Legislature Vote On Veto Override Expected

The Rockland County Legislature will vote tonight on a possible override of County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef’s veto of its decision to award a transit contract to Brega Transport Systems. The legislature awarded the contract on September 19 to Brega to operate and maintain the county’s public transit system. 

Vanderhoef vetoed the vote on October 3 and notified the legislature by letter that the bid varied significantly from the Request For Bids and awarding the contract could jeopardize federal funding. The legislature needs a two-thirds majority vote to override the veto. 

The legislature will take up other transit related resolutions on its agenda.

The members will vote on awarding three-month bus contracts covering October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 to: 

• Rockland Transit Corp. to operate 10 TOR (Transport of Rockland) bus routes.  The $5,608,573 contract would cover service on the 59, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 97 and Loop 1, 2 and 3 routes.
• Hudson Transit Lines to provide partial service on TOR Route 93 for $148,043.
• Hudson Transit Corp to operate the Tappan Zee Express for $1,685,809.

Each contract carries the option of a one-time, three-month extension. 

Legislators will be presented with a resolution asking the state Public Service Commission to reopen its hearing on requiring United Water to develop a new water supply. A second related resolution requests the state Department of Environmental Conservation hold an issues conference and administrative law hearing on United Water’s proposal to build a Hudson River desalination plant in Haverstraw.

The legislature will vote on reappointing Louis Babcock as a county elections commissioner.  The Garnerville resident was originally appointed in 2011 to complete the unexpired term of Joan Silvestri, who was named county personnel commissioner.  Babcock, a Republican, would serve a four-year term beginning January 1, 2013. 

The meeting begins tonight at 7 p.m.