Budget and Finance Committee

May 17, 2007 at 7:30 AM

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Committee Present:  Ron VanDee, Chairman; John Troy, Vice Chairman; Sean Clark,  Danny Ross, Dan Tagliente, Newell Willcox – Absent:  John Daniels

Others Present:  Scott Schrader, Marilyn Brown, Angie Wyatt, Carol Tytler, Sandy Price, Larry Cornell, Don Ferris, Carolyn Kennedy, Dennis Whitt, Eric Mulvihill, Corey Preston, John Carroll

The meeting was called to order at 7:30a.m. by Chairman Ron VanDee

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 19, 2007 MEETING MADE BY JOHN TROY - 2ND BY SEAN CLARK - ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Suggested Legislative Review:

 

E - Authorize County Attorney To Proceed With Acquisition Of Land And Improvement Under Eminent Domain Proceedings Law

E   -   Resolution Authorizing a Partnership with the City of Cortland for a Drainage Study Along Otter Creek at State Route 281 and Amending Budget

RESOLUTIONS:

 

Budget and Finance Committee Resolutions:

1.      Amend 2007 Budget Grow Cortland Program – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2ND BY DAN TAGLIENTE – RON VANDEE, JOHN TROY, SEAN CLARK, DANNY ROSS & DAN TAGLIENTE VOTING YES – NEWELL WILLCOX VOTING NO – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  Scott Schrader explained that this program was established by the previous Legislature and the Cortland County Business Development Corporation to provide grants to small businesses as an incentive to move their businesses to Cortland County from other counties.  $50,000.00 was initially set-aside for this purpose.  Currently, there is $40,000.00 remaining.  Cortland Plastics and Cayuga Press would be receiving $10,000.00 each through this grant.  The performance standard is to hire and retain employees for an extended period of time.

2.      Authorize Apportionment of Mortgage Tax Monies Treasurer’s Office – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2ND BY SEAN CLARK – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  None

3.      Approval Of Tompkins Cortland Community College Campus Master Plan Amendment – MOTION BY DANNY ROSS – 2ND BY JOHN TROY – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  TC3 President, Carl Haynes explained that the cost for construction of a student center has been substantially increased due to the higher cost of materials.  The capital chargebacks have increased due to additional housing and attracting out-of-county students.  Scott Schrader advised the Committee that there is a potential that the County may have to borrow the money for this to provide cash flow.   TC3 would be paying this money back but are not required to pay the interest on the money.  Sandy Price asked if we would be borrowing the money with Tompkins County or separately.  Scott Schrader indicted that they do not know that yet and that Sue from Carl Haynes office is running the numbers now.

Carl Haynes pointed out a typo and that the 4th “Whereas” in the Resolution should read $34,253,262.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Agenda Item Nos. 4, 7, 8, & 11 were pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion and to be acted on separately.

MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NOS. 5, 6, 9 & 10  AS A CONSENT AGENDA MADE BY JOHN TROY - 2ND BY SEAN CLARK - ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

  1. Authorize Agreements/Accept Funds Health Department Healthy Heart Program
  1. Amend Budget Mental Health Department  (NYS Office of Mental Health)
  1. Approval to Sponsor and Expend Funds Airport day Event Cortland County Airport
  1. Authorize Agreement/Amend Budget (Offender Watch)

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS PULLED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION:

 

  1. E            Authorize County Attorney To Proceed With Acquisition Of Land And Improvement Under Eminent Domain Proceedings Law – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2ND BY DANNY ROSS – RON VANDEE, JOHN TROY, DANNY ROSS, DAN TAGLIENTE & SEAN CLARK VOTING YES – NEWELL WILLCOX VOTING NO – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  The County will need space to install a generator at the northwest corner of its property near Elm Street.  This will cause a loss of several parking spaces.  The property is presently vacant and has been condemned and it would be to the best interest of the County to acquire this property.  Newell Willcox asked if the County Attorney has worked on this yet.  Scott Schrader indicated not that he knows of.  A neighbor of the property contacted Dan Tagliente after reading about it in the paper.  Dan said that the neighbor was concerned about the noise and exhaust from the generator.  Carol Tytler indicated that she had the similar concerns from City of Cortland Administrator, Andy Damiano.  After both Carol and Dan conferred with Brian Parker regarding the generators, Brian indicated that the only time they would be running the generator would be once a week to test it and of course if they need to run it in case of an emergency situation.  Brian further indicated that the noise the generator would make is like a dishwasher running.  Dan advised the concerned neighbor that the County would work with them when the generator needs to be tested or used in case of an emergency.  Carol Tytler indicated the same to Andy Damiano.

 

  1. Transfer Funds – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2ND BY SEAN CLARK – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  None 

8.      Transfer Funds Daisy Hollow – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2ND BY DANNY ROSS – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  Newell Willcox asked what would happen with the project that we are taking away.  Scott Schrader advised that the transfer of the funds would not impact the East Homer Baltimore Road project.  There is enough money to be able to have professional services performed for the Daisy Hollow Road Slope Failure Study.  Newell Willcox requested that he have something in writing from Highway Superintendent, Don Chambers regarding this.

  1. E            Resolution Authorizing a Partnership with the City of Cortland for a Drainage Study Along Otter Creek at State Route 281 and Amending Budget – MOTION BY DANNY ROSS – 2ND BY JOHN TROY – RON VANDEE, JOHN TROY, DANNY ROSS, DAN TAGLIENTE & SEAN CLARK VOTING YES – NEWELL WILLCOX VOTING NO – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  Chairperson of the Ag/Planning/Environ Sub-Committee, Carol Tytler gave the Committee a brief summary of the Sub-committee’s function.  They were to identify issues regarding flooding problems in the County and ways to mitigate the flooding problems in the City and County.  The NYSDOT is in the beginning phase of the reconstruction of the Route 281 Corridor.  The DOT will be installing a detention pond near the Country Inn Suites on Route 281 during the reconstruction.  It was suggested by the DOT to build another detention pond at that site on the other side of the creek as a solution to some flooding mitigation.  Carol met with Scott Schrader, Don Chambers and City Officials, Mayor Gallagher, Chris Bistocchi and Andy Damiano to discuss the City and County partnering to contract with C & S Engineers to conduct a study to investigate constructing an additional detention pond on Route 281 along Otter Creek in conjunction with the NYS DOT Route 281 Corridor Reconstruction  Project.  Carol Tytler indicated that the Mayor told her that he would take this to the Common Council but never presented it to the Common Council and is now backing off the idea because he feels that there are other flood mitigation projects that could be completed such as getting into the creek beds to clear them and putting the weir (moveable damn) back in at the Cortland Waterworks.   Chris Bistocchi and members of the Common Council were at the Ag/Planning/Environ Sub-Committee meetings and there was never any mention of the damn at the Waterworks. Carol Tytler indicated that the State DEC has not authorized the work proposed for the creek beds.  Chairman Marilyn Brown watched the Common Council meeting last night and they indicated that the dawn was taken down because the NYSDEC required them to do so at the time.  Carol feels that the Sub-Committee and this Legislature have been pro-active in trying to find solutions to mitigate the flooding problems for City and County residents.

 

DISCUSSION

Rick McNeilly Contract – Don Ferris advised the Committee that the County Single Audit needs to be done as well as the Mental Health Single Audit and there is no contract in place to do this. Approval to authorize an agreement for Cortland County Audits for years ending 12/31/06, 12/31/07 and 12/31/08 was done by Resolution No. 207-06.  Don indicated that there has been no contract executed with Rick McNeilly to perform the County Single Audit and the Mental Health Single Audit.  Don further indicated that the Mental Health Audit is due at the end of the month and if these audits are not timely it could jeopardize state reimbursement and even getting the Landfill permit from the NYS DEC.  The County Attorney was to draft the contract and we will have to address this with the County Attorney.  Dennis Whitt said that in the interest of time, since an engagement letter was used before, it could be used again.  The Chairman could sign it and Mr. McNeilly could start the audits so that they can be submitted on time.  Documentation provided by County Treasurer, Don Ferris is attached. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15a.m.

Minutes taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Confidential Secretary to County Administrator - 5/17/2007 1:12 PM

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