"Delays at this point would only serve to create unwarranted legal, financial and operational risk for the county," said Astorino.
The county executive said that the board's legislation was unnecessary because a vendor is already in place and the county followed state law and its own rules and procedures for awarding contracts.
"There is no reason to reopen the selection process," Astorino said. "We followed the law, we did our due diligence, we have already selected a vendor, and our new contract will save taxpayers $3 million over three years."
The county began the process of finding a new health-care provider in January, after the Westchester Medical Center notified the Astorino administration it would terminate its existing contract on July 26, five months ahead of the contractual expiration date.
Westchester County is legally mandated to provide health care to the prisoners in its custody that are housed at the county's jail and penitentiary on the Grasslands Reservation in Valhalla.
In May, following an extensive search, Astorino announced an agreement with Correct Care Solutions (CCS), based in Nashville, to provide these medical services through its New York affiliate, New York Correct Care Solutions Medical Services. The selection was approved by the county's Board of Acquisition and Contract. No approval of the Board of Legislators was required.
Nonetheless, on June 1, the legislators approved an act that would require the Astorino administration to solicit new proposals for the service. This came after the Board of Legislators requested that the Medical Center rescind its termination letter.
In vetoing the local law, Astorino said that he has kept the Board of Legislators fully informed since January when the Medical Center notified him of its intention to terminate the contract.
"The decision by the Medical Center was announced publicly in January and since that time the Board of Legislators has been briefed extensively and has had ample time to raise concerns or request an alternative approach," he said.
Among the meetings held were ones on April 15 with the Committee on Budget & Appropriations; and in May, separate meetings with the Public Safety Committee and the Board of Legislators' leadership and CCS.
Under the agreement, CCS will provide comprehensive medical, mental health, dental and ancillary services to inmates and detainees. The base cost of the contract is $14.2 million for the first year. In years two and three, the cost is adjusted according to the change in the Consumer Price Index, with a cap not to exceed 4.5 percent.
One of the key features of the contract is that it limits the county's exposure to unanticipated costs. The contract calls on CCS to indemnify the county against any lawsuits that may arise in connection with its services. Beyond any lawsuits, the county's exposure to all unanticipated costs is capped at $300,000 above the base cost of the contract each year.
In the course of its search for a new provider, the county held extensive talks with the Medical Center. However, the terms sought by the Medical Center were more expensive than those of CCS and left the county exposed to more risk.
The Medical Center was seeking an annual contract of around $15 million a year. However, that figure did not include the cost of offsite psychiatric care, estimated at an additional $200,000 a year. Offsite psychiatric care is included in CCS's base contract.
In addition, the Medical Center would not indemnify the county against lawsuits. Historically, that cost runs about $300,000 a year, but the risk exists of it coming in significantly higher.