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 June 25, 2015
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............................... Present
Hall .................................... Present
McMahon ......................... Present
Weekes .............................. Present
Burke ............................
LaBaff ...........................
Staples ...........................
Absent
Present
Present
Others: SLCIDA Staff (Patrick Kelly, Thomas Plastino, and Natalie Sweatland). Andrew W. Silver, Esq., Counsel.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Public notifications sent June 18, 2015 to, at a minimum: 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: Bill Wilmott introduced himself as a Carpenters’ Union representative from Syracuse, for
Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties. Mr. Wilmott had no comment.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion to accept the minutes of the May 14 and June 11, 2015 meetings by Mr. LaBaff,
seconded by Mr. Weekes. Carried unanimously.
FINANCIAL REPORTS: Mr. Plastino presents the Financial Reports for May 2015. Mr. McMahon inquires about
the rail rehabilitation grant reimbursement. Mr. Plastino notes that the SLCIDA has invested approximately $1.2
Million, of which it has been reimbursed approximately $386,000. Two outstanding requests, totaling approximately
$900,000, have been submitted to New York State for reimbursement and are expected in the near future. Mr. Kelly
adds that we are also awaiting reimbursement of receipts submitted to New York State of approximately $470,000
relative to the Canton Industrial Park infrastructure project. LaBaff/McMahon motion to accept Mr. Plastino’s report.
Carried unanimously.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: Nominating Committee Chairman Ernest LaBaff offers the following slate of
officers: Brian W. Staples (Chairman), Ernest LaBaff (Vice-Chairman) and Lynn Blevins (Secretary). There were no
other nominations from the floor, and the nominees are elected by unanimous vote. The Board unanimously approves
the following: Patrick Kelly (Chief Executive Officer), Thomas Plastino (Chief Financial Officer) and Law Firm of
Silver & Collins (Agency General Counsel). Motion to accept the slate of officers made by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by
Mr. Hall. Motion carried.
STAFF REPORT: Mr. Kelly reports on the following:
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Additional Materials. Mr. Kelly notes that board members had been provided via email an additional resolution
relative to the rail rehabilitation project.
Hoosier Magnetics. Mr. Kelly notes that the closing documents are in the process of being drafted. The SLCIDALDC will act as lead lender for it and Ogdensburg Growth Fund’s portion of the loan financing, and DANC will
execute documents for their own portion separately.
Hozmerica, LLC. Mr. Kelly reports that we are waiting to hear from the bank regarding a closing date.
Curran Renewable Energy. The two partial release of mortgaged premises (IDALDC and GMEDF) documents
have been signed. Mr. Silver is working with the project’s Bond Counsel (Harris Beach) regarding the release by
the Bank of New York, and indicates it should be complete within the next week. The project centers around the
rail spur within the Massena Industrial Park.
Canton Park Road. As noted in the financial report, we are awaiting reimbursement from New York State of
approximately $470,000.
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Massena Industrial Building (4th MIB). The SLCIDA has paid off the GMEDF for the building, and we will be
working to convey clear title to the SLCIDA.
Gouverneur Industrial Park. We will be working to replace the Park sign.
Potsdam Commerce Park Building. Emergency Services will be picking up the MREs they have stored in our
building.
Newton Falls Rail. We have for consideration this morning a resolution authorizing DANC to work on Phase II
of the Rail rehabilitation project.
Freedom of Information Request. St. Lawrence County Attorney’s office contacted us regarding a FOIL request
they received relating to Gouverneur Talc, International Talc and J&L/Benson Mines asbestos abatements. We
have very little, if any, information on the companies for the time periods requested within the FOIL, but have
provided them with what little information we have. Much of the timeframe of the requested records is well
before the creation of the SLCIDA. While we have a significant record on J&L, it is all after the SLCIDA took
title. Mr. Plastino notes that when the SLCIDA took title to the J&L property in 1979, the Company would not
let us take any records; they insisted on “dumpstering” everything, and rooms full of documents were disposed.
Requests for Proposal. We will be releasing RFPs for office supplies and audit services.
2016 Budget. We will be required to have in place a draft 2016 budget in September, and a final 2016 budget in
October (60-90 days prior to the end of the current fiscal year).
Reappointment. Joe Weekes’ reappointment has passed Finance Committee and will be placed before the full
Board of Legislators at the July 6 meeting.
McKinsey Study. We continue to work with the group. Many, if not all, board members have been (or will be)
contacted.
Wine and Beer Summit. As part of the Wine Trail promotion, staff are working with NY Senator Patty Ritchie’s
office and the St. Lawrence County Chamber on a Wine and Beer Summit to be held in our building in the Fall.
Governance Committee. We will be scheduling a meeting of the Governance Committee in the near future to
discuss revised bylaws and a revised Mileage and Travel Reimbursement policy.
CDEIP Awards. All applicants have been notified. Agreements will be forwarded to the awardees shortly.
NYS Accountability and Efficiency Laws. NYSEDC and the Office of the State Comptroller have been working
to develop legislation that fairly deals with issues/requirements regarding standardized IDA applications, project
cost-benefit analyses, project finance agreements, and clawback provisions. Mr. Kelly notes that these changes
will affect SLCIDA, but, as we have a number of controls already in place within our organization, the changes
should be minimal. These changes enable all IDAs to be on the same playing field. In regards to clawback
provisions and return of incentives, Chairman Staples asks how, historically, when companies don’t meet job
requirements, it is usually because they’re in trouble financially. How do we get blood from a stone? Mr. Kelly
notes that our policy allows for handling recapture of benefits on a case-by-case basis.
CFA Discussions. The SLCIDA is holding a discussion on the CFA process with areas businesses and local
economic developers on Friday, June 26.
Finance Committee. Chairman Staples notes that the County Legislature appeared to be unaware of all of the
activities of the SLCIDA, and asks how we get that information to the Legislators. Mr. Kelly notes that we email
reports to each Legislator after every one of the meetings, and we provide them, among other items, with hard
copy written reports on a mid-year and year-end basis. Historically, we have taken a conservative view of the
value of the impact of our projects on the economy. In addition to the requirements of the Economic
Development Services agreement, we complete reports that are not required under the agreement. We try to
initiate discussions with Legislators and provide them with project information specific to their area.
NEW BUSINESS:
Resolution IDA-15-06-15: Standard Workday and Reporting Resolution for Elected and Appointed Officials. Motion
to approve Resolution IDA-15-06-15 by Mr. Blevins, seconded by Mr. Weekes. The motion is approved by
unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-15-06-16: Authorizing an Agreement with the Development Authority of the North Country for
Technical Assistance with the Newton Falls Railroad Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Kelly reports that the Agreement
with DANC relates to Phase 2 of the Newton Falls Rail Rehab project. The grant will require an increased amount
of project management and technical expertise. DANC has that expertise and is unique in that their service territory
(Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties) is the same territory which the rail line traverses. The agreement’s
financial obligation is limited to $60,000, which will be paid by SLCIDA if NYS determines it is not a reimbursable
item under the grant. Motion to approve Resolution IDA-15-06-16 by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. LaBaff. The motion
is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-15-06-17: Supporting Improved Highway Access in St. Lawrence County. Mr. LaBaff stressed the
importance of this project, adding that this project will create a significant number of jobs, especially construction
jobs, and will improve the flow of products, materials and traffic in and out of the County. Motion to approve
resolution IDA-15-06-17 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Blevins. The motion is approved by unanimous consent.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: LaBaff/Weekes motion for Executive Session at 9:08 AM to discuss potential litigation
against a specific company and the financial and credit history of a particular corporation. The Board returns to
Regular Session at 9:40 AM.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourns at 9:40 AM by unanimous consent.
(Mr.) Lynn Blevins, Secretary