COUNTY OF SULLIVAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
One Cablevision Center
Ferndale, New York 12734
(845) 295-2603 – telephone
(845) 295-2604 – fax
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Wood called to order the regular meeting of the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency at approximately 10:10 A.M. The meeting was called to order in the Legislative Committee Room (later moved to the Legislative Hearing Room) at the Sullivan County Government Center, Monticello, New York.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Elwin Wood
Harris Alport
Charles Barbuti
Cindy Garlinghouse
Suzanne Loughlin
Edward Sykes
Raymond Walter
Members Absent
Harold Gold
Staff Present
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, Exec. Dir.
Elizabeth A. Hunt, Exec. Assistant
Staff Absent
None
Others Present
Walter F. Garigliano, Esq., Agency Legal Counsel
Luiz Aragon, Commissioner, Planning & Environmental Management
Timothy McCausland, Partnership for Economic Development
Maryann Dirie
Sonya Hedlund, Sullivan County Resident
Terry McCarthy
(Please note that these were the people that were present when the meeting was moved to the Legislative Hearing Room).
Mr. Aragon gave a power point presentation to those present regarding several proposed options to utilize the area of East Broadway that consists of the old Apollo Plaza and the Sullivan County Landfill. The presentation included among other points, a timeline of the development of the site.
Please note that after Mr. Aragon’s presentation the Board and those wishing to attend the IDA meeting relocated to the Legislative Hearing Room at approximately 10:18 A.M.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Barbuti made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2010 regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Alport, the Board voted and the motion was unanimously carried.
IV. BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Sykes made a motion to approve the revised schedule of payments, Mr. Barbuti seconded the motion, the Board voted and the motion was unanimously carried.
V. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ms. Brylinski handed out to the Board a Statement of Financial Disclosures that is required by the NYS Ethics in Government Law. She advised them that this is the same form that they have been required to complete for the past several years.
Ms. Brylinski advised the Board that the annual reports the IDA is required to file on line to New York State have been completed and submitted.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Brylinski spoke to the Board regarding the amendment to the IDA’s Uniform Tax Abatement Policy which was handed out to them for their review at the March 9, 2010 meeting by Mr. Garigliano. She advised that the proper notices have been given to the effected taxing jurisdictions and she has received no comment on the proposed amendment. Mr. Garigliano then handed out to the Board a resolution authorizing an amendment to the IDA’s Uniform Tax Abatement Policy to create a “Tax Credit Participation Program”. On a motion by Mr. Sykes, seconded by Mr. Barbuti, the Board voted and the resolution was unanimously passed.
Mr. Garigliano updated the Board on the Hudson River Healthcare project. He advised that an application has been received and that the project must close by the end of May 2010. He gave a brief background on the project that included the location and the goals the project wishes to accomplish.
Ms. Brylinski updated the Board regarding the Diary Feasibility Study, the expenditure of which was previously approved. Marc Baez of Baez Associates will be conducting the study along with Tom Shepstone of Shepstone Management. The study will include among other things, farming trends, demographics, demand and supply and cash flow related issues. Ms. Brylinski requested that the completed study be submitted to her by June 1, 2010. Mr. Aragon commented that he and Mr. Baez have met with several farmers to get their input. There was some discussion by those present regarding dairy farmer and agricultural issues
VII. NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Brylinski advised the Board that the approval of the proposed Spencer Daniels Agency Revolving Loan Fund project will be tabled until certain items can be finalized.
Ms Brylinski advised the Board that the proposed Eden Brook Markets LLC (“Eden Brook”) Revolving Loan Fund project was reviewed and approved by the IDA Revolving Loan Committee. She gave a brief background on the project to those present. On a motion by Mr. Alport, seconded by Mr. Walter, the Board voted, with Ms. Loughlin abstaining, and the loan in the amount of $16,000.00 to Eden Brook was approved.
Mr. Garigliano spoke to the Board regarding the approximately $20,000.00 that was paid to New York State by the SC IDA in March 2010. This tax is regarding the NYS’s 4.7% “gross revenue tax” that has been imposed on all NYS IDAs. He explained, among other points, that the 4.7% tax is also being applied to “pass through” funds that the IDA does not retain, such as PILOT payments. Chairman Wood will be speaking to the Legislators to ask their support for the opposition of this tax. Mr. Garigliano then passed out to the Board a resolution that opposes the tax imposed on all local industrial development agencies by the State of New York. On a motion by Ms. Loughlin, seconded by Ms. Garlinghouse, the Board voted and the resolution was unanimously approved. There was some discussion by those present regarding this matter.
Ms. Hedlund briefly spoke to the Board regarding a meeting of the Sullivan County Farmer Network.
Mr. Barbuti questioned if there was an update on the proposed Red Meat Facility. Mr. Garigliano replied that progress is still being made, however slow, as well as discussing the possible use of an abandoned sewer tank to possibly be utilized for water run-off on the site. There was some general discussion regarding the proposed project.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Wood questioned the Board and those present if there were any further questions or comments. There being none, on a motion by Ms. Garlinghouse, seconded by Mr. Alport, the Board voted and the meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:47 A.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Elizabeth A. Hunt
Executive Assistant