PUBLIC SAFETY (JOINT COMMITTEE) -- 3/31/03

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION

MINUTES

MARCH 31, 2003

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Budget & Appropriations: Wishnie, Abinanti, Kaplowitz, Swanson,

Bronz

Public Safety: Ryan, Kaplowitz, Swanson, Wishnie, Bronz

Public Works: Pinto, Ryan, Wishnie, Bronz, Rogowsky

OTHERS PRESENT: CE’s office: B. Randolph, A. Neuman; WCDOT: L. Salley; WCDP: B. Rehm, M. McGlynn, D. Ritucci, B. Rehm; Law: C. Indelicato, L. Alesio; DPW: R. Butler; Planning: F. McLoughlin; Budget: K. Carrano, A. Vietro; CBAC/LWVW: Barbara Strauss, F. MacEachron; TJA: K. Eddings; BOL Staff: S. Schechter, R. Indelicato, R. Vega, S. Vanderberg, A. Ettere

With quorums present, the Committees on Budget, Public Safety and Public Works were called to order at 9:26 a.m.

Minutes

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the minutes for March 17, 2003 and March 24, 2003 were approved 4-0. Legislators Abinanti and Bronz were out for the vote.

Receive & File

On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the following items were received & filed 4-0.

· A1-Acceptance of $975 -Trailside Nature Museum, Ward Pound Ridge.

· A8-Acceptance of $10,000 from Cappelli Enterprises-WC Film Festival.

· A9-Acceptance of $10,000 from Hudson Valley Bank-Sunday Concerts in Parks program.

ITEM A7

An IMA with Port Chester regarding an intermodal transportation, previously discussed at length, Commissioner Salley said there had been no changes to this item.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

BOND ACTS

Mr. Butler (DPW) said the five bond acts were part of an ongoing program which replaces/repairs roads, bridges and culverts every 25 years. Accident data and pavement index ratings are heavily considered in determining project priority. The primary goals of the program are public safety and reducing the potential of County liabilities. The projects up for discussion include 3 roads, 1 culvert and 1 bridge.

C116: $200,000 for the rehab of .2 miles of White Plains Avenue, White Plains. The amount includes the design, construction and construction administration costs. To date, the City has shown no interest in “county to city” road transfers.

Although the work on these projects will be done in house, Mr. Butler said due to the potential of economic opportunities these projects present; the department (in conjunction with Law) had been organizing seminars for minority and women owned businesses interested in securing contracts going forward. The seminars provide explanations on the County’s contract specifications, insurance requirements and how to complete proposal forms.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

C117: $300,000 for the rehab of Palmer Road over Putnam right-of-Way, Yonkers, includes design, construction and administrative costs. Including the repairs of the concrete structure and road adjacent to as well as the approach ramp to the bridge. Work will be done in phases to accommodate the 10,000+ vehicles that use the bridge per day.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

C118: $300,000 for the rehab of roadway culverts at various locations. Mr. Butler submitted a list of 88 culvert sections, most on County owned roads, identified by the department for repair, surprisingly, culverts are not evaluated during NYSDOT road inspections. The amount of this bond will cover the design costs for 35 culvert projects, all of which have a condition rating of 5 out of 10, or less. He anticipates the need for another capital project for the rest in the distant future.

An amended list, which does not contain completed projects, will be provided for review.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

C120: $300,000 for the reconstruction of 1.7 miles on Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains. The project will include drainage improvement and handicap ramps. Wider roadways, drainage

systems, curbing and ADA ramp requirements (none of which are applicable up-county) make these projects more costly in the cities than up-county.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

C121: $150,000 to rehab 2 miles on Byram Lake Road, North Castle. Handling about 2,500 vehicles per day, roads PCR rating is 45-50. The PCR rating ranges from 0-100, with 100 being a brand new road.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Ryan, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the Committee on Public Works was adjourned at 9:46 a.m.

Item A27

This is an IMA with the Town of Cortlandt for police services provided by the County. Mr. Rehm said this was a continuation of an existing arrangement entered into after the Town abolished its own force.

The new contract period is from Feb. 2003 through Jan. 2006. The amount will be $400,000 each year and allows for a 4% increase in wages as negotiated for County officers. There will be 1 patrol officer assigned for day and evening tours each day, there will be no overnight coverage nor will a desk officer be posted. All officers will be dispatched from headquarters in Hawthorne. The DARE Program will run through the end of the current school year.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item was carried 4-0.

For Public Safety: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the item was carried 4-0.

Legislators Bronz and Abinanti were out for the vote.

ADDED STARTER

An Act amending the Capital Budget, by increasing the appropriation to DPS by $215,000 dollars to provide temporary funding for 30 officers through April 30,2003. Mr. Rehm (DPS) said the officers would continue to patrol parkways, which serve as conduits to NYC until such time as the State is able to take over.

The State Comptroller’s office, had originally budgeted the retirement system (based on the stock market) at a rate of 8%, it actually came in at 5%. The State proposes to use part of this savings to repay the County for this appropriation, enabling the County’s budget to remain balanced.

Members were skeptical of entering into this arrangement with only the State’s “intent” to reimburse. Legislator Ryan said he hoped a more concrete agreement could be reached in such instances going forward.

Legislator Abinanti suggested amending the language of the Committee Report in an effort to ensure State support on this issue.

For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the item was carried as amended, 6-0.

For Public Safety: On the motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the item was carried as amended, 5-0.

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the Committee on Public Safety was adjourned at 10:21 a.m.

ITEMS A12 & A14

These items, requesting permission to retain outside counsel and institute legal proceedings to recover overpayments for Medicaid prescription drug payments, were discussed at the previous meeting. Ms. Indelicato (County Attorney) said the State Attorney General was pursuing 4 pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the entire state; the firm retained by the County would conduct additional discoveries for Westchester specifically and monitor the State’s case in the interest of the County.

The County will receive all monies recovered, less the 25% in fees for the law firm. The County is also included in the State’s suit; the two of which could be consolidated at some point in the future.

Ms. Indelicato said she had spoken to the Legislators who raised concerns on the issue at the previous meeting.

On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, Items A12 & A14 were carried, 6-0.

SPECIAL ITEM

Held over at the March 17, 2003 BOL meeting, this Act authorizes an agreement between the County, the Town of Greenburgh and West-Help for the sublease of a six-acre site for use as a homeless facility. Legislator Young was skeptical of the agreement, as despite all attempts, he had yet to receive a concrete formula for the reimbursement of funds to those school districts with homeless student enrollees.

Legislators Bronz, Swanson and Abinanti assured him they personally had done their due diligence to ensure the apprehensions of all parties concerned had been addressed.

With no further business to, on the motion of Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz the Committee on Budget & Appropriations was adjourned at 10:47 a.m.