COUNTY OF SULLIVAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
One Cablevision Center
Ferndale, New York 12734
(845) 295-2603 – telephone
(845) 295-2604 – fax
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Steingart called to order the regular meeting of the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency at approximately 10:00 A.M., which was held in the Legislative Committee Room at the Sullivan County Government Center, Monticello, New York.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present- Members Absent-
Ira Steingart Steve White
Harold Gold
Charles Barbuti
Harris Alport
Edward Sykes
Suzanne Loughlin
Sean Rieber
Sandy Shaddock
Staff Present- Staff Absent-
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, Exec. Director None
Jen Mall Flad, IDA VP
Others Present-
Allan C. Scott, ALSCO Management, Inc. /Consultant /IDA CEO
Walter F. Garigliano, Esq., Agency Legal Counsel
Tara Lewis, Garigliano Law Offices
Gene Benson, Sullivan County Legislator
Kathy LaBuda, County Legislator
Cora Edwards, County Legislator
Jill Weyer, Acting County Planning Commissioner
Laura Quigley, County Workforce Development
Dan Hust, Sullivan County Democrat
Leonard Sparks, Times Herald-Record
Ken Walters, County Resident
Star Hesse, County Resident
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Loughlin made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2013, regular meeting and the May 15, 2013, reconvened meeting. Mr. Sykes seconded the motion, the Board voted and the motion was unanimously carried.
IV. BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Sykes made a motion to approve the schedule of payments, the motion was seconded by Mr. Gold, the Board voted and the motion was unanimously carried.
V. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REPORTS
Allan C. Scott
Mr. Scott updated the Board regarding his activities. These activities included working with numerous new and old prospects, including a new brewery, an armory, airport management, and a hotel project. Community work continued regarding IDA benefits and loan availability.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Brylinski explained the deviation policy that was followed for the West Delaware Hydro project. No comment from the affected taxing jurisdictions was received. Mr. Garigliano outlined the background and the reasons for the deviation. It was noted that the resolution distributed to the Board for the West Delaware Hydro project had a typo in it. The term of the new PILOT should be 10 years, not 5 years. On a motion to amend the resolution by Ms. Loughlin, seconded by Mr. Gold, the Board unanimously approved the typo amendment. On a motion to approve the amended resolution by Mr. Rieber, seconded by Mr. Gold, the Board unanimously approved the resolution.
Ms. Brylinski explained the reason for the IDA’s submittal of a Department of Agriculture RBOG grant application for the Red Meat project, in the amount of $50,000. A discussion ensued regarding the process. On a motion by Mr. Rieber, seconded by Ms. Shaddock, the Board approved the resolution, with Mr. Barbuti abstaining because the project is in the Town of Liberty of which he is supervisor.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Brylinski summarized the request made in the letters received from both the Tusten and Bethel Mogenavland projects for an extension to the projects’ sales tax exemption letters, and that the required sales tax fee had been obtained for both projects for the year 2012. After a brief discussion regarding that progress of the project, on a motion by Mr. Barbuti, seconded by Mr. Gold, the Board approved the Bethel Mogenavland resolution for a sales tax exemption extension period, with Mr. Alport abstaining because of a possible vendor conflict, and Mr. Rieber abstaining because of litigation issues of which he is a part.
On a motion by Mr. Barbuti, seconded by Mr. Gold, the Board approved the Tusten Mogenavland resolution for a sales tax exemption extension period, with Mr. Alport abstaining because of a possible vendor conflict, and Mr. Rieber abstaining because of litigation issues of which he is a part.
At this point Chairman Steingart brought up the issue of the newly approved Ethics Law enacted up by the County Legislators that would be applicable to the IDA Board members. The Board expressed a concern about several aspects of the Law and requested that at some time in the near future the County come and explain the new responsibilities to the IDA Board. Chairman Steingart was going to bring these concerns to the County Legislators.
Mr. Garigliano handed out a resolution for the Board to approve the 2nd Quarterly Payment to the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development. On a motion by Mr. Gold, seconded by Mr. Rieber, the Board approved the resolution, with Ms. Loughlin abstaining because she is on the Board of the Partnership. Chairman Steingart also stated that in the near future he will pick a Board member to be on the Partnership Board.
Mr. Garigliano explained the resolution before the Board to transfer the Eureka Market & Café loan from the IDA’s Revolving Loan Program to the Sullivan County Funding Corporation’s Millennium Loan Fund. This would allow the recipient to receive credits for hiring high school students. On a motion by Mr. Rieber, seconded by Mr. Barbuti, the Board voted and the resolution was unanimously passed.
Because the Board was going to go into Executive Session, Chairman Steingart asked if there were any further questions or public comment.
Star Hesse questioned Mr. Scott regarding his comment about an expansion at the Sullivan Diagnostic Treatment Center. Mr. Scott replied that the expansion was for an autistic center. Ms. Hesse questioned about the status of the construction of the Red Meat facility building as it regards animal welfare concerns. Mr. Garigliano gave a summary of the status of the building and the possible scenarios that might occur with the construction of the building.
Ken Walters commented on the County’s Ethic Law. He stated that the IDA Board should know upfront about the parameters of the law and that the Legislature needs to give guidance on the standards.
Cora Edwards questioned about the RBOG application that is being submitted to the Department of Agriculture and any County commitment in that application. Mr. Garigliano stated that at the suggestion of the Department of Agriculture, the same application that had been submitted by the Ag LDC will be submitted under the IDA’s name. There will be no new County commitment.
There being no further comments by the public, the Board went into Executive Session at 10:45 AM to discuss a litigation issue. On a motion by Mr. Rieber, seconded by Mr. Gold, the Board voted and went into Executive Session.
At 11:05, on a motion by Mr. Sykes, seconded by Ms. Shaddock, the Board voted and came out of Executive Session. Let the record show that Mr. Barbuti abstained from any voting to go in or out of executive session and any discussion during the executive session because the project under discussion resides in the Town of Liberty, of which Mr. Barbuti is supervisor.
Chairman Steingart asked if there were any further questions or public comment.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no future discussion, on a motion by Ms. Shaddock, seconded by Mr. Barbuti, the Board voted to adjourn the meeting at 11:06 AM.
Respectfully submitted:
Jennifer CS Brylinski
Executive Director
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