October 9th County Board of Legislators Meeting: Highlights of Actions Taken

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2007

Local Law Regarding Hybrid Vehicles
Renews legislation that provides free parking for hybrid and other high mileage vehicles with economy ratings of 35 miles per gallon or more in the county-owned commuter parking lots through December 31, 2009. (16-0; Myers, absent)

Local Law Regarding Portable/Inflatable Pools
Requires retailers that sell inflatable pools to post an advisory that warns consumers of the potential drowning hazard these pools pose to children. The inflatable pool warning signs shall be distributed to merchants by the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection. Repeating violators of the new law will receive fines between $150 and $250. (15-0; Maisano, out; Myers, absent)

Bond Acts Approved

• $600,000 to fund the design of Phase VI of the South County Trailway, a 2.15 mile segment from Tuckahoe Road south to Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers. The South County Trailway spans over 14 continuous miles from the NYC line to Eastview at the Greenburgh/Mount Pleasant border. (Planning Dept)
• $875,000 to pay the design and construction management costs for chlorine tank and gas piping upgrades to Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant. Upgrading the chlorine tanks will reduce odors and chemical demand while improving the disinfection process. Replacing the gas piping which is more than 28 years old will stem occasional gas leaks that have occurred due to the age of the pipes. (Environmental Facilities) (15-1; Abinanti, No)
• $750,000 to fund targeted maintenance repairs to Mamaroneck Wastewater Treatment Plant (Environmental Facilities)
• $4.2 million to fund the interior refurbishment, furnishing and technology upgrade of a new 100,000 square foot Yonkers district office at i.Park on Warburton Avenue for the county's Social Services Department; facility will replace the existing DSS office at 137 Alexander Street and consolidate similar DSS operations from New Rochelle. DSS estimates that approximately 74% of the costs associated with this project are subject to reimbursement by NYS over the course of the 20 year lease. (Social Services)
• $6.8 million to reconstruct the 4,000 foot long seawall at Croton Point Park. (Parks)
• $2.24 million to finance design and construction management expenses related to Phase III of the replacement, rehabilitation and upgrading at the Port Chester Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Environmental Facilities)
• $900,000 to fund improvements to the picnic and active recreation areas at Sprain Ridge Park, Ridge Road Park, Tibbetts Brook Park and Blue Mountain Reservation. (Parks)
• $160,000 to fund the purchase of a special response vehicle for Corrections Dept. emergency service unit. (Corrections) (15-1; LaMotte, No)

Other Actions Taken:

• Public Scoping Session to hear comments on project to improve existing deicing facilities and operations at the county airport to reduce possible impacts on water quality rescheduled to November 29, 2007 at 7:00 PM at the Westchester County Center.
• Approved the inclusion of the following parcels into the Westchester County Agricultural District:: Mustang Sally Farm (8.6 acres), Bedford; Todd Farm (102.9 acres), Lewisboro; Hidden Hollow Farm (8.9 acres); Yorktown; Rainbeau Ridge Farm (10.1acres) Bedford; Tanrackin Farm (4.1 acres), Bedford; Meadows Farm stand (.4 acres), Yorktown.
• Authorized the county to reimburse the town of Harrison for the costs (not to exceed $84,000 for a three year term) the town incurs to transport prisoners between Harrison and the county jail in Valhalla.
  

Public Hearing Scheduled For October 22 At 7:30 P.M. in the Legislative Chamber:

Proposed law would permit police or authorized officer of the Consumer Protection Dept. to seize and impound any vehicle, tool or other implement being used in connection with unlicensed home improvement contracting.

Appointments Approved

Westchester County Tax Commission
David B. Jackson, executive director (11-4; No, Burrows, Oros, LaMotte, Swanson)

Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission
Bianca I. Rodriguez (Yonkers), member

Community Services Board
Barbara Kapetanakes, Psy.D. (Sleepy Hollow), member

Agenda Items Overed (action not taken):

$3.3 million to finance various operations, equipment, staffing and improvements at Westchester County Airport; offset by correlated increase in airport revenues. (Overed by Abinanti)