Mineola, NY - Legislator Patrick Williams (D-Uniondale) and members of the Democrat majority of the Nassau County Legislature agreed during the October 29 meeting to make available emergency medical services training to non-providers of EMS services through the County's Fire-Police Emergency Services Academy.

The County currently offers training courses to all County providers of emergency medical services. The new local law would not affect the cost of training those providers. However, other counties and community colleges on Long Island offer such courses but make them available to non-providers. Under this local law, the Fire Commission would offer its courses to non-providers, while retaining a priority for providers and County personnel, and charge rates comparable to other institutions on Long Island. The estimated revenue increase is $60,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2005.

In addition, members of the majority also approved a local law imposing a processing fee in connection with the release of seized or impounded vehicles. The administrative fee that would be imposed by this local law would take effect in all circumstances in which Nassau County has taken custody of a motor vehicle by seizure, impoundment or otherwise in accordance with procedures authorized by law. New York City charges a $250 processing fee. This fee would work in conjunction with the new contract utilizing the services of an outside firm to legally process and auction off the cars that have been seized. It is estimated that this fee will generate approximately $60,000 in new revenue.

Also approved was a local law regarding certain fees for probation services. Under current law, probation officers conduct an investigation of each defendant's social, psychological and criminal history. The probation officer then makes a recommendation to the Court as to an appropriate sentence. The County now charges $300 per investigation, regardless of the nature of the offense. This proposal would increase the fee to $400 in sex offender and domestic violence cases to cover the extra costs associated with those investigations.

Also approved:

• a bond ordinance providing for a capital expenditure to finance the planning for the future capital improvement of Narcotics Investigations and centralized Telecommunications Intercept Systems in Nassau County and authorizing $250,000 serial bonds of the County of Nassau to finance said expenditure. According to the back-up, law enforcement must build an intercept facility that is capable of capturing communications as directed by court order.
• a bond ordinance to finance the acquisition and installation of a computer-aided Police Emergency Dispatch System in Nassau County and authorizing $500,000 for that purpose.
• a bond ordinance to finance reconstruction of Police Headquarters Building, and authorizing the $200,000 serial bonds to finance said expenditure.
• an ordinance to finance the design for the improvement and repair of Brookside Avenue in the Town of Roosevelt, and authorizing $750,000 serial bonds to finance this expenditure. It is proposed to improve Brookside Avenue by replacing deteriorated pavement, installing additional drainage where needed, and adding left turn lanes to improve safety at the intersections of Cramer Court and Centennial Ave. New curbs will be built to improve drainage and to provide a consistent road width, also increasing safety. Sidewalks would be furnished based on community support. The rough estimate of future construction costs is $3,500,000, for a total project cost of $6,000,000.
• a bond ordinance to finance the widening and reconstruction of Marcus, Denton and Hillside Avenues in New Hyde Park and authorizing $1,080,000 serial bonds to finance said expenditure. Road study plans are available.
• a bond to finance acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of an addition to the two Long Beach Bridges spanning Reynolds Channel, and authorizing $1,000,000 serial bonds to finance.
• an ordinance to amend the ordinance establishing an administrative service charge in connection with the utilization of certain county services by contractors engaged in business with Nassau County. Currently, there is a $100 flat fee charged to vendors whose contract is more than $5,000. That fee can be waived for religious, charitable, not-for-profit, governmental and some financial institutions.
• This fee was established in 1982 and a simple inflation adjustment would double that to $200. However, equity considerations would justify a sliding scale. Also, there is a concern that if the fee is too high, then the vendor would merely increase its contract price by the amount of the fee. The County Executive's four year plan would change this flat fee into the following sliding scale per value of the contract: $0-$5,000, $0 fee; $5,000 to $50,000, $150 fee; $50,001 to $100,000, $250 fee; and $100,001 or more, $500 fee. It is estimated that this proposal would raise $103,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $129,000 by fiscal year 2005.
• an ordinance increasing Department of Public Works' permit fees from $140 to $150 for each site where a County road is proposed to be excavated for work.
• an ordinance amending fees for sub-division plan review and re-submission and fees for building construction permit review and re-submission for the Department of Public Works.
• an ordinance amending ordinance which establishes uniform regulations for the control of fire hazards and for the enforcement of such regulations in accordance with the recommendations of the Nassau County Fire Commission. This ordinance affects fourteen major categories of fees imposed by the Nassau County Fire Commission. The fees are being increased by about 40%, which reflects the rate of inflation since the last time they were changed in 1990.
• an ordinance that would provide that the rates for County owned parking meters be increased from 25 cents for a half hour to 25 cents for 15 minutes.
• an ordinance fixing fees and charges with the use of recreational facilities now or hereafter established in the Nassau County Parks. Currently, the County charges $5 for adults and $3 for children to enter the theme pool park facilities at Cantiague, Wantagh and North Woodmere Parks. This fee is the same as the fee charged for other County pools that do not have amenities that the theme pools offer such as waterslides and children's aquatic playgrounds. This ordinance would increase the fees from $5 to $7 for adults and from $3 to $5 for children.
• an ordinance appropriating $1,320,000 for the STOP DWI PROGRAM for the period Jan. 1, 2002 through Dec. 31, 2002. These funds 100% reimbursable by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
• an ordinance appropriating $1,530,000 for INTAKE/REFERRAL PROGRAM. These funds are 100% reimbursable by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. The function is to evaluate and make treatment recommendations appropriate to the needs of each person seeking service.
• an ordinance appropriating $1,985,000.00 for Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Services Program. These funds are grant renewal for the period Jan. 1, 2002 through Dec. 31, 2002 from NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. This program services County residents facing severe substance abuse problems.
• a resolution ratifying the preparation of a map showing real property and easements to be acquired by the County of Nassau for the improvement of Plainview Road (Hicksville-Plainview-Farmingdale Road) from East Marie Street Easterly to South Oyster Bay Road, Hicksville, Town of Oyster Bay.
• a resolution soliciting bids involving reconstruction and de-watering of various county drainage facilities. This is a $1.5 million installment on a $5 million project.