SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS & RECREATION

JOINT W/ COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION

MINUTES

OCTOBER 28, 2002

MEMBERS:  MOSIELLO, PINTO, SPRECKMAN, ALVARADO

LEGISLATION MEMBERS: STEWART-COUSINS, RYAN, ABINANTI, ROGOWSKY, BRONZ

STAFF:  ETTERE, NEGLIA, BASS & GIORDANO

OTHERS:  SEE ATTACHED LIST

The meeting was called to order at 12:37 p.m.

Bond Act - RGC07

Bond Act RGC07 is a request to authorize the issuance of up to $850,000 in bonds for a new maintenance facility at the Hudson Hill Golf Course.  This item was signed out of the Committee on Budget & Appropriations.

Commissioner Butler (DPW) and Commissioner Stout (PRC) briefed the members on the details of the above project and provided a breakdown of costs.  The maintenance building has been scaled down by a few hundred square feet so that it construction costs stay within the amount requested.  Any surplus could only be used for the maintenance facility building.

Legislator Pinto made a motion to approve Bond Act RGC07 and it was seconded by Legislator Alvarado.  The vote was 4-0 with Legislator Mosiello signing “without prejudice”.

MINUTES

Legislator Pinto made a motion to approve the minutes of August 19, 2002 (Joint w/ PW) and was seconded by Legislator Alvarado.  The vote was 4-0.

The meeting was recessed at 12:50 p.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m.  The Committee on Legislation was reconvened with the Special Committee on Parks & Recreation at 1:00 p.m.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS & RECREATION

JOINT W/ LEGISLATION

MINUTES – OCTOBER 28, 2002

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Item # 6 - Enforcement Authorization for Park Rangers

This is the second discussion the Parks Committee is having on this item.  Joe Stout, Commissioner of PRC, reiterated the proposal for the members.

Item #6 is a request by the County Executive authorizing Park Rangers and a few other Parks Supervisory Employees to enforce certain ordinances, statutes, local laws, rules or regulations in County Parks and to issue appearance tickets for alleged violations of same.

General Ordinance No. 5 which include such provisions relating to parking, fire prevention and safety, or health and sanitation in County Parks (e.g. – unleashed dogs, all-terrain vehicles, unauthorized camping, handicap parking violations, littering, permit violations, etc.).  This new proposal would allow authorized personnel to issue appearance tickets for violations of these provisions. 

There was a lengthy discussion. 

Legislator Abinanti expressed much opposition in permiting Parks employees to issue summonses.  He would like to see the definitions of a Park Ranger and General Ordinance No. 5 for the next discussion. 

Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz, Deputy County Attorney, stated that the County has the power to put in place this type of local law pursuant to a Municipal Home Rule Law which only allows certain types of employees to have the authority to issue appearance tickets by virtue of their title and department. 

The Parks Committee was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

LEG Committee Business

Legislator Stewart-Cousins accepted numerous motions to receive and file various items.

The Legislation Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:38 p.m.