COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
Joint with COMMITTEES on TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
MINUTES: March 1, 2005
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MEMBERS: Chair: Kaplowitz; Legislators: Alvarado, Bronz, LaMotte, Oros, Rogowsky, Ryan, Stewart-Cousins, Wishnie
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEMBERS: Chair: Alvarado; Legislators: Bronz, Ryan
TECHNOLOGY MEMBERS: Chair: LaMotte; Legislators: Pinto, Ryan
IN ATTENDANCE: CE’s office: A. Neuman, B. Randolph, K. Ryan; Budget: L. Bennett, A. Vietro; Finance: P. Pucillo, E. Giuliani; Law: L. Alesio; DSS: D. Wiede; County Clerk: S. Levy, D. Sullivan; Parks: D. McBride, D. Deluca; Planning: F. McLaughlin, IT: N. Jacknis, K. Foster; BOL: B. Boland, S. Bass, R. Indelicato, S. Vanderberg
With a quorum present, the Committee on Budget and Appropriations was called to order at 10:14 a.m.
MINUTES
On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Bronz the minutes from February 14, 2005 were approved 7-0.
RECEIVE & FILE
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky Item B36 regarding the Windsor Farm sewer modification request was approved 7-0.
ADDED STARTER
An Act fixing the tax distribution tables for County Purposes including County Water District No. 1, Refuse Disposal District No. 1 and each of the 13 Sanitary Sewer Districts in the County and also for the County share of MTA.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item carried 6-1, with Legislator Oros voting against and Legislator LaMotte voting without prejudice.
A21
Request to settle the lawsuit of Joe Havis v. County of Westchester and Liberty Lines Transit, Inc in the amount of $1,500,000. The County will pay $250,000 out of the self-insured retention fund and the excess carriers Gensis Insurance Company and Gen Star, Inc will pay $750,000 and $500,000 respectively. The matter was tentatively settled on or about November 1, 2004. The Carrier is urging the County to settle.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins the item carried 7-0.
A16
Request to settle the lawsuit of Darryl Crooms v. County of Westchester, Westchester County Bureau of Purchase & Supplies and Jose Hernandez in the amount of $95,000. During the course of trial, both parties entered into settlement negotiations to resolve the matter and the above amount was agreed to.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 7-0.
With a quorum present, the Committee on Technology was called to order at 10:39 am.
C130(BIT13)
An Act issuing $580,000 in bonds to finance the County–wide Base Map Update project. This project will update the existing County –wide base map data and map new critical infrastructure as well as integrate these new data with existing County GIS data bases.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky the item carried 7-0.
For Technology: On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 2-0.
The Committee on Technology was adjourned at 10:46 am.
C116(BPS11)
An Act issuing $100,000 in bonds to fund the refurbishment of the Department of Public Safety’s armored personnel carrier. The current vehicle is a 1985 model, eight –wheel drive armored vehicle with a turbo diesel engine, capable of holding 8 fully equipped tactical team members and a crew of 2.
The opinion that this type of maintenance should be taken up in the operating budget as opposed to bonding was expressed.
This item was previously signed out of the Committee on Public Safety.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item carried 7-0.
C117(BCC03)
An Act issuing $130,000 in bonds to fund the cost of a combined organizational assessment and space planning feasibility study to determine the most efficient physical and organizational arrangement of the Office of the County Clerk.
The outcome of the study is expected to better rough out the scope & cost of a consequent project already included in the Capital Budget to renovate the entire low-rise building. This study will help better rough out the project scope & cost.
The Committee requested that it be updated on the subsequent cost savings due to the resulting efficiency. A list of qualified professional firms will be provided by the Prequalification Board.
On the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky the item carried 8-0, Legislators Oros & Stewart-Cousins without prejudice.
With a quorum present the Committee on Community Affairs was called to order at 11:07 am.
A28 - A32
Five Acts authorizing agreements with WCHCC and the DSS.
A28: An agreement whereby WCHCC will provide comprehensive family assessments of families who have been identified by the Department as being at high risk of having one or more children removed from their care. Agreement amount not to exceed $121,227, term January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item carried 3-0.
A29
An agreement whereby WCHCC will provide psycho-social assessments of children placed in foster care and/or an enhanced foster care program. Approximately 100 children serviced enter foster care. The Agreement shall be assignable from WCHCC to WIHD at such time as WIHD becomes a separate entity. Agreement amount not to exceed $550,751, term January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins the item carried 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item carried 3-0.
A30
An agreement whereby WCHCC will provide therapeutic and counseling services for children in foster care. WCHCC will also provide parenting training to the foster child’s birth parents or guardians. Approximately 7400 sessions provided and 200 children and their families serviced. There are times when the children serviced by Items 29 & 30 are duplicated.
The Agreement shall be assignable from WCHCC to WIHD at such time as WIHD becomes a separate entity; Agreement amount is not to exceed $997,040 payable pursuant to the then current Medicaid rates, the term January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins the item carried 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Alvarado the item carried 3-0.
A31
An agreement whereby WCHCC will administer “Project Impact” a new program, and provide to the County intensive in-hone parent training services to parents with cognitive or learning disabilities who have been identified by the Department as being at risk of having one or more children removed from their care. 50% of parents with children in foster care, 50 parents served. It was noted by a member that this program is among those the County has been arbitrarily entered into. Bulk of budgeted amount is for salaries. There is a strong likelihood the need for this service will grow.
The Agreement shall be assignable from WCHCC to WIHD at such time as WIHD becomes a separate entity. Agreement amount not to exceed $144,120, term January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins the item carried 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item carried 3-0.
A32
An agreement whereby WCHCC will provide transitional post discharge services and monitoring to families whose children are returned from foster care placements. This is considered a critical time and continuity is important. About 100-127 children per year served. In the past services have been ended abruptly and while the Department has tried to find these families agencies in their community to assist in the transition. The service is primarily for children in family foster care there are other new programs to better ready older children & those at the verge of aging out of foster care.
Funding is primarily state & federal funding; the County’s responsibility is roughly 18%. Monitoring is the responsibility of the Department and WIHD, although the State has the jurisdiction to monitoring it doesn’t tend to do so.
It was noted there is no specific component in the federal legislation designated to the monitoring of these programs, A need to set aside money to ensure these programs are properly monitored and assessed was stressed.
The Agreement shall be assignable from WCHCC to WIHD at such time as WIHD becomes a separate entity. Agreement amount not to exceed $265,222, term January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005.
A request for all previous agreement amounts was made.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins the item carried 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item carried 3-0.
A33
An agreement whereby DSS employees will be stationed at the Medical Center on a full-time basis in order for DSS to determine the eligibility of persons to receive Medicaid enabling the Medical Center to continue to effectively provide medical assistance to needy persons. The County will pay an amount equal to the actual non-reimbursed salary and fringe benefit costs of the DSS employees stationed with a 3% maximum increase per year. DSS is reimbursed by State & federal, and WCHCC pays the balance. For 6 people (1 supervisor & 5 examiners).
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Rogowsky the item carried 8-0.
For Community Affairs: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Ryan the item carried 3-0.
The Committee on Community Affairs was adjourned at 11:50 am.
C118
A $311,000 Bond Act to fund the cost of the replacement of the bridge superstructure (steel beams/concrete deck) on Odell Avenue over Putnam Right of Way. The work will include investigating alternate design and installation of culverts.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins the item carried 7-0.
C120(RBR01)
A $1,700,000 Bond Act to fund the cost of the rehabilitation of a portion of the Bronx River pathway from Greenacres Avenue in Scarsdale to Kensico Dam at Valhalla. Work will include asphalt resurfacing, drainage and construction of a new alignment in White Plains. Projects will also include preventative measures to offset erosion from the Bronx River. Last restoration project was done about 30 years ago.
On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 7-0.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 12:01 pm.
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