COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS JOINT With ENERGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HOUSING And PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES: August 8, 2005
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MEMBERS: Chair: Kaplowitz; Legislators: Alvarado, Bronz, Myers, Oros, Rogowsky, Ryan, Spreckman, Stewart-Cousins, Wishnie
ENERGY/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEMBERS: Chair: Rogowsky; Legislators: Oros, Young, Ryan
HOUSING MEMBERS: Chair: Bronz; Legislators: Alvarado, Pinto, Ryan
PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS: Chair: Wishnie; Legislators: Kaplowitz, Rogowsky, Ryan, Spreckman
IN ATTENDANCE: CE’s office: B. Randolph, S. Carrera; Budget: K. Carrano, L. Bennett; DES: A. Sutton, M. Volk, J. Jackson, F. Donovan; PW: R. Butler; Planning: J. Mulligan, R. Lopane, P. Natarelli, E. Hoffmeister, F. McLaughlin; Tourism: K. Boggi-Sinstore; DSS: D. Stern, J. Marino; BOL: B. Boland, R. Indelicato, S. Vanderberg, L. Gantress, A. Mundgno
With a quorum present, the Budget and Appropriations Committee was called to order at 10:11 a.m.
MINUTES
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie seconded by Legislator Spreckman, the minutes for August 8, 2005 were approved unanimously.
With a quorum present the Committee on Public Safety convened at 10:12 am.
ITEM A19
An Act authorizing the County to enter into IMA’s with municipalities and emergency response agencies in and around the County for distribution of emergency communication equipment. The County will provide mobile and portable radios, power supplies, cabling and microphones, etc at no charge for the purpose of maintaining communication between the County and the emergency services community. The IMA’s will last 5 years and are subject to termination upon 30 days of written notice by either party.
In the event new technology becomes available, the Administration may come before the Board for an upgrade. It was suggested normal repairs & maintenance should be the County’s responsibility and new generations of equipment be acquired at the municipality’s expense. In accomplishing the goal of a county-wide communication system additional costs are anticipated. The Department received responses from about 50% of municipalities contacted. Each county hospital will receive a unit for their emergency room.
Breakdown of municipalities will be provided.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie seconded by Legislator Ryan the item carried 10-0.
For Public Safety: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator Spreckman, the item carried 5-0.
ITEM A15
An Act authorizing the County to enter into IMA’s with municipalities within Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess to provide access to the Westchester County Repository for Integrated Criminalistic Information System and allow for the electronic transmission and storage of criminal record and police blotter information. Information will include arrest, booking, detention and incarceration records. Pay for hardware & software installed at their agency, 1 time cost about-$40,000-$50,000 cost to join system due to county per month
Members inquired if an incentive could be created to encourage all to join.
List of 10 participating agencies will be provided.
Cost per to participate I program.
Section 4 of the Act was amended to include the sunset date of 11:59 pm 12/31/ 2005.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the item carried as amended 10-0.
For Public Safety: On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator Rogowsky, the item carried as amended 5-0.
Public Safety adjourned at 11:12 am.
ITEMS A21 - 23
3 Acts authorizing the conveyance of residual/surplus parcels of County owned property to various entities.
After some discussion it was decided these items would be held until requests fulfilled and further discussion could be had.
Resolutions from involved municipalities will be provided.
It was requested the Act include language reflecting Right’s of First Refusal have been received from the municipalities.
The Committee on Energy/Economic Development convened at 11:25 am.
ITEM A17
A Resolution requesting the Office of Tourism be designated the County’s official Tourist Promotion Agency and thereby eligible to receive a matching fund grant from the State of $75,000 to be used to market the County as a tourism destination.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie seconded by Legislator Bronz, the item carried 10-0.
For Energy/Economic Development: On the motion of Legislator Young seconded by Legislator Oros, the item carried 3-0.
With a quorum present, the Committee on Housing convened and Energy/Economic Development adjourned at 11:37am.
ITEM C172(BSS10)
A $500,000 Bond Act for Infrastructure Improvements to the Vernon Plaza Family Center in Mount Vernon. The Bonding will fund the design, construction and administration of improvements such as lead paint removal, window replacement and repairs and waterproofing to the building’s exterior.
A breakdown of the project will be provided.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item carried 10-0.
For Housing: On the motion of Legislator Alvarado seconded by Legislator Bronz, the item carried 3-0.
The Committee on Housing adjourned at 11:44 am.
C173( RB105)
$1.5 million Bond Act for the County-wide Road Rehabilitation Project. The Bonding will fund the design, construction and management of the rehabilitation of sections of the roadways consisting of milling, paving and other related work. The identified roads have deteriorated at an accelerated rate due to severe weather during the previous winter and are located throughout the County.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie seconded by Legislator Myers, the item carried 10-0.
C174(BLA01)
$160,000 Bond Act to fund the cost of the design of a portion of the ”Westchester Riverwalk/Greenway” Trailway on property of Kraft Foods Global, Inc and Metro North Railroad in the Village of Tarrytown. This portion is 3,200 feet long and provides a critical link in the continuous 46 mile promenade. The project is part o of the Parkland Acquisition/Westchester Legacy Program.
On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the item carried 10-0.
Second Quarter Projection
Westchester County Budget Director Katie Carrano briefed members on the major highlights of her 2005 Second Quarter Budget Forecast.
A complete written copy of the Forecast is on file for review upon request.
WCC Budget-Final Review
The Committee conducted their final review of the Westchester Community College Budget and recommended the deletion of $55,000 to the expenditures line. This reduction is in regards to the cost for adjunct professors.
On the motion of Legislator Alavarado seconded by Legislator Myers, the item carried 12-0.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 12.22 pm.
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