December 2, 2005 at 7:30 am
DRAFT MINUTES
Members: Kurt Behrenfeld, Chairman; Dr. Paul DiGiovanni, Vice Chairman; Kay Breed, Marilyn Brown, Danny Ross, Carol Tytler, Newel Willcox
Others Present: Scott Steve, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Paul Allen, Katrina Spicer, John Bardsley, Donald Ferris, Carolyn Kennedy, John Carroll, Bill Cinquanti, Lee Price, Robert Duell, Don Chambers, Bob Ross, Susan Haynes, Patrick Ruppe
Mr. Behrenfeld called the meeting to order at 7:31 a.m.
Ms. Tytler moved adoption of the minutes of the November 10, 2005 meeting; seconded by Dr. DiGiovanni.
All members voting in favor, none
opposed, minutes approved as
Ms. Tytler moved adoption of the minutes of the November 18, 2005 meeting; seconded by Dr. DiGiovanni.
All members voting in favor, none
opposed, minutes approved as
RESOLUTIONS:
1.
Authorize Agreement, Real Property Tax
Services, OCE Scanner/ Printer –
Ms.
Brown moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Tytler.
All members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
2.
Abolish/ Create, Real Property Tax
Services, Real Property Assessor/ Assistant Real Property Assessor (Part-time,
21 hrs/wk) – Dr. DiGiovanni moved
adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown. All members
voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
The committee began to discuss
Agenda Item No. 3, Approval of Tompkins Cortland Community College Campus Master
Plan Amendment and decided to wait until later in the meeting when further
clarification of the resolution can be made.
4. Revise 2006 Tentative Budget – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown. All members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
5.
Adopt 2006 County Budget
– Dr. DiGiovanni moved
adoption; seconded by Mr. Willcox. All members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
3.
Approval of Tompkins
Cortland Community College Campus Master Plan Amendment -- Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown.
Mr. Bob Ross, from TC3, presented the committee with a Facilities Master
Plan Update. Mr. Ross explained to the committee that the increase in the
cost of Master Plan was due to the increased cost of building materials over
several years and four or five years after the establishment of the Master Plan
the needs of the college have changed. Mr.
Ross explained in detail to the committee the Facilities Master Plan Update.
Ms. Breed expressed that Mr. Ross and his team, have put a great deal of
time into this plan. She further expressed concerns for the need of more
classrooms and that there has been an
increase in enrollment. She
stated that the campus has had no major changes and that they have done a great
job fund raising. Additionally, Ms.
Breed pointed out that the firm TC3 is working with is one the top firms and
they have done a great job. Mr.
Willcox questioned the fiscal impact of this.
Ms. Haynes stated that the initial money amounts do not change, it was
just the cash flow that changed. Ms.
Breed further stated that local industries have contributed major amounts. All members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
6.
Authorize Accounts Payable
Year End Adjustments to 2005 Budget –
Mr. Willcox
51.
Pharmaceutical Litigation Demonstration Project – Ms. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown.
Mr. Bardsley explained to the committee the need for this resolution.
He further added that if we prevail in the lawsuit, with this resolution
we will share in the in the damages. This
resolution will certify that the county be part of the lawsuit. Mr. Bardsley prepared a final version of the resolution,
amending the first and last paragraph. Dr.
DiGiovanni discussed Pharmaceutical Companies and the Attorney General’s
Office. Dr. DiGiovanni stated that
he was opposed to this. Mr.
Behrenfeld, Ms. Breed, Ms. Brown, Ms. Ross, Ms. Tytler, Mr. Willcox
voting in favor; Dr. DiGiovanni
opposed, resolution adopted.
7.
Amend 2006 Budget to Reflect State Administered Non Property (Sales
Tax) to Reduce Real Property Tax Levy (not included) – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Ross.
The committee discussed that the Towns apply Sales Tax to reduce County
Tax Levy within those Towns. All
members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
The committee discussed remaining agenda item nos. 8 through 19.
Mr. Schrader explained that for item nos. 9 through 19 the Real Property
office is waiting on additional information because the county is the levying
controller. Mr. Cinquanti stated
that his office had just received figures.
The committee discussed that last year they did the same thing.
Mr. Schrader raised the question to Mr. Cinquanti asking his who will pay
in the first instance if they do not pay. Mr.
Cinquanti responded that the county does. The
committee discussed that this is in the best interest of the county.
Demolition Charges in Virgil were discussed.
The committee further discussed the questionable responsibility of the
levying of demolition charges. Mr.
Cinquanti and Mr. Schrader further discussed the potential problem with
delinquent taxes. Auctions and
foreclosures were further discussed. Ms. Tytler made a motion to create a consent agenda from agenda item
nos. 8 through 19; seconded by Ms. Breed. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; motion carried.
Budget and Finance Consent Agenda:
8.
Levy County Tax, City of Cortland
9. Fix Date to Sign Warrants
10.
Levying Town Special District Taxes
11. Levy Town General and Highway Taxes
12. Levying Water Charges – Town of Scott
13. Levying
Water Charges – Town of Cincinnatus
14. Levying
Water Charges – Town of Cortlandville
15. Levying
Water Charges – Town of Harford
16. Levying Sewer Charges – Town of Cortlandville
17. Levying Sewer Charges – Town of Cuyler
18. Levying Sewer Charges – Town of Virgil
19. Levying Demolition Fee – Town of Virgil
Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption of the consent agenda, agenda item nos. 8
through 19; seconded by Ms. Tytler. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; consent agenda adopted.
Dr. DiGiovanni requested that Consent Agenda Item Nos. 20, 24, 30, 31, 34, 39, 42, 43, 44 and 50 be removed and acted upon separately.
Ms. Tytler requested that Consent Agenda Item Nos. 25, 33, 38 and 46 be removed and acted upon separately.
Ms. Brown requested that Consent Agenda Item Nos. 32, 36 and 37 be removed and acted upon separately.
Mr. Willcox requested that Consent Agenda Item No. 35 be removed and acted upon separately.
The following agenda items were removed from the Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately; Consent Agenda Item Nos. 20, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 46 and 50.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Referred from Agriculture & Planning Committee:
21.
Amend 2005
Budget, 5311 STOA Program, Planning Department
22. Amend 2005 Budget, Planning
Department (Transit Buses)
Referred
from Health Committee:
28. Authorize Agreements, Mental Health Dept. (Mental Health Services)
29. Authorize Agreement, Mental Health Dept. (Intensive Case Management)
Referred from Judiciary
and Public Safety Committee:
40.
Amend 2005 Budget/ Transfer Funds, Sheriff’s Department/ Jail,
Personal Services
41. Authorize Agreement, Amend Budget, Child Passenger Safety Program, Sheriff’s Department
Referred from Human Services Committee:
45.
Authorize Agreements, Area Agency on Aging (Several Agencies,
Departments, Etc.)
47. Authorize Agreements, Department of Social Services (Foster Care)
48. Authorize Agreements, Department of Social Services (Several Agencies, Departments, Etc.)
49.
Authorize
Agreements, Department of Social Services (Work Experience Work Sites)
Dr. DiGiovanni
moved adoption of the consent agenda, with the exception of
above-mentioned items (Consent Agenda Item Nos.
20, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 46 and
50) being removed; seconded by Ms.
Brown. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; consent agenda adopted.
NON -CONSENT AGENDA:
Referred from Agriculture & Planning Committee:
20.
Authorize Agreement, Cortland County SPCA – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption;
seconded by Ms. Brown. Mr. Schrader
explained to the committee that there was a great deal of misunderstanding on
the part of the SPCA and he has since contacted the representatives from the
SPCA and straightened everything out. The
SPCA has apologized for the misunderstanding.
All members voting in favor, none
opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred
from Health Committee:
24.
Authorize
Agreement/Accept Funds-Health Dept./Jacobus Center (State Grant) –
Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown.
Dr. DiGiovanni stated that he would be abstaining from voting. The committee requested that the resolution read “ON MOTION OF MR. MCKEE”. Mr. Behrenfeld, Dr. DiGiovanni, Ms. Breed, Ms. Brown, Ms.
Ross, Ms. Tytler, Mr. Willcox voting favor; Dr. DiGiovanni abstained from
voting, resolution adopted.
25.
Extend
Agreements - Health Dept./Nursing Division (Contracted Services) – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption;
seconded by Ms. Breed. Ms. Tytler
stated that she wanted to discuss this one because it dealt with the contract
issue that had been discussed in depth in the Health Committee meeting.
The committee discussed the issues related to contracts, renewal of
contracts, County Attorney approval of contracts for 2006 and related laws.
Ms. Breed discussed passing this and what will happen during the
transition period in the County Attorney’s Office.
The committee discussed that the contract is no the problem, the problem
is the terms of the contract. The
committee further discussed that simple extensions to contracts do not bind over
the new Legislature, and do not impose conditions that would bind future
Legislation. Ms. Breed discussed
her concerns that these contracts all are renewed in a timely manner.
Chairman Steve explained the process in which contracts are tracked and
watched. Mr. Schrader stated that
the terms of the contract cannot be changed.
Dr. DiGiovanni addressed the idea of not having contracts that expire on
December 31 of an odd year. Mr.
Schrader discussed the issue of having contracts for longer than one-year and 90
day extension. Ms. Breed asked Mr.
Schrader to remind Department Heads at the next Department Head Meeting to keep
track of contracts within their departments.
The streamlining of contracts and purchase orders to a more service
agreement type was discussed. All members voting in favor, none
opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred from Highway Committee:
30.
Authorizing
to Bond for Highway Department 2006 Highway Capital Improvement Plan Highway
Department – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Breed.
A Five Year Capitol Plan- Road Reconstruction/Rehabilitation was
distributed and discussed by the committee.
Chairman Steve discussed Federal and State aid available.
Mr. Allen discussed lobbying and the need for continued lobbying in the
future for additional funding. The
committee discussed the some projects being done in house. Mr. Allen and Mr. Chambers discussed the initiation of
projects one year in advance and proper project planning and accounting.
The committee discussed the need for bonding and the current bond rate
being close to the current interest rate. Dr.
DiGiovanni made a motion to amend the resolution to reflect the changing of
$1,900,000 to $458,157; seconded by Ms. Breed.
All members voting in favor of amended resolution, none opposed;
resolution adopted.
31. Authorization
to Bond for Highway Department Equipment, Highway Department Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption;
seconded by Ms. Breed. All
members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
32. Authorize
Agreement/Environmental Monitoring, Highway Department/Landfill Mr. Ross moved adoption; seconded
by Ms. Tytler. The committee
discussed the start date. All
members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
33.
Authorize
Agreement Highway Department, Recycling Center (J.M. Murray Center – Recycling
Sorting Service) –
Ms. Brown moved adoption; seconded by Dr. DiGiovanni.
The committee discussed the analysis of the service working.
The committee discussed the problems being addresses and resolved and
that this resolution is for the same rate and being the same proposal. Ms. Tytler questioned why these employees are not considered
county employees. The committee
discussed this proposal is a savings to the county, first in supervision and
secondly in workers compensation. Mr.
Behrenfeld, Dr. DiGiovanni, Ms. Breed, Ms. Brown, Ms. Ross, Mr. Willcox voting
in favor; Ms. Tytler opposed, resolution adopted.
34.
Authorize
Agreement, Tioughnioga River Waterfront Development Project Engineering, Highway
Department –
Ms. Brown moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Tytler. The committee discussed the project and the receipt of the
grant still not being guaranteed. They
further discussed the maintenance once the project is completed and problems
that can arise that will increase county costs. Chairman Steve discussed a further evaluation/project
analysis and the costs afterwards. He
further discussed the grant money not being approved by the IDA/BDC.
The committee discussed easements and the fact that they need to be
checked on first. Mr. Chambers
discussed a preliminary design. The committee discussed this being sent back to
the committee for further discussion. Dr.
DiGiovanni withdrew his motion.
35.
Transfer
Funds, Highway Department – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown.
All members
voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
36.
Authorize
Superintendent of Highways to Prepare and Submit a NYS DEC Solid Waste Permit
Application for Tire Shredding Operations, Highway Department/Landfill – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption;
seconded by Ms. Brown. The
committee discussed the use of shredded tire product in drainage in the Landfill
and possibility of this becoming a moneymaker.
All members voting in favor, none
opposed; resolution adopted.
37. Amend 2005 Budget, Highway Department
– Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Ross. Mr.
Schrader stated that this was money received from FEMA and was placed in the
wrong account and this resolution will just fix that. All members voting in favor, none
opposed; resolution adopted.
38.
Approve
Airport Master Plan, Cortland County Airport – Chase Field, Highway
Department. Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Breed.
The committee discussed FAA funding and the need for a Master Plan.
The need for runway expansion was discussed.
The committee further discussed easements, hazardous areas and the minute
area involved. They further
discussed the potential of economical development.
All
members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
39.
Approve
the 2006-2010 Five Year Capital Plan and Establishing a Capital Reserve in
Relation Thereto -- Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown. The committee discussed this being related to documents
distributed earlier related to Highway Projects. All members voting in
favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred from Judiciary
and Public Safety Committee:
42.
Amend
Resolution No. 211 of 1983, Fire Investigation Team, Cortland County Fire and
Emergency Management – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Breed.
The committee asked why there is an increase. Mr. Duell explained that there is a need to increase response
time and training and he added that recruiting is difficult due to the training
needed. All members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred from Human Services Committee:
43.
Accept
Bids/Authorize Purchase, Area Agency on Aging, Nutrition, Miscellaneous
Groceries and Frozen Foods – Dr. DiGiovanni
moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Breed. The
abundance of information involved with this was discussed.
The fact that bids are accepted per item and there are over 200 items was
discussed. All
members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
44.
Accept
Bids/Authorize Purchase, Area Agency on Aging, Nutrition, Paper Goods and
Maintenance Supplies – Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Breed.
All members voting in
favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
46.
Authorize
Agreements, Department of Social Services (Day Care Services)
– Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption;
seconded by Ms. Tytler. The
committee discussed that there are a list licensed daycare providers that change
a great deal. All
members voting in favor, none opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred from Personnel Committee:
50.
Revise Health
Insurance Rates for the Cortland County Employees’ Health Benefits Program
– Dr. DiGiovanni moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Brown.
The committee discussed that they wish they could lower this but this is
reality.
Mr. Behrenfeld, Dr. DiGiovanni, Ms. Brown, Ms. Ross, Ms. Tytler, Mr.
Willcox voting in favor; Ms. Breed opposed, resolution adopted.
DISCUSSION/PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS:
Mr. Behrenfeld
thanked everyone for their hard work and wished those Legislators staying the
best of luck on the challenges ahead.
Dr. DiGiovanni made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ms. Breed. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m.