*M I N U T E S
COMMITTEE ON COUNTY OFFICERS & DEPARTMENTS
MONDAY, MAY 1, 2000
4:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Chair: LaMotte. Members: Pinto, Spreckman, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson and Young. Staff: Schecter, Vita. County Executive: Bill Randolph.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Kris Komorowski, Thomas Kalchthaler, Andrew H. Kulak; Appointees of the Citizens Consumer Advisory Council.
Legislator LaMotte called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
Mrs. LaMotte and Mrs. Swanson met with Acting Health Commissioner, Patsy Yang-Lewis and Dr. Ada Huang, to discuss the department’s response to a constituent’s 2-year old child who was bitten in the face by a bat.
Upon listening to the two Health officials, Mrs. LaMotte and Mrs. Swanson, both agreed that there was a miss-communication between the family pediatrician and the Health Department, which was reversed from the original statement made in the constituent’s letter last week. To correct the matter, it was the family pediatrician who contacted the Health Department and when the Health Department returned the call, the family doctor was not available, not Dr. Huang as previously stated in the original letter. Mrs. LaMotte was satisfied with the response from the department and the committee members concurred with their report.
Mr. Young mentioned other issues that were brought up at the last meeting and he would like them outlined by the Health Department. Mrs. LaMotte will forward his the request to the Acting Health Department Commissioner.
For information purposes, Legislators Spreckman and Stewart-Cousins would like to review the Health Department’s policy and procedures for emergencies for future reference.
Mrs. Schecter reported that Joseph Pecora, the employee from Ossining Sewer Treatment Plant, who complained about the treatment and abuse of plant employees, has contacted her to inquire about the next steps to be taken in his case by the Board. Mrs. LaMotte said the committee would discuss the issue and get back to him.
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Mrs. Swanson received a letter from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal Office regarding Cecelia Bikkal’s appointment as a Public Member to the County’s Rent Guidelines Board. After reviewing Ms. Bikkal’s background, the State Office feels that Ms. Bikkal would make a better tenant member rather than the public member that was originally recommended by the Board of Legislators.
After a brief discussion, Mrs. Swanson will respond to the Rent Guidelines Board, stating that it was not the Committee’s original intention. Mrs. LaMotte asked Mrs. Swanson, as she was last year’s Chair, to respond to the inquiry. Mrs. LaMotte will inquire about her status as a member of the Board.
The following individuals were interviewed for the Citizen Consumer Advisory Board members:
Kris Komorowski: A Resident of Yonkers, has been appointed as the organized labor representative member of the Citizens Consumer Advisory Council. Mr. Komorowski attended Saunders Technical High School in Yonkers, worked with various carpenters in various wood shops, he frames new and old houses, joined the union and worked himself up through the ranks. He is the financial secretary and dispatcher for Carpenter’s Local 11 of Westchester and Putnam. As a representative of the labor union, there are always concerns to be discussed and he feels that serving on the Board, will be a plus on both sides.
At this moment, Mr. Komorowski said the Board has only met twice since he has been appointed and they are working together with Elaine Price to ban the sale of over-the-counter herbal supplements and its impact on the consumer.
Mrs. Stewart-Cousins suggested the Board conduct background checks of home improvement contractors in terms of fraud. Mr. Pinto asked if the Board would look into home improvement insurance costs. Mr. Young said there is a process that reviews the background of contractors for consumer protection.
Mr. Young asked if there is an available report that would evaluate the reputation of contracting agencies for this committee to review.
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Mr. Komorowski will bring these issues up at the Board’s next meeting and will report back to this committee with his findings.
On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Young, the appointment of Kris Komorowski to the Citizens Consumer Advisory Board is approved by a 6-0 vote.
Andrew Kulak: A New Rochelle resident, has been appointed as the Area 2 representative member of the Citizen Consumer Advisory Council. He is an attorney specializing in creditor’s rights, court appointed Law Guardian for minor children and disabled persons. He has attended several meetings and has been involved with two projects. The first, establishes a web site pertaining to elder abuse, which enables a person to answer questions, to determine if a case of elder abuse is relevant. Mr. Kulak mentioned that there are other aspects of elder abuse, such as fiscal, economic, verbal, misappropriation of funds, power of attorney, and ATM card abuse.
The courts frequently appoint Mr. Kulak as a Guardian, Court evaluator, or Special Counsel to seniors, incapacitated, or handicapped people.
Mrs. Spreckman would like to invite Mr. Kulak to her task force meeting when she and Assemblyman Spano discuss legislation for elder abuse.
The other project is prohibiting the sale and distribution of ephedrine, found in over-the-counter herbal supplements, which can cause stokes or heart attacks. The NYC Council tested the products and what impact it has when taken. They proposed to limit the sale to over 18-year-olds, which may cause liability problems for the County and need to be reviewed.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, Andrew H. Kulak, was appointed the Area 2 representative member of the Citizens Consumer Advisory Council, by a 6-0 vote.
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Thomas Kalchthaler, D.O., F.A.C.P: A resident of Larchmont, has been appointed a business representative of the Citizen Consumer Advisory Council. He is the Chief of Geriatrics at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers, the attending physician at several local hospitals, while running a private practice with 23 other physicians. Dr. Kalchthaler specialized in long term care for the elderly, education and advocate for hospitalization and prescription drugs costs.
Mrs. Spreckman briefly explained her bus trip to Albany with the seniors to rally efforts to keep reasonable costs down on prescriptions drugs and hospital care.
Dr. Kalchthaler said there is more than basic health care at stake, managed care and assisted living is very important in the communities, with Oxford out of the County and the growing population of seniors, there is a need to focus on the issues. He also said that mortality has decreased and it may be valuable to turn an empty hospital into assisted living quarters. The alternatives are important and more humane and financing can be adjusted.
The members were impressed with Dr. Kalchthaler’s ideas and hope they can all work together to assist the growing population of seniors in Westchester County.
On the motion of Legislator Spreckman, seconded by Legislator Pinto, the appointment of Dr. Thomas Kalchthaler, as a member of the Citizen Consumer Advisory Council is approved by a 6-0 vote.
With no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.