PRESENT: Chair: Ryan. Members: Carsky, Kaplowitz, Mosiello, Swanson, and Wishnie. Staff: Hoch, Vita.

ALSO PRESENT: Mary Ellen Solicito, Public Safety Department; Bill Randolph, County Executive’s Office; Deputy Commissioner Garcione, Department of Consumer Affairs.

Mr. Ryan called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

The minutes of January 4, 1999 were approved on the motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz. Motion carried 6-0.

Program Specialist Robert Hoch explained that he has worked with Graphics on the changes recommended by Members for the sign required by this legislation. The recommended changes include:

• decrease in size of sign to 8 1/2" x 11

• the word "NOTICE" is changed to read "WARNING"
• the words "laser pointers," "box cutters," and "spray paints" are highlighted in red
• the language has been simplified.

Mr. Ryan said the County Attorney will be given the new sign specifications to be included in the amended language. The amended version will also give merchants the option to display the sign either at the point of sale or the point of display.

Mr. Garcione, Deputy Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, asked if the law would specify a penalty of not less than $125. Mr. Hock replied yes.

*For additional details, a tape is on file.

Mary Ellen Solicito, from the County Department of Public Safety, explained the proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into a Memo of Understanding with the F.B.I., the police departments of Yonkers and Mount Vernon, and the State Division of Parole to form the Westchester County Fugitive Task Force.

Mrs. Solicito said the program’s intent is to target repeat violent offenders and get them off the streets of Westchester County. The FBI will reimburse the County for overtime expenses incurred on task force business. The County’s Public Safety Department will contribute one detective. The FBI will contribute most of the support personnel, cars, training, and their office in New Rochelle.

Mrs. Carsky asked if the two localities were making a contribution to the task force. Mrs. Solicito said at least one person per department will be selected to participate.

Mr. Mosiello asked if the FBI will reimburse the County for overtime expense incurred to cover the "loss" of the detective from the roster or because that detective remains on the roster but puts in OT hours. Mrs. Solicito explained it was latter. The detective would work his regular job and get his regular salary from the Public Safety Department. The OT hours worked would be for the Task Force with the fed reimbursement.

On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the Act was unanimously approved by a vote of 6-0.

The following items were received and filed on the motion of Mrs. Carsky, seconded by Mr. Kaplowitz. Motion carried 6-0.

Items A and G: Proposed Acts to provide reimbursement for Prisoner Transportation with the City of Peekskill and thirty-two municipalities to the Westchester County Jail.

Item E: Local Law amending Section 213.11 to place Chaplains in the Department of Corrections.

Item F: Proposed Local Law establishing the Westchester County Department of Investigations.

Item H: Request from the Executive Director of My Sister’s Place requesting $20,000 to provide one day training for Law enforcement, Hospital Emergency Room staff and Domestic Violence Advocates for the use of Polaroid cameras to document injuries at crime scene.

Item L: County level Support for Firefighting programs as detailed by a list of issues and programs that are better suited for county level support.

Item Q: Women’s Justice Center of Westchester – detail of their program.

Item K: A proposed Local Law authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the Town of Lewisboro to permit the Town to participate in the Westchester County Mutual Aid and Assistance Plan. (Mr. Hoch reported that the item is pending the approval of the Town of Lewisboro once the police department is reorganized. the item will remain on the agenda until further notice.)

Mrs. Carsky asked about the status of the Fire Mutual Aid Report; could we discuss its findings and can the report help to attract volunteers. Mr. Ryan said the report was released in November and that each legislator received a copy. All of the cities, towns and villages, and a number of fire districts in the County were all sent copies.

Mr. Ryan agreed that the members should discuss the report’s findings. The report concludes that the mutual aid system which County residents rely upon to protect their lives and property works satisfactorily. The report explains the operation of the system and identifies certain problems that need to be resolved for the system to work better. The report is not meant to be a manual for firefighters, however, fire officials should find it useful when explaining the mutual aid system to the public.

Mr. Wishnie mentioned that the County Executive recently stated that Westchester County is among the top forty targets for terrorism. This Committee should be briefed by the Administration on anti-terrorism and the County’s level of preparedness for dealing with acts of terrorism.

Mr. Ryan stated that the Committee had made this request of the Administration some time ago. He asked Mr. Randolph to follow-up on this matter and to urge Mr. Hashmall to set a meeting with the PSCJ Chair and selected members of this Committee or the Board as soon as possible.

Mr. Wishnie mentioned that the Governor, in his recent State of the State address, called for the elimination of parole in New York State. This would affect Westchester and we should ask Commissioner Pozzi to brief the members on the fiscal and operational impacts on the County should parole be eliminated.

Mrs. Swanson asked about the status of the new radio frequencies assigned to the County. She is concerned that we don’t lose them. Mr. Wishnie suggested an update by the Administration on our radio communications system.

The Task Force’s sub-committees on staffing and administration, fire training, communications and CAD, mutual aid, and EMS, are holding meetings throughout January. The full Task Force is scheduled to meet again on January 28^th to discuss the problems and concerns identified by the sub-committees and to consider sets of recommendations.

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the

meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.