COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS Joint with PUBLIC WORKS
MINUTES: January 26, 2004
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MEMBERS: Chair: Kaplowitz; Legislators: Abinanti, Bronz, LaMotte, Mosiello, Oros, Rogowsky, Stewart-Cousins, Wishnie
PUBLIC WORKS MEMBERS: Chair: Young; Legislators: Oros, Pinto, Rogowsky, Spreckman, Wishnie
IN ATTENDANCE: CE’s office: B. Randolph, A. Neuman; Budget: L. Bennett, A. Vietro; DoT: L. Salley; Airport: J. Russell; PW: R. Butler; DEF: J. Phelan; DoH: R. Glicksman; Planning: F. McLaughlin, P. Natarelli, J. Mulligan; HR: E. Brancati, P. Redd-Zeman; Tax Commission: D. Jackson; Finance: P. Pucillo; LWV: B. Strauss, F. MacEchren; H. Corbin; BOL: H. Geist, B. Boland, S. Schecter, R. Indelicato, S. Vanderberg
With a quorum present, the Committee on Budget and Appropriations was called to order at 10:12 a.m.
Minutes
On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the minutes were approved as amended 8-0.
Ø With a quorum present, the Committee on Public Works was called to order at 10:10 am.
ITEM A2
An Act modifying the Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District with the addition of 62 parcels of property which were never part of the District. The DEF Feasibility Study dated 10/24/03 indicates the addition of the parcels would not cause a significant change in the tax rate.
The modification was requested by the Town, all facilities necessary will be constructed by the developers, and maintenance will be the responsibility of the Town, there is no cost to the County.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Wishnie the item carried 8-0.
For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Legislator Pinto the item carried 6-0.
A6
A Local Law authorizing the County to amend a lease agreement with Interlaken Capital Aviation Services, Inc. allowing Interlaken to sublet a portion of its hangar at the County Airport to Crane Co.
Crane, an existing Airport tenant and has met all of its obligations to the County will pay Interlaken $16,000 per month under the terms of the sublease. The term of the sublease will run for a period of 5 years. Commissioner Salley explained, at the point Interlaken sublets more than 50% of their hangar the County is eligible for a share of their profit.
A breakdown of the number of planes originally approved to be housed at the Airport was requested.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator LaMotte the item carried 8-0.
For Public Works: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Oros the item carried 6-0.
Ø The Committee on Public Works adjourned at 10:44 am.
A3
An Act amending Act No. 78-2000 which increased the fees for applications for competitive/non-competitive Civil Service examinations.
The costs associated with administering the examinations have increased annually and far exceed the revenue generated from the fees charged which have remained flat. Costs include salaries of the examination unit staff, test monitors and rental fees for examination facilities.
Proposed increases for civil service examinations: non-uniformed from $15 to $25; uniformed from $25 to $50. An additional $160,000 per year is expected from the proposed increases.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Mosiello the item carried 8-0.
A4
A Local Law providing a real property tax exemption to volunteer firefighters and ambulance service members. This proposed Law will reward qualified volunteers for the invaluable service they provide.
A local option which; will only apply within counties with a population of more than 900,000 but less than 950,000 and will provide a 10% exemption from all County district taxes, but will not apply to sewer district tax.
A breakdown of the estimated tax savings per municipality according to the number of volunteers was requested.
After much discussion, it was decided the item would be held over.
A5
An agreement with WCHCC whereby WCHCC would provide for colorectal cancer screening services for Westchester residents for the period commencing 11/1/2003 through 3/31/2004.
Payment will be made by the County in an amount not to exceed $4,000 to be paid at rates published by the NYS Department of Health. The agreement contains a clause requiring WCHCC use the monies to pay for the costs of providing these services, including staff salaries and provide a semi-annual accounting to the Commissioner of Health verifying this.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Bronz the item carried 8-0.
A7/C1
A legislative package relating to the acquisition by the County of an interest in an approximately 182 parcel known as Taxter Ridge located in the Town of Greenburgh from the Unification Church to beheld as county parkland in perpetuity.
The property is comprised of 2 parcels: Parcel 1-a 182 parcel located in the Town of Greenburgh to be conveyed to the Town, New York State and the County and Parcel 2- a 17 ace parcel located in and to be conveyed to the Village of Tarrytown. It is anticipated another 17 acre parcel will be donated to the Seller to the Town.
The total amount payable to the Seller for parcel 1 will be $10,873,000 to be paid by an equal contribution of $3,624,000. The requested bond issuance is up to $4,000,000 to cover the County’s one-third share plus reasonable and customary closing costs. The appropriation is contained in the County’s Capital budget under the Legacy Program. The Village will purchase Parcel 2 for $27,000 without outside funding.
A breakdown of the annual debt service was requested.
For Budget: On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti the item carried 8-1 with Legislator Mosiello voting in the negative.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 11:42 am.
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