COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
MINUTES
ENV. MEMBERS: Kaplowitz, LaMotte
HEALTH MEMBERS Abinanti, Carsky, Stewart-Cousins
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Dianne Vanadia; Planning: Fran McLaughlin; CBAC: George Hosey; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Ingrid Bent, Larry Schwartz; Real Estate: Sal Carrera; BOL: Barbara Dodds, Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.
Chairman Kaplowitz called the Environment Committee meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.
DISCUSSION:
BUDGET MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve the Budget Committee Minutes of February 2, 2000 was carried by a vote of 7-0 (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
MINUTES – FEBRUARY 7, 2000
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C) BOND ACTS:
4.* B0054: Authorizing the issuance of $7,000,000 in bonds – Real Property Purchase – 143 Grand Street and related act. (1/24/00) (Also referred to Env)
· Mr. Carrera distributed and reviewed a flow chart to the Committees (on file) including space planning for 150 Grand Street; anticipated vacated space at 150 Grand; anticipated “must renew” (for a short time) space at 150 Grand and anticipated moves at 85 Court Street and 112 East Post Road.
· Board of Elections Commission concerned with regard to being upstairs, away from the staff. Mr. Carrera stated that he had met with both BOE Commissioners and they chose to be upstairs.
· Legislator Carsky stated that she suggested there be an independent appraisal - hired by the BOL- to avoid any speculation and as an insurance policy that the Board did its due diligence before spending this money. Mr. Carrera stated that this was sent out for bid to independent appraisal firms. There is no appraisal from the seller. Mr. Carrera informed the Committee that the time frame for another appraisal would be 4-6 weeks. Mrs. Carrano stated that the only separate appraisal she can remember doing was for Bradhurst building, which was done for a whole host of reasons. Mr. Wishnie stated his concern that another appraisal would be spending money for a duplication of services. Legislators LaMotte and Carsky expressed their concern that we get the best deal possible.
· Mr. Schwartz stated that they welcome any questions and would like to see this voted out of Committee today. He expressed concern that the County will lose out on this deal if we do not act promptly. Legislator LaMotte stressed her concern that the Committee is asked to sign things out so quickly without being given an opportunity to research and have questions responded to. Mr. Schwartz replied that this deal took time to negotiate and it is his hope that all questions could be satisfactorily answered without another appraisal in order for the Board to act on this legislation at the February 28th meeting. Mr. Carrera stated this concern that if this deal does not go through, we may end up renting at 150 Grand indefinitely as we will never be able to find another piece of property located so conveniently to other County facilities.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
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COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
MINUTES – FEBRUARY 7, 2000
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· Mr. Kaplowitz asked if there is some short process that would give us the value of the land. Mr. Carrera stated that we would have to go out for another appraisal. Mr. Noto suggested that the matter be signed out of Committee, Without Prejudice” contingent upon getting answers to Legislators’ concerns before the February 28th Board meeting. Mr. Schwartz stated that they will look to see if there is a way to come up with a second, independent appraisal in a short period of time.
· Building has been on the market since September. Negotiations began last April.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
· FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to go into Executive Session to review the appraisal at 11:57 a.m. was carried by a vote of 8-0.
· FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to go into Executive Session to review the appraisal at 11:57 a.m. was carried by a vote of 2-0.
· FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator Noto, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to come out of Executive Session at 11:11 a.m. was carried by a vote of 8-0.
· FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to come out of Executive Session at 11:11 a.m. was carried by a vote of 2-0.
· Mr. Wishnie stated that the Board of Legislators will hire an expert, of its own choosing, to review the County’s opportunity to purchase 143 Grand Street.
VOTE:
· FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators LaMotte, Stewart-Cousins, Noto, Carsky and Abinanti signing “Without Prejudice”.
· FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 2-0 with Legislator LaMotte signing “Without Prejudice”.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
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COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
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ADJOURNMENT – ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting was adjourned at 11:22 a.m.
HEALTH COMMITTEE:
Chairman Abinanti called the Health Committee to order at 11:23 a.m.
11. Agreements with Westchester County Health Care Corporation: Proposed legislation authorizing the County to enter into various agreements with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation. (1/24/00) (Also referred to Health)
Reference1:
· This would amend an existing agreement dated August 17, 1999 between the County and WCHCC for primary and dental care services for Westchester, Rockland and Putnam County individuals with HIV/AIDS by increasing the amount payable under the agreement from $238,783. To $263,503.
· Term of existing agreement is March 1, 1999 through February 29, 2000.
· The funds for the amendment represent federal grant money that the County receives from the City of New York through separate agreement between the City and the County as part of the Ryan White Care Act funding.
· The Department was notified in early January that these additional funds were available only until February 29, 2000, the end of the federal fiscal year.
· In order to secure these funds, this must be acted on at the February 28th Board meeting.
Reference 2:
· Through the Department of Health the County would enter into an agreement with WCHCC whereby WCHCC shall provide primary care and dental care services for Westchester, Rockland and Putnam County individuals with HIV/AIDS for a term commencing March 1, 2000 and terminating on February 28, 2001.
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· Payment shall be made by the County in an amount not to exceed $244,753. To be paid pursuant to an approved budget.
· The funds represent federal grant money that the County receives from the City of New York through separate agreement between the City and the County as part of the Ryan White Care Act funding.
Reference 3:
· Through DSS the County will enter into an agreement with WCHCC for a term commencing January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2001 whereby WCHCC shall provide to the County comprehensive family assessments of families who have been identified by DSS as being at risk of having one or more children removed from their care.
· The County shall pay to WCHCC an amount not to exceed $95,000, payable pursuant to an approved budget.
· In subsequent years, the County shall pay an amount not to exceed 110% of the previous year’s amount, payable pursuant to an approved budget.
Reference 4:
· Through DSS, the County shall enter into an agreement with WCHCC for a term commencing on January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2001 whereby WCHCC shall provide to the County psycho-social assessments of children placed in foster care.
· In addition, WCHCC shall provide foster parent training and respite/recreational services to identified foster children.
· For 1999, the County shall pay an amount not to exceed $140,000, payable pursuant to an approved budget.
· In subsequent years, the County shall pay an amount not to exceed 110% of the previous year’s amount, payable pursuant to an approved budget.
· FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion approve item A11, References 1-4, was carried by a vote of 8-0.
· FOR THE HEALTH COMMITTEE: On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve item A11, References 1-4, was carried by a vote of 3-0.
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7. Guarantee Agreement – WCHCC: Proposed Act authorizing the execution of a guarantee agreement between the County and the Westchester County Health Care Corporation. (1/24/00) (Also referred to Health)
· The County explained that these are two proposed guarantee acts. One is to guarantee $4.5 million of health care bonds to finance renovations at the Ruth Taylor Center and $3.5 million of hospital bonds to refinance the Cedarwood Hall bonding.
· The $3.5 million project deals with the long term debt that is owed to the Dormitory Authority. Dormitory Authority financing was used to finance renovations and construction at Cedarwood Hall. The hospital wants to refinance their debt in order to restructure it and pay a lower interest rate.
· The $4.5 million at Taylor Care is a rehabilitation and renovation of the facility. Mr. Scheinkman explained that while it is not directly related to the Childrens’ Hospital, the Board should be aware that what they intend to do at Taylor Care is that some of the buildings that come down as a result of the Childrens’ Hospital construction, they propose as part of this renovation to move to the Taylor Care Center.
· The County Attorney explained that the $3.5 million is a refinance, strictly a paper transaction. The $4.5 million is new cash to finance renovations at Taylor Care Center.
· When they take down certain buildings, they want to move certain programs to Taylor Care Center. The Committee inquired as to which programs will be moved. Mr. Scheinkman stated he would have to find out. Mrs. Carrano stated that they are referring to some ambulatory programs and administrative functions.
· Mr. Scheinkman stated that the $4.5 million in renovations is in the hospital’s capital budget. He further stated that it is not a discretionary item in that as part of the agreement we committed to doing guarantee for items which are in their regular capital budget. The $3.5 million of refinancing can be categorized as discretionary meaning that it could be turned down without consequence. According to Mr. Scheinkman, if the $4.5 million is turned down and their financing costs are more expensive then the County would be obligated.
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· Mrs. LaMotte stated that she was under the impression that the bonding power of the hospital would be up and running after the securitization vote. She stated that we gave the hospital $63.4 million so that their credit rating would be able to stand alone and here we are with millions of dollars in bonds coming up again. She asked for an explanation.
· Mr. Scheinkman explained that as part of the securitization issue the hospital received an infusion of cash that satisfied the County’s obligation for future services for the life of the transition agreement as well as a guarantee on Childrens’ Hospital financing to enable the Childrens’ Hospital financing to go forward. Having the cash improves their ability to do borrowing but it does not exonerate the ability to go out and to financing without the County guarantee. Under the transition agreement, as part of the phase out of the transition agreement a couple of things were done. Under the original agreement, the County was obligated to continue to issue county bonds for all of their projects in their capital program. The transition agreement basically said we want to get out of that business and we want to put a lifetime cap on it. We went from a situation where we had an indefinite obligation to continue to issue county bonds for regular capital projects to a situation in which we said we’ll guarantee this, but our commitment is only for those items which are in their regular capital program and basically expires when the transition agreement expires. They’re saying that this $4.5 million is for an item that has been in their regular capital program and for which they don’t believe they that they can sell it without a county guarantee. One way of testing it would be if the Board were not to do the guarantee and the hospital couldn’t sell their bonds without it then the County would be liable. If they could sell the bonds without the County guarantee then there would be no liability.
· The Committees requested a copy of the hospital’s capital budget.
· No action was taken on this item at this time.
ADJOURNMENT FOR THE HEALTH COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the Health Committee meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
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COMMUNICATIONS – COUNTY EXECUTIVE:
2. Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from the State of New York to cover expenses to distribute trigger locks to holders of pistol permits issued by the County Clerk. (1/24/00)
9. Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from the Westchester Animal Emergency P.C. to support Westchester County’s production of The Nutcracker. (1/24/00)
10. Gift Acceptance: Acceptance of a gift from the Hitachi Foundation to support Westchester County’s production of The Nutcracker. (1/24/00)
· Committee requested a breakdown of the costs of the production of the Nutcracker.
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the motion to Receive and File items A2, A9, and A10 was carried by a vote of 8-0.
4. Prisoner Transportation: Proposed legislation authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the City of Mount Vernon to provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the City during the transportation of prisoners who have been arraigned from Mount Vernon to the Westchester County Jail. (1/24/00) (Also referred to PSCJ)
· This item was signed out by PSCJ at its meeting this morning.
· Term of contract is January 1999 through December 2000.
· Mr. Boland pointed out that the last IMA for prisoner transportation with Mt. Vernon was for $350,000 for a term of January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1998 and this one is for $368,000 for a term of January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000. The Committee questioned the increase in cost.
· No action was taken at this time.
A&C CALENDAR:
The Committee reviewed the February 3, 2000 A&C Calendar.
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ADJOURNMENT:
FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.