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 October 22, 2015
ROLL CALL:
Blevins............................... Absent
Hall .................................... Present
McMahon ......................... Present
Weekes .............................. Present
Burke ............................
LaBaff ...........................
Staples ...........................
Present
Present
Present
Others Present: SLCIDA Staff (Patrick Kelly, Thomas Plastino, Richard Williams, and Lori Sibley); SLCIDA Attorney
Andrew Silver, Mayor Ronald McDougal (Village of Gouverneur) and Bill Wilmont from the Northern Regional
Council of Carpenters.
DETERMINATION OF QUORUM and CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Staples announces that the requirements
for a quorum have been met, and calls the meeting to order at 3:06 PM at the IDA office, Ernest J. LaBaff Industrial
Building, Canton.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Public notifications sent October 15, 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: Mayor McDougal expresses his concerns with the St. Lawrence County budget as it relates
to cutting SLCIDA funding in half. The Mayor applauds the efforts of the SLCIDA, particularly for the assistance
the IDA provides to the greater Gouverneur area. He thanks the SLCIDA for assistance provided to the former E.J.
Noble Hospital and asks for the IDA’s continued support as efforts are underway to help develop and improve the
new Gouverneur Hospital.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion to accept the minutes of the September 24, 2015 meeting by Mr. LaBaff,
seconded by Mr. Weekes. Carried unanimously.
FINANCIAL REPORTS: Mr. Plastino reviews the financial reports. He adds that breakeven is expected with
expenditures and revenues by year end. McMahon/Weekes motion to accept the September 2015 Financial Report.
Carried unanimously.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: Mr. Plastino notes that the Audit and Finance Committee met last month and a
recommendation for Audit Services for FY 2015 – 2017 will be presented to the board during the new business portion
of today’s meeting.
STAFF REPORT: Mr. Kelly reports on the following:
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Ansen Corporation. A combined financing package in the amount of $450,000 has been approved to Ansen
Corporation consisting of $300,000 in financing from the RVRDA in partnership with $150,000 from the
Ogdensburg Growth Fund.
Star Mountain. Discussions continue for low-cost power and financing options for the pending acquisition of the
St. Lawrence Zinc mines. We will also work on a training package with the New York State Department of Labor
to coordinate with the St. Lawrence County One Stop Career Center. Over 100 jobs could be created as a result
of this project. Mr. Staples asks Mr. Kelly about the timeframe expected for this type of project. Mr. Kelly notes
the first step involves the actual acquisition with further discussion relative to operations to follow. Mr. Kelly
expects numerous hours of work will be put toward a project of this size and that it will take months to come
together.
Canton Park Road and Massena Buildings. We continue to await reimbursement from New York State of
approximately $530,000 on the two projects. The transfer documents for the Canton Park Road have been
executed. A three-year lease agreement will be signed by Fockler Industries for use of the Trade Road facility in
Massena.
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Kent Farms. A local food co-op exchange with growers is interested in bringing produce to a location in Potsdam
where there is a loading dock available for use. There is expected to be approximately 30-40 customers arriving
to pick up produce on nine different occasions over the winter months. As long as the Potsdam Commerce
Building is vacant, the SLCIDA offered a proposal for its building space in Potsdam on a per use basis.
Newton Falls Rail. Mr. Kelly believes that ESD will approve the $8.6 million portion of phase 2 of the rail
rehabilitation project in November and hold a public hearing in December.
J&L Mine. At the kickoff that was held last week in Star Lake, SLCIDA staff met with the St. Lawrence County
Legislators and discussed the property transfer. DANC executed a services agreement with SLCIDA for
assistance in remediation of the site.
Marketing. The SLCIDA co-sponsored an Expand to the U.S. event with OBPA, the U.S. Embassy and the
American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AmCham) on October 7th at the Ogdensburg Dobisky Center.
Approximately 40 Canadian company representatives attended the event, proving to be one of the highest number
in attendance when compared to other events of this kind. The level of interest of the attendees was very
promising.
County Budget. Mr. Kelly references a five-year Impact and Return on Investment Report he sent to the County
Board of Legislators last weekend as a follow-up to requests made by several Legislators in June. Mr. Kelly reports
that staff have put a significant amount of time in collecting this information. The SLCIDA and affiliated
organizations reported 120 projects totaling $260 million in activities including the provision of IDA incentives
to projects, loan financing, civic facility bond issuances, grant awards, incumbent and new worker training funding,
and infrastructure and building projects. The county saw a direct increase of 428 jobs as a result of these projects.
Discussion ensues around the Impact and ROI Report as Mr. Kelly references the increase in annual payroll of
$22.4 million in the County, 333,571 square feet of new building space constructed throughout the County, $8.7
million in direct IDA, IDA-LDC, IDA-CDC and SLCLDC investment or loan funds provided to projects, over
$2 million in grant funds administered by the IDA and its related organizations, $10.8 million in grants secured or
administered, $31.1 million in grants leveraged for projects, $21.9 million in increased assessed property values,
and an increase of $220,846 in annual sales tax collected by firms supported by IDA projects. Mr. Kelly adds that
a copy of this report will be provided to all companies listed in the report.
Mr. Hall arrives at 3:38 PM
NEW BUSINESS:
Resolution IDA-15-10-29: Authorizing A Three-Year Audit Services Contract.
Resolution LDC-15-10-21: Authorizing A Three-Year Audit Services Contract.
Resolution CDC-15-10-13: Authorizing A Three-Year Audit Services Contract.
Resolution MIC-15-10-14: Authorizing A Three-Year Audit Services Contract.
Mr. Hall spoke on behalf of the Audit and Finance Committee and noted that of the three bids received, the analysis
shows Pinto, Mucenski, Hooper and VanHouse showed the most favorable against all the alternatives considered.
While the total cost of their bid was marginally higher (approximately $1,000 over the three (3) years than the lowest
bid), their per hour costs for additional work, if needed, was lower than the next lowest bid. The board reviewed and
discussed the bid proposals and then motion to approve Resolutions IDA-15-10-29; LDC-15-10-21; CDC-15-10-13;
MIC-15-10-14 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Weekes. The motion is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-15-10-30: Authorizing Revision of Travel and Miscellaneous Expense Reimbursement Policy. Mr.
Kelly reports that the Governance Committee met and determined certain issues such as tips, fees, alcohol purchases
and tax exempt forms need clarification. Motion to approve Resolution IDA-15-10-30 by Mr. Weekes, seconded by
Mr. McMahon. The motion is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-15-10-31: Authorizing Amendments to the Bylaws of the SLCIDA. Mr. Kelly adds that in a recent
meeting, the Governance Committee decided to update or revise certain provisions of the bylaws as they relate to
PARIS training for board members, clarification of majority voting and quorums. Motion to approve Resolution
IDA-15-10-31 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Burke. The motion is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution IDA-15-10-32: Authorizing Amendment of Existing Industrial Building Lease for the St. Lawrence
Brewing Co. Inc. Project. Mr. Williams notes that restructuring the lease will hold at this lease rate for another year.
He adds that the SLCIDA acquired the filtration system and in collaboration with the St. Lawrence Brewing Company,
the IDA also acquired the canning system as collateral (a value of $55,000 which was paid for by St. Lawrence Brewing
Company) as part of the building and equipment lease agreement. Motion to approve Resolution IDA-15-10-32 by
Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Weekes. The motion is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution LDC-15-10-22: Authorizing Amendments to the Bylaws of the SLCIDALDC. Motion to discuss the
resolution by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Weekes. Section 1 in Article II, the members decide to eliminate the
requirement which states The SLCIDA-LDC may have up to eighteen (18) additional members, who shall be
appointed by and serve solely at the pleasure of the SLCIDA-LDC. The amended Resolution LDC-15-10-22 was
motioned by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. LaBaff. The motion is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution MIC-15-10-15. Approving and Adopting FY2016 Budget and Authorizing CEO to Make Line Item
Changes. Mr. Kelly explains that the steps for the SLC LDC Microenterprise Fund to dissolve and to be absorbed by
the SLCIDA-LDC by the end of FY2015 is on track, however a draft budget still needs to be approved in case there
is some unforeseen circumstance that delays the process. Motion to approve Resolution MIC-15-10-15 by Mr. LaBaff,
seconded by Mr. Weekes. The motion is approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution CDC-15-10-14. Approving and Adopting FY2016 Budget and Authorizing CEO to Make Line Item
Changes. Motion to approve Resolution IDA-15-10-14 by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Hall. The motion is
approved by unanimous vote.
Resolution LDC-15-10-23. Approving and Adopting FY2016 Budget and Authorizing CEO to Make Line Item
Changes. Motion to approve Resolution IDA-15-10-23 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Weekes. The motion is
approved by unanimous vote.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: McMahon/Hall motion for Executive Session at 3:57 PM to discuss the financial and credit
history of a particular corporation and personnel matters. A motion for the Board to return to Regular Session at 4:17
PM is made by Mr. LaBaff and seconded by Mr. Weekes.
Resolution IDA-15-10-33. Approving and Adopting FY2016 Budget and Authorizing CEO to Make Line Item
Changes. Modifications from the draft budget to the final budget include removal of capital expense for company
vehicle, reduction of Administrative Assistant position, and reduction in revenue received from the County. Motion
to approve Resolution IDA-15-10-33 by Mr. Weekes, seconded by Mr. Hall. The motion is approved by unanimous
vote.
Resolution IDA-15-10-34. Amending Resolution for the Corning Canton Plant Expansion Project. Motion to
approve Resolution IDA-15-10-34 by Mr. LaBaff, seconded by Mr. Weekes. The motion is approved by unanimous
vote.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion for meeting to adjourn is made at 4:30 PM by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Hall.
The motion is approved by unanimous consent.
Mr. Ernest J. LaBaff (Vice President)