COUNTY OF SULLIVAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
One Cablevision Center
Ferndale, New York 12734
(845) 295-2603 – telephone
(845) 295-2604 – fax
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, January 12, 2015
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Steingart called to order the regular meeting of the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency at approximately 11:05 am, in the Legislative Committee Room at the Sullivan County Government Center, Monticello, New York.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present- Members Absent-
Ira Steingart Sandy Shaddock
Carol Roig Charlie Barbuti
Sean Rieber
Howard Siegel
Suzanne Loughlin
Edward Sykes
Paul Guenther
Staff Present- Staff Absent-
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, Exec. Director None
Jen Flad, VP Business Development
Others Present-
Steve White, Agency CEO
Walter F. Garigliano, Esq., Agency Legal Counsel
Scott Samuelson, Chairman, SC Legislature
Stephen Stuart, SC Office of Sustainable Energy
Steve Vegliante, Empire Resorts
Chairman Steingart welcomed Paul Guenther, new IDA Board member.
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Ms. Loughlin moved to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2014 meeting. Mr. Rieber seconded the motion, the Board voted and the minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved.
IV. BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Sykes made a motion to approve the revised schedule of payments. Board members briefly discussed expenditures on the casino effort. Chairman Steingart noted that our efforts have been worthwhile, and it has recently been announced that there will be no opportunity for a second casino in the Mid-Hudson and Catskill regions. He thanked Attorney Garigliano and the Board for their efforts. Mr. Siegel seconded the motion, the Board voted and the revised schedule of payments was unanimously approved. There was a brief discussion of the PILOT payments disbursed to date and the PILOT program in general, and Mr. Vegliante asserted that the Montreign project would have been much smaller in size and scope if the IDA had not authorized tax incentives.
V. DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, Executive Director
Ms. Brylinski advised that the first PILOT distribution had been mailed out to the taxing jurisdictions. She noted that the construction of the red meat facility is ongoing. Finally, she advised that Board members must fill out their self-evaluation forms.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Brylinski handed out a resolution regarding the approval of the fourth quarter 2014 payment to the Partnership for Economic Development. She reminded the Board that they had authorized the payment in December, but there was no voting quorum to approve the resolution. Ms. Loughlin and Mr. Sykes recused themselves from the discussion, as they are members of the Board of Directors of the Partnership. Mr. Siegel made a motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Rieber seconded the motion, the Board voted and the resolution was approved with Ms. Loughlin and Mr. Sykes abstaining for the reason described above.
Chairman Steingart discussed the Partnership for Economic Development retreat, which he had attended. He advised that at the retreat, he urged the Partnership to ensure that the County takes advantage of every opportunity to grow and develop its workforce in preparation for the new casino resort development. He noted that Marc Baez of the Partnership is working with Laura Quigley of the Center for Workforce Development and other partners including BOCES and SUNY Sullivan in this effort. Ms. Loughlin suggested that this group reach out to the Center for Housing Solutions, a project of Pattern for Progress, for more insight and guidance on workforce housing development.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
Chairman Steingart and the Board discussed some changes to the committees for 2015, to reflect new Board membership. Chairman Steingart will formally appoint new members as appropriate and Ms. Brylinski will circulate the updated committee list to the Board.
The Board discussed the bank signatories. The offices to be authorized as bank signatories on all accounts, including certificates of deposit, are Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Rieber made a motion to approve this slate of signatories. Ms. Loughlin seconded the motion, the Board voted and the motion was unanimously approved.
Note: On March 17, 2015, Attorney Garigliano requested that IDA staff add the following to the minutes:
RESOLVED, that the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency be, and hereby is, authorized:
- To designate one or more banks or similar financial institutions as depositories of the funds of the Agency;
- To open, maintain and close general and special accounts with any such depositories;
- To cause to be deposited, from time to time, in such accounts with any such depository, such funds of the Agency as such officers deem necessary or advisable, and to designate or change the designation of the officer or officers or agent or agents of the Agency authorized to make such deposits and to endorse checks, drafts and other instruments for deposit;
- To designate, change or revoke the designation, from time to time, of the officer or officers or agent or agents of the Agency authorized to sign or countersign checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money issued in the name of the Agency against any funds deposited in any such accounts;
- To authorize the use of facsimile signatures for the signing or countersigning of checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, and to enter into such agreements as banks and similar financial institutions customarily require as a condition for permitting the use of facsimile signatures;
- To make such general and special rules and regulations with respect to such accounts as they may deem necessary or advisable, and to complete, execute and certify any customary printed blank signature card forms in order to exercise conveniently the authority granted by this Board.
Attorney Garigliano handed out a resolution appointing Sullivan Property Acquisitions I, LLC as agent, finding that the project is a Type II action under SEQR, and authorizing the execution and delivery of a PILOT agreement, agent agreement, lease agreement and related documents with respect to this project. Mr. Rieber recused himself from this discussion, as he is an appraiser doing work for the Resnick Group, an affiliate of Sullivan Property Acquisitions I, LLC. Ms. Loughlin made a motion to discuss the resolution. Mr. Guenther seconded the motion. Attorney Garigliano noted that the Board has met its statutory obligations required by the Public Authorities Accountability Act. He briefly described the project, which includes 188,000 square feet of retail space and 12,000 square feet of office space. He noted that the PILOT base of $40 per square foot is appropriate relative to other similar projects. Because the project is in the Village of Monticello, the Agency is not burdened by the Town of Thompson’s restriction on assistance to projects other than tourism destination projects. He referred to the cost-benefit analysis, which conservatively estimates the benefit to cost ratio at ten to one. There was a brief discussion of the sale proceeds. 90 percent of the $600,000 purchase price will go to the County, which will allocate a portion back to the Village of Monticello to settle an old lawsuit. Ten percent will remain with the Sullivan County Funding Corporation. Mr. Vegliante stated that the developer has executed a letter of intent with a supermarket, and has met with a retail broker. He is confident that the space will be rented. Ms. Brylinski noted that the public hearing was held and there was no public comment. She also stated that this is a Type II action, so no further action is required under SEQR. Chairman Steingart called the question, the Board voted and the resolution was approved with Mr. Rieber abstaining for the reason described above.
Attorney Garigliano stated that NYSEG seeks IDA authorization of an easement to provide site lighting at the Arthur Glick truck Sales project. Mr. Rieber made a motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Sykes seconded the motion, the Board voted and the resolution was unanimously approved.
VIII. RECESSED
Chairman Steingart asked for public comment. There being none, on a motion by Mr. Sykes and seconded by Mr. Siegel, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:32 am.
Respectfully submitted:
Jen Flad
IDA VP, Business Development
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