Committees - Regular Meeting

I don't know, Diane, do you have something to that point?

Okay. Can you then please just get us a breakdown, which will show how much is for design for the next stage, how much is for design for this stage, and how much you're estimating for construction for this stage, so that we can at least see those three buckets?

JUST A REMINDER, WE CAN'T HEAR ANYONE ON THE BACK.

YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING TONIGHT. SO YOU GOT TIME. GOOD ANSWER.

Can you just let us know when conversations with DEC started for this particular issue?

Understood. So we have a cue. So let's say to not be other than let's say William Johnson. Thank you. So this is my district.

So just confirm that on your end and then you'll send that email to us.

I'm sorry for my annoying question. So you had said that you're waiting to see when you can get delivery of items, right? Is that what you had said before? So you must have had placed an order for those items, which has a cost associated with it.

So you must have somehow placed an order for those items if you're waiting for it to find out delivery time. Okay, but at least have an estimate from the supplier for the items that you've now requested and are hoping for.

In your materials to us, I understand supply chain issues that we have all the time are particularly fraught when we're dealing with an emergency repair. And so you may have to make some different selections based on the timeliness factor than you would have if all time was equal. You had also meant that you were hoping that the, you know, have shovel and ground in the next couple of weeks if possible. If that's the case, how do you manage the contract process? If we don't have a contract, what are you talking about? How do you get that expedited?

Okay. And so, but you don't have any amounts specified for this at that point, but that's something you're working on.

So with that being said, RIGHT WHAT IS THE WILL OF THE COMMITTEE I KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATOR THAT THIS ITEM YOU KNOW WOULD HAPPEN IN YOUR DISTRICT SO WHAT WOULD SAY YOU SIR WOULD YOU LIKE TO

IT SOUNDS LIKE, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THIS WITH WHAT'S CALLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE, WHICH YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH.

SO WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE. WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE. WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE. AND WHAT EACH MEMBER WILL DO IS COMMUNICATE WITH ETHAN IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR ISSUES WITH THIS THAT YOU NEED CLARITY ON. YOU'LL GET THAT TO US IN A TIMELY FASHION BEING THAT THIS IS ALL TIME SENSITIVE, RIGHT? SO IDEALLY BEFORE THE 19th, WHICH IS OUR NEXT FULL BOARD MEETING. CORRECT? RECEIVED? Yeah. Thank you. All right. So with that being said, do I have a motion to move forward with 475 and 476? I'll second. I have a motion and a second. Sorry, I'm going to go individually. I'm going to go without prejudice here.

COMMITTEE GUEST, CHAIR TOBIOLA. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS.

NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS.

ALL RIGHT. WE MOVE ON. I KNOW WE HAVE OUR WCC FOLKS HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. BUT WE MOVE ON. SORRY. JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE QUICK SHOUT. WE GOT ONE MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE GOT ONE MORE. ALL RIGHT. WE GOT ITEM 490 AMENDED BOND ACT REGARDING THE PLAYLAND PARK DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT. Gentlemen, thank you both.

NEW SPEAKER YEAH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR $14 MILLION INCREASE FOR THIS WORK?

Okay, and that $21 million, we think, will fully fund the anticipated work, or will we potentially see you guys...

Well, we didn't have to... One second, sorry. We actually have to open up a park and environment committee.

And I'm sure they want to give their presentation too, so both, all of you. So parks and environments, I'm sorry, with... joining the party a little bit late, although we're already here. So I am present with you guys here, Williams-Johnson, Legislator Trudeau, Legislator Nolan, Legislator Williams, Chairman Gaushey, OKAY. WE ARE OPEN AT 1058. THANK YOU, ETHAN, FOR THE REMINDER.

So we're just getting a few billion to do that? Just a few billion. Just a few billion.

Understood. Thank you. Let's get a Pierce as well after.

Thank you. So just since we were talking a lot about the improvements, pedestrian improvements, Perhaps you could get us a diagram or a graphic showing us what those are going to look like. We love our pictures here. This is great to have this as a photo reference, but since there's so much going on in this project, I think it would be really helpful for us to be able to see visually more. And you did give us a cost breakdown, and I would love it if you could walk us through it. I don't mean line by line, but just kind of in batches and obviously just scanning through this. The most expensive

And we have done such beautiful work in the park itself to restore things, but we know that that area is getting sprayed. with salt water all the time. And so anything that we can do, given the cost of them, to make certain that they have the best chance of living under those conditions much longer than the prior ones, it is good because it's expensive. So is that going to be like ASAP? I don't know what they, is it going to be like a...

But the rest of the canopy, the supports, all that stuff is going to be the same wood?

And obviously, the big issue, we can't replace this with something else because it's historic. We may not make the choice. I mean, these are beautiful, I want to say. They make the part of me that likes historic items, my heart smile. But we probably would not choose to design something like this now for this purpose. But our hands are tied.

All right. Any other questions or comments regarding this item online? And I just want to indicate for the record, we have been joined by Minority Leader Margaret Pinzio. Thank you for joining us. Oh, and he literally just, oh. I was happy to be able to attend. WE ALSO HAVE COLIN SMITH ONLINE AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. LET'S LET FOLKS SETTLE IN FOR A FEW SECONDS. OKAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL ENTERTAIN MOTIONS FOR ITEM 490. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? All right. Any opposed? All right. The ayes have it for BNA.

And now for parks and environments. Thank you very much. Can I get a second? Thank you. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Aye.

We are open. Thank you. Thank you, sir. So we move on to our second to last item. We have item 49. Sorry. So this is regarding the pay plan amendment or Woodfield College. Yeah, I don't think you're allowed. Yeah, close. I have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? Second.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE RECORD FOR DECEIVAL. I'M ROBERT POSEY. I'M THE COMMISSIONER OF PERVASION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. AND PLEASE STOP RUNNING.

All right, and Joe. I know you have a lot to get through here, and we also have another presentation after, so, you know.

IF WHOEVER IS MANNING THE PRESENTATION COULD GO TO THE LAST SLIDE, THAT HAS THE FISCAL IMPACT. THANK YOU.

And is that based on the numbers now or when we have to bring in 150 new employees? That's with the 150. That's with the 150? Yeah, that's with the 150. That's fringe benefits. That's everything. That's everything. That's everything. Also rebuilding Woodfield College. No, no, no, no, no. That's a capital. That's a capital. We will have to eventually do that, right?

Yeah, that's DASNY. Right. That is great. So overall, we'll be looking at 2.4 per year. Yeah. FROM OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

SO THE WHOLE OPERATING BUDGET WILL GO IN AT $30 MILLION, BUT WE WILL GET THE REIMBURSEMENT HISTORICALLY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE STATE, IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE SAME REIMBURSEMENT RATE. WE GET ABOUT $28 MILLION OF THAT BACK. COUNTING WHAT THE COUNTY, SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO, WE'RE Very close to what we're paying out. So we'll see probably a difference of $1.2 million in the end difference as an increase to the county.

Okay. Understood. All right. Yeah, that was my main concern. Again, tough financial times for municipalities.

I'm just curious, because I know this has been an issue for quite some time.

And even with all the support, they have not been able to take any corrective measures that made a difference.

Understood. We have a long queue. So we have Legislator Tubiolo, we have Leader Holstein, Legislator Pierce, Minority Leader Penzio, Legislator Williams-Johnson, and then Legislator Alvarado in that order.

We haven't paid them all the money yet because they are literally just starting to submit the bills for that. But we gave $600,000 that they could use up to that amount. So now they have to justify before we pay exactly what they've put out. They have to show us and prove us. I appreciate that.

So it fluctuates on a daily basis. In the very beginning, we only had a few staff. So there could be up to 24. When we were short staffed, we ended up moving youth out of the facility. So we had We stopped taking all out-of-county youth. So to other detention facilities across the state. Wherever we can find them across the state. So far away from families. Wherever we can secure them.

And I think when you look at it, Children's Village, where the deterioration came in, is within their staffing. And the lack of accountability to help hold the staff accountable for some of the... This company has... Issues that go far beyond that, that they haven't been able to handle the food service. That's our concern as well. Other issues with other contracts. So theirs is more broad and across the board with also the staffing issues.

And it's even though that that's their primary responsibility, the warrants, their internal unit, county PD picks up on that for us. So they're there also seeking out those same warrants.

SO YOU SAID THE 28 MILLION IS BASED ON A REIMBURSEMENT FORMULA, RIGHT? THAT'S BASED ON HISTORICAL REIMBURSEMENT. WHAT GUARANTEES DO WE HAVE FROM THE STATE that will certainly secure that $28 million.

Right. So I think that's important to just lay out that there's $28 million. We could have to fold that in.

But the point is that there's no guarantee that this $20 million will be reimbursed. Okay, got you.

In the bulk of the employees that are working there now versus what they will be, you know, the 150 people, what are they being paid currently versus what will they be paid

They weren't supposed to be paid with that.

And, you know, a lot of these people need to become role models, you know, for the kids in there. I understand, my friend. Trust me. You got something to say? No.

GREAT QUESTION. WE'LL GET BACK TO THE Q. JUST ANOTHER QUESTION I THOUGHT OF. HOW MANY YOUTH ARE WE SERVING AT THIS FACILITY? RIGHT NOW THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY IS 24. Leslie Williams Johnson. Leslie DePierce and Leslie Williams Johnson. Sorry. More than that would be deferred, my colleague.

So presumably we have a contract right now together for you? Yes. How long is that contract? Five-year contract. So what is the status of our contract with them right now?

Okay. And I assume there's an escalation, just to keep with my college questions, for every year that we're in that contract, there was probably an escalation. So it wasn't that it was a fixed cost for five years. So some of those costs are going to be duplicated on that. Yes. And lots of my other questions were already answered. This is a very sad and disturbing scenario. The presentation speaks very loudly for the need for change. And obviously, you know, we believe in you and believe in the need to get this done. I'm sorry that we're in this situation. I'm sorry in particular for the youth

Thank you, Mr. Pierce. No, I'm up. Let's say one chance.

I think the state sees that there's a lot less control over things that go on within the facility. So while we have been very engaged in Other counties, and I'll say maybe where the other facility is that's under contract, they're less hands-on. And so things within the facility, there's less control over. So if you have, I'll just give an example, staff sleeping through shift when kids should be being watched and you don't have someone attempting to hold that vendor accountable, THOSE INSTANCES CONTINUE TO ESCALATE AND INSTANCES HAPPEN, THINGS HAPPEN. SO I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY'VE BEEN PUSHIN

THANK YOU. WHO IS NEXT IN THE QUEUE? IT WAS A PRETTY LONG QUEUE.

Well, you are legally required to have beds for youth to be able to go to. And there's a statewide bed shortage. We cannot secure beds across the state. When we were in trouble, when this was going on.

It was extremely difficult. When I tell you extremely, and there were many youth that probably should not have been released by the courts, but there was no other option because beds could not be found, posing other significant safety issues within the county. It had to be closed because there was a mold issue within the facility. Other facilities then went over capacity to attempt to help us, as we have helped them in the past.

And to that point, I mean, Minority Leader Cunzio gave us a concrete example of, we had the same type of conversation, and we had to foot the bill. So, you know, this is what we're dealing with. Madam Vice Chair.

Yeah, we that the state allows for certain, you know, if it's for public safety or whatever it is, it's not money that's going to come to us to be able to do other things. I mean, it makes sense. I mean, it makes sense to do intervention early on with children so they don't get to this point. But the reality is that money is not available to us. So, you know, and I understand. that potentially we could have less money available from the state. But at this point, at this time, because I kind of lived with this for like over four years. So this is something that really needs to be addressed. And

Any other questions or comments? Well, I'll just say, again, you know, budgets are moral documents. And so if we feel that this is a priority for us, I think we'll all be happy to support it. But we have to understand when government grows and the bureaucracy grows, taxes go up. And we do live in Westchester County. So just wanted to put that on the record that we have to pay, potentially, if this doesn't go well. WE HOPE IT GOES. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL ENTERTAIN MOTIONS FOR BUDGET INAPPROPRIATIONS. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? FOR THE RECORD, I'LL BE VOTING WITHOUT PREJUDICE FOR THIS ITEM.

ALL IN FAVOR. ALL IN FAVOR. ALL IN FAVOR. ALL IN FAVOR. ALL IN FAVOR. I SUBMITTED THE WCC THIRD ORDERLY REPORT TO US. DR.

Dr. Miles. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you so much for your patience. Please introduce yourself and your team and let's dive into the presentation.

Anything else to add from any of the team members before we open up the queue? Or is that all? I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL PASS IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES. YOU MENTIONED THE SUPPLIES CONTINUE TO TREND ABOVE Which supply specifically? That's my first question.

Yeah, I was going to ask, are we looking at maybe collaborating with other local community colleges to buy in?

safety and security improvements in the light of obviously recent events don't want to get too much in the weeds with that here but can you speak to some of these safety improvements we've been working on at the campus?

Thank you. I'm so thrilled to see your continuing growth. A chart that looks like a smile, as I said, really made me smile to see the improvement in the enrollment. That's the best part of having a healthy and robust community college is seeing that people are taking advantage of a wonderful college. Is it possible, looking at the information on the satellite programs, can we get some a similar type of chart for those satellite programs so that we can kind of look at those numbers and understand where they fit in the overall picture.

Yeah, no, I assume they're folded in. But if you could tell us what that breakdown looks like, that would be great. Sure.

Any other questions or comments from Mr. Leader?

Okay. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PRACTICE. NOW FOR THE B&A COMMITTEE, THIS IS A RECEIVING FILE ITEM, SO WE DO HAVE TO RECEIVE A FILE.

ALL RIGHT. WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING FILED HOPEFULLY. WE HAVE ITEM 47 FROM LEGISLATOR JAMES NOLAN, MOL REGARDING ACCEPTING QUALIFYING WEST CHESTER COUNTY SALES TAX. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE A FILE? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE LAST ITEM WE HAVE IS ANOTHER MOL BY LEGISLATORS MAMORA, NABIAR AND WILLIAMS-JOHNSON. an MOL for subscription, transparency, affirmative consent, and fair cancellation. Legislator William Johnson, Numbiar, would you like to make a motion?

OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF RECEIVING AND FILING IT WOULD PUT IT TO BED.

I WAS TOLD DIFFERENT FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR. RIGHT. SO FOR THE MOMENT? YEAH, I MEAN, IF WE WANT TO GET FURTHER CLARITY TO, AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD BY I MEAN, I'M DEFERRING TO THE SPONSORS. THAT'S FAIR? NO PROBLEM.

SORRY, CONTINUE. WORDS MATTER AT THE TABLE? CONTINUE. WE'LL BE CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE NO MINUTES. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1220 P.M. We got everybody.