The meeting was called to order at 4:13 P.M.

Chair Swanson explained that there are three public member positions vacant on the Rent Guidelines Board.

Chair Swanson asked What prompted Mr. Sakalis to apply for the position. Mr. Sakalis responded that the Greek Community is not very involved but they want to be and he has the time to do it.

Chair Swanson asked Mr. Sakalis what his understanding of the duties and the function of the Rent Guidelines Board was. Mr. Sakalis responded that he would have to update himself.

Chair Swanson asked Mr. Sakalis to tell the Committee of some of his experiences with the type of issues that the Rent Guidelines Board deals with. Mr. Sakalis stated that there is the issue of rent control. He went on to say that as an accountant he understands the problem.

Chair Swanson asked if it was correct that he owns a three family rental apartment in addition to the home he lives in. Mr. Sakalis responded that it was correct.

Chair Swanson asked what expertise he would bring to the Rent Guidelines Board. Mr. Sakalis responded that he deals with numbers and people very easily. Also, his community wants to try to help the County.

Chair Swanson asked Mr. Sakalis if, being a landlord of the three family building, would he feel constrained to take a land lord side rather than a tenant side. This is a position for a public member, for someone who has no ties to one side or the other. Mr. Sakalis stated he would follow the rules and regulations.

Chair Swanson asked Mr. Fuirst what prompted him to apply for the position. Mr. Fuirst stated that he had been asked to speak at one of the meetings in reference to the insurance costs and how it applies to the landlords and what the state of the environment in the insurance industry is. He thought it was an interesting area to get involved in.

Chair Swanson asked Mr. Fuirst if he was aware of the duties of the Rent Guidelines Board, he was, she went on to ask how his experience could lead into following the strict guidelines. Mr. Fuirst responded that on one side he has no experience as a landlord, and he has not rented in many years. However he has a practical business experience working in the financial service industry for many years, and having an MBA. It is something he could adapt to and learn and understand and come in to with a fresh perspective. He stated that he could not give a tangible aspect of the rules and regulations that he could change or impact but he thinks it is something he could pick up quickly.

Chair Swanson asked if he felt he could be fair, and if he had any side bar that would interfere with the balance of the scale. Mr. Fuirst stated that he has a lot of clients that own properties. His insurance agency is the advisor to the real estate institute of Westchester. He has a lot of people he can get feed back from, but they do not control

his decisions. They have tenant clients and specialize in clients that own property within Westchester. Chair Swanson asked if he would have a problem disclosing his clients. He would not.

Chair Swanson asked Ms. Rende what prompted her to apply for the position. Ms Rende replied that she had seen the article in the paper and she felt it was an area in which she wanted to get involved. She had worked in real estate management for rent stabilized landlords and she lives in a rent stabilized building. She has a good understanding of both sides of the issues.

Chair Swanson asked if she felt she could be fair. Ms. Rende stated she understands the plight of many landlords with the insurance and the overhead of running the building especially with the conversions to co-op’s. On the other hand she understands the issue of the elderly and those that really need a cap on the housing that we do offer.

Chair Swanson explained that this is a Board that tries to mitigate the differences that occur between landlord and tenants.

Legislator Young asked if Ms. Rende was a member of her Co-op Board. Ms. Rende responded that she is a tenant, not an owner, so she can not be.

Legislator Young motioned to approve the minutes of February 23, 1998 and was seconded by Legislator Oros. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.

Legislator Stewart-Cousins motioned to receive and file the designation of deputies for the Departments of Environmental Facilities, Community Mental Health, Public Works, General Services, Westchester Community College, and the District Attorney, and was seconded by Legislator Young.

Legislator Pinto motioned to approve the resolution confirming the appointment of Dr. Harold Adel as Commissioner of the Department of Health, and was seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.

Legislator Pinto motioned to receive and file the 1997 report of the Public Employment Relations Board, and was seconded by Legislator Young. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.

There being no further business Legislator Young motioned to close the meeting at 4:46 p.m. and was seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.