Present:  M. Koplinka-Loehr, Chair; T. Todd; G. Totman; D. Kiefer; D. Booth

Staff:    J. Tynyk, Weights and Measures; K. Smithers, Deputy County Administrator; S. Whicher, County Administrator; D. Squires, Finance Director; W. Skinner, Public Information; S. Martel-Moore, Human Rights; A. Fitzpatrick, Personnel Commissioner; V. Coggin, Assessment Director; J. Franklin, Assessment; J. Yoder, Personnel; E. Cree, Elections Commissioner; M. Reynolds, County Clerk' office; A. Valenti, County Clerk

Guests:   T. Joseph, Chair of the Board; N. Schuler, Board Member

Called to Order

    The meeting was called to order at 9:02 a.m.

Resolution - Election Commissioner Appointment

    It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval:

RESOLUTION NO.       - APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION COMMISSIONER FOR 2003-2004

    RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee and the Government Operations Committee, That Shary Zifchock be and hereby is appointed Democratic Party Elections Commissioner for the two-year term commencing January 1, 2003 and ending December 31, 2004.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

    Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he received an email from Mr. Franklin of Assessment regarding the Image Mate Program that places assessment data on the Internet.  It was brought to Mr. Franklin's attention that in the program available to professionals in the assessment field it includes the signature of the property owners who have had their properties evaluated.  The concern is that the signature could be used for other inappropriate reasons.  In the interim, those signatures are being blocked as homeowners decline having their signature visible on the site.     Mr. Franklin will report back to the Committee on this issue.  Mr. Whicher estimated it could take three months or more to remove those signatures from the program.

Resolution Establishing the County Clerk and Sheriff Salaries

    Ms. Fitzpatrick distributed copies of projections she prepared for information and review by the Committee.

    It was MOVED by Mr. Totman, seconded by Mr. Todd, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval.  Ms. Kiefer stated her opposition in approving such high salary increases more than 20 percent and said there are alternatives such as those included in the information packet Ms. Fitzpatrick had just handed out.  Mr. Booth spoke in opposition also and said if the positions were appointed, the salaries would be too high.

    A voice vote resulted as follows on the resolution:  Aye s- 3 (Koplinka-Loehr, Todd, and Totman); Noes - 2 (Booth and Kiefer).  RESOLUTION CARRIED.  Mr. Koplinka-Loehr requested that all the information presented to Committee be shared with the Board.  Ms. Fitzpatrick agreed to do so.

RESOLUTION NO.    ESTABLISHING ANNUAL SALARY FOR THE POSITIONS OF COUNTY CLERK AND SHERIFF FOR THE YEARS 2003, 2004, 2005, AND 2006

    WHEREAS, State law requires this Board to establish salaries for the positions of County Clerk and Sheriff and Board Policy 04-06 requires that this must occur prior to the time when candidate petitions may lawfully be passed, now therefore be it
    RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the salaries for the positions of County Clerk and Sheriff are hereby established as follows for the years shown:
    County Clerk                               Sheriff
    2003    $59,691                             2003    $79,450
    2004    $62,228                             2004    $82,827
    2005    to be determined            2005    to be determined
    2006    to be determined            2006    to be determined

    RESOLVED, further, That the CSEA White Collar agreement expires on December 31, 2004,
    RESOLVED, further, That 2005 and 2006 salaries shall be determined based on the 2005 negotiated CSEA White Collar bargaining unit agreement.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

    Weights and Measures
    A 20 percent reduction in the Weights and Measures Department is $13,800 and represents a reduction in staff.  Ms. Fitzpatrick noted that a position can be reduced as low as 30 hours per week and still receive fulltime retirement benefits.  Mr. Joseph stated the County can not pay an employee less than the union has bargained for a union position.

    Human Rights - Rollover
    Ms. Martel-Moore explained the request of $19,945 is for a new server, five computers and one tape deck.  Questions were raised as to whether there was a need to replace all of the equipment for that amount of money.  Mr. Booth recommended approving one-third to one-half of the requested amount given budget constraints.  Mr. Joseph suggested Information Technology Services (ITS) make a recommendation on what needs to be replaced.

    Discussion on this request was postponed until later in the meeting when ITS was able to attend and provide an opinion.

    Human Rights - Budget Scenario
    The scenario presented represents a reduction in staff, interns, caseloads, and eliminates most funding for training.  She said she is looking at revenues that may be available through Federal agencies and will be meeting with the County Administrator about it.

    Human Rights - Rollover
    Mr. Potter stated there is a definite need to replace five computers and the server.  Replacement of the tape deck will be looked into further.
    It was MOVED by Mr. Booth to approve $8,000 in rollover money.  MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

    It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, to approve $11,500 in rollover money and not replace the tape deck at this time.  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes - 2 (Kiefer and Koplinka-Loehr); Noes - 3 (Booth, Todd, and Totman).  MOTION FAILED.

    It was MOVED by Mr. Booth to approve $8,000 in rollover money.  MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

    It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, to approve $10,500 in rollover money.  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes - 3 (Booth, Kiefer, and Koplinka-Loehr); Noes - 2 (Todd and Totman).  MOTION CARRIED.

    Administration - Budget Scenario
    Mr. Whicher reminded the Committee that one Deputy County Administrator position remains vacant as well as a couple of other positions.  His department is stretched to its limits now and further reductions would make it challenging to get anything done.   Public Information would stop televising County Board meetings.

    Ms. Kiefer raised a concern that certain agencies should be informed of potential cuts in their contracts with County Departments that County Departments are including in budget scenarios.

    Ms. Kiefer asked how valuable televising Board meetings are.  It was felt that many people do watch the Board meetings; however, Ms. Skinner said she hopes to do an assessment survey before July to determine how important the televised meetings are.   Discussion also followed concerning County Corridors and it was stated that that may be posted on the web to save printing costs.

    Assessment
    Ms. Coggin stated that with any cuts services will be limited.   She reported on staff cut-backs in recent years.  She hopes the Board would leave rollover intact to help them the next three years.  She noted that action would need to be taken this year if cuts are necessary.

    Finance
    Mr. Squires reported on the proposed cuts in his office.  He said the cut-backs in staff as proposed would be crippling.  He spoke of some revenue options he is exploring with the County Attorney:
1. Increase Tax Advertising charge from $10 to $15 would yield an additional $7,500.
2. Increase Tax Search charge from $20 to $25 would yield an additional $16,500.
3. Collection of County Taxes directly by the County would enhance cash flow and interest earnings (minimum of $25,000) and simplify the process for public.
4. Enforce Real Property Tax Foreclosure deadline as to final day to pay.  There would be initial gain in proceeds from auction activity of $100,000 because last-minute redemptions would be prohibited.

Mr. Booth expressed interest in departments pursuing revenue services, but not looking at increased penalties and tax revenues as offsetting the department.

    County Clerk
    Ms. Valenti said they will be attempting to generate more revenue hopefully beginning July 1st.  The cover sheet attached to all land records will now cost $3 and will generate approximately $40,000.  It was reported that the department will also have to begin imposing an additional $15 charge per instrument, i.e., deed, mortgage, etc.  The State will receive $20 and the County $1.  Mr. Whicher asked if the $3 fee for the cover sheet would take effect at the same time.  A brief discussion followed and it was recommended that the fee increases happen at the same time.  An update will be provided at a future Committee meeting.
Board of Elections
    Ms. Cree briefly summarized the scenario presented to Committee.  She said two full-time employees are equal to one-third of staff.  When mandated items are being handled, it requires an employee from each party to be present at all times.  Ms. Cree continued to review the cuts and how it would impact the office.  Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he would like to have a breakdown of the budget figures.  Ms. Cree agreed to provide the information.

    County Attorney
    Mr. Wood explained the impact a 20% cut would have on his department.  The County Attorney's office has saved the County a considerable amount of money by handling its own cases instead of contracting out and hiring outside counsel.  Staff cuts would be necessary with a 20% cut.  The services provided by the County Attorney's office is not controllable, but doing them as economically as possible is.

    Personnel
    Ms. Fitzpatrick shared a scenario representing a 10% reduction with the Committee and highlighted the items that would be cut in her budget including staff hours, equipment, printing, etc.  She spoke about the program functions within her department: civil service, and payroll, in-service training, workforce development one-stop, and central services.  The in-service training will be changing its focus and begin working with departments and evaluating work processes to create a central resource network.  For example, sharing staff between departments to maximize existing resources.  The Committee asked for a scenario showing a 20% reduction.  Discussion followed concerning how revenue could be generated and Ms. Fitzpatrick said she would look into it.

    Board of Representatives
    Mrs. Covert provided a summary of the budget scenario that represents a 20% percent reduction.  Mrs. Covert explained that Board members' salaries are adopted by resolution and the increases are absorbed in the Clerk of the Board's program resulting in larger over-target requests being made than just a request for staff increases.  The scenario does not allow for Board members to be reimbursed for expenses such as local mileage.  Membership Dues are eliminated, there are significant staff reductions and minimal expenses for items such as printing, postage, etc.  It is not clear that we can eliminate mileage reimbursement; however, a member need not apply for it.

    Ms. Kiefer reminded departments that if they have reduced number of positions during past several years, they should include that information at budget time.

Adjournment

    The meeting adjourned at 11:02 a.m.