COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
JOINT With COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND TECHNOLOGY
MINUTES: April 4, 2005
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MEMBERS: Chair: Kaplowitz; Legislators: Abinanti, Alvarado, Bronz, LaMotte, Myers, Ryan, Spreckman, Stewart-Cousins
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEMBERS: Chair: Myers; Legislators: Alvarado, Bronz, Ryan
ENVIRONMENT MEMBERS: Chair: Abinanti; Legislators: Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Myers, Ryan
PUBLIC WORKS MEMBERS: Acting Chair: Pinto; Legislators: Ryan
TECHNOLOGY MEMBERS: Chair: LaMotte; Legislators: Pinto, Ryan
IN ATTENDANCE: CE’s office: A. Neuman, B. Randolph, K. Ryan; Budget: K. Carrano, L. Bennett, A. Vietro, S. Reynosso(intern); WCC: J. Hankin, A. Scordino, L. Torrieri; DoT: L. Salley; P,R&C: J. Stout, D. McBride; DSS: N. Travers; PW: R. Butler; Planning: J. Mulligan, F. McLaughlin, P. Natarelli,; Human Resources: P. Zeman, R. Rubin; Finance: P. Pucillo, J. Waltman; Law: L. Alesio, J. Robertson; Town of Somers: Sup. Murphy, M. Mirchid; P. Gallay, West. Land Trust; G. Meehan, Medical Center; CBAC: B. Strauss; K. Eddings, Journal News; BOL: B. Boland, S. Bass, R. Indelicato, S. Vanderberg, B. Bochow, H. Corbin (intern)
With a quorum present, the Committee on Budget and Appropriation was called to order at 10:16 a.m.
RECEIVE & FILE
On the motion of Legislator Myers, seconded by Legislator LaMotte Item B6, correspondence regarding the removal of Hommocks Rd. property from the Mamaroneck Sewer District was received & filed 5-0.
ITEM A6
An Act extending the benefits of County employees who are called to active duty an additional six months. The current extension is due to expire April 15, 2005.
On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Myers the item carried 5-0.
ITEM A16
An IMA with the Town of Yorktown whereby the Town will process waste wood from County parks into landscape mulch for use in County parks. Agreement will provide County with a significant amount of mulch. Town will be credited up to $10,000 worth of nursery stock per year for each of the 5 years of the IMA.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item carried 7-0.
Quorum revision
In light of the addition of 2 new members to the committee, increasing the total number of members to 12, Committee Chair Kaplowitz entertained a motion to increase the committee quorum to 6. Board Chairman Ryan said he would speak to all members stressing the importance of the meetings and the difficulties raised by a low turnout.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowtiz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the motion carried 7-0.
With quorums present the Committees on Community Affairs and Technology were called to order at 10:24 am.
ITEM C88(WCC73)/89(WCC71)
C88/WCC73, a Bond Act issuing $429,000 to finance the purchase and installation of SMART classroom equipment, wireless communication and storage area networks at WCC. C89/WCC71, a Bond Act issuing $85,000 for the same acquisitions and to be used at the Ossining, Yonkers, Mount Vernon and Peekskill satellite locations.
In light of the Board’s propensity not to issue bonds for less than $100,000, members requested these two Acts be combined into a single piece of legislation and bond amount at the 3/21/05 Budget meeting. In order to consider revised version before the committee, it was necessary to receive & file the original versions.
On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator
Kaplowitz Items C88 and C89 were received & filed 8-0.
The revised Bond Act, issuing $514,000 in bonds for projects WCC71 & WCC73, was carried:
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Bronz 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Myers 4-0.
For Technology: On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Pinto 3-0.
The Committees on Community Affairs and Technology adjourned at 10:30 am.
ITEM A8/A37
Two separate Acts approving certain terms and conditions for DSS and other CSEA represented employees which were discussed at the 3/7/05 Budget. In order to eliminate the overlap between the two Acts, members requested they be combined into a single Act.
In order to consider the revised version before the committee, it was necessary to receive & file the original versions.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Bronz Items A8 and A37 were received & filed 8-0.
On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Spreckman, the revised Act was carried 8-0.
ITEM A23/C131
One Act amending the 2005 Operating Budget and a second issuing $4.5 million in bonds to enable the settlement of additional pre-1998 cases from the Medical Center. Correspondence regarding the obligations of the County in connection with certain pre-1998 6-n liabilities was distributed for committee review (copies on file). Both were discussed in committee on 3/15/05.
A schedule reflecting the appropriate formula driven balance remaining was requested.
On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item carried 8-0.
ITEM C141(RGP08)
A Bond Act issuing $1.4 million to fund the replacement of trucks and other heavy vehicles used by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. The equipment will include pickup trucks with plows, sanitation vehicles and construction equipment such as backhoes and small dump trucks. This project was added to the Capital Project Program by the Board of Legislators.
The average vehicle to be replaced is 12 years old. It was noted older pieces of equipment are often auctioned off.
On the motion of Legislator Myers seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item carried 7-0.
With a quorum present the Committee on Environment was called to order at 10:56 am.
ITEM C44-47
Four Acts previously discussed at the 3/2/05 committee meeting. The first Act, Reference 1a, amends the ’05 Capital Budget for new project A071A – bomb Blast Analysis. The second Act, Reference 1b, amends the ’05 Capital Budget for project A0069 reducing its total appropriation by $200,000 which would be transferred to A017A. The third Act, Reference 1c, amends grant agreements with the FAA and the NYSDOT by re-programming $180,000 and $10,000 in respective funds as well as $10,000 in Airport Special Revenue Funds for project A0069 to A071A. The fourth Act, Reference 1d, permits the County to enter into grant agreements with the FAA and NYSDOT for A050A to re-program the fund from A0069.
Commissioner Salley noted for the record; the funding for these projects are coming from the structural reserve fund and not the airport special reserve fund.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator LaMotte seconded by Legislator Myers the items carried 8-9.
For Environment: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator Myers Reference 1c carried 5-0.
A17/C132(BLA01)
A17 is an Act authorizing the County to acquire with the Town of Somers as tenants in common (with a 50% interest for each) a 370 –acre parcel of property in Somers. Each will contribute $4 million towards the total purchase price. C132 is a Bond Act issuing $4,050,000 in bonds to cover the acquisition and customary closing costs. The appraised market value of the property is $20,500,000. The current owner is Eagle River LLP.
Town of Somers will carry entire liability responsibility and will reserve 15 acres for their own; they are considering using the property for a senior center. They will also take over ownership of about 6.1 miles of county road. Supervisor Murphy thanked the committee for addressing project and added she was available for any questions members may have.
A supporter of the preservation of open space and in favor of this project,
Legislator Abinanti expressed his objection to legislation that links open space and affordable housing projects together, viewing it as County government’s attempt to interfere with local prerogative on the affordable housing issue. Stating land purchases should not be contingent on other projects.
Board Chairman Ryan said the Board has consistently engaged in the advancement of two important quality of life agendas and that it was inaccurate to say the executive branch makes sole determinations on these issues. Adding the BOL lacks the resources and personnel with the expertise to deal with these issues on its own.
A complete listing of the principles involved and a copy of the appraisal was requests.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 8-0.
For Environment: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 5-0.
The Committee on Environment adjourned at 11:45 am.
Medical Center
As a point of clarification and for the record, Board Chair Ryan and Committee Chair Kaplowitz explained there were several BOL entities which have an equal share in the oversight responsibility of the Medical Center. The Committee on Budget & Appropriations, the Budget Committee’s Sub-committee on the Medial Center and the Legislative Thick all convene, confer and act when necessary. Adding, initiative’s taken by one do not negate nor shelve those taken by any other and all act on behalf of the full Board.
MINUTES
On the motion of Legislator Myers, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the minutes for March 21, 2005 were approved 7-0.
With no further business to discuss, the Committee adjourned at 11:54 am.
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