Staff:  K. Fuller, Deputy Clerk of the Legislature; S. Whicher, County Administrator; Patricia Carey, Department of Social Services; N. Burston, Human Services Coalition; K. Schlather, L. Dillon, V. Bryant, G. Levine, Tompkins Community Action, K. Schlather, Cooperative Extension

Called to Order

 The meeting was called to order at 3:04 p.m.

Human Services Coalition

 Kathy Schlather, Director, informed the Committee of the membership of the Citizen's Review Committee who provided the recommendations for the 2006 budget.  The membership includes John Lemley and Renee Farkas of Cornell University; Jonathan Plotkin, Sherpa Technologies; Lisa Holmes, County Office for the Aging; Cindy Martin, Tompkins Community Action; John Provost, CBord; Marnie Johnson, volunteer; Leslie Meyer, Park Foundation; Frank Satterly, Groton.

Mr. Proto arrived at this time (3:07 p.m.).

 In response to Ms. Blanchard's question, Ms. Schlather reported the members of the Review Committee were informed of the Legislature's intent to obtain a zero percent increase from the 2005 budget.

 The following OTR's were reviewed:

Advocacy Center - a target increase for an Educational Contact Person in the amount of $6,000 to provide education in elementary and middle schools throughout the county.

American Red Cross - a target increase for $1,400 to defray the increased costs of health insurance premiums.

Better Housing for Tompkins County, Inc. - two requests:  (1) a target increase for $2,717 to offset salary increases and increase hours of the home repair coordinator by 2.5 hours per week; and (2) a request for a target increase in the amount of $2,283, and a one-time request for $20,000 to provide education and training programs for elected officials, board members, community leaders, developers and builders, and the general public on the need for and benefits of affordable-housing development in the County as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.  Mr. Winch and Ms. Blanchard stated they believed that while it may be a favorable way to approve the funds, the $20,000 request should be requested by the Planning Department as the initiative relates to the Comprehensive Plan.  Mr. Winch said he will ask that the funding  be charged to Planning who could then contract with Better Housing of Tompkins County, Inc.  Mr. Proto said as Vice Chair of the Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee he was aware the Planning Department has requested to use rollover funds to the new initiative of acquisition of public lands for open-space requirements set forth in the master plan.

Drop-In Children's Center - (1) a target increase of $10,000 for maintenance of effort to increase the base funding for overtime mandated by New York State Office of Children and Family Services and $8,000 to provide salary increases and maintain services to low-income families; and (2) a $5,000 one-time request to help offset the cost of the construction loan and provide more time to seek funding elsewhere.

Finger Lakes Independence Center - a one-time request for $3,000 to provide necessary temporary wheelchair ramps for disabled residents in the County.

Food Pantry Network - (1) a fiscal target increase of $4,012 to assist in offsetting the increased cost of pantry operations; and (2) a one-time request in the amount of $4,000 for anticipated increases in demand as a result of significantly increased heating costs this winter season. It was noted that two new pantries are opening up in response to demand.

Ms. Kiefer arrived at this time (3:20 p.m.).

Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance - a fiscal target increase in the amount of $3,706 for the new initiative of outreach for gynecological cancers to provide the same support available to breast cancer patients.
 
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing - (1) a fiscal target increase of $2,500 to supplement insurance costs; and (2) a one-time request for $5,000 to do the same.  Originally the fiscal target increase was for the entire amount (which has gone up 500%), however, the review committee felt a small target increase combined with a one-time request would provide adequate time to seek less expensive insurance.

Multicultural Resource Center - (1) a fiscal target increase of $2,500 for maintenance of effort to hire a work-study student; and (2) a one-time request in the amount of $1,000 for the same.

Women's Opportunity Center - a fiscal target increase of $7,500 for increased rural outreach, necessitated by funding cuts from the State and Federal government as well as the United Way.

 For the Human Service Coalition there were OTR requests in three areas - Human Service Planning, Information and Referral, and Health Planning Council as noted below:

Human Service Planning - (1) a fiscal target increase in the amount of $11,576 to cover the increased costs in basic operating expenses such as rent, benefits, salary, etc.; (2) a one-time increase in the amount of $5,000 to provide funding for replacement of the file server and a network upgrade; and (3) a three-year multi-year increase in the amount of $29,750 for the first year, to provide funding for a half-time grants coordinator who would seek out funding sources, make contact with funders to clarify requirements, maintain a list of funding opportunities, gather interested parties together, etc.

Information and Referral - (1) a fiscal target increase in the amount of $3,859 to cover the increased costs in basic operating expenses such as rent, benefits, salary, etc.; and (2) a one-time request in the amount of $4,000 for programming that will provide upgrades to the current database tools to comply with state-wide and national requirements for service delivery.

Health Planning Council - a fiscal target increase in the amount of $3,859 to cover the increased costs in basic operating expenses such as rent, benefits, salary, etc.

 Ms. Schlather said her priority is first for the maintenance of effort, second for services, and third for the position.  She noted that the HSC staffing has gone down during the last 16 years.  It was also noted that overall, aside from the $20,000 request for the Comprehensive Plan initiative requested by Better Housing for Tompkins County, the funding requests were well within the budget directives of the County Administrator.

 Mr. Proto extended his apologies to the agency directors for his early absence at the August 3, 2005, Committee meeting.

Tompkins Community Action

 Ms. Dillon, Director, reported her agency request is $173,045, with no over target requests.  She explained the funding from the County is used to pay bond costs for their building ($110,000), building maintenance, and assisting with program administrative costs due to caps and indirect costs.

 Ms. Blanchard inquired how the agency is coping with the increased cost of fuel.  Ms. Dillon said she has requested an increase from the appropriate division of the United States Health and Human Services Department, noting they recognize the need.  Although some Head Start vehicles are required to operate, the agency is looking at smaller vehicles to operate.  One bus utilized to transport children operates on natural gas.  Ms. Blanchard and Mr. Proto inquired where the vehicle is refueled; Ms. Dillon was not able to provide the information, but will find out and report later.  Mr. Proto suggested she contact Joe Turcotte at Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit to possibly find alternate sites since New York State Electric and Gas no longer operates a vehicle refueling station locally.

 Ms. Robertson spoke of the graphs in the Tompkins Community Action Annual Report indicating that while there has been a 13% cut in funding, the leverage factor is up 62%.  She asked how increased cost of salaries and benefits is being met.  Ms. Blanchard also asked how many staff the agency now has.  Ms. Dillon said at this time she has approximately 110 employees.  Although the NYSERDA Powersavers program was not continued, she was able to absorb the staff into other existing programs.  She said other programs to begin in the near future will increase the number of individuals on payroll by an additional 15.  Mr. Levine, President of the TCA Board, said almost all employees receive a living wage.  Ms. Dillon said she is continuing to review all positions to bring them into line with the living wage; however, it is a never-ending process due to inflation.

Cornell Cooperative Extension

 Ken Schlather, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, said the 2005 Cornell Cooperative Extension Annual Report should be completed in January 2006 for review.  He told the Committee he has requested a 2.5% increase in his fiscal target to allow salary increases for staff paid by County funds.  He said although salaries have increased slightly over the past years the employees are receiving only slightly more than starting salaries for school teachers.  Last year staff salaries were brought up to the Cornell Cooperative Extension minimums.  He feels it is necessary to continue to provide increases in order to maintain the quality of personnel he presently has.

Mr. Schlather explained the one-time $22,000 request for a new initiative how relating to how tomake our land resource base productive.  He said there is an increasing trend of small farms within the County as well as individuals from outside the County purchasing land.  He said every million dollars of land-based industries generate thirty million dollars in sales as well as adding 20-35 jobs.

In addition, his agency is working with the Soil and Water Conservation District on a possible initiative of constructing a building on 4-H acres for the land resource base use as well as other information used by residents, therefore creating a "one-stop" shop.  Cornell University is being approached to determine interest and possible funding for this initiative.  The request for both potential projects was put together due to the interconnectivity of the initiatives.  In response to Ms. Blanchard, Mr. Schlather said the funds would be used for preliminary design work on the project.

Chair's Report

 Ms. Robertson reported that the latest report for the TompkinsRx program indicates that more cards have been utilized, with 745 users during the month of July receiving a savings of approximately 23% on prescriptions.  To date, total prescription cost savings has been $106,792.  Mr. Winch inquired if it is possible to provide the number of families that have benefited from the program when producing the annual report.  He was told by Ms. Burston and Ms. Schlather they do not think it is possible to do so, that the particular information is not collected by Caremark.  Ms. Robertson said she has heard that many pharmacists will utilize the cards when they realize a consumer does not have any drug coverage.

County Administrator's Report

 Mr. Whicher said his work on the proposed 2006 budget is continuing and at this time it appears there will be a zero percent tax levy increase.  Mr. Proto asked if the Legislators would be provided information showing what impact the 2006 projects will have in 2007.  Mr. Whicher said whatever gaps remain in the Communications Capital Project will be dealt with in 2007 and that there are some problems with the library to be addressed.  Mr. Whicher said he was able to meet the Legislative goal without extensive cuts and he said without the cap on Medicaid he would not have been able to do so.

Liaison Reports

Alcoholism Council

 Ms. Blanchard said they have done many things over the year and suggested having the Committee invite a representative to bring them up to date with the program.  She is impressed by the method of running meetings, stating they are on time, to the point, and all business is completed within the hour.  In addition, she said each meeting highlights an individual program.

Board of Health

 Mr. Winch said at the present time in addition to the normal duties of dealing with environmental and public health issues, the Board has been working on the Opening Burning issue.  Two public hearings are scheduled after which modifications may be made prior to a vote to amend the public health sanitation code for the County.  Mr. Winch said a lot of time is spent on water system issues within the county, restaurant inspections, and tobacco sales to minors.  Ms. Robertson asked whether follow-ups to the Neighborhood Notification Law regarding pesticides and indoor smoking of tobacco products has occurred.  Mr. Winch said not at this time.  Ms. Kiefer noted the length of the Environmental Health Reports in the papers, saying she believed they were longer than previously and asked if it due to increased violations.  Mr. Winch said he did not believe so, that there are simply more facilities to inspect.

Mental Health Board

 Ms. Blanchard said a lot of time was spent earlier in the year discussing the new building operated by Lakeview and what the role of the Board is to make it better.  In addition, alternative budget scenarios were reviewed prior to submission to the County Administrator.

Lifelong

 Mr. Whicher said the information they are providing regarding Medicare Part B is excellent.
 

Various Reports

 Ms. Schuler provided written information on the Homeless and Housing Task Force, and PERS Advisory Council for Committee review.

 Ms. Robertson said the remaining liaison reports will be discussed at the next Committee meeting on September 7, 2005.

 Adjournment

On motion, the Committee adjourned at 4:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Karen Fuller, Deputy Clerk