September 10, 2007

Highlights Of Actions Taken By The County Board Of Legislators At Its September 10th Meeting

Bond Acts Approved

• New Ball Field For Larchmont: Approved $2.55 million (Legacy Program) to build an all weather, varsity-sized ball field (as well as a picnic area, comfort station and a parking area) at Flint Park in Larchmont to be used for soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball. As consideration for the county investing in the ball field, the village agreed to operate and maintain the new field; construct 35 units of workforce housing in the future; and, take ownership of County Road 67 I, II (Palmer Avenue).
• Emergency Traffic Equipment: (Approved 13-4; No---Oros, LaMotte, Maisano, Swanson) Approved $2.65 million to fund the cost of emergency traffic diversion equipment to enable the county to quickly close flooded roadways, particularly the Bronx River Parkway, using roll out barricades at entrance and exit ramps. The equipment would also enable the county to institute "contra flow" traffic patterns, ie. having both sides of the roadway flow in the same direction during evacuations or other emergencies. The funds will also pay for emergency traffic equipment, including the purchase of generators, pumps, light towers, variable message signs, barricades, portable stop signs and stoplights, to assist municipalities during extended power outages.
• County Offices: Approved $1.61 million to refurbish the lobby area and the 4th floor of the county offices at 112 East Post Road in White Plains.
• Information Technology Dept.: Approved $600,000 to fund continued data network upgrades.
• Bronx River Pkwy Yonkers Ramp: Approved $485,000 in additional bonds to finance the increased cost of constructing a new exit ramp for northbound traffic from the Bronx River Parkway onto Yonkers Avenue; of the estimated total cost of about $9.4 million, state and federal assistance covers about 80% of the total cost.

Other Board Action

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA): Authorized the county to receive HOPWA HUD grants amounting to almost $1.9 million directly, amending the prior sixteen year old arrangement whereby NYC was the single recipient and administrator of the region's HOPWA funds. County will enter into intermunicipal agreements with the cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Yonkers to provide them with HOPWA funds in the following amounts: $337,000 (Mount Vernon); $79,000 (New Rochelle); $309,000 (Yonkers).

Phone Surcharge Funds: Approved the expenditure of $4.76 million of funds from the cell phone surcharge to fund public safety communication networks; $2.14 million in enhanced 911 surcharge funds to use for the operation of the 911 emergency system.

Outside Counsel: Amended an agreement, to an amount not to exceed $30,000, between the county and Bond, Shoeneck and King, counsel retained to represent the county in a dispute regarding pay policy after military discharge, entitled Michael Deem v. NYS Retirement System and WC Dept of Human Resources.

Peekskill Property Purchase: Approved the sale to Peekskill of a vacant, county-owned 5.788-acre parcel along the Annsville Creek (Corporate Drive parcel) for $1; the city will remediate the property and hold the county harmless from any future liability from contamination on the site. The parcel will be included in the city's planned redevelopment of the waterfront.

Medicaid Resolution: Approved a resolution endorsing federal legislation that would bar state governments from passing along a portion of their Medicaid costs to counties. The Medicaid County Protection Act (HR 326) was introduced by Congressman G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina. New York is one of only a few states that mandate county governments to pay a significant portion of the state's Medicaid's costs. Westchester County current sends about $4 million per week to the state to pay for Medicaid, constituting about 40% of the total county property tax levy.

Agenda Items Overed

3A9 (by Oros) Agreement whereby Westchester Medical Center would pay up to $500,000 to the county for clinical analyses, toxicological, environmental, microbiological, forensic science and public health lab services through the Labs and Research Dept. as well as services of the Medical Examiner's Office.

3A12,13,14 (by Abinanti) Legislation to finance increased costs of construction for the Bronx River Parkway Repaving program, from Cemetery Road to Lafayette Avenue Bridge.

3A15 (by Oros) Act authorizing the county to pay $30,000 as final settlement relating to the county's early termination of the license agreement with Wildwood Restaurant for the operation of the food concession at Sprain Lake Golf Course.

Appointments Approved

Domestic Violence Council

• Kimberly S. Thomsen (Mount Kisco) reappointed in the seat designated for a representative of the Family Law Division of the Westchester Bar Association.
• Amy Kohn, DSW (Croton-on-Hudson) appointed as an at-large member.

Refuse Disposal District No. 1 Advisory Board

• John Liszewski (Yonkers) reappointed as a city representative.
• George S. Mottarella, PE (Port Chester) reappointed as a city representative

Youth Board

• Daisy Torres (Port Chester)
• Marouh Hussein (Yonkers)

African American Advisory Board

• Reginald D. Bush (Ossining)

Police Advisory Board

• Peter D. Kamenstein (North Salem)

If you would like additional information on any of the agenda items, please contact Betsy DeSoye at (914) 995-3277.