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, July 13, 2015
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Steingart called to order the regular meeting of the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency at approximately 11:00 am, in the Legislative Committee Room at the Sullivan County Government Center, Monticello, New York.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present- Members Absent-
Ira Steingart Howard Siegel
Charlie Barbuti
Suzanne Loughlin
Carol Roig
Sean Rieber
Edward Sykes
Paul Guenther
Staff Present- Staff Absent-
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, Exec. Director Jen Flad, VP Bus. Devel.
Others Present-
Steve White, Agency CEO
Walter F. Garigliano, Esq., Agency Legal Counsel
Tara Lewis, Garigliano Law Offices
Scott Samuelson, Sullivan County Legislator
Andrew Beam, Times Herald-Record
Ken Walter
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Mr. Sykes made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 8, 2015 regular meeting and the June 30, 2015 special meeting. Mr. Barbuti seconded the motion, the Board voted and the minutes of the meetings were unanimously approved.
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 revised schedule of payments was unanimously approved.
V. DIRECTORS’ REPORTS
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, Executive Director
Ms. Brylinski noted that at that very moment Ms. Flad was at the Red Meat site with the project engineer Glenn Smith and Port Jervis Electric to review the scope of electrical work. Additionally, plumbing specs are currently being re-designed by Mr. Smith. On Friday there is going to be a conference at the Red Meat site for prospective operators to walk the site and have questions answered. The deadline for submitting a proposal to operate the red meat facility is August 3. Lastly, the office is working on having three applications for USDA RBDG funds amended as part of the Agency’s Grant Writing Cost Sharing program.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
The Board was notified that since all paperwork was not yet in place, the resolution to approve an extension of the Veria Lifestyle sales tax exemption letter has been tabled until a later date.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
Board Member Carol Roig and Stephen Stuart of Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development gave a follow up presentation on Energy Investment Opportunities, completing a presentation started in April. Using a power point presentation, Ms. Roig and Mr. Stuart outlined several programs currently targeting alternate energy. This included Power Purchase Agreements, the NYSERDA funded Micro Grid projects in Liberty and Monticello (which would make local mini grid “islands” in times of emergency), the Choice Aggregation program that is looking for demonstration projects, the C-PACE Model for low interest loans for commercial properties to make energy assessments, and the NY Green Bank program. It was explained that these type of incentives could also bring investment opportunities into Sullivan County that might include solar manufacturing, energy from waste, and energy assessments and retrofits.
Mr. Garigliano notified the Board that there may be need for a special meeting of the Funding Corporation before the end of the month regarding a CFA application that the Cooperative Extension may want to submit.
At 11:30 am Mr. Steingart made a motion to enter into closed attorney-client privileged session to obtain legal advice regarding delinquent loan recipients and also to discuss a Personnel Matter. Mr. Barbuti seconded the motion. Ms. Loughlin excused herself from the room during the delinquent loan discussion because her husband has a law practice that involves debt recovery/collections. Ms. Loughlin came back to the closed session for the Personnel Matter discussion.
On a motion made by Mr. Rieber and seconded by Mr. Barbuti, the Board came out of closed session at 12:05 pm.
Mr. Guenther made a motion to approve the hiring of a third person for the IDA office and for CEO Steve White to handle the details. Mr. Sykes seconded the motion, there being no further discussion, the Board voted and the motion was unanimously approved.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT AND ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Steingart asked the Board and others present for public comment. Mr. Walter questioned the Board asking if the water park says its construction is not contingent upon the approval of the casino license why is it not being built now.
There being no other public comment, on a motion by Mr. Barbuti and seconded by Mr. Guenther, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 12:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
Jennifer CS Brylinski
Executive Director
##