Town of Massena Business Development Corporation

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR A GREATER MASSENA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES July 20, 2016 Board Members: Larry Ralston, President Chris Herrick Ron Bacon Dave LaClair Jeff Dobbins Paul Rufa Excused: Dan Pease Staff: Tom Sullivan, Executive Director Linda Williams, Secretary Public: Call to Order BDC President, Larry Ralston, called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm. Minutes of the June Regular Meeting A motion was made by Paul Rufa to approve the minutes of the May 2016 Regular Meeting; that motion was seconded by Chris Herrick and passed with all members present voting ‘Aye’. Financial Report for May & June 2016 A motion was made by Dave LaClair to approve the May 2016 Financial Reports; that motion was seconded by Ron Bacon and passed with all members present voting ‘Aye’. A motion was made by Dave LaClair to approve the June 2016 Financial Reports; that motion was seconded by Jeff Dobbins and passed with all members present voting ‘Aye’. Comparative Budget for May and June 2016 There was discussion about the reports; a motion was made by Chris Herrick to add a line item for Grant & Application Fees and transfer funds as shown below for that item, that motion was seconded by Dave LaClair and passed with all members present voting ‘Aye’. A total of $2600 for Applications/Fees was gleaned from the following: Printing - $800 Signs - $150 Supplies - $250 Registration, Travel - $500 Paper - $500 Toner - $400 Operations Committee Tom: The Committee met on the 18th and discussed the RVRDA, the Rail Spur and Financials. Infrastructure Committee Tom: Paul and I met on the 27th, had a conference call with CSX and NYPA; NYPA was not on the call for the most of the time but the conversation with CSX was good. We later talked with NYPA Purchasing, and they are working out how they will be handling the payment of the use of the spur. Marketing Committee Tom: The Committee met on the 19th and we discussed the future of the BDC and our marketing. We discussed brochures; we ultimately decided that our best move will be marketing in a digital format, perhaps via Facebook. Obviously, our budget places major constraints on any endeavors. Alcoa Update Dave: The company is investing funds in the smelter which bodes well for the future of the company in this area. Tom: Alcoa has notified the town that they will be razing some unused buildings, probably four before the end of the year and another seven next year. These buildings are not suitable for any new businesses, many of them will have materials that would not be allowed for new use. Core of the Community The Village of Massena was awarded an RVRDA grant in the amount of $75,000 to assist and incentivize the action, retention and expansion of businesses downtown. Added to this is $25,000 each from the Village and, hopefully, the Town. The BDC will be overseeing this project. The projects will be for lower level business and upper level residential use; guidelines will be established in the near future. Industrial Park/Rail Spur Tom: RVRDA notified us that they have approved a loan for the loading pad at the Industrial Park, $66,250. Though it is being shown as a no-interest loan for three years, if we show at the end of the time that we do not have funds from the use of the Rail Spur to repay the loan it MAY be converted to a grant. Mayor’s Leadership Council Tom: There was no meeting Moving Massena Forward Community Coalition Tom: There have been five meetings, and for the most part it was pretty positive, though there is a question as to where we will procure funds. BDC will be overseeing the projects. North Country Alliance Tom: I was unable to call into this meeting. North Country Regional Economic Development Council Tom: We were not awarded a grant. July 20, 2016 Minutes - BDC Board Meeting Pg 2 of 4 North Country Re-Development Task Force Tom: There was a meeting on June 24. Earlier in the summer we had met with Patricia Spitzley asking that RACER look beyond industrial uses for the RACER site, but they seem reluctant to do that. Venue Strategies continues to be interested in the site, we continue to have discussions with them. RACER/General Motors Site Tom: The IDA attended a RACER reception in DC in June; although there was information available on the Massena Site it was not emphasized. Restore New York Grant Tom: The Village is also working on a Restore New York Grant; there has been discussion about the Slavin’s Building and that it would be a ‘good fit’ for that grant. River Valley Re-Development Agency Tom: Discussed under Industrial Park/Rail Spur Start-Up New York Tom: Nothing to report, and I don’t think we’ll hear much about this in the future. Theatre The Village’s grant writer is submitting a Main Street application for the Theatre; BDC will be the applicant and would do the administration of the grant. Staff Report Tom: We have one last piece of information that is needed to finish the ESD grant application; hopefully we will be getting that complete in the next few days. On the 11th Larry and I met with Mayor Currier to discuss the Village/BDC agreement, the Community Development Fund, and other matters. The Village has passed a tax incentive plan for downtown properties with residential components. New and Other Business Nothing to report Liaison Reports Nothing was discussed Questions from the Press No representative at this meeting Adjournment July 20, 2016 Minutes - BDC Board Meeting Pg 3 of 4  A motion was made by Chris Herrick to adjourn at 5:40 pm, that motion was seconded by Dave LaClair and passed with all members present voting ‘Aye’. The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Massena Business Development Corporation will be held on Wednesday, September 15 at 4:30 pm, in Room 30 of the Town Hall. Respectfully submitted, Linda Williams, Secretary July 20, 2016 Minutes - BDC Board Meeting Pg 4 of 4