Minutes from Meeting July 14, 2006 - Efficiency, Reform and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Meeting

Attendance:

Josh Koplovitz           County Attorney

Hector Rodriguez        Legislator

Charles Busick            Legislator

Allan Wilkman            Kingston Resident

Roxanne Pecora           Town of Esopus Planning Board/County Planning Board

Toni Hokanson           Town of New Paltz / Planning Board

Dan Little                    Town of Wawarsing / Planning Board

Brian Shapiro              Legislator

John Dwyer                Charter Commission

Marianne Collins        Charter Commission

Gerard Benjamin         Charter Commission

Bea Havranek              Assistant County Attorney

Dennis Doyle              Ulster Planning

John Mauretich           Ulster Publishing

Tom Kadgen               League of Women Voters

Tracey Bartels            Legislator

Gary Bischoff             Legislator

Lenore Ridgeway        League of Women Voters

Renee Sachs                Charter Commission

Peter Liepmann           Legislator  (arrived late)

Susan Cummings         Excused

Meeting was called to order at 5:07 p.m. by Gary Bischoff.

First order of business was Josh Koplovitz explaining changes to the Charter.  Discussion ensued.  Hector Rodriguez made a motion to take all grammatical, minuscule, and any other changes to the Charter which would not affect the legality or original meaning of the Charter, as a whole.  Brian Shapiro seconded said motion.  There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Second order of business was Bea Havranek explaining the changes made to the Charter with regard to Section 7, the Planning Board.  Discussion ensued.  There were questions and comments.

There was a suggestion to accept Charter as-is with the exception of changes which were currently being discussed.  Brian made a motion to accept the Charter as-is for now, and Tracey Bartels seconded said motion. There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Rose Pecora suggested to change the language of Section 7.01 entitled Department of Planning.  Her suggestion was to change the time-frame from sixty to ninety days with regard to the failure of the Planning Board to bring forward recommendations for the position of Director of Planning.  Discussion ensued.  Hector Rodriguez made a motion to amend the document from sixty to ninety days. Brian Shapiro seconded. There was a call for a vote. 5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Discussion ensued regarding Section 7.06 of the Planning Board Section regarding language from #2, which had previously been stricken from the draft.  Hector Rodriguez made a motion to put said language back into the draft as it was before with the addition of the words “in accordance with General Municipal Law Article 12-B” at the end of the last sentence.  Brian Shapiro Seconded.  There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Discussion ensued regarding striking out the language “standards and services” from Section 7.06(3).  No motion was made.

Discussion ensued regarding Section 7.07(2) to add the word “environmental” to the second sentence in said paragraph.  Thoughts by the Commission were discussed. Hector Rodriguez made a motion seconded by Tracey Bartels. There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Discussion ensued regarding Section 7.05(3), which was a paragraph that had previously been stricken from the Charter.  Gary made a motion to put the entire paragraph back in, except for the words “submit” and “approve” in the first sentence. Charley Busick seconded.  There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

There was discussion regarding the County Planning Board’s ability to review subdivisions. Section 7.06(1) currently reads “review of land use.”  Discussion ensued regarding amending the sentence to read, “review of land use and subdivisions.”  There was discussion to put language directly in Section 7.06 from General Municipal Law §239(n) to state, “the Planning board will be vested with the power to review subdivisions pursuant to General Municipal Law §239(n).”  After discussion, Tracey made a motion that the Assistant County Attorney shall research and prepare suitable language for the inclusion of Planning Board powers to review subdivisions. Hector Rodriguez seconded. There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Discussion ensued regarding striking out the words “County Executive” from the third sentence. Hector Rodriguez made a motion to that effect, seconded by Tracey Bartels. There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

Discussion ensued regarding Section 7.02(1) adding the phrase “and/” before the word “or” in the first sentence.  The Committee decided to add that minimal change without a motion.

Discussion ensued regarding Section 7.03.  Hector Rodriguez made a motion to add a letter d) to 7.03(1) to state, “act as liaison between County agencies and non-profit bodies involved in economic and community development for which the County provides funding.”  Charles Busick seconded.  There was a call for a vote.  5 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, and Shapiro in favor.

Liepmann and Cummings absent.

The next section of the Charter discussed was Article 14 dealing with the County Attorney.  Wordage was added with respect to obtaining approval from the Legislature with regard to the County Executive’s appointment of the County Attorney.  Discussion ensued.  No motion was made, and the language was stricken from the draft.

Discussion ensued regarding the adding of a paragraph for Minority Counsel in the Charter under Article 2 Legislative Branch.  Hector made a motion to accept the added language for Minority Counsel under Section 2.14.3.  Brian seconded. There was a call for a vote.  6 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, Liepmann and Shapiro in favor.

Cummings absent.

The next section of the Charter discussed was Article 3 The Executive Branch.  There was lengthy discussion regarding Section 3.03 Term of Office.  Tracey Bartels made a motion to change the Term of Office to read the following, “The County Executive shall be elected for a three (3) year term at the regularly scheduled election in the first even numbered year following the adoption of the Charter, and thereafter every fourth year for a four (4) year term.” Brian Shapiro seconded. There was a call for a vote.  6 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, Liepmann and Shapiro in favor.

Cummings absent.

Gary Bischoff made a motion to adopt the Charter for consideration by the full legislature in its newly amended form.  Tracey Bartels seconded. There was a call for a vote.  6 in favor, 0 opposed. 

Bischoff, Busick, Bartels, Rodriguez, Liepmann and Shapiro in favor.

Cummings absent.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 by Gary Bischoff.