March 10, 2005 at 7:30 am

Committee Present: Kurt Behrenfeld, Chairman; Paul DiGiovanni, Vice Chairman; Kay Breed, Marilyn Brown, Danny Ross, Carol Tytler, Newell Willcox

Others Present: Scott Steve, Legislative Chairman; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Merwin Armstrong, Legislator; Dennis Whitt, County Auditor; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader; Don Ferris, Treasurer; Carolyn Kennedy, Deputy Treasurer; Lee Price, Sheriff; John Carrol; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; Brian Liberatore, Cortland Standard

The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Kurt Behrenfeld at 7:32a.m.

MOTION BY NEWELL WILLCOX TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 10 AND 17, 2005 – 2^ND BY MARILYN BROWN – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR - PASSED

ARTICLE TABLED TO NEXT MEETING:

1.Amend 2005 Budget, Planning Department (Conservation Easements on

the Leslie F. and Lorraine Chace Farm in the Town of Homer; the Darrell

and Ann Henderson Farm in the Town of Preble; and the Russell and

Janice Sears Farm in the Town of Preble) – MOTION BY CAROL TYTLER – 2^ND BY NEWELL WILLCOX – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: This resolution needs to move forward to establish accounts for changing the responsible party from the LDC (Local Development Corporation) to Cortland County. Eventually a Land Trust would monitor and maintain the parcels. The state does not have any kind of monitoring procedure in place. Newell Willcox would like to see this move forward but be looked at closer in the future.

 

RESOLUTIONS:

 

Budget and Finance Committee Resolutions:

1. Authorize Treasurer to Accept Delinquent Tax Payments – MOTION BY MARILYN BROWN – 2^ND BY NEWELL WILLCOX – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: NONE

MOTION BY DANNY ROSS – 2^ND BY MARILYN BROWN TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS NUMBERS 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, & 30 – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR - PASSED

Carol Tytler asked that Agenda Item Numbers 14 and 16 be pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion.

Paul DiGiovanni asked that Agenda Item Numbers 12, 26 and 27 be pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion.

3. Authorize Agreement, Cortland County (SPCA)

5. Authorize Agreement, Cortland County and Southern Tier East Regional Planning and Development Board

Referred from Buildings & Grounds Committee:

6. Abolish/ Create, Buildings and Grounds Department (Cleaner/Custodian)

7. Accept Bid, Authorize Purchase, Buildings and Grounds (Skid Steer Loader)

9. Authorize Agreements/ Accept Funds, Health Department (Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bio Terrorism)

10. Authorize Agreement/ Amend Budget, Health Department (Healthy Heart Disabilities Initiative)

11. Authorize Agreement, Mental Health Department (New Justice Conflict Resolution Services, Inc.)

Referred from Highway Committee:

13. Amend Budget/Transfer Funds, Highway Department

15. Amend Budget/Transfer Funds, Highway Department

Referred from Judiciary and Public Safety Committee:

18. Authorize Agreements, Youth Bureau (Special Delinquency Program)

19. Authorize Agreement, Youth Bureau (Youth Development/ Delinquency Prevention)

20. Authorize Bus Agreement, Youth Bureau (Bus Lease – Cincinnatus Central School District)

21. Abolish/Create, Department of Social Services (Social Services Investigator/ Case Aide)

22. Abolish/Create, Department of Social Services (Senior Social Welfare Examiner/ Social Welfare Manager)

23. Authorize Agreement, Area Agency on Aging (Harford Senior Center)

24. Amend Budget, Area Agency on Aging (HIICAP)

25. Accept Bids/ Authorize Purchase, Area Agency on Aging/ Nutrition (Miscellaneous Groceries and Frozen Foods)

Referred by Mr. Steve:

29. Encourage Amendment of Social Services Law Section 141 Regarding Burial Rates for Indigent Persons

12. Amend Budget/Transfer Funds, Highway Department – MOTION BY CAROL TYTLER – 2^ND BY DANNY ROSS – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: Paul DiGiovanni asked how the priorities are determined on how the money is spent for county road improvements. Scott Schrader explained that the current process is a scoring procedure to rate the roads that are in most need of repair. A long term process is being developed to determine priority based upon the condition of the roads and the vehicle volume of the roads. The paving is contracted out and the stone removal, etc. is completed by the Highway Department.

14. Amend Budget/ Transfer Funds, Highway Department – MOTION BY CAROL TYTLER – 2^ND BY DANNY ROSS – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: Carol Tytler just had a question regarding the math in the Resolution. Scott Schrader explained that it was moving funds within project accounts. The "E" account is road machinery and the "D" account is road repair/maintenance.

16. Authorize Agreement, Highway Department/ Recycling (J M Murray Center) – MOTION BY CAROL TYTLER – 2^ND BY MARILYN BROWN – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: Carol Tytler asked what salaries are paid by J.M. Murray Center to the J.M. Murray Center employees. Scott Schrader did not know but will find out from Kevin Crosley of the J.M. Murray. Carol is would like to see a fair wage paid to individuals with disabilities even if the County is contracting with the J.M. Murray Center. Scott Steve indicated that the J.M. Murray Center wages are set by the State.

26. Approve to Fill Above Midpoint, Personnel/ Civil Service Department (Municipal Personnel Technician Trainee) – MOTION BY CAROL TYTLER – 2^ND BY PAUL DIGIOVANNI – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: Paul DiGiovanni asked why a resolution was needed for this and why they want to fill this position higher than mid-point. Kay Breed explained that the higher salary would be justified because the most qualified individual is in-house and the proposed starting salary is the same as a Buildings & Grounds cleaner starting salary.

27. Authorize Agreement, Kirby, McInerny and Squire, LLP – Medicaid Pharmaceutical

Fraud (County Attorney) – MOTION BY MARILYN BROWN – 2^ND BY NEWELL WILLCOX – KURT BEHRENFELD, KAY BREED, MARILYN BROWN, DANNY ROSS, CAROL TYTLER, NEWELL WILLCOX VOTING IN FAVOR – PAUL DIGIOVANNI VOTING NO – PASSED

Discussion: Paul DiGiovanni inquired what it is going to cost the County for this lawsuit, how much the County could receive and who initiated the lawsuit. The maximum amount that the County would spend would be $1,000.00; The County would receive 15% of the net amount recovered from the lawsuit and the lawsuit was initiated by NYSAC (New York State Association of Counties).

County Treasurer, Don Ferris distributed Balance Sheets for January, 2004 and January, 2005 and Revenue and Expense Reports (by departments) for year ending December 31, 2004. County Administrator, Scott Schrader distributed an Estimated Unreserved Fund Equity Report. Kay Breed requested that lines on the balance sheet be lined up so that the comparison can be easily seen. Scott Schrader indicated that the General Fund is only a piece of the whole picture – there are 5 other funds that they are tracking. Scott Schrader advised the committee that the year-to-date figures are in line with where they should be. The unreserved fund balance is higher than originally anticipated – Scott Schrader attributed some of that to the County’s Health Insurance. Members of the Committee would like to see the overall picture on a monthly basis. Kay Breed asked Don Ferris if he could provide a list of the County’s investments. Don indicated that the funds are only in Money Market Savings accounts at Alliance Bank and Chase Bank. Kay asked the he provide a list of the Money Market Savings account at the next Budget & Finance Committee meeting. Kurt Behrenfeld will compare the revenues/expenses to the forecast.

The Committee discussed the renovations at the Main Pavilion at Dwyer Park. The County had to pay for asbestos abatement and handicap accessibility for the bathrooms. Through a grant that CRT received, there will be a new sprinkler system and an elevator. Scott Schrader informed the Committee that the Highway Department is not doing anything for CRT, they are just maintaining the park.

Danny Ross provided information on the Southern Tier East 20 years of funding for grants. Cortland County is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Scott Steve stated that Southern Tier East retains a lot of funds for their overhead costs. He further stated that the employees are making decisions without board approval.

Don Ferris advised the Committee that the AUD would be filed by the end of March and that the process is smoother this year. Marilyn Brown asked why members of the B & F Committee were not advised in advance the Treasurer was going to request a 60 day extension and found out after the fact. Dennis Whitt said that the extension is allowable by law and that a 60 day extension is not unusual. Don Ferris is the biggest hold up is getting information from various county departments and that it is difficult for him to get the departments to provide the information and that since department heads report to Scott Schrader, Scott needs to do that. Scott Schrader said that Don Ferris needs to advise him of what departments are not submitting the information before he can do anything about it. Marilyn Brown stated that there is a lot of lack of communication. Kurt Behrenfeld said that an Audit Committee would be good committee for better communication. Marilyn Brown believes that all Legislators need to be informed. Scott Schrader said that an Audit Committee would be dealing with day to day occurrences. Kay Breed pointed out that she suggested having an Audit Committee months ago. It was decided the goals should be that an Audit Committee be established and that there be better communication.

MOTION TO ADJOURN BY NEWELL WILLCOX – 2^ND BY MARILYN BROWN – MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:06A.M.

Minutes Prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader

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