MINUTES
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
APRIL 10, 2003
2:00 P.M.
SCOTT HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
Present: M. Koplinka-Loehr,
Chair; L. McBean; K. Herrera; T. Todd; M. Lane
Staff: D. Squires, Finance Director; J. Wood,
County Attorney; J. Franklin, Assessment; S. Whicher,
County Administrator; K. Borgella, Planning Department
Called to Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:02 p.m.
Changes to Agenda
The following resolution was withdrawn from the agenda
as the Board of Elections reports to the Consumer and Community Affairs Committee
this year:
Appropriation from Contingent Fund - Terminal Pay - Board
of Elections
Chair's Report
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr did not have a report.
Report from the County Attorney
Mr. Wood said he did not have a report.
Report from the Finance Director
Mr. Squires reported the auction on foreclosed properties
is scheduled for May 17th. The list of properties will be presented
later in the meeting by Katie Borgella of the Planning Department.
Mr. Squires updated the Committee on the Lakeside Nursing
Home financial situation. The County has notified the State and is
trying to get them involved. The Operator of the facility also known as the
receiver has no financial requirements to pay bills. The only responsibility
is patient care and the State has indicated all patient care responsibilities
are being met and therefore has renewed the receiver for another year.
Mr. Squires said he and County Attorney Wood made a conference call from
Assemblywoman Lifton's office to the State Department of Health. The
Department of Health said it will look into the matter and provide a report(s).
The message to the Department of Health was the County is going to proceed
with the foreclosing procedures.
Mr. Squires said this is a very complicated matter.
The owner of the facility has signed over his license to the receiver but
will not sign over his rights to the property.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr asked staff to contact him if a special
meeting is needed to take some action. He said the proceedings to foreclose
will continue to hopefully force some action.
Mr. Whicher said the State Department of Health is due
to report back to the County this week concerning the financial issue, but
have not responded yet. Mr. Squires explained the total amount of debt
owed and stated taxpayers are currently subsidizing the County's portion:
The County's portion of debt is $635,000, recorded liens with IRS is $1,000,000,
NYSEG is several hundred dollars, suppliers such as laundry service is hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
Mr. Lane recommended and the Committee agreed that a press
release be prepared to let the public know what is going on.
In addition, Mr. Squires reported the County's audit is
underway and will be complete in another week.
Report from the County Administrator
Mr. Whicher said he is beginning to put together a search
team for the Commissioner of Social Services position. It will be a
team of eight people from the following areas:
Board members (2)
Department Head (1)
Human Service Agency (1)
Community (1)
DSS Management (1)
CSEA White Collar (1)
County Administrator (1)
Once the membership is finalized, the team will discuss
process. He said there will be surveys for the department and agencies
and discuss a focus group for reaching out to the community. He reminded
the Committee the appointment is a County Administrator's appointment subject
to confirmation of the Board. Mr. Whicher said he hopes to have an
appointment to submit in October to take effect in November.
Approval of Minutes
It was MOVED by Ms. Herrera, seconded by Mr. Lane, to
approve the minutes of the March 13th meeting as submitted. A voice
vote resulted as follows: Ayes - 4; Noes - 0; Abstention - 1 (McBean).
MINUTES APPROVED.
Assessment Department
It was MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Ms. McBean, and
unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following resolution to
the full Board for approval. Mr. Franklin clarified that when the parcel
was split there was a duplication of taxes paid.
RESOLUTION NO. - CORRECTION OF TAXES - TOWN OF ULYSSES
(34.-3-10.32)
WHEREAS, this Board is informed that an error has been
made in the 2002 tax roll of the Town of Ulysses, namely parcel 34.-3-10.32,
assessed to C. Frank Woodard, was erroneously created and parcel is to be
expunged, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Government Operations
Committee, That the entry on the tax roll of $2,592.55 be expunged,
RESOLVED, further, That the Town of Ulysses Tax Collector
is directed to correct the 2002 tax roll,
RESOLVED, further, That the following amounts be charged
back:
Town of Ulysses - $215.39
Tompkins County - $510.52
Trumansburg School District - $1,815.64
Solid Waste - $51.00
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * * *
2003 Foreclosure Report
Ms. Borgella reviewed the report of ten parcels subject
to foreclosure proceedings. She said there are two properties the Planning
Department recommends foreclosing on but withhold from auction for one year
to study the land in more detail and possibly negotiate with State Parks
on transfer of the property. Both parcels are located on
West King Road and would allow a link for the Finger Lakes Trail to State
Parks. Mr. Squires noted that if the property is not sold, the County
will continue to accrue unpaid taxes. Mr. Lane spoke about similar
situations with parcels. The County agrees to withhold property to
negotiate with other parties which results in property being taken off the
tax rolls and quite often the other party negotiates an agreement where the
property is sold for less money than what is put into it or even giving it
away. He feels the Committee should discuss this and possibly ask for
Payment in Lieu of Taxes in these cases. Mr. Whicher clarified the
parcels are taxable for the current until March 31, 2004 and then can be
held as exempt for two years. This has been built into the law to allow
for negotiations.
Following further discussion, it was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr,
seconded by Ms. Herrera, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve
the Planning Department's recommendation to withhold the two parcels (1-1-12.21
and 12.25) from auction.
Ms. Borgella also reported on a parcel identified in the
County Land Inventory located in the City of Ithaca known as "Tompkins County
Alley". The parcel has no strategic value to the County to hold onto
this land and it is the recommendation of staff including the County Attorney
to sell the parcel at auction. If it does not sell, the recommendation
is to negotiate with adjacent landowners to transfer ownership of the property.
Ms. Borgella briefly reported on the Munson property.
She said there are some potential liability issues. As the property
was a farm for a number of years, there is a lot of debris and old equipment.
However, following a research of the property, she could not find anything
substantial indicating any liability. Mr. Squires feels strongly this
property will sell at the auction.
It was the consensus of the Committee to accept the report
as amended above.
County Attorney
Report on Reorganization
Mr. Wood provided background information on the Department's
reorganization. The office reorganized in January 2002. Prior
to that date, the County Attorney handled real estate matters, the Deputy
Attorney handled litigation, and the Assistant Attorney handled PINS and
juvenile delinquent cases.
In January 2002, Mr. Wood, newly appointed County Attorney,
transferred real estate matters to Bruce Wilson, Deputy County Attorney,
which are similar to the type of cases he handles in his private business.
Mr. Flash, Assistant County Attorney, was assigned to handle juvenile matters
and family court which as Assistant District Attorney he handled many cases
dealing with young people. Mr. Wood commented that this seems to be
going very well.
Review of 2002 Caseloads
Mr. Wood distributed copies of juvenile delinquent caseload
statistics for the years 1999 to present. Juvenile delinquent cases
have significantly increased over the last two years. He also feels
the number of PINS cases are increasing. There have been 19 PINS filed
thus far in 2003 (11 of which are 16 or 17 years of age). He is concerned
that these numbers may become trends and could be difficult for staff at
the current level to handle.
He also reported on other matters. Last year there
were more litigation cases settled than in any other year. He does
not feel more cases were filed, but said it is difficult to provide statistics
on these types of cases. There has also been more property issues
handled in the last two years including the relocation of the Department
of Transportation, emergency center, Health Department and HIPPA regulations,
radio communications system, and an estate settlement.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr asked about the relationship between
the County Attorney's office and the Social Services attorneys. Mr.
Wood said the relationship is good. There are currently a couple of
cases both offices are working on together. He said there are some
family court cases where there are different positions or viewpoints, but
overall the relationship is very good.
Mr. Wood said in many other counties, the Social Services
Attorneys are County Attorney employees, but Commissioner Dolan feels very
strongly that they remain Social Services employees. He said at this
time he does not have an opinion one way or the other which office the Social
Services attorneys should be employed. It was also felt that a new
Commissioner may have different feelings about this and could be discussed
at a future meeting.
Mr. Whicher reported the Ithaca City School District is
trying to create a position to help as a liaison for juvenile delinquents,
PINS and working relationships with the school. The Town of Ithaca
has $20,000 they are willing to provide for this position. He believes
that after reviewing the numbers provided to Committee, there is a real need
for such a position.
Mr. Wood hopes to collect some revenue for the work done
on the estate settlement. When the estate closes out the executor (David
Squires) will request payment both for the executor and attorney fees.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr asked about billable services provided
by the County Attorney's office. Mr. Wood said his preference is not
to bill departments. He feels departments should feel free to contact
the Attorney's office if there is a legal question.
County Administration
It was MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Ms. McBean, and
unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following resolution to
the full Board for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. - APPROVAL OF DESIGNATIONS OF SUCCESSORS
WHEREAS, the County Charter at Section 31.07 specifies that the County
Administrator and specified department heads shall designate in writing,
and in order of succession, the deputies (or in the absence of officially
designated deputies, the employees of the department) who shall possess the
powers and perform the duties of the principal in the event of the latter’s
absence from the County or inability to perform or exercise the powers of
the office, and
WHEREAS, the Charter further requires those designations, except department
heads elected on a county-wide basis, to be approved by the Board of Representatives,
now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That
the following designations of successors are hereby approved,
RESOLVED, further, That this list is complete and supercedes all previous
designations:
Airport Manager
Assistant Airport
Manager
Airport Terminal Services Coordinator
Operations Supervisor
County Administrator:
Deputy County Administrator
Commissioner of Planning
County Attorney:
Deputy County
Attorney
Assistant County Attorney
Commissioner of Social
Director of Eligibility
Services:
Director of Services
Director of Administrative Services
Legal Unit Administrator
Director of Emergency
Administrative Assistant
Response
CAD Systems Coordinator
Public Health Director:
Public Health Administrator
Director of Patient Services
Medical Examiner:
Deputy Medical Examiner,
William Klepack, M.D.
Deputy Medical Examiner, David Newman, M.D.
Mental Health Commissioner: Deputy Commissioner
Mental Health
Medical Director
Director of Mental
Health Clinic
Director of Day Program
Director of Finance:
Budget and Finance Manager
Director of Accounting Services
Commissioner of Personnel: Benefits
Manager
Personnel Associate
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * *
County Legislature
Designation of Successors - County Legislators
Following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of
the Committee to recommend the order of succession of County Legislators
as follows:
Chair, Budget and Capital Committee
Chair, Government Operations Committee
Chair, Public Safety Committee
Chair, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee
Chair, Health and Human Services Committee
Mrs. Covert agreed to draft a resolution for consideration
at the next Committee meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 3:17 p.m.
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