BUDGET, WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE Page 1

November 26, 2001

BUDGET, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

HENDERSON, BATEMAN, FELDSTEIN

November 26, 2001

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - LYNN BASS

Lynn Bass requested approval to restructure Seeley's loan with the county. Seeley's has only being paying the interest on the county's and COIDA's loan for the past 7 months. She would like to change their payments to $552.50 for the period 12/1/01 - 12/31/02 and $706.42 for the period 1/1/03 - 3/31/08. This reduces their original monthly payments and extends the original loan by three and a half years. COIDA has agreed to restructure its loan to this new time period. Mrs. Bass said that Seeley's is a good risk because the county has first option on their building, which was put up as collateral for the loan. Representative Feldstein moved for approval. Seconded, Bateman. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

SHERIFF - DON MUNDY

Don Mundy requested approval to purchase the following equipment through a law enforcement block grant: radar unit with case, lap top computers with cases, camera and accessories, night vision scope, binoculars, measuring tape, camera, stinger spike system, flashlights with chargers, gun locks and mounts for vehicles, portable radios and portable fingerprint boards. Representative Feldstein moved for approval. Seconded, Bateman. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

Sheriff Mundy requested approval for his blanket purchase orders for 2002. Representative Feldstein moved for approval. Seconded, Bateman. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

MENTAL HEALTH - PAT GAMBITTA

Pat Gambitta requested approval to purchase miscellaneous supplies and copy cartridges with unexpended state ICM and RIV funds and to transfer $5,000 from ICM Personal Services to ICM M&S to cover the expenses. If the funds are not used by the end of the year, they have to go back to the state. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES - LAURA CHILD

Laura Child requested approval to contract with Two Brothers Printing for the 2002 Proceedings at a cost of $7.95 per page for typesetting and $5.95 per page for magnetic data. This cost is 40¢ per page less than the quote for the 2001 Proceedings. Representative Henderson moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

Mrs. Child requested approval to transfer $300 from Board of Reps Lodging to Postage. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

TREASURER - DORA MOORE

Dora Moore requested approval for transfers in various County Buildings budgets, the E911 budget and the Communications budget and for a budget amendment in the Expense for Advertising Tax Properties budget. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

INSURANCE - JIM KONSTANTY, MIKE HUTCHERSON, JUDY REYNOLDS,

ED UTTBERG, KYLE WESSELS

Mike Hutcherson, The Colonial Agency, said that Benetech subcontracted with The Colonial Agency for the period July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001 to do the claims administration for the county's workers' comp plan. Benetech has submitted a proposal to directly contract with the county for this work for the period 2001 - 2003. Ed Uttberg, Benetech, said that Benetech is proposing to do both the claims administration and the loss control services for the county at the following fees: 2001 - $52,000; 2002 - $55,000; 2003 - $58,000; plus the cost of contracting with professionals at their hourly rate. Mike Hutcherson said that he would document the cost savings achieved by Benetech this year. The committee discussed the possibility of issuing an RFP for these services in the future. Representative Bateman moved to accept Benetech's proposal. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

The committee discussed how the Return to Light Duty Program is working at The Meadows and the requiring of most workers' comp claimants to go to a county specified doctor at NYCAMH for an exam. It appears that both programs are working well to save costs.

Mike Hutcherson then presented cost proposals for various insurance policies for 2002. He said that recent surveys of insurance brokers and agents show a dramatic increase in the commercial insurance market, especially for property and umbrella liability. The insurance companies right now are selective in what and whom they are insuring. The underwriters are looking at an entities last three years experience. Unfortunately, Otsego County has claims against the county totaling $593,000 for the last three years. Even though there has been no pay out on these claims, this affects how insurance companies perceive the county. Mr. Hutcherson said that he is not sure what the insurance industry will do with premiums for all policies renewing in 2002. He recommends that Otsego County purchase its insurance policies, effective December 31, 2001. He has a quote from Genesis/Great American of $289,013. This quote increases the SIR on the public officials policy to $100,000 and is exclusive of the crime policy. This is an increase of 14.2%. Mr. Hutcherson said that he will be talking with other insurance companies about quotes for the county, but felt that this was a good quote. Representative Feldstein moved to accept this quote, contingent upon no other company quoting lower. Seconded, Bateman. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

OFFICE FOR THE AGING - FRANCES WRIGHT

Frances Wright stated that OFA has an agreement with NYSEG to perform assessments for NYSEG's Power Partner Program. The revenues for this program were never included in the budget. She requested approval to amend the OFA budget by increasing revenues and expenses by $600 and to use the revenues to purchase a chair for $585. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

HIGHWAY - BUD PERRY

Bud Perry requested approval for several budget transfers. Representative Feldstein moved for approval. Seconded, Bateman. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

Mr. Perry requested approval to amend the resolution for the County Route 31 bridge project, which increases the county cost by $11,440. There are funds in the 2001 budget to cover this increase. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

The committee discussed the cost of installing a waste oil furnace at the Highway garage. Mr. Perry had a low quote of $6,995 from Northrup and was told that the pumps on these furnaces will probably need to be replaced every year. It was agreed that this is not a cost effective way to heat the buildings.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS - DENI WICKS

Deni Wicks requested approval to transfer $3.60 from EI Transportation to 3-5 Evaluation Tools. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING - DENI WICKS

Deni Wicks requested approval for the following transfers: Transfer $100 from PHN Telephone to Home Aide Telephone and $189 from PHN Other to PHN Equipment. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

REAL PROPERTY TAX SERVICES - STEVE CHILD

Steve Child reported that he has one person out on a long term medical leave and may have a second person also going out on medical leave. This will leave his office shorthanded. He requested approval to hire clerical help on a temporary basis when the second person goes out on medical leave, but is not sure where the funding will come from. The committee approved getting temporary clerical help and said would review how to fund it when the time arises.

GIS - STEVE CHILD, MARYBETH VARGHA

Marybeth Vargha said that she and Steve Child have been looking into the idea of copywriting the county's databases and maps. A few months ago the federal courts ruled that states and counties have the right to copyright certain information. By copyrighting its data the county can protect how the data is being used and the potential revenue from the selling of this data. With a copyright the county can sell individual maps and data bases with a statement that they can not be reproduced or can lease the data with the condition that the county gets a share of any revenue from the reselling of the data. The cost to the county is $35 per year per copyright. The committee agreed that copyrighting should be done and directed Mrs. Vargha and Mr. Child to contact the county attorney about starting the process.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY - JACK GIBBONS

Jack Gibbons requested approval to transfer $30,000 from Contingency to PSOT. Representative Feldstein moved for approval. Seconded, Henderson. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Dave West sent a memo requesting approval to transfer $5,000 from Contingency to Contracts to pay for legal representation. Representative Bateman moved for approval. Seconded, Feldstein. Total: 3; Ayes: 3. Motion carried.

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