August 17, 2006 at 8:30 am
DRAFT MINUTES
Members: John Troy, Vice Chairman; Sean Clark, John Daniels, Danny Ross, Dan Tagliente and Newell Willcox
Others Present:
Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County
Administrator; Dennis Whitt, County Auditor; Carol Tytler, Legislator District
3; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to Administration; Carolyn Kennedy, Deputy County
Treasurer; Corey Preston, Cortland Standard; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; Tammy
Sciera, J.M. McDonald Sports Complex; and Matt Pennello
Absent: Ron VanDee, Chairman
Mr. Troy called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
Mr. Clark moved adoption of the minutes of the July 20, 2006 meeting; seconded
by Mr. Daniels. All
members present voted in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as printed
Mr. Troy announced that Mr. Schrader would like to discuss two resolutions that were just approved during the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee Meeting that was held just before this meeting.
Accept Bid/Amend Budget Consoles 911 Center Mr. Schrader
discussed that bids were received for new consoles for the Dispatch Center and
the bid came for $290,000 for seven new consoles and this is included in the
cost of moving the Dispatch Center to the third floor.
He further discussed that the project is scheduled to commence on
August 25, 2006, the day after Legislative Session, and continue through
November 30, 2006. He
additionally discussed that it is time sensitive or the money can be lost.
He added that he would e-mail all Legislators a copy of the resolution
later in the day. He added that
if further discussion is needed that Mr. Daniels could call a special meeting
of the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee.
He further discussed that majority of the funding will be from State
grants and some funds from TLC. Mr.
Ross asked how much funding would be received from TLC.
Mr. Schrader discussed that TLC will be providing $10,000.
Mr. Daniels explained that the reasoning for the change in the time and
date of the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee meeting was due to the
fact that these bids would not have been in last week.
Mr. Willcox inquired about how TLC fits into this.
Mr. Daniels explained that they monitor consoles at busy times.
Chairman Brown inquired about having a trained EMS on board.
Mr. Schrader explained that TLC does provide that emergency training
for the county and they additionally allow the county dispatchers not to need
that type of training. He
additionally discussed the contract with TLC and that it needs to be up dated
and he is working on that. The
committee members discussed liability insurance as it involves TLC. Mr. Clark
moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Ross. All
members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
Accept Bid/Amend Budget High Band Paging System - Mr. Daniels
moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr.
Schrader explained this resolution was for a High Band Paging System not to
exceed $300,000. He added that this resolution and the previous resolution
would require amendments to the budget. He
explained that currently Fire Departments were using a low band paging system
and having problems with pages being inhibited.
He went on to discuss that the Communications Advisory Board recommends
that a change be made to a High Band Paging System.
Mr. Schrader further discussed that between State and Federal funding,
$200,000 to $250,000 could be used for this type of communication system.
Mr. Schrader explained that he is asking the Legislature to award the
proposal received by United Radio. He
discussed that the High Band System would be implemented slowly, tower by
tower. Mr. Daniels explained that
there will be no local effort on this and as more money is received more
towers will be implemented. Mr.
Willcox inquired about maintenance costs.
Mr. Schrader explained that the county will be responsible for
maintenance costs but he does not have a figure at to what those costs will
be. He explained that the Low Band System could not just be
unplugged until the entire High Band System is completely implemented.
Mr. Schrader explained that the county might want to put some local
funding into this project to get it up and running sooner.
He estimated the maintenance costs between $10,000 and $20,000 and
added that it is a rough estimate. Mr.
Daniels explained that the current system is used to contact volunteers in the
time of an emergency and there are some problems with these volunteers
receiving the page. He added that
with the new system more people could be accessed.
Mr. Daniels added that the Communications Advisory Board approved this
system. All
members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
Mr. Troy explained that he was
going to consider the Consent Agenda next.
Mr. Troy introduced the Consent Agenda, Items 3 through 9, and asked if there were any items to be pulled for discussion.
Mr. Willcox requested that Consent Agenda Item Nos. 4, 5, 7 and 8 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. 4, 5, 7 and 8.
Mr. Daniels moved adoption of the Consent Agenda, with the exception of items 4, 5, 7 and 8 that were removed by request of Mr. Willcox to be acted upon separately; seconded by Mr. Clark.
CONSENT AGENDA
Referred from Buildings and Grounds: NONE
Referred from Health Committee: NONE
Referred
from Highway Committee:
3.
Authorize Extension of State Snow/Ice Control Agreement
4. Removed from Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately
5. Removed from Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately
6. Establish Individual T-Hangar Space Rental Rate
Referred from Judiciary & Public Safety Committee:
7. Removed from Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately
Referred from
Human Services Committee:
8. Removed from Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately
Referred from
Personnel Committee: NONE
Referred from
Ag/Planning:
9.
Accept Section 5311 Annual
Operating Assistance Amend Budget
All members voted in favor; none opposed; consent agenda adopted.
The following items were pulled
from the Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately.
NON -CONSENT AGENDA:
Referred from Highway
Committee:
4.
Accept Bid/Authorize Agreement D. R. Jones & Company-Five Year Lease
Term of the Hangar MH-1 Mr. Tagliente moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Ross.
Mr. Willcox inquired about who D. R. Jones & Company was.
Mr. Schrader explained that David Jones is the sole proprietor and his
lease expired in July. Mr.
Daniels explained that when this went out for bid, Mr. Jones was the only
person who submitted a bid. Mr.
Willcox inquired about the square footage of the hangar.
Committee members discussed this and do not know for certain the square
footage but explained that this is the smaller of the two hangars.
Mr. Willcox asked about an inflation charged being included in the
agreement. Mr. Schrader explained
that it was part of the RFP but the county can go back out for bid.
All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
5.
Accept Bid/Authorize Agreement Nationwide Leasing Corp. d/b/a Seven Valley
Aviation-Five Year Lease Term of the Hangar MH-2
Mr. Clark moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Daniels.
Mr. Willcox expressed that he had the same questions as the previous
resolution. Mr. Schrader
explained that this is for the larger of the two hangars and that the current
leaseholder was the only bid received for this RFP.
All members present voting in
favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred from Judiciary & Public Safety Committee:
7.
Abolish Create Technical Communications
Officer/Dispatch Coordinator Mr.
Willcox moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark.
Mr. Willcox inquired about the change in title of this position and if
it is the same person in both instances.
Mr. Schrader explained that it is and further explained that when the
MSD Study was done the determination and recommendation was made for a change
in title. He further added that
the individual in the position took a demotion.
Mr. Willcox inquired if this was just a way to give a person a raise.
Mr. Schrader explained that this is giving a person a raise but also
that person has had increased responsibilities and duties.
Ms. Tytler added that the individual is not just being given a raise
that person is being given an increase in responsibilities; that person is
doing a different job. All
members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
Referred from
Human Services Committee:
8.
Create Caseworker/Senior Caseworker
Mr. Ross moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Tagliente.
Mr. Willcox asked why the county is doing this.
Mr. Schrader explained that this is a way to deal with the increased
caseload in Child Protective Services. Mr.
Willcox asked if this is related to the unfortunate incident that occurred
earlier this year. Mr. Schrader
explained that Child Protective Services has seen an increased caseload of 30%
and that does justify adding this position.
He further discussed that at this time the State is funding this
position 100% but he has no assurances how long that will continue.
Mr. Schrader discussed that this is not the only thing that has been
done to correct the problem in Child Protective Services, he added that the
department has taken disciplinary actions and implemented new tools to assist.
He discussed briefly that memorandums of understanding have been
established between the schools and law enforcement. Mr. Willcox expressed that he feels a great deal of effort
goes into protecting the privacy of individuals.
Mr. Schrader agreed and expressed that he feels people should not be
able to make anonymous complaints, they should have to attach their names to
the complaint. He added that
measures could be taken to protect their names and keep them confidential.
He further discussed that this takes a great deal of time away from the
Child Protective Services Investigators.
He added that the hindering is at the state level.
Committee members briefly discussed the state process of funding a new
position. Mr. Troy, Mr. Clark,
Mr. Daniels, Mr. Ross and Mr. Tagliente voted in favor; Mr. Willcox was
opposed; Mr. Van Dee was absent; resolution adopted.
Mr. Troy explained that he would now consider Budget & Finance
Committee resolutions, Agenda Items Nos. 1 and 2.
1.
Amend Budget Data Processing Insurance
Recovery Mr. Daniels
moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr.
Willcox inquired about the repair costs. Mr. Schrader explained that the cost was between $9,000 and
$10,000. He added that the cost
absorbed in the departments budget but that money now needed to be replaced.
All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
PRESENTATIONS:
Mr. Schrader introduced Tammy Sciera from the J.M.
McDonald Sports Complex and explained that the J.M. McDonald Sports Complex is
requesting occupancy tax funds to help
assist in their marketing campaign costs.
He added that there are funds available.
J.M. McDonald Sports Complex
Ms. Sciera had distributed a Case Statement and Financial Statements for
the committee members to review. Ms.
Sciera presented a PowerPoint Presentation to the committee.
The PowerPoint
Presentation is on file in the Office of the Clerk of Legislature.
Mr. Tagliente inquired if Cortland County funded the sports complex last
year. Ms. Sciera explained that
this is the first year that they have requested funding from the county.
Mr. Tagliente inquired about the number of employees at the sports
complex. Ms. Sciera explained
that there are three full time employees, and two full time employees. Committee members discussed the Financial Statement.
Ms. Sciera distributed. Committee members also discussed grants and the
process with Ms. Sciera. Ms.
Sciera discussed property taxes at the sports complex.
Ms. Tytler inquired if a request is made from the occupancy tax funds,
does it need to go through Jim Dempsey. Chairman
Brown explained that she does not believe it does.
Committee members discussed the funding that was granted to the
Brockway Museum. Mr. Ross
explained that occupancy tax is used for advertising to bring additional money
into Cortland County. He added
that he did not see a breakdown in advertising outside Cortland County to
bring revenue into the county in Ms. Scieras presentation.
Ms. Sciera expressed that she could make that breakdown available.
2.
Authorize Agreements/ Amend Budget Cortland County (J.M. McDonald Sports
Complex)- Mr. Daniels moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr. Troy stated that the J. M. McDonald Sports Complex is a
wonderful facility. Mr. Troy,
Mr. Clark, Mr. Daniels, Mr. Tagliente and Mr. Willcox voted in favor; Mr. Ross
was opposed; Mr. Van Dee was absent; resolution adopted.
DISCUSSION/REPORTS:
1. County Attorney: Litigation Mr. Van Donsel had requested, prior to the meeting that this item be pulled from the agenda. Mr. Troy pulled this item from the discussion agenda.
2. Forturna Energy, Inc./Oil & Gas Lease No information was available for the committee. Mr. Troy pulled this item from the discussion agenda.
3. County Treasurer: Bank Account Report Mr. Willcox inquired about the amount under the Alliance Bank Checking Account. Ms. Kennedy explained that there were checks written at the end of the month that had not cleared.
Mr. Tagliente made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded Mr. Daniels. Mr. Troy adjourned the meeting at 9:32 a.m.