ROTTERDAM Supervisor adds new IDA members, notes activity level 2 spots added to help ensure quorum BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Town officials are hoping an expanded membership in Rotterdam’s Industrial Development Agency will enable the authority to move quicker on economic projects. Supervisor Steve Tommasone appointed three new members to the IDA after the Town Board voted to expand the five-member panel by two positions last week. He said having the additional members will increase the likelihood of the agency having a quorum during specially convened meetings. “They have so many projects coming up over this next two years that it’s important they have a majority at their votes,” he said Wednesday. “We have to be at the ready.” Due to the nature of their business, Tommasone said the agency is often faced with gathering members together outside of their regular monthly meetings and at a moment’s notice. He said these unscheduled meetings are often time sensitive, meaning a prospective business or developer could stand to lose thousands of dollars. Tommasone appointed accountant Joseph Sicilia, state worker Paula Marshman and developer Bill Laroe to the agency. The appointments also fill a position that was recently vacated by Matt Walker, who resigned last month. “I felt I couldn’t give it enough of my time,” he said. The lone dissenting vote in creating the new positions came from board member Robert Godlewski, who argued that adding to the IDA’s membership for the sole purpose of ensuring enough votes would set a bad precedent. He said those occupying IDA seats should understand their obligations before accepting an appointment. “I don’t think people should be rewarded for not meeting their commitment to the IDA,” he said during the board meeting. Recently, Tommasone has pushed for a rekindling of cooperative efforts between the IDA, the town and local businesses. He also envisions the IDA taking a more prominent role in several of the town’s ongoing studies, such as the recent sidewalk inventory and condition assessment or even the much larger corridor studies. Appointments to the IDA are funded through the agency and are not compensated through town funds. Tommasone said the new appointments will bring a good cross section of expertise. “We want to make sure we not only have enough members present but more importantly a group of people that have a good idea of what’s going on in the town,” he said.
The lone dissenting vote in creating the new positions came from board member Robert Godlewski, who argued that adding to the IDA’s membership for the sole purpose of ensuring enough votes would set a bad precedent. He said those occupying IDA seats should understand their obligations before accepting an appointment.
Go figure. Here is a guy who is retired. He clearly has all the time in the world. Mr. Godlewski must not realize how busy everyone is today. He is an older gent who probably forgot how hectic a 40 hour work week, family and kids can be.
Well, he'll be outta this seat soon. And we must all make sure he doesn't go from the town seat to the county seat. We would be in a heap of trouble then.
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
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