PLANNING
& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
JULY 2, 2010
** NOT APPROVED
**
Members
Present: F. Sinclair, D. Pullen, M. Healy, K. LaForge,
P. Curran, C. Crandall
Excused: T. O’Grady, A. McGraw, T.
Hopkins
Others
Present: D. Fanton, N. Ungermann, J.
Margeson, T. Miner, M. Alger, J. Foels, and K. Dirlam
Call to
Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Fred
Sinclair at 8:30 a.m.
Memorandum
of Explanation – ACCORD Corporation – Chairman Sinclair re-read Resolution #143-10 that
was voted down at the full Legislative Board Meeting on 6/28/10 regarding the
grant writing proposal with ACCORD Corporation for grant writing services to Allegany County.
Chairman Sinclair presented a Memorandum of Explanation to provide
clarity of the contract focus and examples of grant sources for which
applications could be submitted. The
focus will be on grants associated with economic development. The floor was opened to discussion and
questions by members present.
Items discussed:
·
ACCORD Business
Center funding from New York State
·
Future funding and management of
small business programs if state does not provide funding
·
Grant writing expectations from ACCORD and services to qualify;
specifically economic development and planning to be a priority; as other
agencies already have their own grant writers in place
·
Using consultants for grant writing needs; however a local structure is
still needed to manage grants. Consultant
fees are higher than ACCORD fee.
·
Hiring a full-time grant writer versus using outside agencies and cost
effectiveness
·
Timeframe for assistance to ACCORD
Small Business
Center in return for
grant writing services
Legislator Ungermann referred to job descriptions
for County Planner and Assistant County
Administrator for their assistance in grant writing and voiced his concern with
contracting to ACCORD when there are county employees in place to do this
work. Chairman Sinclair restated that
the purpose of this assistance to ACCORD is for the continuation of the Small Business
Center, Revolving Loan
Fund Program and Entrepreneurship Program.
It is not solely about grant writing and hiring others when ACCORD can
provide this service in return for our assistance. It was stressed this is just an interim
assistance until the state approves their budget. County
Attorney Tom Miner
remarked this agreement would be more like a retainer of $36,000 for 600 hours
of service. If the hours are not
utilized, then repayment would be in order.
There was consensus that individual grant writers do not always manage
programs once they are awarded. There is
always the need for additional staff to manage the grant programs, which is
something ACCORD can do also.
The question was raised if attaching a financial
incentive to their success would be a possibility, to which County Attorney Miner
replied ACCORD would keep track of their hours and providing incentives raises
legal issues that he would need to check.
Legislator Ungermann expressed a concern regarding
ACCORD looking for a “hand-out” because the state hasn’t come through with
funding and noted there are several agencies that have to adapt when the state
reduces funding and the county can’t be utilized as that source. Attorney Miner stated this is not a “hand-out”
as they are illegal, which is why there is an agreement in place for them to
provide a service in return. Legislators
Curran and LaForge also reiterated we are being provided a service and that the
small businesses in Allegany
County are a part of our
sales force and we should consider them as well. The small businesses are definitely receiving
a benefit from these programs with assistance in training and the revolving
loan fund. Legislative Chairman Crandall
thanked John Margeson and Tom Miner for their help in keeping the business
center going and stated he would still support this proposal even if the grant
writing was not attached to it. The Business Center
is one of the vital programs in place to help keep small business alive in Allegany County.
Legislator Pullen also expressed his support for the Business Center
and he has attended all the entrepreneurship recognition programs and has seen
the success through new businesses and jobs.
A question was raised that the Memorandum of
Explanation presented does not refer to the Small Business
Center and should there
be a modification. Chairman Sinclair
noted that it was crafted this way because there was no mention of the Center
specifically in the contract. Legislator
Curren stated that some resolutions presented to the Legislative Board are not
always clear in explanation for them, or the general public, and suggested
giving a short explanation during the board meeting. Legislative Chairman Crandall said this type
of resolution should have an explanation by the Chairman or Planning and
Economic Development Board for the benefit of the legislative board members, press
and people in attendance. The resolution
will be clarified when presented for vote.
Resolution
Chairman Sinclair entertained a motion to resubmit
Resolution #143-10, as a new resolution to the Ways and Means Committee, for
approval of a grant writing agreement between Allegany County
and the ACCORD Corporation. Motioned by
Legislator Pullen; seconded by Legislator Healy and carried 6-0, w/3 absent. REFERRED
TO WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE – PREPARE RESOLUTION.
A
motion was made by Legislator Pullen, seconded by Legislator Curran and carried
to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 a.m.
Respectfully
Submitted:
Cathleen
L. Whitfield
Recording
Secretary