money is presently in the Capital Budget and has to be moved to the Operating Budget for acquisitions. The rest of the discussion on this topic focused on the commitment for the County to favorably pass legislation on the concept of a referendum for the November ballot. Chair Kaplowitz added that the Environment Committee and the full Board of Legislators has
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adopted a new Open Space Policy, and copies are available upon request, from the Board. He also emphasized that there is a commitment on the part of the County Executive, and also noting a reality that continues to grow in regard to the issue of affordable housing, which superimposes open space and land acquisitions. He then thanked Supervisor Cooper for her informative presentation, and continued with the second segment of the meeting.
Next, Chair Kaplowitz turned the meeting over to Legislator LaMotte to open the segment for the Mass Transit Subcommittee. She introduced the subcommittee members who have volunteered for this term, noting that she is looking for more members from the public to participate. She also noted that tonight’s meeting will concentrate on the North County area, and is open for public discussion. Legislator LaMotte added that the northern part of the County does not have, or require the same mass transit needs, as the lower portion of the County. However, the use of smaller size buses or vans would be more appropriate to serve the needs of the northern communities.
Joy Simpkins, Supervisor of Pound Ridge and resident of Mt. Kisco, noted that her area is fortunate enough to have Metro North as well as bus transportation, but the problem in her area go beyond the available transportation routes. Mt. Kisco residents who work beyond the local transportation area and/or have children in the centralized school district have difficulty with transportation. Ms. Simpkins suggested that van transportation service would help the situation for residents living in outline areas who need transportation to and from work sites. Legislator LaMotte expressed that the Visiting Nurses Service, based in Mt. Kisco, has a dire need for public transportation for their workers, in order to facilitate their client needs.
WC/Department of Transportation Commissioner, Larry Salley commented that there have been transportation problems between service area workers and job access work sites. He explained that there
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has been a transition over the past several years, to move persons from the welfare roles into the work role, and the health care profession has been successful. Mr. Salley further explained that a satellite center to train health care works has been set up in Yonkers (due to the population), but the foreseen problem will be how to transport people to and from the actual work sites (in the northern part of the County). Mr. Salley then introduced Deputy Commissioner Harry Stanton, to discuss the types of transportation being proposed for the upcoming years. He emphasized that mass transit and open space, go hand-in-hand, and the County is trying to expand (experimenting) with all types of services, especially north County. Mr. Stanton added, that the County has maintained and extended (over the last decade) its para-transit service throughout the County for handicapped individuals who cannot use mass transit. He stressed that the County has been trying to develop some innovative ways to provide mass transit services in the areas where there is more mass, such as transportation from the Yorktown Heights area into the Jefferson Valley area. The County has invested in the use of 20-seat passenger buses, which were added to the north County area. Mr. Stanton also mentioned that, in meeting with Town Supervisors Mary Beth Murphy and Linda Cooper, a proposal has been discussed to get the Towns to work together to improve on transportation by having the County provide the vehicles (through the Community Development Block Grant program), while the municipalities provide the (vehicle) operators and maintenance. Mr. Salley added that the service could operate at a much lower cost through the local municipalities than if operated (fully) by the County. Legislator LaMotte suggested that the three towns in her area, (Mt. Kisco, Bedford and Pound Ridge), could operate one van as an experiment to see the cost effect of the service.
Councilwoman Pearl Scher stated that, recently, she spoke to a friend who needs para-transit transportation immediately, and was told that she had to wait six-weeks for service, and added that senior citizens
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should not have to wait that long for a public service. Mr. Stanton explained that the para-transit service has been turned-over to the Office for the Disabled to provide more efficient and effective services. He added that he’ll look into the situation. Ms. Murphy asked whether grants would be available for the operational cost of running mini-vans provided. Mr. Stanton clarified that the grants are only for obtaining the vans, and that RFP’s for the County’s CDBG program are available to purchase additional vans. Legislator LaMotte and Mr. Stanton clarified that the CDBG program is a three-year cycle, competitive program – and the applicant does not always receive the request they have applied for. The discussion continued briefly, and several comments were made in regard to the current bus schedules and how the service can improve.
Tom Belacastro, North Salem Councilman, stated that he has asked representatives from Connecticut to be invited to the County (in the near future) to discuss railroad issues.
Legislator LaMotte thanked the Town of North Salem for their hospitality, and Chair Kaplowitz thanked all for their participation.
With no further business to discuss, Chair Kaplowitz thanked all attendants and those who participated, and adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
Attachment
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PAGE 6
*ATTACHED VISITOR’S LIST
Name Affiliation
Hon. Linda Cooper Supervisor - Yorktown
Larry Salley Commissioner, WC/DOT
Harry Stanton Deputy Comm., WC/DOT
Pearl C. Scher Somers Town Board
Ed Liss Somers resident
Steve Urko Chair – Trans. /Herit. Hills
Sean Gorman The Journal News
Tom Belcastro Councilman, No. Salem
Lewis Catone Mass Transit Subcommittee
John Vecchiolla WC/(Photographer)
Ed Buroughs WC/Planning Dept.
Pat Reilly Mayor - Mt. Kisco
Adam Schlef Patent Trader News
Rosalie Menegas Somers Town Board
Mary Beth Murphy Supervisor, Somers
Robert Liebman Chairperson, CAC
Lee Roberts Councilwoman, Bedford
Eliza Cooney Resident
Joy Simpkins Supervisor, Pound Ridge
Frank Kardozzi Record Review (News)
Elizabeth Hlotgak West. Business Journal