August 8 , 2007

Highlights Of Actions Taken By The County Board Of Legislators At Its August 6th Meeting

Westchester Community College budget approved
The County Board voted 14-0 (Absent: Abinanti, Jenkins; Out, Young) to adopt WCC’s $94.3 million operating and $8.9 million capital budgets for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The county’s contribution to the college will rise by 3.5 % to $23 million; the state’s contribution is set at $29 million. Revenues from tuition, which will increase $50 per semester, amount to approximately $36 million.

County can donate used shuttles and vans to municipalities
Board authorized the county to donate up to 30 retired Bee Line vans and shuttles to interested municipalities for a dollar to use for a period of five years. Municipalities have sought the vehicles to help transport individuals involved in senior citizen, child care, public housing, social welfare, youth bureau and other programs and to assist in emergency situations.

One time stipends approved for senior DA’s
District Attorney’s office received a state grant in the amount of $35,000 intended to assist the DA’s office in recruiting and retaining staff. The County Board approved the awarding of stipends, ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, to ten senior staff.

$250,000 state grant to supplement funding of RiverWalk in Croton-on-Hudson
Board approved accepting a state grant of $250,000 to cover part of the cost of constructing the Croton-on-Hudson segment of the RiverWalk project. Grant supplements the $1.55 million the County Board previously approved for the $1.8 million project.

Bond Acts Approved

• Labs & Research: $1.025 million to replace lab equipment needed to detect and identify contaminants in soil and water; for drug and DWI screenings; to analyze DNA; to detect radium levels in water supplies; and, to coordinate evidence processing and reporting for the Medical Examiner, Toxicology and Forensics Depts.
• Corrections: $1.95 million to design and construct selected roof replacements at the “old” county jail in Valhalla.
• Public Works: $1.3 million to replace the pedestrian bridge over the Central Westchester Parkway located near the George Washington Elementary School in White Plains
• Parks: $500,000 to replace 25-year old heating, ventilation and air conditioning units at the County Center

Public Hearing
Yorktown Skate Park: Public hearing set for August 20 at 3:30 PM on proposal for the county to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Yorktown to help construct a skate park.

Appointments

Board of Plumbing Examiners

• Henry A. Carletti Jr. (New Rochelle) reappointed
• Gerard J. Pettit (Yonkers) as the county government representative
• Mark R. Courtien (Pelham) reappointed

Electrical Licensing Board

• William Regan (Yonkers) reappointed as the municipal representative