ROTTERDAM Small businesses get better offer Development Agency boosts facade improvement grant program BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Incentives offered through the Rotterdam Industrial Development Agency’s small business facade improvement program just got a lot bigger. The agency will offer 10 matching grants totaling $50,000 for small businesses wanting to tidy up their appearance. The new round of grants are double the amount offered by the agency last year, when a total of nine businesses were given funding though the program. Chairman Angelo Santabarbara said the agency expects to hammer out the requirements for the second round of grants by next month’s meeting. He said the new grants are targeted at small business owners who did not seek out the funding last year. “Maybe they were going to wait on a project, but with this assistance they’ll do it now,” he said. Last year, the program offered $2,500 grants to businesses that applied for entrance, handicap accessibility and exterior improvements. The majority of grants approved by the agency were awarded to small businesses along Hamburg Street, an area of the town that has been the focus of recent revitalization efforts. In a related move, the IDA approved a $4,850 study on redeveloping the area around the former Grand Union property between Williams Street and East Campbell Road. Santabarbara said the new survey will expand upon the findings presented by a recently completed land-use and transportation study of the Hamburg Street and Curry Road area near Thruway Exit 25. The study suggested the town create a new zoning designation to create a “main street neighborhood center” for the Hamburg Street corridor. In particular, the study suggested the Grand Union property as an ideal area to create a commercial corridor with street-front stores, sidewalks and landscaping. “It’s going to help us tie everything together,” Santabarbara said of the IDA study. Santabarbara was also reappointed chairman of the IDA this week. Town Board members voted 3-1 to extend Santabarbara’s term, with John Silva casting the only dissenting vote. Santabarbara was unanimously selected by the board last year to finish out the term of Arthur Brassard, who resigned to become the county Republican elections commissioner. Several months after his appointment, the Republican Santabarbara was elected to the county Legislature. In opposing the appointment, Silva mentioned the Metroplex home rule bill unveiled last week by Schenectady’s three Republican state legislators. If passed, the law would both raised the authority’s bond cap and extend its life, but would bar political party chairpersons, county elected officials and managers from serving on its board. Silva, a Democrat, insisted his vote against the appointment was not partisan, but asked the board to consider Santabarbara’s status as a county legislator. He suggested the town consider someone outside of government service. “We have a lot of qualified members in the community that could do the job,” he said. Supervisor Steve Tommasone defended Santabarbara’s reappointment, citing his achievements in less than a year of service. He also noted Santabarbara’s practice of forgoing the position’s $5,000 salary. This year, Santabarbara announced he would accept the salary, but donate it to establishing a scholarship fund for graduates from the Schalmont, Mohonasen and Duanesburg school districts. He said each school will be given $1,500 to divide between two students who excelled in math or science. “I wanted to give the money back to the community,” he said.
I propose that the residents of the Town of Rotterdam remove Silva from the Town Board. It is apparent that he is, indeed exhibiting partisan politics.
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Supervisor Steve Tommasone defended Santabarbara’s reappointment, citing his achievements in less than a year of service. He also noted Santabarbara’s practice of forgoing the position’s $5,000 salary. This year, Santabarbara announced he would accept the salary, but donate it to establishing a scholarship fund for graduates from the Schalmont, Mohonasen and Duanesburg school districts. He said each school will be given $1,500 to divide between two students who excelled in math or science.
Mr. Santabarbara is one of few elected representatives who is principled and represents the interests of his constituents. He is a fiscal conservative. And, his position of forgoing or donating his salary exemplifies what public service should be. Silva and others should take note and learn from the example that Santabarbara provides.
I would have to agree with Mr. Silva's logic. If Tedisco and Amedore are going to introduce legislation which attempts to separate politics from the Metroplex Authority, I don't see the difference between Metroplex and IDA. Both Authorities have the power give money to businesses, whether in the form of 0% interest loans and grants through Metroplex, or grants, sales tax exemption, mortgage recording tax exemption, and PILOT through Rotterdam IDA.
It's clear to me why Rotterdam Republicans are staying quiet on the Metroplex issue. They play the same game.
Tedisco and Amedore are talking the talk when they penned legislation addressing the co-mingling of politics and these powerful authorities. I don't think Rotterdam Republicans are ready to walk the walk.
Although I feel that Mr. Santabarbara is a nice guy and basically conservative...I also will bet that the democratic dictatorship feels the same about Mr.Gillen and could make their point to that fact. So, I have to agree with Cicero.
I also question the motives of Tedisco offering a $10M as opposed to $25M bond increase. He clearly is in the position to propose tabling the increase until the audit was complete...but didn't. Motives?
It would be interesting to see how many republicans have been on the receiving end of the Metroplex/Empire Zone. How about Peter Guidarelli? I believe that he also owns property on the State Street strip.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Mr. Santabarbara can step down from his elected position and serve on the Rotterdam IDA, and continue to donate his $5000 to those great causes. Or....... Continue to represent his constituents as County Legislator and help advance his ideas and the ideas of those he represent, of a smaller more transparent and accountable local government. And he can donate $5000 of his legislators salary toward scholarships. A very nobel cause.
For what it's worth my opinion swings more in agreement with Cicero. The Republicans are beating their chests citing a conflict with Ray Gillen being a county employee and Chair of Metroplex. Angelo is in essence a county employee and the Chair of Rotterdam IDA. The bottom line is not enough of a cross section of residents involved to choose from for these positions. We see the same thing here in D'burg. It appears to residents that a small and select (hand picked) group of people are involved in all aspects of local government.......truth be told, I beg people to get involved to no avail. Until something doesn't go their way of course.........
Silva makes a good point! But herein lies the crux, I think he should support publicly the calls from Amedor and Jimmy Tedisco. I don't think he would mind doing that. Santabarbara is a really good guy from my standpoint too, and what he is doing with the I.D.A. funds is good because he is servicing the smaller businesses and not the gigantic operators who we all know. Silva doesnt seem to be all so cozy with the Democrats that operate the county because I remember when he ran for office they fired his health clinic and even said some bad things about it (does anyone remember that last year at all??? SO I kind of like Silva as a board memeber myself to keep them honest. But that doesnt' mean Angelo S. is a shyster or anything since he seems like a great worker for the people. Rene makes one big and good point too- who the hell wants to get involved publicly with any of the politics and what not. The VFW is dying off, the American Legion, the Moose, all the clubs other than the Elks, because no one has the time what with kids, 2 working people in the home, events for school and that. No one has time, so the reverse of what Silva says is that give the job to a busy person and it will get done.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Yikes I didn't remember all of that. Silva looks like he has more problems then I realized! Well who knows. He seems OK but I don't know if I want him to be town treasurer or anything!
It appears to residents that a small and select (hand picked) group of people are involved in all aspects of local government.......truth be told, I beg people to get involved to no avail. Until something doesn't go their way of course.........
I do agree that it is always the 'few' that get involved. I see that happen not only in politics, but in churchs and schools. But as for getting involved in politics....who would really want to. It has become so nasty!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I do agree that it is always the 'few' that get involved. I see that happen not only in politics, but in churchs and schools. But as for getting involved in politics....who would really want to. It has become so nasty!
True, but if no one new gets involved, it's just going to degenerate from it's current condition and get worse, not better.
Logged
SO I kind of like Silva as a board memeber myself to keep them honest. But that doesnt' mean Angelo S. is a shyster or anything since he seems like a great worker for the people. Rene makes one big and good point too- who the hell wants to get involved publicly with any of the politics and what not. The VFW is dying off, the American Legion, the Moose, all the clubs other than the Elks, because no one has the time what with kids, 2 working people in the home, events for school and that. No one has time, so the reverse of what Silva says is that give the job to a busy person and it will get done. 
