Schenectady Urban Renewal Agency (SURA)

Minutes of Schenectady Urban Renewal Agency City Hall Room 110 November 5, 2012 Present: Chair Mayor Gary McCarthy Members: Denise Brucker, Carl Erikson, Peggy King Leesa Perazzo, Marion Porterfield, Vincent Riggi Staff: Steven Strichman Absent: Barbara Blanchard Chairman McCarthy called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Acceptance of minutes of August 6, 2012 – A motion to accept made by Ms. King was seconded by Ms. Perazzo and passed unanimously. 219 Front Street update. Mr. Strichman informed the Board that the sale of 219 Front Street to the LeGere’s has been delayed because of a title issue. It is hoped the issue will be cleared up by the end of November. 319 State Street – Resolution 2012-09. There has been a change in the arrangements with the developer of Mexican Radio Restaurant at 325 State Street. Ms. Perazzo made a motion to rescind resolution 2012-05 passed on July 2, 2012 and to instead name Lori Selden and Mexican Radio a qualified and eligible sponsor, and to sell the vacant lot at 319 State Street to Lori Selden for the assessed value of $900. Ms. King seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Barrett Street demolition partial payment – Resolution 2012-10 – Mr. Strichman informed the board that the developer of the Little Italy project performed asbestos remediation but did not perform a timely demolition on 1125 and 1127 Barrett Street, which caught fire in July 2012 and were both demolished by Jackson Demolition on July 13, 2012. The City of Schenectady ordered the demolition because of unsafe conditions, and had the vendor bill the Agency as owner. The developer had a contractor on standby to perform the demolition for $29,000, but the City ordered the services of another contractor for $39,500. Mr. McCarthy requested that a motion be made to go into executive session to discuss the details of the demolition. Ms. Brucker moved that the Agency should go into executive Session to discuss the details of the demolition decision by the city, and Ms King seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The agency went into executive session at 5:35. A motion to come out of executive session made at 5:42 by Ms. King was seconded by Mr. Erikson and passed unanimously. Mr. Strichman informed the board that SURA has sent a notice to the developer that he is responsible to make these demolition payments, but no response has yet been received and legal actions will commence shortly. Mr. Strichman recommended that a partial payment of $19,000 be made by SURA to the vendor as a good faith payment, and that he anticipates being made whole by either the contractor, or another developer. Mr. McCarthy indicated that he is working with other potential developers of the site. A motion to make a $19,000 payment was made by Ms. King, seconded by Mr. Erikson and passed unanimously. 2013 Budget – Resolution 2012-11. Mr. Strichman presented the proposed budget for 2013 as attached. A motion to adopt the budget was made by Ms. King, seconded by Ms. Porterfield and passed unanimously. Adjourn - There being no other business to come before the Board, a motion to adjourn made by Ms. Perazzo was seconded by Ms. Porterfield and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:45.