Mineola, NY - Legislator Patrick Williams (D-Uniondale) and members of the Nassau County Legislature voted to approve an agreement between the Nassau County Department of Public Works and the Nassau Community College with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York in relation to the creation of a facilities capital master plan and to allocate $349,546 for the study.

The master plan will access the suitability and sufficiency of the existing buildings, site, and physical plants, and provide a plan for the acquisition, design, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and improvement of the existing facilities.

The scope of the services to be provided by the Authority are:

• To solicit architectural/engineering firms to prepare a Facilities Capital Master Plan;
• To develop a short list of consultants based on a review of the Qualification Statements;
• To prepare and issue formal Request for Proposals to the short listed firms;
• Conduct interviews with selected consultants based on a review of the RFP's;
• Review cost proposals and negotiate with the firm ranked most qualified taking into account a fair and reasonable fee for services to be rendered;
• Award and administer the consultant's contract insuring conformance with the project scope requirements and schedules

The Master Plan shall incorporate existing studies relating to hazardous materials, ADA compliance and any similar studies.

In other business, the legislature approved a bond ordinance providing for an additional capital expenditure to finance the installation of a traffic signal and the reconstruction, widening or resurfacing of Roslyn road at the Northern State Parkway, and authorizing $420,000 in serial bonds to finance the expenditure. Funding was originally approved in 1991, totaling $440,000. Since that time the original design has been revised, moving the bulk of the work from the West Side of Roslyn road to the East Side.

Legislators also approved an appropriation of $311,794.00 for the establishment of HIV Surveillance and Partner Notification Program. The funds are 100% reimbursed by the New York State Health Department. The grand has been funded at the same amount for the last two years. In 2000, a NYS law mandated that laboratories and health care providers report all individuals with HIV infection. The law also requires health departments to notify partners/contacts of their exposure to HIV.

In addition, Legislators approved:

• An ordinance appropriating $35,121.00 for the continuation of the Elder Abuse Prevention Program, which is 100%, reimbursed by New York State. Family and Children's Association is the recipient of this contract, which expands the existing Ombudservice Program in nursing homes and utilize volunteer and a paid coordinator to work closely with residents, families, administrators, and staff in Adult Homes in order to resolve difficulties.

An ordinance appropriating $45,463.00 for the Older Americans Act. The funds are 90% reimbursable by the New York State Office for the Aging as a pass through for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. The purpose of the program is to strengthen and develop a system of coordinated and comprehensive services for older persons, particularly low-income, minority, handicapped and isolated persons, which will enable them to remain in their homes as long as possible.