Town of Massena Business Development Corporation

Business  Development  Corporation  for  a  Greater  Massena   Board  Meeting  Minutes   January  21,  2021     Draft!     Board  Members:   Dan  Pease,  Jeff  Dobbins,  Mike  Besaw,  Sherry  Thompson  and  Dave  LaClair     Excused:     Ben  Murtaugh  ,  Melanie  Cunningham,       Staff:       Jim  Murphy,  Executive  Director           Public:   Sam  Carbone,  Sue  Bellor,  Pat  Facteau,  Steve  O’Shaughnessy,  Matt  LeBire     Call  to  Order   VP   Dan   Pease   called   the   meeting   to   order   at   5:02   p.m.   Dan   and   the   other   board   members   welcomed   Sherry   Thompson   to   the   BDC   Board.   Sherry   is   Senior   Vice   President   of   Lending   Operations  and  Risk  Management  at  SeaComm  Federal  Credit  Union,  where  she  has  worked  for  30   years.  Sherry  also  serves  as  a  Director  for  PALS,  formerly  the  Massena  Boys  and  Girls  Club.  Sherry   replaces  Ron  Bacon.     Approval  of  Minutes  of  the  Sept.  17,  2020  Meeting   A  motion  to  approve  the  minutes  of  the  Sept.  17  board  of  Directors  meeting  was  tabled  because   there  was  not  a  quorum  of  those  present  at  that  meeting  attending  this  meeting.     Financial  Reports     Treasurer   Jeff   Dobbins   presented   draft   (pending   audit   results)   balance   sheet,   profit   and   loss   statement   and   financial   reports   to   the   board.     Jeff   noted   that   all   the   financials   should   be   considered  as  drafts  bending  the  completion  of  the  BDC’s  audit.  Jeff  reviewed  the  balance  sheet  as   of  Dec.  30,  2020,  noting  that  the  BDC  was  still  waiting  on  some  payments  billed  in  December,  so   we  can  expect  those  revenues  moving  forward.  Jeff  has  also  set  up  an  account  to  “book”  the  BDC’s   loan  to  the  Massena  Arts  and  Theater  Association  (MATA)  once  we  begin  billing  the  organization.   Jeff  noted  that,  overall,  there  wasn’t  much  different  in  the  organization’s  overall  finances  as  the   prior  year.  Jeff  also  provided  a  summary  of  expenditures  for  the  year  to  board  members.     A  motion  was  made  by  Mike  B.  to  approve  the  financial  reports  (Seconded  by  Dave),  which  was   approved  unanimously.     Board  Discussion  –  Future  Direction  of  the  BDC     Jim   Murphy   prefaced   the   discussion   by   saying   that   the   issue   before   us   goes   beyond   this   year’s   funding  cuts.  As  we  move  forward,  we  will  need  to  develop  a  more  specific  scope  of  services  for   both  municipalities  as  part  of  our  annual  contracts  with  both  the  town  and  the  village.  Jim  noted   that  the  original  scope  of  services  under  which  he  was  hired  appears  to  have  changed  significantly,   with  the  village  appearing  to  pull  away  from  the  BDC  and  the  town  reimagining  the  BDC  as  a  grant-­‐ writing  and  grant  administration  tool.     BDC Meeting Minutes January 21, 2021 Pg. 1    Steve  O’Shaughnessy  joined  the  meeting  at  this  point.  Sam  Carbone  left  the  meeting  temporarily   to  avoid  any  quorum  issues.  Sam  returned  when  Sue  Bellor  left  the  meeting.     Matt   said,   given   the   current   situation   with   the   village,   it   was   hard   to   tell   what   role   the   BDC   would   play  in  the  future,  adding  that  there  may  be  some  potential  to  work  together  because  of  expected   service   gaps   in   the   next   budget.   Matt   said   the   “deep   discussions”   about   the   next   village   budget   would  not  happen  until  late  February/March.  With  so  many  unknowns,  he  said  he  did  not  feel  that   the  village  board  would  be  willing  to  fund  the  BDC  at  prior  levels,  but  that  the  door  might  be  open   to  contracting  with  the  BDC  for  specific  services.  One  concern  in  the  past  among  village  trustees   was   not   having   a   thorough   understanding   of   what   the   BDC   was   doing   for   the   village.   Better   defining  what  we  can  expect  to  get  might  garner  more  yes  votes,  he  said.     Steve   O’Shaughnessy   said   that   the   town   fully   supports   the   BDC,   noting   that   the   town   has   come   to   rely  on  Executive  Director  Jim  Murphy  for  writing  grants,  carrying  out  awards  and  assisting  in  grant   administration.  This  work,  as  well  as  Jim’s  guidance  on  the  town’s  comprehensive  plan  process,  is   really  necessary  for  the  town,  providing  a  level  of  expertise  that  the  town  lacks.     Dan   asked   board   members   about   what   they   thought   about   the   future   of   the   BDC   and   their   commitment   to   participate   in   monthly   meetings   and   to   develop   and   advance   the   BDC’s   mission   and  activities.     Mike  said  that  he  was  committed  to  the  organization  moving  forward,  noting  “we  could  be  doing  a   lot  more   than   we   are  doing.”   He   said  he  was  worried  about  focusing   too  much  on  grant-­‐writing   and  grant  administration  services,  noting  that  the  BDC  needed  to  stick  with  its  traditional  mission   of  getting  businesses  to  come  here.     Dan  agreed,  noting  that  having  Jim  working  primarily  as  a  grant  writer  did  not  make  sense  from  a   use   of   funds   perspective.   He   felt   the   primary   role   of   the   executive   director   should   be   to   work   as   a   “facilitator”   with   other   agencies   like   the   IDA   to   bring   more   business   to   Massena.   Jim’s   been   doing   that  on  his  own  but  he  has  not  received  any  guidance  from  us,  he  said.     Dave   said   that   he,   too,   was   committed   to   the   BDC   and   agreed   that   the   focus   of   the   Executive   Director   should   not   be   solely   on   grant   writing,   although   he   noted   the   organization’s   history   of   success   in   that   regard.   He   said   that   we   needed   to   develop   a   more   detailed   job   description   moving   forward.  He  also  noted  that  the  BDC  should  take  a  little  more  credit  for  what  it  has  done.     Dan  added  that  he  thought  the  BDC  had  played  an  important  role  throughout  the  years.  I  think  we   sort   of   lost   ourselves   with   the   shock   of   losing   half   of   our   funding   but   I   think   there’s   a   way   to   work   through   that   and   spread   the   money   out   and   still   perform   a   function   that’s   valuable   to   the   community.     Steve   reiterated   the   town’s   commitment   to   the   BDC,   noting   that   the   BDC   is   important   to   the   community  and  provides  a  valuable  service  to  the  town.  As  long  as  I’m  involved,  the  BDC  will  have   the  support  of  the  town,  he  said.    Later,  Sam  Carbone  also  reiterated  his  support  for  the  BDC.  He   added  that  even  if  the  town  was  the  sole  funder  for  the  organization,  they  would  want  the  BDC  to   BDC Meeting Minutes January 21, 2021 Pg. 2 work  on  village  projects  and  continue  to  include  the  village  in  the  selection  of  BDC  board  members   and  making  policy  decisions.     Jeff  added  that  the  key  to  success  moving  forward  was  getting  together  on  a  more  regular  basis,   which   will   help   to   stay   a   little   more   focused.   Grant-­‐writing   helps   to   pay   the   bills   ,   he   noted,   but   ultimately,  we  want  to  do  more  for  the  community.       Organizational  Issues     Dan  noted  that  the  January  meeting  had  traditionally  been  an  organizational  meeting,  when  the   BDC  elected  its  slate  of  officers  for  the  year  and  made  its  committee  assignments.  Since  the  BDC   Board   had   not   yet   nominated   a   slate   of   officers   for   the   year,   Dan   suggested   that   the   BDC   put   together   a   nominating   committee   to   present   a   slate   of   officers   at   the   February   board   meeting.   Dan,  Jeff  and  Dave  volunteered  to  serve  on  the  nominating  committee.     Jim   also   noted   that   while   the   BDC   Board   had   reviewed   the   draft   2021   budget,   no   official   action   had   been   taken   to   approve   it.   A   motion   was   made   by   Dave   (seconded   by   Jeff)   to   approve   the   BDC   budget  for  2021.  All  voted  yes  except  Sherry,  who  abstained     Jim   also   discussed   Authorities   and   Budget   Office   annual   requirements   for   board   members   and   the   organization,   which   has   been   complicated   because   of   issues   completing   our   audits   for   2017-­‐2020.   Jim   noted   that   there   were   several   documents   that   needed   to   be   reviewed   and   signed   by   board   members     Dan   suggested   that   we   put   together   a   working   group   to   review   the   required   ABO   documents  and  policies  and  develop  draft  revisions  for  the  full  board  to  consider  as  needed.  Jeff   and  Mike  were  selected  to  volunteer  for  the  working  group.       Executive  Director’s  Report  –  See  Attached!     New  Business/Other  Business   Matt  noted  that  his  work  requires  him  to  participate  in  Faculty  Senate  meetings  that  are  held  at   the  same  time   as   the   BDC’s  monthly   meeting,   making  it   nearly  impossible   for   him   to   participate   in   the  BDC  meetings.  It  was  suggested  that  others  might  be  having  issues  making  the  meeting.  Mike   volunteered   to   send   out   a   Doodle   poll   to   see   if   there   was   a   more   convenient   time/day   to   hold   future  meetings.     Consultant  and  Liaison  Reports   Steve   and   Sam   reviewed   several   current   town   initiatives,   from   the   airport   to   upcoming   fishing   tournaments.       Questions  from  the  Public/Press.       Executive  Session   None     Adjournment   Jeff  made  a  motion  to  adjourn  the  meeting  at  6:22  p.m.,  that  motion  was  seconded  by  Dave    and   passed  with  all  members  voting  ‘Aye”.   BDC Meeting Minutes January 21, 2021 Pg. 3    Next  Regular  Meeting  Date:  February  18,  2021       BDC Meeting Minutes January 21, 2021 Pg. 4