Approved Minutes Legislative Session  January 19, 2006 6 PM Meeting [i]

 

Meeting was called to order at 6:08 PM by Chairman Brown followed by the Salute to the Flag.

Roll Call was taken by the Clerk with all members recorded as present with the exception of Steven DaFoe as absent.

The minutes of December 9, 2005 and January 4, 2006 were unanimously approved after questions were raised by Mr. Williams and Ms. Breed. Ms. Breed raised a concern regarding Res. 11-06 stating that the resolution was passed with wording stating that it had passed the appropriate committees. The Clerk responded that her concerns were addressed in the January 4, 2006 minutes at the end under Clerk’s Note.  Mr. Williams questioned the various versions and format of the January minutes and asked why they had been revised. The Clerk responded that after reviewing the tapes and correcting errors in former minutes the minutes were revised to reflect accuracy.

The Clerk read the Recognition prepared by the Chairman of the Legislature in honor of Cincinnatus Fire Department’s 100th anniversary. The Chair recognized Cincinnatus Fire Chief, Derek Raimo and called Legislator McKee to the platform to present a Certificate of Recognition. Ms. Brown thanked the volunteers for all their dedication and hardwork. Chief Raimo thanked the past administration for their support for fire service and asked for continued support by the new legislature. Applause from the entire Legislature.

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Troy, Report from Chairman – Evaluation of County Administrator was received and filed. There was confusion regarding receipt of this document as the wording Report from Chairman should have read Letter from Chairman.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Mr. Steger, a report on the 2005 Fourth Quarter Sales Tax Distribution prepared by the County Treasurer was received and filed.

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Troy, the resignation of Bryan Riccardi, County Coroner was received and filed.

 Resolutions:

On the motion of Mr. Van Dee, second by Mr. Daniels and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 1 became Resolution No. 12-06: Authorizing an Agreement with Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau for Provision of Public Benefit.

On the motion of Mr. Van Dee, second by Mr. Cornell and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 2 became Resolution No. 13-06: Authorize Agreement, Cortland County Chamber of Commerce.

On the motion of Mr. Van Dee, second by Mr. Tagliente and adopted by all members voting aye, amended to include the account number requested by Ms. Breed, Agenda Item No. 3 became Resolution No. 14-06: Authorizing Agreement with Finger Lakes Library System.

On the motion of Mr. Van Dee, second by Ms. Breed and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 4 became Resolution No. 15-06: Authorize Payment, Tompkins Cortland Community College (Operating Budget 2005-2006).

On the motion of Mr. Van Dee, second by Mr. McKee and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 5 became Resolution No. 16-06: Amend 2005 Budget, Allocation of Wages Appropriation of Reserve.

On the motion of Mr. Van Dee, second by Mr. Armstrong and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 6 became Resolution No. 17-06: Amend 2006 Budget, Allocating Wages.  

Agenda Item No. 7 was pulled by the Chairman.

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Cornell and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 8 became Resolution No. 18-06: Authorize Chairman to Sign Agreement Planning Department (Cortland County and Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board.

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Ms. Price and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 9 became Resolution No. 19-06: Authorize Agreement Cortland County (Cornell Cooperative Extension).

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Cornell and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 10 became Resolution No. 20-06: Authorize Payment Cortland County (Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District)

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Clark and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 11 became Resolution No. 21-06: Authorize Agreement Cortland County (Federation of Sportsmen).

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Van Dee Agenda Item No. 12. was introduced. Mr. Williams stated he remembered the amount to be $30,000. Mr. Schrader said it was always $33,400. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 12 became Resolution No. 22-06: Authorize Agreement Cortland County (SPCA).

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Steger and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 13 became Resolution No. 23-06: Supporting an application for State Assistance Payments Under the New York State Bond Act to Purchase Development Rights on the Elinor Currie farm.

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Cornell and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 14 became Resolution No. 24-06: Supporting an application for State Assistance Payments Under the New York State Bond Act to Purchase Development Rights on the Douglas Riehlman farm.

On the motion of Mr. Ross, second by Mr. Willcox and adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 15 became Resolution No. 25-06: Supporting an application for State Assistance Payments Under the New York State Bond Act to Purchase Development Rights on the William and Jeanne Underwood farm.

On the motion of Mr. Tagliente, second by Mr. Cornell Agenda Item No. 16 was introduced. Ms. Breed asked where were the two properties protected before?  Mr. Schrader said that they weren’t. The recycling center is new, we didn’t have a maintenance agreement on the fire alarm system and the other is the fire alarm system at the pavilion that was not under contract. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 16 became Resolution No. 26-06: Amend Agreement Davis-Ulmer, Buildings and Grounds Department

On the motion of Mr. Tagliente, second by Mr. Willcox adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 17 became Resolution No. 27-06: Amend Agreement Penn Power Systems, Buildings and Grounds Department

On the motion of Mr. Tagliente, second by Mr. Steger adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 18 became Resolution No. 28-06: Amend Agreement Water Treatment Boilers, Buildings and Grounds Department

On the motion of Mr. Tagliente, second by Mr. Daniels Agenda Item No. 19 was introduced.  Ms. Breed questioned why this went up so much?  Mr. Schrader said it was due to the addition of elevators to the Planning, Public Safety and the Highway buildings.

Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 19 became Resolution No. 29-06: Amend Agreement Schindler Elevator Corporation/Elevator Service, Buildings and Grounds Department

On the motion of Mr. Tagliente, second by Ms. Price adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 20 became Resolution No. 30-06: Amend Agreement Simplex Grinnell LP/Fire Alarm Service, Buildings and Grounds Department

On the motion of Mr. Tagliente, second by Ms. Price adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 21 became Resolution No. 31-06: Accept Bids/ Authorize Agreement Waste Management of New York, LLC, Buildings and Grounds Department

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Troy adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 22 became Resolution No. 32-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department (Nursing Division) Contracted Services.

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Cornell adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 23 became Resolution No. 33-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department / Children With Special Needs Program Contract for Services.

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Ms. Price adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 24 became Resolution No. 34-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department / Hospice (Program Services)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Cornell adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 25 became Resolution No. 35-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department / Hospice (Program Services)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Ms. Price Agenda Item No. 26 was introduced.

Mr. Williams stated that he has asked this same question before, have we ever explored taking these outsourced audits and do a requested proposal lumping all audits together? If lumped together we could go out for a RFP and save the county money. Mr. Schrader said that in many cases, the cost reports that we have require specialized knowledge and/or experience. We are using specialist to maximize state and federal reimbursements. In this case we did try to get another provider and we were turned down because they didn’t have the expertise. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 26 became Resolution No. 36-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department / Hospice (Contractual Services)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Troy adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 27 became Resolution No. 37-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department / Environmental Health (Hearing Officer Services)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. McKee adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 28 became Resolution No. 38-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department / Environmental Health (Veterinary Services) 

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Daniels adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 29 became Resolution No. 39-06: Authorize Agreement / Accept Funds Health Department/ Children with Special Needs Program (Local Department of Social Services)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Cornell adopted by all members voting aye, Mr. Willcox voting nay, Agenda Item No. 30 became Resolution No. 40-06: Authorize Agreement / Accept Funds Health Department Healthy Heart Program.

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Ms. Price adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 31 became Resolution No. 41-06: Authorize Agreements/ Accept funds Health Department Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bio Terrorism.

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Ms. Price Agenda Item 32 was introduced. Mr. Williams raised the same issues as expressed in Agenda Item No. 26. Adopted by all members voting aye, Mr. Willcox voting nay Agenda Item No. 32 became Resolution No. 42-06: Authorize Agreements for 2006 Health Department/Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health (Auditor, Ahlers, Interpreter and Consultants and/or Facilitators

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. McKee adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 33 became Resolution No. 43-06: Authorize Agreements Health Department and Mental Health Department SCHC Total Care Inc.

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Armstong adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 34 became Resolution No. 44-06: Amend Budget/ Amend Agreement Mental Health Department (Catholic Charities)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Ms. Price Agenda Item No 35 was introduced.

Ms. Breed stated that in light of recent reports of child abuse we need to take a look in our own backyard of the leniency of the DA and Judges. The justice system doesn’t seem to be providing justice and I would like to see it addressed. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 35 became Resolution No. 45-06: Amend Agreement, Amend Budget, Mental Health Department (Family Support Services)

On the motion of Mr. Clark, second by Mr. Troy  Agenda Item No. 36 was introduced. Mr. Willcox asked if he could read the contract for the cleaning of that building and how we arrived at that amount. We have never received answers and want to see the internal cost projection and see if bids reflected fringe costs.  Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 36 became Resolution No. 46-06: Authorize Agreement Renewal of Lease for Mental Health Department Offices at 1-5 Clayton Avenue, Cortland, New York.

On the motion of Mr. Daniels, second by Mr. Armstrong adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 37 became Resolution No. 47-06: Authorize Agreement Sheriff’s Department/911 Center Dialogic Communications Corporation.

On the motion of Mr. Daniels, second by Mr. Cornell Agenda Item No. 38 was introduced. Ms. Breed asked if BI was the only one. Mr. Schrader said that 3 firms were looked at and this was the best. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 38 became Resolution No. 48-06: Authorize Agreement Probation Department/Electronic Monitoring (BI Incorporated)

On the motion of Mr. Daniels, second by Mr. VanDee Agenda No. 39 was introduced. Ms Price asked what is the cost of a single drug test. Jane Goldner, Probation Director responded that for one screen test the cost is $1 to $2. The lab costs are $17.50 each. Ms Breed asked how frequently are they tested. Ms Goldner said that only probationers who have drug testing as a condition of probation are tested. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 39 became Resolution No. 49-06: Authorize Agreement Probation Department/ Drug Testing

On the motion of Mr. Daniels, second by Ms. Tytler adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 40 became Resolution No. 50-06: Appoint Fire Advisory Board.

On the motion of Mr. Daniels, second by Mr. Armstrong adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 41 became Resolution No. 51-06: Authorize Agreement Cortland County and Suit-Kote Corporation Fire and Emergency Management.

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Troy  Agenda Item No 42 was introduced.

Ms. Breed asked where the money comes from.  Mr. Schrader said it comes from a fund that is not reported on the general ledger. It is a separate accounting system that is used for this particular program given the fact there are no county funds involved, just federal funds.  Mr. McKee asked if this is the same Item as Agenda Item 50. It was deemed a duplicate. Adopted by all members voting aye,  Agenda Item No. 42 became Resolution No. 52-06: Authorize Execution of Agreement between New York State Department of Labor and Cortland County.

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Ms. Breed adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 43 became Resolution No. 53-06: Authorize Application Area Agency on Aging (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program).

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Armstrong adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 44 became Resolution No. 54-06: Authorize Application Area Agency on Aging (Office of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities).

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. McKee adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 45 became Resolution No. 55-06: Authorize Agreement Area Agency on Aging (Legal Services).

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Ms. Breed, adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 46 became Resolution No. 56-06: Authorize Agreement Area Agency on Aging (Long Term Care Ombudsman Program).

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Troy adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 47 became Resolution No. 57-06: Amend 2006 Budget Department of Social Services (New York Works Block Grant).

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Cornell adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 48 became Resolution No. 58-06: Authorize Agreement Youth Bureau (Special Delinquency Prevention Program).

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Armstrong and adopted by all members present voting aye, a friendly amendment adding “case management” to the first paragraph and “in isolated rural areas” under Catholic Charities was added.  Agenda Item No. 49 as amended became Resolution No. 59-06: Authorize Agreement Youth Bureau (Youth Development/ Delinquency Prevention).

Agenda Item No 50 was pulled by the Chairman.

On the motion of Ms. Price, second by Mr. Troy adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 51 became Resolution No. 60-06: Authorize Agreement Department of Employment and Training Grant Administration and B. G. Media, Inc. of Genoa, NY.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Mr. Armstrong adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 52 became Resolution No. 61-06: Authorize Agreement Personnel/Civil Service.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Mr. Armstrong adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 53 became Resolution No. 62-06: Authorize Agreement with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLC for 207.c and Interest Arbitration Proceedings Personnel/Civil Service.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Mr. Troy adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 54 became Resolution No. 63-06: Authorize Increase in DMV Petty Cash County Clerk’s Office.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Ms. Price adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 55 became Resolution No. 64-06: Create Temporary Part-time Motor Vehicle Clerk County Clerk Department.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Ms. Breed adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 56 became Resolution No. 65-06: Authorize Agreement Information Technology.

On the motion of Mr. Cornell, second by Mr. Troy  Item No. 57 was introduced. Ms. Breed asked if there were any other bids requested in light of our better financial status. Mr. Schrader said that they had conversation with NYMR (New York State Municipal Reciprical) that never materialized and intend to go out for bids next year. Mr. Willcox requested 2005-2006 proposals. Adopted by all members voting aye, Agenda Item No. 57 became Resolution No. 66-06: Authorize Procurement of Property and Casualty Insurance.

The Chairman moved to have two Special Articles for consideration. On the motion of Mr. Troy, second by Ms. Price and adopted by all members voting aye except Mr. Willcox and Ms. Breed voting nay Special Article 1. and 2. moved to the floor.

On the motion of Ms. Brown, second by Mr. Williams Special Article No.1 adopted by all members voting aye, except Ms. Breed and Mr. Cornell voting nay. Special Article No. 1 became Resolution 67-06 Change Meeting Date February 2006  Legislative Session. Ms. Price added that she felt that the public was used to the third Thursday.

On the motion of Ms. Tytler, second by Mr. Troy Special Article No. 2 was introduced.

Ms. Breed asked if Mr. VanDonsel resigned from the Commissioner position. Mr. VanDonsel replied that it became automatic on January 4th when he was appointed to the County Attorney position.  She stated that she did not feel that Mr. Wood can be relied on to be fair and reasonable in the Election Office based upon past dishonest and misleading campaigns. Mr. Cornell stated that he will vote in favor because he has been supported by the Democratic majority and in turn hope the Democrats will support their appointment when the time comes. Mr. Williams raised the issue of Mr. Woods ability to wear two hats and asked if there was any indication that he be willing to walk away from one; to which the Chairman said she didn’t feel the question was appropriate. Mr. Troy defended Mr. Wood saying that he has conducted himself fairly and he supports his honesty and integrity.  Ms. Tytler said it was the entire Committee that would like to take credit for taking the majority back over.  Chairman Brown made the following statement, “The elections are over. We agreed as a group to work in a bipartisan manner and all this bickering back and forth doesn’t look good for us to the public or our constituents, so let’s just move on.”   Special Article No 2 became Resolution No. 68-06 with all members voting aye, Mr Willcox, Ms. Breed and Mr. Williams voting nay.

 Meeting Adjourned at 7:06 PM

 


Prepared by Susan Morgan, Clerk of the Legislature

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