ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY IDA LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY IDA CIVIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
~ Meeting of February 27, 2014~
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Staples called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM at the IDA office, Ernest J. LaBaff
Industrial Building, Canton.
ROLL CALL:
Blevins .........................
LaBaff ..........................
Peck .............................
Weekes ........................
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Hall ...........................
McMahon..................
Staples .......................
Present
Present
Present
Others: SLCIDA Staff (Patrick Kelly, Thomas Plastino and Natalie Sweatland); Andrew Silver, Esq., Agency
Counsel, Members of the Public.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Public notifications sent February 19, 2014 to, at a minimum: St. Lawrence County’s
newspapers designated for the publication of local laws and other matters required by law to be published;
additional local media sources and websites.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Peck introduced Mr. Brendan Shampine and Mr. Dale Raymo, commercial property
owners in Gouverneur. Mr. Peck explained that at this month’s town board meeting they discussed with the Town
Board hiring an economic developer, as they feel Gouverneur is not getting promoted properly. Mr. Peck
suggested they come to this meeting as a way of getting an understanding of what the IDA does.
Mr. Raymo notes he and Mr. Shampine are trying to promote Gouverneur specifically as that is their home town.
They feel the economy is spiraling downhill. They feel that being within 35 miles of a major highway should be
a major selling point and they are looking to figure out who can help them promote the Gouverneur area. Any
ideas, help, information, knowledge would be appreciated. Mr. Raymo is seeking help specifically for the
Gouverneur area. He and Mr. Shampine have no political ambitions, but they care about Gouverneur and want
the help of the IDA.
Chairman Staples notes that much of the work the IDA has done in Gouverneur may not stand out. He lists
assistance with Cives, Kinney Drugs, the hospital, Factory Street and water infrastructure, as only a few of the
projects with which the IDA has had involvement, adding that oftentimes these projects don’t make newspaper
headlines.
Mr. Kelly relates that he will be in Gouverneur on Monday, meeting a prospect, and will meet with Mssrs.
Shampine and Raymo, to see their facilities.
Mr. Kelly also explains that the Gouverneur Area Development Corporation (GADC) is a ready-made platform
to have discussions regarding marketing and economic development in the area. He notes that prospects are
looking now for access to major highways closer than 35 miles. He notes that St. Lawrence County IDA has
joined up with Lewis and Jefferson counties, and Fort Drum, to promote the area as a means to try to find more
activity in the southern end of the County. The IDA does a lot of marketing in Canada, as most prospects in other
states don’t see Northern New York as a practical investment destination, so emphasis is placed on Canada.
Becoming more familiar with the assets of a community (buildings, skill sets, etc.) will help in marketing. Mr.
Kelly adds that the IDA is emphasizing the development of prospects with our existing employer base, to help to
retain and grow local firms, including those in the Gouverneur area.
Mr. Blevins notes that one of the more recent of the IDA’s concerns was Kinney Drugs. It is a struggle to get
local businesses to stay, and the IDA spends a lot of time on job retention projects, which the public does not see.
Mr. Peck notes that the issue is a frustrating one. GADC representatives are not as aggressive as they should be
at times. The lack of availability of natural gas to the southside of Gouverneur has long been an issue and barrier
to economic development; however, St. Lawrence Gas has agreed to meet with Gouverneur stakeholders in March
to discuss the issue.
Mssrs. Shampine and Raymo thank the IDA for the time and discussion, and express that they look forward to
working with the IDA in the future.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: LaBaff/Peck motion to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2013 meeting.
Carried unanimously.
FINANCIAL REPORTS: None
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
Governance Committee: Mr. Kelly reports that the Governance Committee met on January 28 and reviewed many
of the policies that the Board is being asked to act upon today.
STAFF REPORT:
Mr. Kelly reports on the following:
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Memorandum of Understanding: Drum Country: Mr. Kelly notes that the MOU will extend for another
3 years the IDA’s commitment to the Drum Country Marketing Initiative.
St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center: Mr. Kelly explains that the resolution would support the proposed
legislation and enable certain surplus property be transferred to the City of Ogdensburg for future
development.
Clarkson (Cheel): The property was deeded back to Clarkson on February 19, 2014.
Main Grind Coffee House: Satisfied the terms of their loan.
High Peaks Winery: PILOT documents were executed yesterday (February 26) and delivered to the
affected taxing jurisdictions.
St. Lawrence Gas: The PILOT had a reopener clause whereby the Company could include additional
properties as part of the buildouts portion of the project. Additionally, we will be correcting sales and use
tax issues over the next couple of months. A meeting on March 19 has been scheduled to discuss gasline
expansion along Route 11 in Gouverneur. Mr. Peck adds that in an 8/10th of a mile span, there are 21
residential, 19 commercial and 2 trailer parks, and he knows that of the commercial buildings, all would
probably access natural gas if it was available.
Purine Pharma: The loan should be ready to close next week.
CDEIP: The loan projects with the two municipalities are near to closing.
Signage: We will be getting signage in the Spring for the Canton building and will be addressing the
Gouverneur Park sign on Factory Street.
Economic Enhancement: Approximately $155,000 of the $171,000 in Tribal Compact funds that was
provided for use as an Economic Enhancement program to train new and incumbent workers and
agricultural training has been expended. We are working with potential recipients for the remaining funds.
Site Visits: Staff have completed most of the 120 project-related site visits as part of our annual reporting
requirement to New York State. The final report is due by the end of March. Board members will be
asked to review the reports prior to submission to the State.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion for Executive Session by Mr. Hall and seconded by Mr. LaBaff to discuss
litigation with a specific company is carried by unanimous vote. The Board goes into Executive Session at 9:15
AM. LaBaff/McMahon motion to return to Regular Session at 10:05 AM. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Mission and Performance Review: Chairman Staples notes that the documents were reviewed by the Governance
Committee at its January 28 meeting and are being presented to the full board for approval today. Mr. Kelly notes
that these reports also serve as the backbone of our annual reports to the County. Board members reviewed the
performance reviews and reaffirmed each Authority’s respective mission statement.
Resolution IDA-14-02-01: Annual Review of Procurement Policy. Mr. Kelly reports that the Governance
Committee reviewed the policy on January 28. No changes were made to the policy. Motion to approve
Resolution IDA-14-02-01 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Blevins. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-14-02-02: Annual Review of Disposition of Real Property Policy and 2013 Report of Property.
Mr. Peck motions to approve Resolution IDA-14-02-02, seconded by Mr. LaBaff. The motion is carried by
unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-14-02-03: Adoption of a Policy Regarding the Recapture of Project Benefits. Mr. Kelly notes that
while the IDA has recaptured project benefits in the past, it has no formal policy and a policy such as this one is
considered a “best practice” among economic development entities within the State. Motion to approve Resolution
IDA-14-02-03 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. McMahon. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-14-02-04: Authorizing a Commitment of Funds to the Drum Country Business Regional
Marketing Initiative. Mr. Kelly notes the staff report he made earlier referencing this initiative. Motion to approve
Resolution IDA-14-02-04 by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Peck. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-14-02-05: Supporting the Proposed Transfer of Approximately 160 Acres of Surplus Real
Property Located on the Site of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center to the City of Ogdensburg. Motion to approve
Resolution IDA-14-02-05 by Mr. Blevins, seconded by Mr. Peck. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution LDC-14-02-01: Annual Review of Procurement Policy. Motion to approve Resolution LDC-14-0201 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Blevins. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution LDC-14-02-02: 2014 Review of Disposition of Real Property Policy and 2013 Report of Property.
Mr. Peck motions to approve Resolution LDC-14-02-02, seconded by Mr. LaBaff. The motion is carried by
unanimous vote.
Resolution CDC-14-02-01: Annual Review of Procurement Policy. Motion to approve Resolution CDC-14-0201 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Blevins. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution CDC-14-02-02: 2014 Review of Disposition of Real Property Policy and 2013 Report of Property.
Mr. Peck motions to approve Resolution CDC-14-02-02, seconded by Mr. LaBaff. The motion is carried by
unanimous vote.
Resolution MIC-14-02-01: Annual Review of Procurement Policy. Motion to approve Resolution MIC-14-02-01
by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Blevins. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.
Resolution MIC-14-02-02: 2014 Review of Disposition of Real Property Policy and 2013 Report of Property. Mr.
Peck motions to approve Resolution MIC-14-02-02, seconded by Mr. LaBaff. The motion is carried by unanimous
vote.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion for Executive Session by Mr. Peck and seconded by Mr. Blevins to discuss
matters leading to the appointment of a particular person is carried by unanimous vote. The Board goes into
Executive Session at 10:12 AM. Peck/Blevins motion to return to Regular Session at 10:25 AM. Motion carried
by unanimous vote.
ADJOURNMENT: Adjourns at 10:25 AM by unanimous consent.
(Mr.) Ernest LaBaff, Vice-Chairman