WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE

January 20, 2010

 

** NOT APPROVED **

Committee Members Present

T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, D. Burdick, M. Healy, K. LaForge, T. O’Grady, D. Pullen, F. Sinclair, C. Crandall

 

Others Present

M. Alger, L. Ballengee, W. Goetschius, L. Gridley, S. Grugel, L. Kaminski, J. Margeson, T. Miner, S. Presutti, B. Riehle, T. Ross, E. Ruckle

           

            Ways and Means Committee Chairman Theodore Hopkins called the meeting to order at approximately 2:05 p.m.

 

Approval of Minutes

            The January 11, 2010, Ways and Means Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Healy, seconded by Legislator Fanton and carried.

 

Transportation Update

Mobility Management Planner Larry Kaminski provided an update regarding transportation activity.  The routes have been reoriented, and the call center is up and running.  They have been looking at the ridership and mileage statistics, and the most significant change and increase has been with the Allegany Arc routes.  Mr. Kaminski indicated that more specific information will be available when he plans to address the Board on February 5.  Mr. Kaminski stated that they have been investigating resource sharing amongst their providers, and they recently implemented sharing facilities between the two agencies.  Mr. Kaminski briefly touched on funding, noting that they will be completing applications with the NYS DOT and Federal Transit Administration in the near future.  They continue to look toward the future with improved services and the development of new ideas.  They are looking at ways to keep the Transportation Task Force engaged with the development of some new initiatives and relationships.  Mr. Kaminski mentioned the grand opening they plan to have in the spring and encouraged Legislators to consider ways they might like to participate such as taking a day to ride the bus to promote the service and increase exposure to the public.  Mr. Kaminski indicated that they tried to maintain a frugal budget, and County Treasurer Terri Ross indicated that the County’s final figures for the transportation account are not available yet.

 

Tax Bill Correction

            Real Property Tax Director Steven Presutti explained the tax correction process, noting that County Administrator John Margeson has been authorized to approve tax corrections for less than $2,500, and any corrections over $2,500 or those resulting in the complete removal of a parcel require a Board resolution.  Mr. Presutti then requested a resolution approving the following tax bill correction:

 

TOWN OF ANDOVER                                               Tax Map ID #204.-1-5.13

Chase, Rachel A.                                                        Charge Back:  $3,336.22 (2008 Andover Town & County)

                                                                                    Charge Back:  $3,128.64 (2009 Andover Town & County)

 

Mr. Presutti indicated that the parcel received the wrong assessment.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Healy and carried.   Prepare Resolution

            Mr. Presutti also requested a resolution to reappropriate grant funding in the amount of $24,818.71 for the second component of the Tax Assessment Study that was completed in March 2009.  The first portion of the grant in the amount of $50,000 was originally accepted and appropriated by Resolution No. 62-08, and then reappropriated to the 2009 budget by Resolution No. 31-09.  Due to overlapping fiscal years, the $24,818.71 has not yet been expended, and Mr. Presutti would like the funds to be appropriated to A1355.432 (Real Property Tax – Assessment Grant) with a like sum placed in revenue account A10.3089.1355.  Mr. Presutti indicated that the funds will be used to continue upgrading the mapping department.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Sinclair, seconded by Legislator O’Grady and carried.   Prepare Resolution

 

Approval of Legislators’ Expense Vouchers

            Committee members reviewed Legislators’ expense vouchers for the period November 24, 2009, through December 31, 2009.  A motion was made by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Pullen and carried to approve the vouchers for payment.

 

Board Meeting at the Fair

Board Rule 110.A and 110.F indicate that our Legislative Board meetings are held in the Board Chambers on the second and fourth Monday of each calendar month unless the Board designates a different day and/or location by resolution.  Several counties around New York State have been conducting a board meeting at their county fair, and last year Allegany County held a Legislative Board meeting at our county fair for the first time.   This created a historical event and provided an opportunity for our youth and citizens to observe and participate in local government.  Clerk of the Board Brenda Rigby Riehle requested a resolution changing the second Board meeting in July from Monday, July 26, 2010, to Thursday, July 22, 2010, and the location from the Board Chambers to the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Angelica so that our Legislative Board meeting can be held in conjunction with the Allegany County Fair.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator O’Grady and carried.   Prepare Resolution

 

REFERRALS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES:

 

Public Safety Committee

            Undersheriff William Goetschius requested a resolution ratifying the Sheriff’s signature on a five- year contract (Contract #C2000433) between the Unified Court System and Allegany County for the period April 1, 2009, through March 31, 2014, to provide security services for the Court System.  The five-year term will be divided into annual one-year renewal periods.  The initial contract period shall run from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010, and the total amount of reimbursement shall not exceed $320,000.  Undersheriff Goetschius indicated that seven deputies are currently posted in the Court System.  The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Burdick and carried.   Prepare Resolution

 

Court Facilities and County Space Needs Committee

            The Court Facilities and County Space Needs Committee is requesting the Ways and Means Committee to cosponsor a resolution authorizing County Administrator John Margeson to approve change orders for up to $20,000 for the construction of the Court Facilities Addition and Renovation.  Construction Manager Bovis Lend Lease plans to provide monthly reports, including information on any change orders, to the Court Facilities and County Space Needs Committee.  Legislator Kevin LaForge asked if the $20,000 applied to a single change order or an aggregate, and Mr. Margeson indicated that it would be for a single change order.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Pullen, seconded by Legislator LaForge and carried.   Prepare Resolution

 

            The Court Facilities and County Space Needs Committee is also requesting the Ways and Means Committee to cosponsor a resolution establishing a Capital Account for the construction of a records storage building adjacent to the existing records storage building at the County Landfill.  Court Facilities and County Space Needs Committee Chairman David Pullen stated that the current facility is full.  The County has a reserve fund that is funded by fees generated in the County Clerk’s Office that can be used to finance this project.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Pullen, seconded by Legislator Healy and carried.   Prepare Resolution

 

The above referral included a request to transfer $80,000 from the Record Management Reserve Account to the newly established Capital Account to fund the project.  The request was approved on a motion by Legislator Pullen, seconded by Legislator Fanton and carried.  (The County Attorney and County Treasurer are in the process of investigating if this action will require a public hearing, and if it is discovered that a public hearing is necessary, the appropriate actions will be taken.)  Prepare Resolution

 

Planning and Economic Development Committee

            The Planning and Economic Development Committee forwarded the proposed budget for the 2010 Tourism Contract submitted by the Greater Allegany County Chamber of Commerce to the Ways & Means Committee for review with a request that Mr. Margeson be asked to develop a contract.  Planning and Economic Development Committee Chairman Frederick Sinclair noted that the contract would run for ten months from March 1 through December 31, 2010, to match the County’s fiscal year.  The contract calls for an increase of $19,500 over last year (from $52,000 to $71,500).  County Treasurer Terri Ross advised the committee that the funds to finance the increase were not budgeted, and all financing issues should be resolved before adopting the contract.  A motion was made by Legislator Sinclair, seconded by Legislator Fanton and carried to refer the matter to the County Attorney, County Administrator and County Treasurer for contract development and resolution of financial issues.  The matter should then come back to the Ways and Means Committee for final approval.  Refer to County Attorney, County Administrator and County Treasurer

 

Executive Session

            A motion was made by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Sinclair and carried to enter into executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular employee.  Immediately following discussion, a motion was made by Legislator Sinclair, seconded by Legislator Healy and carried to close the executive session and return to the regular meeting.

 

Adjournment

            There being no further business to come before the committee, a motion was made by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator O’Grady and carried to adjourn the meeting at 3:07 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Brenda Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board

Allegany County Board of Legislators