Reserve Funds For College Chargebacks, Elevated Arsenic Levels

Rockland County Legislative committees meet today and Wednesday with agenda items from appropriating reserve funds to pay for the 2013 community college chargeback fees, and hearing an update on public transportation contracts to discussing elevated levels of arsenic in the water in Monsey last year.

The Planning & Public Works Committee meets tonight at 7 p.m. and will get an update on the transportation contract extensions for Hudson Transport Corp. and Rockland Transit Corp. from the county’s commissioner of public transportation. 

At 7:15 p.m. that committee will join with the Budget & Finance Committee to review the proposed 2014 capital projects budget.  

At 7:30 p.m., Budget & Finance is scheduled to vote on authorizing the transfer of $1,386,374 from its reserve and contingency accounts to pay for community college chargeback fees.  The legislature passed that expense onto the towns in 2012 and recently voted to take back responsibility for this year’s costs. However, the funds were not included in the 2013 budget.

On Wednesday, the Environmental Committee expects United Water representatives to speak about elevated levels of arsenic detected in June 2012 in a United Water well located in Monsey.  

In a statement released last week Committee Chair and Legislature Vice Chairman Alden Wolfe said, “The recent discovery of this information has alarmed the community and an explanation from United Water officials is an appropriate matter for committee discussion.”  

Members of the county Department of Health are also expected to attend the 6 p.m. session.

“I am aware that arsenic appears naturally in our soil and can leach into water,” said Wolfe. “However, others may not be aware of that fact.  We will consider this a fact-finding mission; how is the presence of arsenic detected, are there health ramifications, what are the remedies and when do these circumstances warrant public notice?”

More committee agenda information can be found at www.rocklandgov.com. Click on county legislature and then committee agendas.