June6_2005

COMMITTEE ON COUNTY OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS

MINUTES: Monday, June 6, 2005, 4 p.m.

The regular meeting of the Committee on County Officers & Departments was called to order at 4:15 p.m.

MEMBERS: Chair: Pinto. Members: Astorino; Rogowsky; Spreckman; Stewart-Cousins. Staff: Vita. Guests: Bill Randolph, CEO’s Office; Lt. David Trancynger, Traffic Safety Board; Grace Byrd, Council for Seniors; Matthew Donovan, Fire Advisory Board.

APPOINTMENTS

TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD: Lt. David W. Trancynger – from the City of Yonkers Police Department, is appointed as a member due to the retirement of Police Commissioner Charles Cola, for a term to expire December 31, 2007. He has taken the oath of office, but has not attended any meeting due to inclement weather during the winter. Since 1979, Lt. Trancynger has served with the Yonkers Police Department in various positions such as uniformed patrol, traffic/motorcycle Officer, precinct patrol sergeant, Inspections Lieutenant , K-9 patrol and presently Executive Officer , Special Operations Division.

Lt. Trancynger received high praise from Mrs. Stewart-Cousins and Mrs. Spreckman, who has known him for 25 years, and they commend him on this appointment and assure that he will be an asset to this Board.

Mr. Rogowsky asked the lieutenant as a new member of the Board, if he would look into issues such as the new reflector panels on the Bronx River Parkway, lighting system, the traffic safety at the northbound island in front of the County Center and the northbound ramp of the Oak Street entrance to the BRP. Lt. Trancynger said he would bring these issues to the Board as soon as the next meeting is called.

On the motion of Mrs. Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Mrs. Spreckman, the appointment of Lt. David Trancynger was approved by a 5-0 vote.

COUNCIL FOR SENIORS:
Grace Byrd – a resident of Yonkers is appointed due to the unfortunate and untimely passing of Beryl Stewart, for a term to expire December 31, 2006. She has taken the oath of office, but has not attended any meetings due to the inclement winter weather. Mrs. Byrd is a native New Yorker, educated in Yonkers and a graduate of Roosevelt High School. She is a graduate of Harlem Hospital School of Nursing; she received her B.S. Degree from Mercy College and earned her M.S. degree from Long Island University in Guidance and Counseling. She is a charter member of Community Baptist Church, where she serves as Chairperson of the Trustee Board, and treasurer of the Senior Choir. Mrs. Byrd is president of the Women’s Civic Club of Nepperhan, Inc.,, she is the Historian of the Northeastern Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc., and she serves as a member of numerous community boards and organizations.

Mrs. Stewart-Cousins states that Mrs. Byrd is the most active person she has ever met and she is a member of numerous organizations and still has time to volunteer her services.

As Chair of the Senior Committee, Mrs. Spreckman invited Mrs. Byrd to attend a meeting to see how the committee operates and what services they support and fight for out senior community.

Mr. Pinto thanked her for her time and her experience and will send a confirmation letter when confirmed by the full Board of Legislators.

On the motion of Mrs. Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Mrs. Spreckman, the appointment of Grace Byrd is approved by a 5-0 vote.

Minutes submitted by: Emilia Vita
Approved: 8/8/05; VJP/BS; 4-0

FIRE ADVISORY BOARD:
Matthew Donovan – a resident of New Rochelle, New York is appointed as a member for a term to expire December 31, 2006. He has taken the oath of office and currently is employed with the rye brook Fire Department as a full time firefighter since 2000 and an EMT since 2001. He has had training in numerous fire suppression and rescue techniques, such as incident command, hazardous materials, fire and building codes and fire essentials.

With his experiences in and around the County, Mr. Donovan feels radio communications are a particular issue that the Advisory Board needs to focus on and the issue of interior firefighter vs. exterior firefighter that should be addressed as a matter of safety.

When asked by Mrs. Stewart-Cousins to clarify the interior vs. the exterior issue, Mr. Donovan explained that most firefighters are not experience to battle inside fires opposed to outside, there is a difference in training and the matter must be addressed.

On the motion of Mr. Rogowsky, seconded by Mrs. Stewart-Cousins, the appointment of Matthew Donovan is approved by a 5-0 vote.

REAPPOINTMENTS

Refuse Disposal District #1: David L. Snyder, Esq., of White Plains, New York is reappointed as a town representative for a term to expire December 31, 2006. Motion to move by Rogowsky, seconded Stewart-Cousins.

Citizens Consumer Advisory Council: Constance R. Corbett of White Plains, New York is reappointed as an Area 4 representative for a term to expire December 31, 2006. Motion to move by Rogowsky, seconded Spreckman.

Youth Board: Betty Lou Ward, of Eastchester, New York is reappointed as a member for a term to expire December 31, 2007. Motion to move by Pinto, seconded Spreckman.

Planning Board: Honorable Clinton B. Smith, of Chappaqua, is reappointed as a member for a term to expire December 31, 2007. Motion to move by Rogowsky, seconded Stewart-Cousins.

All reappointments were approved by a 5-0 vote.

Mr. Pinto said the new agenda referral relating to Health benefits, will tentatively be scheduled to meet jointly with the Budget Committee on June 13, 2005, at 10 a.m.

With no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.