PRESENT:

MIKE FITZGERALD, CHAIRMAN
SUE COLLINS, VICE CHAIRMAN
JOSEPH GILLIS, SECRETARY
TODD RULISON, TREASURER
JOSEPH SEMIONE, MEMBER
DAVID D’AMORE, MEMBER
JAMES MRAZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KARA LAIS, FITZGERALD, MORRIS, BAKER, FIRTH PC (ZOOM)
WARREN GREENE, FULTON COUNTY CENTER FOR REGIONAL GROWTH
CHRIS STANKES, PLANNER
TRAVIS MITCHELL, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

MOTION        :           Accept as presented.
MADE BY      :           Dave D’Amore
SECONDED  :           Sue Collins
VOTE             :           Unanimous

MOTION        :           Accept as presented.
MADE BY      :           Todd Rulison
SECONDED  :           Joe Semione
VOTE             :           Unanimous

A. Nominating Committee

• No report.

B. Audit Committee:

• Monthly Bank Reconciliation Report:  Joe Semione

IDA DISCUSSION:  Joe Semione approved the Monthly Bank Reconciliation Reports.

C. Governance Committee:

• No report.

D. Finance Committee:

•  No report.

1. Fulton County Report:
2. FCCRG Report: (See attached.)  Warren Greene

IDA DISCUSSION:   Warren Greene reviewed the CRG’s monthly report that was attached to the Agenda.  He stated that the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame will have its grand opening on July 29^th.  He stated several ex major league players and Bob Costas are scheduled to attend.  He invited IDA Board members to attend this event.

• Nexus has submitted payments to National Grid for National Grid to conduct its Coordinated Electric System Interconnection Review (CESIR) of its proposed solar project at Tryon.
• National Grid takes 60 business days to complete a CESIR.
• Nexus is expecting to receive National Grid’s approval of the interconnect in 3^rd quarter of 2023.
• Once interconnect approval is received, Nexus will obtain quotes to construct solar project.

IDA DISCUSSION:  Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  He asked if there were any questions?  There were none.

1. Tryon Electric Service:

• Participated in MS Teams meeting with National Grid and Winstanley Enterprises to discuss what options are available to bring more power to Tryon.
• 2 options identified.
• Preferred option is to construct a distribution level substation along CR107 and have three (3) dedicated 13.2 kw circuits run to Tryon.

IDA DISCUSSION:   Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  He asked if there were any questions.  There were none.

• Punchlist was prepared and submitted to Koval.
• Once punchlist is complete, final payment will be processed.

1. Sales Tax Exemptions:

a) On July 13, 2021, the IDA Board approved granting up to $2,251,520 in sales tax exemptions.

b) On August 9, 2022, the IDA Board authorized increasing the total sales tax exemptions available from $2,251,520 to $3,284,534 contingent upon Vireo signing either a standard Lease or an Agent and Equipment Lease.

c) On May 9, 2023, the IDA Board authorized extending from May 31, 2023 to October 31, 2023 the deadline for using sales tax exemptions. This approval was granted contingent upon Vireo signing an Agent and Equipment Lease and paying the balance of the Administrative Fee owed the IDA.

d) To date, the Lease has not been executed.

1. Existing Mission Statement:

“The IDA’s mission is to create and promote economic growth and prosperity for both residents and entrepreneurs in Fulton County.  The IDA’s role in Fulton County’s Economic Development Program is to develop and maintain an inventory of shovel-ready sites for new and expanding businesses, offer financial incentives, as may be required, to encourage the creation of new and retention of existing jobs and expand the County’s tax base.  In doing so, the IDA strives to make Fulton County a desirable place to live and do business.”

2. Potential New Mission Statements:

a. “We incentivize opportunities.”

b. “We incentivize sites.”

c. “We incentivize development.”

d. “We offer opportunities for development.”

e. “’We offer sites and incentives.”

IDA DISCUSSION:   Jim Mraz reviewed the information on the Agenda.  Dave D’Amore stated that this discussion about shortening the IDA’s existing Mission Statement came out of that IDA conference he, Greg and Scott recently attended.  He stated there was a discussion there about how some Mission Statements are too wordy and the message gets lost in those wordy Mission Statements.  The discussions talked about simplifying Mission Statements and to focus on what the intent of the IDA is.  He stated these potential new Mission Statements may better serve as a “tagline” to support the Mission Statement.  He stated the intent would be to simplify what the purpose of the IDA is.  Joe Semione stated that IDA’s existing Mission Statement is five (5) lines long.  He stated he thinks that it clearly explains what the role the IDA is.  Dave D’Amore stated that the other reason for coming up with a “tagline” was to try and change the image of the IDA being working with just industrial projects and that the IDA does incentivize other types of projects.  Todd Rulison stated that he likes the idea of using this as a “tagline.”  Mike Fitzgerald also liked the idea of using a tagline.  Jim Mraz stated that using this as a tagline could be incorporated into the IDA’s letterhead, posted on the IDA’s website and other potential uses.  Mike Fitzgerald suggested that the tagline read: “We incentivize development opportunities.”  All present liked that idea.

IDA ACTION:

MOTION:                   To create an IDA tagline of “We incentivize development opportunities.”

MADE BY:                 Mike Fitzgerald
SECONDED:             Dave D’Amore
VOTE:                        Unanimous

1. Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP):

a. Review Handout on the Types of PILOT’s other IDA’s are offering:

b. Project Types Proposed to be Added to UTEP:

1. “Adaptive Reuse Project” shall mean a qualified project that involves adapting or rehabilitating old sites or structures for new purposes that promotes development of existing infrastructure, creates new economic activity and helps eliminate neighborhood blight.
2. “Affordable Housing” shall mean a qualified project whereby the purchase price or rent of the housing is determined by income levels in region and involves subsidies or government assistance.
3. “Qualified Projects” shall include projects eligible for financial assistance (as defined by Section 854IX) of New York General Municipal Law) and shall include such industrial projects (i.e., manufacturing, re-manufacturing, assembly, processing, product research and development, etc.) and non-industrial projects (i.e., warehouse, distribution, qualified retail, commercial, office, housing, hotel, tourist destination, adaptive reuse, etc.).
4. “Senior Housing Project” shall mean a multi-family housing structure where at least 90% of the units are rented to and occupied by persons 60 years of age or older. No benefits will be provided for units not available for rent as senior rental housing.
5. “Tourist Destination Project” shall mean a qualified project that will attract or service a significant number of tourists or is linked to other tourist destination projects. A tourist is a customer of the project who resides outside of Fulton County.

IDA DISCUSSION:  Jim Mraz reviewed the types of projects listed on the Agenda.  He stated he’s recommending that these project types be added to the IDA’s UTEP.  In addition, the UTEP would then be modified to state that these specific types of projects could receive IDA incentives.  All present agreed to have these definitions added to the IDA’s UTEP.

Jim Mraz then discussed how other IDA’s UTEP’s deal with providing different types of PILOT’s for different types of projects.  He stated Fulton County’s UTEP identifies one (1) type of PILOT that being 485b that would be offered to all types of projects.  He stated the IDA’s UTEP affords the ability to deviate from that one (1) PILOT if the need arose.  He then referenced the attachment to the Agenda titled “Payment in Lieu of Tax Agreements.”  He stated this handout shows how other County IDA’s have different types of PILOT’s for different types of projects.  Jim Mraz reviewed this handout.  Upon completing the review of that handout, Jim Mraz asked Board members if they preferred to keep their UTEP as written or to have the UTEP modified to identify different types of PILOT’s for different types of projects?  Dave D’Amore stated having different PILOT’s for different types of projects affords applicants the opportunity to calculate the value of a PILOT for a particular type of project before having to apply to the IDA.  At present, if an entity desires a PILOT different than the 485b currently offered in the IDA’s UTEP, the applicant cannot estimate the value of a different PILOT until such time as the IDA Board reviews the request for a deviation from the 485-b model.  He stated he preferred having breakout different PILOT’s for different projects.  Mike Fitzgerald stated he also felt different PILOT’s should be spelled out for different projects.  He stated that Brownfield projects should also be identified in the IDA’s UTEP as a specific project.  Joe Gillis agreed stating that the IDA should be incentivizing Brownfield projects.  After further discussion, it was the unanimous consensus of all IDA members present to have the Executive Director add Brownfield projects as a definition to the IDA’s UTEP.  In addition, the Executive Director will come back to the IDA Board at the next meeting identifying a proposed list of projects to have separate PILOT schedules.

1. Upon a majority vote of its total membership, taken in an open meeting pursuant to a motion identifying the general area or areas of the subject or subjects to be considered, a public body may conduct an executive session for the below enumerated purposes only, provided, however, that no action by formal vote shall be taken to appropriate public moneys:

i. matters which will imperil the public safety if disclosed;
ii. any matter which may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent or informer;
iii. information relating to current or future investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense which would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed;
iv. discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation;
v. collective negotiations pursuant to article fourteen of the civil service law;
vi. the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;
vii. the preparation, grading or administration of examinations;
viii. the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by such public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof.

MOTION:  To go into Executive Session to discuss the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities held by such public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof.

MADE BY      :           Joe Semione
SECOND        :           Mike Fitzgerald
VOTE             :           Unanimous

TIME              :           8:42 a.m.

MOTION        :           To go out of Executive Session.

MADE BY      :           Dave D’Amore
SECOND        :           Todd Rulison
VOTE             :           Unanimous

TIME              :           10:00 a.m.

Tuesday
August 8, 2023
8:00 a.m.

MOTION        :           To close the meeting.
MADE BY      :           Sue Collins
SECONDED  :           Joe Semione
VOTE             :           Unanimous

TIME              :           10:00 a.m.