COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES: MAY 22, 2006
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MEMBERS: Chair: Kaplowitz; Legislators: Abinanti, Burton, LaMotte, Oros, Pinto, Rogowsky, Ryan, Spreckman, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson
HOUSING, PLANNING & GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
MEMBERS: Chair: Bronz; Legislators: Burton, Pinto, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson
PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION, LABOR & PARKS
MEMBERS: Acting Chair: Pinto; Legislators: Burton, Myers, Pinto, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson
IN ATTENDANCE: CE’s office: A. Neuman, B. Randolph, S. Carerra; Budget: A. Vietro, J. Delaney; DIT: N. Jacknis, K. Foster, R. Elliott, L. Harris; DEF: A. Landi; PW: R. Butler; DoP: W. Brady, F. McLaughlin; Law: L. Alesio; Finance: P. Pucillo, J. Waltman; BKSD: W. Storch, N. DeSantis, D. Polomi; LWV: B. Strauss; H. Corbin; BOL: B. Boland, R. Indelicato, S. Vanderberg, D. Toledo, B. Bochow, L. Gantress
With a quorum present, the Budget and Appropriations Committee was called to order at 10:06 a.m.
ADDED STARTER “A”
A proposed Resolution which re-affirms a Negative Declaration originally adopted by the Board in 2004 determining there will be no significant adverse impact on the environment from the construction of a storage building at the Yonkers Joint Waste Water Treatment Plant (Capital Project SY013). This action will ensure the retention of approximately $1.6 million in interest subsidies provided through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corp.
On the motion of Legislator Spreckman seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item carried 9-0.
ADDED STARTER “B”
A memo from the Commissioner of Finance informing the County Executive and the Board Chairman of the May cash drawdown of Tobacco Proceeds of $4 million by WCHCC in accordance with BoL Act 209-2005.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto seconded by Legislator Burton, the item was received & filed unanimously.
ITEM B34
A Petition from the Town of New Castle for the Expansion of the Saw Mill River Sanitary Sewer District requesting the inclusion of 263 parcels in the purposed Northern District No. 1, within the Town of New Castle.
The Committee’s action will allow essential County Departments to begin the laborious process of reviewing the feasibility of the Town’s request and its possible approval. Upon the completion of this process, the request will return in the form of actual legislation for consideration by the appropriate Board committees.
On the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to refer the item to the administration carried 7-3 with Legislators Oros, Spreckman and Stewart-Cousins voting no.
With a quorum present, the Committee on Housing, Planning & Government Operations convened at 10:25 am.
ITEM C58(BIT06) & C59(BIT17)
C58 (BIT06) Purchase of Computer Equipment project is a $850,000 Bond Act to fund the purchase and installation of data storage devices and systems, including archive storage capabilities, large server equipment and scanners.
C59 (BIT17) Network Infrastructure Upgrade project is a $1.4 million Bond Act to fund the purchase and installation of network equipment, purchase of network management software, electrical wiring and related work.
For B&A: On the motion of Legislator Pinto seconded by Legislator Spreckman, both items carried 10-0.
For HPGO: On the motion of Legislator Pinto seconded by Legislator Burton, both items carried 6-0.
The Committees on Housing, Planning & Government Operations adjourned and Public Works, Transportation, Labor & Parks convened at 10:34 am.
ITEM A38
An Act authorizing the County to release and discharge the State from all claims in connection with the State’s taking, by eminent domain of certain County-owned property situated adjacent to WCC in Greenburgh, for the purpose of accommodating highway improvements along Route 100.
For B&A: On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the item carried 10-0.
For PWTL&P: On the motion of Legislator Myers seconded by Legislator Burton, the item carried 6-0.
ITEM A34
An Act authorizing the conveyance of 4 County-owned parcels acquired at various times for various projects and parkways which were never utilized by the County. The parcels were deemed surplus and not needed for County purposes and will be conveyed to the specified purchasers.
On the motion of Legislator Burton seconded by Legislator Pinto, the item carried 10-0.
ITEM A41
An Act authorizing the County to enter into a perpetual easement agreement with Yonkers for the purpose of operating approximately 512 linear feet of sanitary and storm sewer lines under County lands located approximately 214 ft. south of McLean Ave. in Yonkers along the County’s Putnam Right-of-Way on property not utilized for park purposes.
On the motion of Legislator Spreckman seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the item carried 10-0.
ITEM C50(B0073)
A $550,000 Bond Act to fund the 112 East Post Road, White Plains Roof Replacement project, the bonding will finance the design, construction and construction management for the repair/replacement of the roof.
It was decided this item would be held until further discussion could be had.
The Committee on Public Works, Transportation, Labor & Parks adjourned at 10:55am.
ITEM A8
An Act authorizing the retention of Ohrenstein & Brown, LLP as of Counsel to the County Attorney, to continue to represent the County of Westchester and County Executive in a lawsuit entitled DiBattista, et al. v. County of Westchester, et al. The contract amount is not-to-exceed $30,000.
The Plaintiffs represent a class of retired County Civil Service employees who felt the County was in breach of contract when it increased the amount of health care co-payments/deductibles for retired CSEA employees.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto seconded by Legislator Burton, the item carried 10-0.
ITEM A10
Legislation authorizing settlement in the matter of County of Westchester v. Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc. and Verde Electric Corp. for the amount of $90,000 for costs and expenses incurred by the County to repair a water main break (Central Ave. & No. Washington Ave, Hartsdale) caused when Verde, a sub-contractor of Yonkers Contracting in preparation to install a new traffic pole pierced a Water Main No. 1 pipe.
On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky seconded by Legislator Burton, the item carried 9-1 with Legislator Swanson voting no and Legislators Oros and LaMotte voting without prejudice.
ITEM B5
A proposed Local Law which would amend the County Sewer Act and allow for the consolidation of all operations and maintenance expenses incurred throughout the County sewer system into a single administrative account prior to the allocation of such “O&M” among the 13 sanitary sewer districts, creating a uniform method of allocation for “O&M” thereby increasing administrative efficiencies within DEF.
After significant discussion many questions remained unanswered so it was decided the item would be signed out of committee for public hearing purposes only and return to committee for additional consideration.
On the motion of Legislator Rogowsky seconded by Legislator Burton, the item carried for public hearing purposes only 8-0.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 11:55 am.
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