BUDGET, WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE Page 1

August 26, 2002

BUDGET, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

HENDERSON, POWERS

August 26, 2002

TOURISM - LYNN BASS

Lynn Bass requested approval for the following transfers:

Transfer $20,794 from M&S to Contracts & Advertising

Transfer $7,000 from Administration Advertising to Cooperative/Matching Funds Advertising

Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - LYNN BASS

Lynn Bass reported that the Empire Zone Board met last week. She said that the present office staff will not be able to handle the work created by the empire zone. She would like to create an Empire Zone Coordinator position at a salary of $25,000 - $30,000. The state will provide $45,000 towards the salary and operating expenses related to the empire zone. The county wil be required to match this amount with $22,500 of in-kind services and expenses and $22,500 in cash. This position will be dealing with the businesses in the zone, assisting with obtaining the zone benefits, preparing grants and required reports and working with the Empire Zone Board and its subcommittees. Mrs. Bass said that she could talk to COIDA and OCDC to see if they could provide any funding. She also said that the county could ask the local municipalities involved for financial support.

Mrs. Bass stated that if a new position is created, there will not be enough room in her present office. She will need to look for additional office space.

TOURISM - DEB TAYLOR, RON FELDSTEIN

Ron Feldstein said that the request to the state to allow the county to tax dormitory style occupancy at athletic camps is a dead issue at the state level. The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee is now recommending that the county increase the bed tax from 2% to 4%. The additional revenues could be used for county purposes affected by tourism, such as roads and public safety. Deb Taylor handed out a table showing what taxes other counties have and how they fund their tourism offices. She said that Otsego County collected $366,000 in bed tax revenues in 2001. $245,000 was used by the tourism program, $65,000 was used as grants for non-profit tourism related projects, 10% was used for county administration and funds were provided for the County Fair, UCCCA and Central Leatherstocking Country. Representative Powers moved to approve going to a 4% bed tax. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

SHERIFF - DON MUNDY

Don Mundy requested approval to purchase fire arms training equipment ($1,532 from Dell and $39,327 from FAST) with grant funds and to amend the budget by increasing the revenues and the expenses by $55,556. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

Sheriff Mundy requested approval to amend the budget by increasing revenues and expenses by $885.50 for bulletproof vests. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES - LAURA CHILD

Laura Child requested approval to transfer $1,000 from Other to Telephone. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

PERSONNEL

Nancy Morton, by memo, requested approval to transfer $271.20 from Contingency to Personnel 1430.4054 M/C Tuition to pay for approved educational reimbursements. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

MENTAL HEALTH - PAT GAMBITTA

Pat Gambitta requested approval to amend the budget by increasing revenues and appropriations by $4,400 for ARC and by increasing revenues and appropriations by $4,425 for parent support and education groups to be provided by Fox Hospital. Representative Henderson moved for approval. Seconded, Powers. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

TREASURER - DORA MOORE

Dora Moore requested approval for a resolution authorizing the sale of county owned tax parcels. The county netted $20,540 from the auction. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

Mrs. Moore reported that two parcels did not sell at the auction and asked if the committee wanted to put them up for sealed bid. It was decided to have a second auction for these two parcels.

Mrs. Moore requested approval for a budget amendment for Highway for carryover CHIPS funding of $216,000. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING - KATHY ABERNETHY

Kathy Abernethy requested approval to hire Susan Dulkis as a part-time PHN for evenings and weekends at Step 4. Representative Henderson moved for approval. Seconded, Powers. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

Ms. Abernethy reported that she would like to create a Supervising Community Health Nurse. There are funds in the 2002 budget for this position. This would create a supervisory position that RN's would be able to qualify for. The position deals with the infectious disease and communicable disease control program. The committee took no action regarding this position.

MEADOWS - DENNIS SMITH

Dennis Smith requested approval for the following:

Increase revenues by $100,000

Increase cash assessment account by $100,000

Transfer $32,000 from Other to Equipment

Representative Henderson moved for approval. Seconded, Powers. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

Mr. Smith requested approval to upgrade the telephone system at The Meadows at a cost of $31,513. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

Mr. Smith requested approval to purchase an AED for The Meadows building at a cost of $2,021. He has a staff person who is certified and can train other staff to use the AED. Representative Henderson moved for approval. Seconded, Powers. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

Mr. Smith requested approval to have a monthly blanket purchase order with Medline for medical supplies in the amount of $7,500. Representative Powers moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 2; Ayes: 2; Absent: Bateman. Motion carried.

NEW MEADOWS PROJECT

The committee reviewed the different options available for bonding the project.

There being no further business to discuss, the committee adjourned.