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Note to site Visitors: As PARC's mission winds down, press releases will be fewer and fewer. Nevertheless, this page will continue to publish, sequentially, minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors as they are approved. The minutes are posted as the bottom items on the page beginning with the January 2006 summary. Recent news items will continue to appear at the top of the page. For a "chronological review of events and activities at PARC" from its establishment in 1995 through 2005, please scroll down the page to the heading: Milestones.
231 New York Road Plattsburgh , NY 12903 Date: April 3, 2006 Contact: Dennis R. Doyle
PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corp. (PARC) has contributed nearly $3 million in taxes to local taxing jurisdictions since its voluntary Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) program went into effect in calendar 2001 and PARC began paying special district taxes on New Base property three years ago. A report compiled by PARC's Finance Department, issued today at a meeting of the organization's Board of Directors, shows that the Plattsburgh City and Peru Central School Districts , the City of Plattsburgh and Clinton County have shared in $1,867, 405 in tax monies generated via the PARC PILOT. Since 2004, meanwhile, PARC has paid $959,781 in special district taxes to the Town of Plattsburgh , which ratified the PILOT agreement but does not receive payments under it. Virtually all of the New Base lies within Town boundaries. Only properties owned, occupied or leased by PARC produce tax revenue under the PILOT. The total does not reflect additional and substantial tax proceeds collected by the taxing entities from businesses operating at PARC that own their land and buildings or from residential property owners and landlords who live on or rent former base property. “We believe that PARC's accomplishments in expanding and improving the community's tax base will be a cornerstone of its legacy,” commented Board Chairman Gilbert Duken, “so we asked for a review of PILOT data up to the current time. We feel the information demonstrates in another tangible manner that PARC has met its longstanding commitment to strengthen the North Country economy. “Some may forget that PARC took the initiative in negotiating the PILOT agreements with the local taxing jurisdictions,” Duken continued. “The result of that effort is a new and ongoing stream of revenue from property that had never before been on the tax rolls.” According to the report, PILOT payments are made in mid-year annually to the Peru and Plattsburgh school districts and annually to the City and County towards the end of the year. PARC PILOT payments totaled $170, 638 in 2001, $382,711.94 in 2002 and peaked at $423,928.95 in 2003. They totaled $375, 896.53 in 2004, $337,952.19 in 2005 and $176,277.74 thus far in 2006, with payments to the City and County due before the end of the year. The gradual decline, Duken said, reflects the upward trend in property sales and transfer to new owners. However, he added, the drop in no way diminishes the overall tax impact since businesses and developers who purchase property at PARC automatically assume the tax burden. A breakdown shows that the Peru Central School District is the leading beneficiary of PARC PILOT payments with $959,585.43 in receipts covering the period of January 1, 2001 through June 30 th of this year. The Plattsburgh City School District has received $403,697.32 over the same span while payments to the City and County -- excluding those due at the end of 2006 -- have totaled $504,122.60. PARC makes its special district tax payments to the Town near the beginning of the year. They totaled $316,622 in 2004, $309,420 in 2005 and rose to $333,379 for the current year. -30-
231 New York Road Plattsburgh , NY 12903 Date: Monday, July 24, 2006 Contact: Dennis R. Doyle Tel.: (518) 561-0232
PLATTSBURGH – As the mission of the Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corp. (PARC) winds down, more details about its long-term economic impact on the regional community are coming into focus. That was the central theme today at the July meeting of PARC's Board of Directors, where Board members and PARC administrators discussed the results of two internal studies. One shows that the City of Plattsburgh and Town of Plattsburgh combined gained $73 million in the assessed value of former federal property placed on their tax rolls over a 10-year period through PARC's economic development efforts. The second illustrates that PARC invested and managed more than $24 million in airport maintenance and capital improvements from 1996 until 2005, when Clinton County assumed responsibility for airfield operations. During his remarks, Gilbert Duken, PARC's Board Chairman, said that, as of May 1, 2005 , property sales and new development within city boundaries had generated $52 million in new assessments. The tally for New Base property within the Town -- exclusive of the airfield -- was $21 million, he said. The base closed in September of 1995. None of the property comprising the 5,000-acre federal complex had ever before been on the tax rolls. During his report to the Board, Marc Poirier, PARC's chief financial officer, pointed out that the assessment information on the City was provided by the Clinton County assessor. Data on the Town came from that municipality's assessor. “The greater part of the assessed value of former base property within the city can be attributed to residential sales,” Poirier said. “The assessed value of New Base property in the Town is based almost exclusively on sales to commercial and industrial tenants. “We expect that value will increase dramatically,” he continued, “as we sell and close on more buildings and we are able to market and sell vacant parcels and others that will come on line after current and planned demolition projects end. We look forward to continuing our mission and to helping the City and Town improve their overall assessed values.” During its nearly 10-year term as caretaker of the aviation complex, PARC oversaw the expenditure of more than $13 million to maintain and operate Plattsburgh International Airport, including for upkeep, repairs and upgrades to facilities within the Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC) now occupied by tenants. An additional $11 million was spent on capital improvements, and they included expansion and renovation of aircraft hangars and nosedocks, installation of a fuel farm, construction of a tail enclosure facility for the large hangar, and the acquisition of additional assets for airfield operations. “Our goal,” Duken said, “was to maintain the airfield as near as possible to FAA standards until Clinton County could take it over for posterity. PARC not only met that objective, it also conveyed a property that was turning a considerable profit at the time.” Poirier noted that the funds spent by PARC in the PBC came from grants from the Economic Development Administration, the Empire State Development Corporation and from tenant income generated by PARC. -30-/7/24/06
Milestones A chronological review of events & activities at PARC from fall 1995 through 2005
1995
* PAFB closes on September 29. Plattsburgh Intermunicipal Council
dissolves as PARC is created to manage redevelopment of the former
base.
1996
* Comprehensive Base Reuse Plan and Final Environmental Impact
Statement completed
1997
* Air Force Record of Decision designates PARC as the planning
LRA (local reuse agency)
1998
* Authority initiative fails; CCIDA designated “eligible
applicant” for Economic Development Conveyance (EDC)
1999
* Select Group memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed
2000 * PARC staff complete and submit first EDC application
2001
* CCIDA approves PILOT, its straight-lease agreement with PARC
and a Lease in Furtherance of Conveyance with AFBCA
2002
* City of Plattsburgh takes over Old Base infrastructure; moves
its Public Works Department to the New Base Vehicle Maintenance
Building (to allow Bombardier to expand operations)
2003
* Seton Catholic Central School announces plans to purchase
former Northside School
2004
* PARC invites Clinton County and representatives of other local
taxing jurisdictions to participate in negotiations with Precision
Jet Management (PJM) to open a proposed full-service, one-stop
aviation center (e.g., aircraft refurbishing & painting, aircraft
sales, refueling, pilot & mechanic training) on the airfield;
project would dominate PARC operations as well as regional news
coverage throughout most of 2004
2005
* In January, Board approves transfer of 25 properties on former
base to new owners
Minutes of the January 2006 Meeting of the PARC Board of Directors
Directors Present: Gil Duken Directors Present by Speaker Phone: Marion Bourdeau, Donald Garrant Directors Excused: Henry Fortin, Jr., Steven Bouyea, James King, Esq., and Kevin Carroll [Due to lack of a quorum, no official business was transacted. The meeting was held for informational purposes only.] Others Present: R. Bruce Steadman, Marc Poirier, Kenneth Hynes, Dennis Doyle, Randall Beach, and Bob Davis Call to Order: Chairman Duken opened the meeting at 8:15 a.m. Mr. Duken stated that Board members Marion Bourdeau and Donald Garrant were standing by for the meeting via speaker phone, but noted that Kevin Carroll, who had planned to attend, had fallen ill and would therefore be unable to participate. He pointed out that, lacking a quorum, the meeting would proceed as informational only to focus on items of importance to the group, and then continue in Executive Session. Approval of the minutes from the November meeting and from this meeting would be delayed until the April meeting. Pledge of Allegiance: Chairman’s Comments: Mr. Duken conveyed his best wishes “for all the best in 2006" to his Board colleagues, the PARC management team and staff, and friends and associates in the community. He noted that PARC is off to a good start in what is projected to be a very busy new year. The previous week, he said, PARC and Pine Harbour closed on Old Base property that will be the site of an assisted living facility for seniors, including those afflicted with Alzheimer and other forms of dementia. Looking ahead, he continued, and thanks to a quick turn-around by the Air Force, PARC anticipates continuation of an accelerated pace negotiating and scheduling property closings throughout the remainder of this year and beyond. He said that PARC obtained title to 50 properties during the course of 2005, with most in the pipeline for transfer to new owners in the coming weeks and months, and that PARC expects to receive another 30 titles as the current year progresses. Mr. Duken noted that, as Mayor Dan Stewart’s board representative, he wished to commend the PARC staff for coming to the aid of the City of Plattsburgh Public Works Department in December to help install Santa Claus on the B47 aircraft in Clyde Lewis Park. PARC, he said, had stored and maintained the 30-foot effigy from base closure in 1995 through the end of 2004, continuing a holiday tradition initiated by the Air Force three decades ago. The tradition passed to the City last summer when Clyde Lewis Park and its contents moved to the Old Base Historic District, and the City assumed the responsibility for Santa’s upkeep. However, because of scheduling conflicts, the City wasn’t able to install Santa, so PARC’s veteran Santa crew responded to a call for help. PARC will repair the aging and weather-beaten Santa figure before turning it over to the City later this year. Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: None COO’s Report: Mr. Steadman asked for Department reports. Tenant Services Department Report: Ken Hynes summarized the sale
of PARC’s personal property, equipment and vehicles. He reported
that property screening was conducted from April 4, 2005 through
May 2, 2005, and that bills of sale issued to date total $272,540.
Monies collected as of January 13, 2006, total $271,857. Tenant
Services staff continue to review bids and issue bills of sale
accordingly. Construction/Environmental Department Report: Bob Davis stated that the Clinton County Empire Zone Administrative Board submitted its draft Zone Development Plan (ZDP) to Albany for review and comment just before Christmas (ahead of the January 1, 2006 deadline). The ZDP includes a reconfiguration of the zone and its sub-zones into no more than six distinct and separate contiguous areas, in compliance with new regulations. PARC awaits feedback from Albany. Mr. Davis said that installation of an elevator and other improvements in Building 610 is under way. The elevator shaft is 90% complete; the elevator is currently being manufactured with delivery expected within two weeks. Outside building facade and sidewalk work are complete. He reported that Catamount Environmental is removing asbestos at the former base hospital, with ESPC monitoring progress. Only landscaping remains to be completed at the new Clyde Lewis Park, and that will occur in the spring. Temporary lighting for the aircraft display is in place, but permanent, underground lighting will be installed after the frost is out of the ground. Mr. Davis said that the Town of Plattsburgh Planning Board approved four new subdivided lots at its December meeting, adding that PARC will be submitting three new sub-divisions of existing parcels. Chairman Duken asked about the demolition timetable for the hospital. Mr. Steadman replied that the schedule depends upon completion of asbestos abatement, but a mid-April start is possible. CFO’s Report: Mr. Poirier stated that the Finance Committee met the previous Thursday to review outstanding rents and future cash flows. For the current month (December), he said, PARC is just under 90% in rents collected. Rental income had increased since the meeting, so the figures are higher than reported. After six months and cumulatively for the fiscal year, PARC had billed just under $1.4 million which, Mr. Poirier said, is right on budget, and rental income collected standing at 93%. On the grant side, PARC is waiting a large reimbursement request from Empire State. Over $700,000 was submitted in mid-December; however, because of the holidays, reimbursement isn’t expected until the end of January or early February. Mr. Poirier noted that two more monthly payments to the Air Force would be made in the coming week. They will end PARC’s payment association with the Air Force for any outstanding charges. He mentioned the Pine Harbour closing, adding that others are scheduled to occur before the end of January. The Finance staff is currently working on budgeting and PUD II sales. In December all the PUD II agreements were finalized for buildings sold (i.e., two-and four-plex units and the hotel). One is scheduled before the end of this month and two more in February. Finance is also preparing the normal year-end calendar reports, W-2s, 1099s, etc. Chairman Duken stated that Finance Committee members had also discussed the economic impact that growth and development at PARC has had on the school districts, the City of Plattsburgh, Town of Plattsburgh and Clinton County relative to property sales and other aspects of redevelopment. Mr. Poirier responded that the Finance staff is preparing a report showing the amount in PILOTs that have been billed to PARC over the last four years and implementation of the PILOT agreements with the five local taxing jurisdictions. It will include a breakdown by year and by taxing jurisdiction. A preliminary analysis indicates that assets added to the tax rolls because of PARC’s successes in redevelopment will exceed 170 million dollars. Chairman Duken commented that it will be a very interesting report for the public to see. Mr. Poirier stated that the report should be available by the April board meeting. Legal Report: Randall Beach said he didn’t have resolutions to present at the January meeting. However, he added, pending resolutions will be circulated to Board members by facsimile in the next week or so for passage by unanimous consent. He reiterated Mr. Poirier’s comments that several closings are being lined up for consummation on an as-soon-as-possible basis. Since the November meeting, Mr. Beach said, PARC’s legal staff has compiled a list of all parcels transferred by the Air Force. Subsequently, all affected parties have been notified that property titles have been conveyed and that PARC will proceed with closing one them one by one. COO’s Additional Comments: Mr. Steadman said that the PARC Management Team has developed
two resolutions for 2006. He read them for the record. On a side note regarding the “Santa” matter, Mr. Steadman stated that the movement of Santa from where it was being stored to where it sat atop the B-47 involved all three municipalities. In particular, he thanked the County Airport people who helped store the Santa and then prepared it for transport to Clyde Lewis Park. He also thanked the City Public Works Department personnel for their help and for agreeing to install Santa next year. He went on to say that PARC receives input and help from these professionals on a daily basis as well as their counterparts in the City Municipal Lighting and Water and Sewer Departments, those who work for the County at the airport, and those who work in the Town Water and Sewer Department. Working relationships are sound, especially at the field level. Addressing the Chairman, Bruce stated there were other items to discuss, but they would be held for the executive session. General Comment: Marion Bourdeau suggested that the Board send a letter of thanks to Andy Abdallah, who was about to step down as Supervisor of the Town of Plattsburgh, acknowledging his many contributions to PARC and the redevelopment effort. She also recommended that a letter of congratulations be sent to Bernie Bassett, Abdallah’s successor. All present agreed. Mr. Steadman stated that he had invited Abdallah to PARC last week to review several open items and items related to PARC that he plans to pass along to the new Supervisor. He said the meeting was very positive, and that he thanked Supervisor Abdallah personally for all his help over the past several years. Mr. Steadman said that Abdallah had been a good friend to PARC. Once the letters are written, the Board members will receive copies. Old Business: None New Business: None Public Comment: None Mr. Duken stated that the meeting would stand adjourned. It would continue as a private informational meeting, replacing the Executive Session, due to the lack of a quorum. -0- Minutes of the April 2006 Meeting of the PARC Board of Directors
Directors Present: Gil Duken, Kevin Carroll, Stephen Bouyea,
Marion Bourdeau, Jim King Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was no comment. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of both the November 7, 2005 Board meeting and the January 6, 2006 informational meeting. Motion by Mrs. Bourdeau; second by Mr. Carroll. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken reminded the Board of a Finance Department study (requested by the Board and discussed briefly during the January meeting) that would show precisely how much tax revenue PARC has generated since its voluntary Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program went into effect in 2001 and PARC began paying special district taxes on new base property three years later. He said that the study is complete and that Marc Poirier, PARC’s CFO, would report on the highlights later in the meeting. Also, he said, the findings had been summarized in a press release (copy attached) prepared for local and regional news media.. Quoting from the release, Mr. Duken said he felt that PARC’s accomplishments in expanding and improving the community’s tax base will be a cornerstone of its legacy. He continued: “It doesn’t seem that long ago that many in our community, if not most, feared base redevelopment would fail, and the region’s taxpayers would be stuck with an economic albatross of immense proportions. Results of this study demonstrate clearly that the exact opposite has occurred.” COO’s Report: Since there were no committee reports, Mr. Steadman asked for Department reports. Tenant Services Department Report: Ken Hynes summarized the sale of PARC’s personal property, equipment and vehicles saying that property screening was conducted from April 4 through May 2 of 2005 and that bills of sale issued to date total $289,000. Monies collected as of March 28, 2006, total $272,000. Tenant Services support staff continue to review bids and issue bills of sale accordingly. Mr. Hynes stated that PARC’s maintenance staff continues to provide outstanding support to tenants. PARC’s electricians have been working on the deconstruction of two substations under terms of the NYSEG transfer agreement. Sub-station 1 is about 98% complete; site clean-up is on-going; and PARC staff have been working closely with the Airport personnel. Sub-station 3 is about 95% complete. The City’s Municipal Lighting Department will make a decision mid-spring regarding the reuse of the transformer at this site. Five transformers from the hospital property have been transferred to NYSEG. Larry Dominic, Wayne Clark and Rollie McGee continue to relocate personal property from various buildings as PARC prepares to demolish them or re-core them to the Airport Master Key System. Construction/Environmental Department Report: Bob Davis reported that the Construction/Engineering Department is beginning its busy season. PARC is still waiting for Albany’s approval of the Empire Zone Development Plan. Regarding installation of a Limited Usage Limited Access elevator (LULA) in building 610, PARC awaits delivery of the unit from Connecticut, where it is being constructed. A LULA is primarily for ADA compliance. Davis said that Catamount Environmental had finished removal of friable asbestos in the former base hospital and that demolition of the building would begin this week by John Chadwick, Inc., the low bidder. The project should be completed by mid-May. The aircraft display ground lighting in Clyde Lewis Park is installed and landscaping and seeding will follow. The display will become property of the City. PARC is advertising for bids to raze 41 former base housing units and to install 2,400 feet of road and 3,500 feet of water line at the south end of Willow Drive. On March 15th a water main break occurred in front of the Murfy building at 3:45 p.m. The Town discovered another break on Connecticut Road almost simultaneously and, around midnight, a third rupture was found on Idaho Ave. PARC staff worked closely with the Town and City Water Departments through the night and into the next day. Mr. Davis acknowledged the assistance of Northern Snow and Dirt Inc. and Jeff Pitcher for supplying work crews that worked through the evening and into the early morning hours to fix the breaks. Chairperson Duken asked whether numerous water line breaks are typical at this time of year. Mr. Davis replied that the system had to be shut down when the first break occurred. He explained that when valves are shut down in a system as old as the one at PARC, reopening the valves causes a shock to the system that finds its weakest links. That particular day three weak links were discovered. Mr. Steadman expressed the opinion that although four or five disparate parties may have suspected that responsibility for the breaks belonged to one or more of the others, they all worked together to get the project done. Finance Department Report: Mr. Poirier reported that the Finance Committee met recently to review rental income to date for the current year. Rent billing totaled slightly less than $1.8 million, with collections at $1,750,000 for a very healthy 98%. He said that $1.4 million in the NYS budget for this year should be approved soon. Also, outstanding reimbursement requests total $600,000, but there are no outstanding issues. There are no payments due to the Air Force and none will be forthcoming. All dealings between PARC and the USAF are finalized. Based on a review of the Statement of Earnings for the first eight months of the year combined with projected income for the last four months, the Finance Committee projects another healthy year in fiscal 2005-06. Mr. Poirier provided historical information in introducing the results of PARC’s in-house Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) study. He said that in 2000 PARC offered to start paying taxes to the municipalities that had a stake on the base (the Peru School District, City School District, Town of Plattsburgh, City of Plattsburgh and Clinton County). However, arriving at an agreement as to what constituted a “fair share of taxes” proved to be a laborious process requiring many months of negotiations. The agreement that was put in place covered buildings utilized by PARC and those occupied by tenants with consideration for what they do (e.g., manufacturing, office space, retail/commercial) with tax obligations computed on a sliding scale (e.g., 10% in the first year escalating gradually to 25% and to today’s 50% rate of normal taxes). Buildings used by PARC were to be tax exempt. As PARC transferred properties to third parties, those buildings would go on the tax rolls similar to any in the community. It was assumed that new owners would pay 100% of taxes unless they successfully petitioned the IDA or the County and worked out their own PILOT program. This agreement applied to the City School District, the Peru School District, the City of Plattsburgh and Clinton County. Mr. Poirier said that the fifth party, the Town of Plattsburgh, does not have a real estate tax per se. Rather, the Town charges formula-based special district taxes (i.e., for water district, sewer district, fire district, ambulance district). During the first three years following adoption of the PILOT agreement, the Town received no income from PARC because PARC still had a Caretaker Agreement with the USAF that covered those issues. The Town took over the maintenance of the base in 2004, except for utilities, so PARC started paying a full share of special district taxes at that point. Mr. Poirier used slides to illustrate the remainder of his presentation
on PARC’s PILOT history. The major points in his presentation
are summarized as follows: Chairman Duken complimented Mr. Poirier for a “very good report.” He went on to say that, as he looks back on his eight years on the PARC Board, the PILOT issue was one of many hurdles the Board and the administration of PARC had to cross. He noted the presence of Randy Beach at the meeting and his role as Board Chairman when the PILOT was established. The process went on for months, he recalled, and represented a very difficult challenge. He thanked Randy for “being there for PARC at a time when the Board faced that challenge and so many others. He further stated that the various jurisdictions that receive tax monies from PARC and also directly from those that have acquired property on the former base are the beneficiaries of a significant economic boost to the area. Mr. Duken thanked both Mr. Poirier and Mr. Steadman for putting together the report. COO Comments: 1. Mr. Steadman thanked the Peru School District, City School District, the City, County and the Town and any others who provided input for the PILOT study. He advised the Board that a copy of the press release summarizing the PILOT study highlights was included in the Board member packets. Also included, as an item of interest, was a news article from the Business Council of New York State citing NYS as a beneficiary of globalization and its role in bringing jobs to the state. 2. Mr. Steadman reported that PARC had met twice with Mike Sorel and some Air Force representatives over the previous two weeks. The first group visited as part of a national study of closed bases designed to develop strategies for future base closure communities. The second group visited to inspect leases. Mr. Steadman pointed out that PARC continues to lease a number of properties from the Air Force, and that PARC, in turn, subleases them. He said that the Air Force routinely inspects properties still under lease. The USAF team provided a list of required data, then met with PARC staff to talk about the leased properties, environmental issues and related issues. The meeting went very well, according to Mr. Steadman, and the Air Force team seemed satisfied with the information furnished to them. Afterwards, Mr. Sorel reported that the team was impressed with the cleanliness and high level of maintenance of the former base. Legal Report: None Final Comments: Mr. Duken asked Mr. Poirier if the Finance Office had received the final the Air Force audit and if it had been approved. Mr. Poirier replied in the affirmative to both parts of the question. Old Business: None New Business: Mr. Garrant asked if there were a state budget, and, if so, did it include an allocation for PARC. Mr. Duken responded saying an article in the paper stated that monies were awarded to various organizations, but money for PARC was not included at that point. However, he said that PARC is hopeful that the state will continue to award construction dollars to offset the cost of its many projects. Public Comment: None Chairman Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion by Ms. Bourdeau, seconded by Mr. Bouyea, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Fortin moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Premium Lean Meats. Seconded by Ms. Bourdeau. Motion approved unanimously Ms. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the Marian Calabro proposal. Seconded by Mr. King. Motion adopted by a 6-1 vote. -0- Minutes of the May Meeting of the PARC Board of Directors
Directors Present: Gil Duken, Kevin Carroll, Stephen Bouyea,
Marion Bourdeau, Henry Fortin, Don Garrant Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was no comment. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2006. Motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken discussed the transformation that has been taking place at the intersection of Route 9 and New York Road. He noted the installation of the round-about and the move of Clyde Lewis Park and its contents from New York Road to its new permanent site on the east side of Route 9. Now, he said, the former base hospital, a landmark in the community, has been flattened, and its ruins are disappearing day by day. He added that the project is on schedule and that it will soon become a pristine 20-acre parcel that should rank among the most marketable properties still available at PARC. He noted that the project proceeded without a hitch and pointed out that “proficiency is the name of the game in managing demolition projects at PARC.” He said that mostof the remaining dilapidated structures on the former base will be gone by the end of this year, and that he expects them to vanish “quietly, efficiently and with great care.” He said that PARC takes every precaution in managing demolition projects, insisting on safety procedures that far exceed the strictest safety, environmental requirements. He lauded the PARC management team, with a special nod to Bob Davis in Engineering, saying: “These professionals ensure that there is no such thing as a sloppy job at PARC. They help make PARC oversight a breeze, and make the PARC Board look good.” Mr. Duken stated that the Finance Committee met during the previous week and that Marc Poirier would report on that meeting. There were no other committee reports. COO’s Report: Mr. Steadman requested Department reports. Tenant Services Department Report: Ken Hynes summarized the sale of PARC’s personal property, equipment and vehicles saying that property screening was conducted from April 4 through May 2 of 2005, and that bills of sale issued to date total $305,000. Monies collected as of May 19, 2006 total approximately $300,000. Tenant Services support staff continue to review bids and issue bills of sale accordingly. Mr. Hynes stated that PARC’s maintenance staff continues to provide outstanding support to tenants. PARC’s electricians have shut down sub-stations 1 and 3 in accordance with the NYSEG agreement. Additionally, at the request of NYSEG, they have hooked up the parking lot lights adjacent to building 2640 (130 Arizona Ave) to the building’s power grid. Staff continue to relocate personal property from various buildings as PARC prepares to demolish them or re-core them to the Airport Master Key System. PARC will be phasing out Murfy’s at the end of June so the facility will be available. It is one of the last personal property large areas PARC has for storage. HVAC (Heat Shop) personnel have started cleaning PARC boilers with a July 1, target completion date. Construction/Environmental Department Report: Bob Davis gave the status of the projects listed below: COO Comments: Mr. Steadman pointed out that the work being done in building 610 is part of PARC’s partnering with the Clinton County Historical Association in recent years. PARC has helped with upgrading the building, including installation of an elevator – a project that is being held up by the manufacturer. The Historical Association is happy with PARC’s help in getting the building ready for occupancy. Mr. Duken asked about the results of the bid on the Central Heating Plant project. He was informed that the asbestos-removal component of the bid came in a slightly lower than expected. The project will be under way in a matter of weeks. Finance Department Report: Mr. Poirier reported that PARC anticipates many closings over the next 30-60 days. The Multina closing will occur first. He said that the Finance Committee reviewed rental income for the past month, and it totaled just over $225,000. The year-to-date figure is slightly less that $2.3 million with 98% collected. Mr. Poirier stated that PARC shows “a very clean receivable listing.” Two larger, outstanding amounts are on buildings that are scheduled to close soon. Rental amounts for the two have been added to the closing statements, leaving no issue with collections. PARC awaits reimbursement of slightly more than $550,000 from Empire State. The next reimbursement request will be submitted within 30 days. Grant 11 from the Governor’s budget is expected by mid-June. At its May 17th meeting, the Finance Committee reviewed cash
flow issues in anticipation of PARC’s fiscal year on June
30, specifically: The audit should be under way by the time the Board meets in July. A meeting with the auditors is scheduled for June. Since PARC no longer receives federal funding, audit requirements are fewer. The annual meeting is tentatively scheduled for the third week of September. Legal Report: None COO Additional Comments: Mr. Steadman stated that PARC hosted a meeting in April attended by representatives of most members of the Clinton County Board of Realtors. PARC displayed maps and handed out packets of data that listed and described all of the remaining parcels left for sale. The realtors were told that where the original subdivision included between 120 and 125 parcels, only about 20 remain available. They were asked to place the properties in their inventories and advised that PARC saw no perceived impediments to selling them. It was a positive meeting and a number of good questions were raised. The meeting concluded with a tour of the parcel locations. Since the meeting, PARC has received several requests for additional information and two MOU’s have been drafted. Mr. Duken asked how many acres were left to sell out of the 5,000 acres PARC inherited from the Air Force. Mr. Steadman estimated the number at about 200. Mr. Poirier made the point that, during the meeting PARC organized for local realtors, it was made clear that – as opposed to speculation – property purchases would have to be tied to job creation. Mr. Steadman said that Clyde Lewis Park is nearly ready to be given over to the City of Plattsburgh formally. The final cleanup of the grounds will take place in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Garrant asked about signage. Mr. Steadman replied that the temporary construction signs will be replaced by a permanent sign. He added that the FB-111 will be painted in the next couple of weeks and that the Santa Claus icon had been renovated for city takeover. During a recent visit, Mr. Lewis stated he was very pleased with the appearance of the Park looks and the way the move was handled. Final Comments: Mr. Duken stated that PARC has entered into agreement to compil a history of PARC and that he felt the final product will be very helpful for the community. He said that Mr. Carroll has agreed to be liaison with the party that’s writing the history, then asked Mr. Garrant if he would assist Mr. Carroll in this undertaking. Mr. Garrant agreed. Old Business: None New Business: None Public Comment: None
Call to Order: On a motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Fortin, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mrs. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Brockway. Seconded by Mr. Carroll. Motion approved unanimously. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Fesette. Seconded by Mr. Bouyea. Motion approved unanimously. Mrs. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the EZ new contract year. Seconded by Mr. Carroll. Motion approved unanimously. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of HOCMEC.
Seconded by Mr. Bouyea. Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the Seancony MOU. Seconded by Mr. Garrant. Motion approved unanimously. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the Platform RG MOU. Seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. Motion approved unanimously. -0- Minutes of the
July Meeting
-0- Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the PARC Board of Directors
-0- Executive Summary -0- Executive Summary Of the PARC Board of Directors Meeting November 13, 2006
Directors Present: Gil Duken, Kevin Carroll, Stephen Bouyea, Jim King Directors Present by Speaker Phone : Don Garrant, Marion Bourdeau Directors Available but unable to connect conference call: Henry Fortin Others Present: Bruce Steadman, Marc Poirier, Ken Hynes, Dennis Doyle, Bob Davis, Randall Beach, and Candis Luck Call to Order: Chairman Duken called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance:
Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was none.
Prior Minutes:
Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2006 meeting. Motion by Mr. Bouyea, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof.
Chairman's Report:
Mr. Duken began by congratulating the victors in the 2006 elections and offering condolences to those who failed in their bids for public office. He applauded all candidates for investing their time, energy and resources to attain an appointment in government service, and acknowledged that PARC owes much of its success in redevelopment to the outstanding support it has received through the years from its elected representatives on the local, state and national levels.
Mr. Duken recalled that the PARC website had been criticized for being outdated during a recent Board meeting. PARC staff addressed the matter, he said, and found that, indeed, the site had been neglected. However, he added, an overhaul of the website is virtually complete. The centerpiece is a drastic revision of the pages devoted to “available properties' at PARC.” The new version focuses heavily on the 22 parcels remaining to be sold from the 165 subdivided originally for redevelopment. It includes maps, drawings and text drawn from documents now in use or soon to be placed in circulation as part of a comprehensive marketing plan to sell the properties to investors or developers. He emphasized that job creation remains fundamental to PARC's marketing strategy. Even though some “tweaking” is still taking place, Mr. Duken encouraged his Board colleagues and the general public to take another look at the site at www.parc-usa.com.
CEO 's Report: Mr. Steadman requested Department reports.
Tenant Services Department Report:
Mr. Hynes stated that October was a busy month as PARC's maintenance and support staff transitioned to a unified shop system. The crew of four will continue to provide day-to-day tenant maintenance services as well as provide snow removal for PARC's tenants. He remains confident that PARC will be able to provide high quality services to both internal and external customers. Final maintenance activities on the former base hotel building have been completed in making it ready for sale. Work on the boiler system in Building 610 is also completed, and the building is ready for transfer.
All PARC-owned personal property has been relocated from Nose Dock 7 to EDC storage areas, and the remaining buildings in the PBC area vacated by PARC have been re-keyed to the Airport Master Key System. All PARC's assets are in the EDC area including Building 2640 and Building 2337 (PARC's business location).
Construction/Environmental Department Report:
Bob Davis gave the status of the projects listed below:
• Demolition and removal of remaining base housing continues. The project is on schedule and should be completed by year's end. Crushing of the concrete foundations will follow, and recyclable materials will be stored on Parcel 48 off Connecticut Road for use on future construction projects. • Proposals for the razing of the Central Heating Plant and the remaining four dorms on Connecticut have been accepted, and contracts have been awarded. The project should begin early next year. • Installation of the elevator in Building 610 is complete and inspection of the project is scheduled for this week. Once the inspection is complete, PARC will be able to turn over the building to the Clinton County Historical Association. • 1,400 feet of fencing is being installed around the military cemetery on Route 9 on the old base and should be completed this week. • Replacement of the roof on Building 492 is complete in preparation for transfer to the City. Work was completed by Gates Roofing. • The driveway for Building 2012 is paved, but some drainage work still needs to be done before the project is completed.
Legal Report: None
Chief Financial Officer's Report:
Mr. Poirier reported that rents for October exceeded 98% collected. Rental income is approximately $100,000 a month and continues to diminish as a result of higher number of property sales. Other highlights of his report include:
• There were two closings during the month October for Lots 5 & 6, both Titherington properties. November closings will be reported at the December Finance Committee Meeting. • Approximately $150,000 remains outstanding in Grants 9 and 10. • A reimbursement for over $900,000 from Empire State , which was the bulk of monies still outstanding, was received earlier in the month. • Regarding Grant 11, PARC is working on the grant application even though the formal award has not been received. Once confirmation is received, PARC will be ready to send in the application. • PARC's lines of credit with the bank have been renewed. The renewal is a yearly requirement and is completed each October. • The tax return for PARC's year end (June) has been completed. • A four-month statement (July, August, September and October) is being prepared for the December Finance Committee Meeting.
Chief Executive Officer:
Since this is our last public meeting for the year, Mr. Steadman reflected on the past year. He thanked Steve Gagnier and Dave Farnsworth of the Air Force Real Property Agency for their continued support of PARC. Mr. Steadman thanked the PARC staff, singling out the Finance Department for the great audit and for being in good financial shape to finish the fiscal year, which ends in June 2007.
He lauded PARC Attorney Randall Beach of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP for turning in a super job this year, adding that PARC will rely heavily on its legal counsel during the next 12-15 months. His plaudits extended to the Board. He noted that it's been a busy year, and the Board has had to deal with several complex issues. He thanked the Board for its support of the PARC mission and its staff.
Mr. Steadman reported that PARC is working on a number of closings. He said that PARC is about halfway to achieving financial numbers on closings, adding that he's confident all milestones will be met. Marketing will be very aggressive. The website is finished, and a number of marketing materials have been developed for use over the next several months. They include mailers, advertisements, and a number of pieces targeted to developers and companies that may be interested in the remaining 22 parcels. Even though winter months are a little slower from a marketing standpoint, PARC will be gearing up and working aggressively to market the parcels to light industrial, aviation support, and hospitality and commercial businesses.
Mr. Steadman commented on airport issues facing the County. PARC hopes, he said, that the Laurention Air Project goes forward in the spring, as scheduled. The new County Airport terminal is nearing completion, he said, and the community is only a few months away from seeing more airplanes. He concluded his remarks by expressing appreciation to Randy Beach of the Empire State Development Corporation for his ongoing support.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Public Comment: None
Chairman: In closing, Mr. Duken thanked Marie Winterkorn and George Rotella for their continued support, and Candis Luck who has served as the North Country 's representive for Governor Pataki. Mr. Duken asked for adjournment and to reconvene in Executive Session. Motion by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Call to Order: On a motion by Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. King, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting.
Mr. Carroll moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of closing the EDA checking account. Seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Titherington sale. Seconded by Mr. Carroll. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Mr. King moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Titherington documents. Seconded by Mr. Bouyea. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Sanderson/McGee sale. Seconded by Mr. King. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Mrs. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Sanderson/McGee documents. Seconded by Mr. Carroll. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Mr. Duken asked for adjournment. Motion by Mr. Bouyea. Seconded by Mr. King. 5-0 in favor thereof.
Executive Summary Of the PARC Board of Directors Meeting April 23, 2007
Directors Present: Gil Duken, Kevin Carroll, Stephen Bouyea, Marion Bourdeau, and Jim King Directors Present by phone: Don Garrant, and Henry Fortin Others Present: Bruce Steadman, Marc Poirier, Ken Hynes, Dennis Doyle, Bob Davis, and Phil Dixon Call to Order: Chairman Duken called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance:
Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was no comment.
Prior Minutes:
Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2007 meeting. Motion by Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof.
Chairman's Report: Mr. Duken noted that as the weather improves it is difficult to ignore the changing face of the New Base property at PARC. He stated that the former Central Heating Plant has all but vanished, and all that remains of the last four dormitories on Connecticut Road is a pile of rubble. Clean-up of both sites, he continued, will be completed by late spring or early summer. The epic transformation from major military installation to full-fledged industrial park is virtually achieved. He asserted that PARC's legacy continues to grow.
Mr. Duken said that travelers on Interstate 87 are seeing a new and brighter version of the PARC billboard situated adjacent to the northbound lanes near Exit 36. He said that the original sign conveyed a dated message and that it had taken a beating from our North Country weather. The new PARC sign, he noted, indicates that prime sites are still available at PARC in aviation support as well as for commercial, industrial and retail development. Chairman Duken saluted Clinton County on achieving a significant milestone in airport development, referring to upcoming grand opening of the airport's new passenger terminal. He added that PARC representatives will attend the event “to signify our faith in the future of aviation in the North Country and our commitment to work productively with the County and its partners to foster economic growth vital to the airport's success.”
Mr. Duken conveyed the Board's gratitude to Candis Luck, who had served as the governor's regional representative in the North Country for the duration of the Pataki administration. He added that although Candy was a non-voting member, the Board came to rely on her for input on issues and concerns that might impact legislative support for the redevelopment effort. She became, he said, PARC's leading advocate at the highest level of state government. He concluded by expressing the Board's gratitude for Ms. Luck's “steadfast friendship and loyalty.” A presentation was made to Ms. Luck by Mr. Steadman and Mr. Duken “in appreciation of her contributions to PARC and the greater Plattsburgh community.”
Chief Executive Officer's Report: Since there were no committee reports, Mr. Steadman requested Department reports.
Tenant Services Department Report: Mr. Hynes stated that PARC's maintenance staff is preparing to transition from winter operations to summer mode. Work crews have been busy repairing several roof leaks. PARC and airport personnel continue to work together as needs arise. The staff is consolidating the shops, tools, equipment, etc. to be better prepared to complete the faze-out of PARC's mission. This project should be completed by mid-August.
Construction/Environmental Department Report:
Bob Davis gave the status of the projects listed below:
• Housing demolition was dormant during the winter months but the project contractor is gearing up to finish the job. Once the remaining abatement is completed, the foundations will be crushed and the materials stored at PARC for future use. • Razing of the Central Heating Plant to ground level is complete. Air Force remediation work should be completed within the next 2-3 weeks. Thereafter, the contractor will remove and crush the foundation and dress-up the site. The project should be completed by the end of June. • The four remaining dorms off Connecticut Avenue have been razed. PARC's contractor is in the process of crushing the concrete foundations and dressing the site. • An amendment to parcel lines of several parcels on the Old Base along Ohio Avenue is scheduled to go before the City of Plattsburgh Planning Board tonight ( 4/23/07 ). • An amendment to parcel lines of several existing parcel lines along Connecticut Avenue is scheduled to go before the Town of Plattsburgh Planning Board in two weeks. The realignment will make 6-7 lots better suited for development.
Mr. Duken asked about the disposition of the crushed concrete from the hospital demolition. Mr. Davis stated that PARC wants to remove the material to open up the 24 acres so the property can be sold. Mr. Steadman pointed out that PARC recycles the concrete, which can be used underneath roadways or foundations or as fill material. Some of the concrete has already been sold or donated to municipalities.
Legal Report: Mr. Dixon of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP brought three resolutions before the Board:
• The first related to turning over administrative responsibility for the PARC Empire Zone from PARC to the Clinton County Legislature. Motion to approve the resolution made by Mr. Bouyea, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof.
• The second related to authorizing the President & CEO of the Corporation to negotiate and enter into a sublease agreement with DHC of Plattsburgh, LLC, for the lease of certain real property located on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. Motion to approve the resolution made by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Garrant. All in favor thereof.
• The third resolution related to authorizing the President & CEO of the Corporation to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with Northern Snow & Dirt, Inc., for the sale of Lot 20 and the option to purchase Lot 23 of the subdivision entitled PARC Subdivision Phase III in the Town of Plattsburgh. Motion to approve the resolution made by Mr. Bouyea, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof.
Chief Financial Officer's Report:
Mr. Poirier reported that rents for March were just under $94,000 collected, just over $900,000 for the year and right on budget with 99.8% collected. Other highlights of his report:
• Property sales are at $3.7 million compared to a budget of $4 million. PARC expects to close on one or two more properties before the end of June. • On the grant side, PARC has received confirmation that the Phase 11 Grant from Empire State has been approved. PARC awaits some final paperwork. Additional funding for Grant 12 has been earmarked for PARC, and more information is expected in the next 30 - 45 days. • There were no closings in March, two in April, and some are scheduled for the end of May. • PARC received five deeds from the Air Force that were needed to close on properties. Deeds for the FOSET properties will take more time. • There were no changes in personnel during the report period. • There were no changes in cash flow. • Payroll Quarterlies are being prepared. Accounting Software upgrades have been completed. • Preparations for PARC'S year-end audit have started. Finance will be meeting with the auditors in the next 3-4 weeks to schedule the audit, which will take place during August. • Preparation of the 2007-2008 Budget has begun. The projected budget should be available for discussion at the May meeting.
Chairman's Comments: Mr. Duken thanked Senator Betty Little for her help in securing the recent grant which will become available to apply to projects PARC wants to complete.
Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman stated that Randy Beach, Regional Director of Empire State Development, had arranged for him to meet with Dan Gunderson. Mr. Gunderson is Co-Commissioner of the Empire State Development Corporation with responsibility for upstate New York . Mr. Steadman said he found Mr. Gunderson to be engaging, bright, energetic and anxious to listen and that they, together with Mr. Beach, toured PARC. Mr. Steadman thanked Mr. Beach for setting up the meeting. He also recognized Steve Gagnier, Air Force Site Manager, together with his staff, for all their help working with regulators to resolve issues as they pursue obtaining several deeds PARC needs to close on properties.
Old Business : None New Business: None
Public Comment : None
Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mrs. Bourdeau, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof.
Call to Order: On a motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Carroll, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting.
Mrs. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the conveyance of Lot 36A to Soboleski, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof.
Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to go back to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. Bouyea, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof.
Call to Order: On a motion my Mr. Bouyea, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting.
Mr. Bouyea moved to adjourn the public session, secon -0- Executive Summary Directors Present: Gil Duken, Henry Fortin Jr., Don Garrant, Stephen Bouyea, Marion Bourdeau, and Jim King Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: Mr. Keith Herkalo, representing the Battle of Plattsburgh Association, asked to address the Board. He reported that a new spirit of cooperation prevails among the three museums that function on the old base and that it is the consensus of the directors of all three that all “are now headed in the right direction.” He also thanked PARC for its help over the years, and said he looked forward to continuing BOPA’s relationship with PARC. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2007 meeting. Motion by Mr. Fortin, seconded by Mr. Garrant. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken stated that, with the fiscal year coming to a close within the next 12 days, and following a review of PARC’s progress since July of 2006, it is abundantly clear that much has been accomplished over the past year. He summarized his conclusions as follows: Mr. Duken thanked the leadership at PARC, specifically Mr. Steadman and Mr. Poirier, as well as all members of the PARC Board for their ongoing cooperation. He said that all should be proud of the “Team PARC” track record in progress in redevelopment. Mr. Duken reported further that PARC had closed on another property recently, the eighth since January, adding that another closing would take place before the end of June. The official report for the annual audit, scheduled to begin soon, will be presented at PARC’s annual board meeting in September. In summation, he said that approximately 18 parcels remain for sale as PARC heads for the finish line. However, he noted, PARC continues to await delivery of 27 deeds from the Air Force that have been held up by ongoing environmental work. Chief Executive Officer’s Report: Since there were no committee reports, Mr. Steadman requested Department reports. Tenant Services Department Report: Mr. Hynes stated that PARC’s maintenance staff is operating in the summer mode. Work crews have closed out the last of deferred work orders on several roof leaks. The second floor project in Building 2640 is 50% complete, and the annual cleaning and servicing of PARC HVAC boiler systems is currently underway. The staff’s effort of consolidating shops, tools and equipment is approximately 30% complete, and the project is expected to be finished by mid-August. PARC and airport personnel continue to work with each other as needs arise. He pointed specifically to the county’s recent utilization of the PARC bus for airport tours. Construction/Engineering Department Report: Bob Davis gave the status of the projects listed below: Mr. Davis concluded by saying that completion of several future projects will depend on the amount of interest shown by prospective tenants and development possibilities before PARC commits the time and money to complete them. Chief Financial Officer’s Report: Mr. Poirier said that PARC is preparing for the annual audit scheduled to take place during the week of August 13. He reported that rents for the year are right on budget at just under $1.1 million to date with a collection rate of 99.72%. Rent income for the fiscal year was projected at $1.2 million, and PARC expects to meet that target. Other highlights of his report included: Legal Report: Mr. Randall Beach of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP said he had one resolution to bring before the Board. With PARC scheduled to close on the former Fitness Center on June 29th, the resolution relates to the conveyance of that facility to CVPH. Motion to approve the resolution was made by Mr. Fortin, joined by Messrs. Garrant and Duken, and seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau, Mr. King and Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman addressed Mr. Herkalo directly, saying that he appreciated his remarks at the start of the meeting. He stated that discussions with the Battle of Plattsburgh Association over the past several months are turning out to be fruitful. Although there were some difficult issues to address, Mr. Herkalo’s cooperative attitude and interest in arriving at common ground has resulted in consensus. Mr. Steadman concluded by saying that a written document is expected to be ready for signature within the next couple of weeks, and he thanked Mr. Herkalo for all his efforts in attaining that objective. Mr. Steadman urged property owners at the former base to do their best to keep their parcels looking groomed. He noted that staff who worked for PARC over the years took great pride in maintaining the grounds. As parcels are sold to private owners, control for their upkeep becomes their responsibility, not PARC’s, and rightly so. However, the condition of some parcels do not measure up to PARC standards. With PARC actively marketing about 18 remaining parcels, and with a lot of activity going on at the airport, Mr. Steadman requested property owners to do their best to keep things looking ‘spiffy and tight’ especially during the summer and into early fall. It will help the marketing efforts of both the County and PARC, he said, and it will help the community to continue to have a greater sense of pride in the former base. Mr. Steadman reported that of the 18 remaining parcels to be sold, there is very strong interest in at least one-third of them. He said the first part of PARC’s new fiscal year could yield positive results, adding that an update would be on the agenda for the annual meeting in September. He concluded by saying all is well from a marketing standpoint and that the situation will only improve as activity at the airport increases. Referring to his comments regarding the condition of some former base properties, Mrs. Bourdeau asked Mr. Steadman if it would help to convey PARC’s concerns about grounds maintenance to neglectful property owners. Mr. Steadman said that strategy would be employed in the near future. Old Business: None New Business: None Public Comment: None Chairman: Mr. Duken mentioned that the marketing, public relations and personnel committees will be reactivated in September, and asked the Board for input regarding membership. Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Forten, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Thylan sale/lease, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof. Mr Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Jeffords sale, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the LTS Homes sale, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the BOPA plan, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adjourn the public session, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. -0- Executive Summary Directors Present: Gil Duken, Henry Fortin Jr., Don Garrant, Stephen Bouyea, and Marion Bourdeau Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: Chairman Duken stated that two of the board members were absent; Mr. Carroll had an emergency situation and couldn’t attend, and Mr. King was appointed by Governor Spitzer over the weekend to the Commission on Public Integrity. There was no public comment at this time. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2007 meeting. Motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken stated that it was a pleasure to report that PARC is marking another year of stellar performance in achieving its short and long-term goals and objectives. He noted that PARC begins it’s 12th year with 15 parcels left to sell and some very good prospects on the line. He termed PARC’s continuing financial viability and its progress in completing projects essential to the redevelopment process as “especially noteworthy.” Mr. Duken recalled the events of November 30th, 1998, when bulldozers leveled the first structures on the base to make room for new development. That project became the Lake Forest Senior Retirement Community, he said, and all know what a success story that became. He wondered at the time, he said, whether PARC could meet the demolition challenges facing the organization in the future, noting that buildings on the tear-down list numbered in the hundreds. The environmental concerns then were overwhelming, he said, and costs would be staggering. He wondered whether PARC could handle “this nightmare” without encountering further controversy; without burdensome interference; without going broke? As it turned out, there was no reason to worry. The rest, he said, is history. He continued with the following update: Mr. Duken stated that PARC’s accomplishments in creating a thriving and attractive industrial park out of a crumbling former military installation deserve the plaudits and the gratitude of the entire north country. He termed them “a total team effort.” He continued saying that it was an honor on behalf of the Board to thank every member of the PARC management and staff who “continue to make the impossible jobs look easy.” He also acknowledged the support of the community in general and its leadership in particular. He noted that PARC has continued to work closely with its partners on the federal, state and local levels, including Congressman John McHugh, State Senator Betty Little, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak, Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Bernie Bassett, County Legislature Chairman Jim Langley, and Empire State Development Corp. (ESDC). Also included are the administrators and department heads who share their expertise to foster progress at PARC in the interest of their constituencies. He concluded by saying that PARC appreciates their help and their confidence in what is being done to accomplish PARC’s mission. Mr. Duken asked for committee reports. He stated that since Mr. King isn’t here, Mrs. Bourdeau will present the Public Relations Committee report. Public Relations Committee Report: Mrs. Bourdeau said that when this committee was formed a little more than nine years ago, PARC’s needs for traditional public relation activity were vastly different from those in practice now. Few would argue back then, she continued, that PARC – together with its task to redevelop what had been this community’s most highly cherished economic asset – constituted the top story throughout the North Country. Retained on a part time basis, PARC’s public relations staff kept busy churning out press releases and scheduling press briefings, writing scripts for television and crafting presentations for several organizations, planning and coordinating open house programs, producing newsletters and other printed materials, creating a web site, and by serving as an intermediate between the PARC Board and its administration and the local, regional and national news media. She noted that over time, as tenants arrived and property transactions accelerated, as economic recovery progressed from possibly to probably to certainty, PARC’s credibility and community standing improved. Gradually, demand for a full range of PR services declined and that allowed for a substantial reduction in job requirements and payroll. It also allowed for a specific shift in job responsibilities. She stated that today the incumbent’s creative skills are being used primarily and efficiently and effectively helping PARC achieve its marketing goals. She concluded by saying that Mr. Steadman would be presenting some examples of public relations activity over the past year. CEO Comments: Using a PowerPoint presentation (a printed version is appended to these minutes), Mr. Steadman briefly discussed the media currently being utilized to market the remaining parcels. He said that PARC is using a variety of brochures, ads, and the organization’s web site to project a consistent message in each medium. He showed slides depicting how this is being accomplished. The slides illustrated a series of direct mail brochures, ads created for local, regional, and national audiences, substantial web site modifications and materials produced in support of a special program for the Clinton County Board of Realtors. Mr. Steadman pointed out that all publications and camera-ready ads are produced in-house, resulting in significant savings. The emphasis in the coming months will be on creating marketing pieces in support of a campaign to sell the 40-plus acres along Connecticut Road. Finance Committee Report: Mr. Fortin stated that the Finance Committee met with the audit team from Abbott Frenyea Russell and Coffey, PC, on Thursday, September 20th, and, as in past years, the audit was clean and free of problems. He continued saying that this marks the 11th consecutive year that PARC has “breezed through this intensive financial review process, and that’s a feather in the cap of those who manage property transfer, cash flow and record keeping systems that are as complicated as PARC’s.” He lauded Marc Poirier, Vice President for Finance, for being at the helm for nine of the 11 years, as well as the other members of PARC’s finance staff, Lee Mitchell and Lisa Conto. Mr. Fortin said that Mr. Poirier and Mr. Frenyea of the auditing firm would give more detail later in the meeting. Personnel Committee Report: Chairman Duken said that, in keeping with its mission, PARC continues to reduce staff as it heads for the finish line. The more PARC succeeds, he said, the fewer the personnel that PARC requires to achieve its remaining objectives. To recap the headway in simplistic terms, he said, he offered the following: Chairman Duken continued by saying that, accordingly, PARC staff will be cut in half from the current level of 14 employees by the end of the year. The former South Side School, which currently houses PARC offices and shops, will be closed after the Thanksgiving holiday and the remaining staff will be relocated to 130 Arizona Avenue. In addition to marketing the 15 remaining parcels, their ongoing tasks will include closing on properties with purchasers where PARC has received title, pursuing the transfer of deeds from the Air Force on 30 others where titles are outstanding, and following through on remaining construction projects. Chairman Duken stated that these activities are expected to take place over the next 12 to 15 months, placing the end of PARC’s day-to-day operations at the end of 2008 or in the first quarter of 2009. However, he added, this timetable is a moving target that is dependent upon the delivery of deeds from the Air Force and the completion of necessary financial and legal tasks set forth by state and federal requirements. In concluding, he said that the personnel committee prefers to remain in the background because of the confidential nature of the issues it must address. However, he felt it was important at this time to outline PARC’s current situation in respect to personnel and the Board’s plan for proceeding toward closure. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman requested Department reports. Construction/Engineering Department Report: Mr. Davis said that the Construction & Engineering Department’s concentration over the past year has been on land planning and subdivision issues, marketing support, asbestos abatement and demolition, and construction and improvement projects. Major projects in 2007 came to a total of $2.5 million. Most of the money was expended for demolition and abatement. Property improvements included some new water lines and road construction. Upcoming projects include work around the former hospital and the Connecticut Road parcels. Mr. Davis discussed the division of lands. He stated that the former base consisted of approximately 3,500 acres. The Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC), which is now the County Airport, comprises 1,700 acres. The remaining land is the Economic Development Conveyance (EDC) which is broken into two parts - -EDC1 consisting of about 1,058 acres for industrial and commercial development, and EDC2, consisting of 742 acres, which is categorized as flight line support. He said that subdividing the EDC was difficult because of its existing infrastructure, but PARC completed the task. Demolition, he stated, has been a big part of the redevelopment of the base. The base hospital is gone, opening 20-plus acres, the Wing Intelligence building on Connecticut/Idaho has been taken down, and nine of 13 dormitories have been demolished. The Central Heating Plant is down and PARC is waiting for the Air Force to finish up its environmental work. Once that is accomplished, the remaining foundation will be removed. Approximately 300 housing structures have been demolished. Tenant Services Report: Mr. Hynes stated that tenant services maintains 17 buildings for 16 tenants, 150 acres of improved land, and 220 acres of unimproved land. PARC’s personal property, equipment and vehicle sales during the fiscal year totaled $55,000, and community support donations totaled $184,000. The main community support beneficiaries were the City of Plattsburgh, Town of Plattsburgh, the County Airport, CV-TEC, and PAI. PARC’s reduced maintenance staff continues to provide outstanding support to tenants. They relocated personal property from various building as PARC prepared buildings for demolition. PARC had completed the relocation of personal property from the temporary PBC area in July of 2006. Most noteworthy was the PARC and PBG staff providing mutual support and assistance during this time. Both groups continue to work together on issues that arise and are quickly resolved in a minimum amount of time. Mr. Hynes thanked the airport management staff and the county for their support during this transition period. In conclusion he reported that his staff had finished refurbishing the new PARC offices located at 130 Arizona Avenue with the move to take place in mid November. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman took this opportunity to thank Mr. Hynes and his staff for responding quickly and resolving issues that arise especially after normal business hours. He also thanked contacts at the city, town and county who are often called to respond. Next, Mr. Steadman recognized two employees who “are the heart and soul of PARC.” He presented Mr. Wayne Clark and Mr. Rollie McGee with 10-year service awards. Mr. Hynes read the citations. He concluded by expressing his own gratitude for their commitment and responsiveness over the years. Chief Financial Officer Report: Mr. Poirier continued with a slide presentation (included in the PowerPoint document appended to these minutes) reflecting PARC’s financial highlights for the year ending June 30, 2007. A summary follows: Mr. Poirier reviewed the balance sheet highlights for fiscal years 2007 versus 2006: Revenue for this year totaled $3.8 million compared to $9.3 million the previous year. Again, a prime reason for the decrease is the decline in grant income from $2.8 million last year to $900,000 this year. Operating expenses were $5.5 million vs $7.6 last year. Mr. Poirier said that PARC has received confirmation that it will receive another $1 million grant from Empire State. Rental income is expected to drop from $1.2 million to just over half a million. This, too, is a reflection of “the more we sell, the less we receive in rent revenue.” However, he noted, PARC profits by the income from sales. The budget for sales in the coming year is $3.5 million, which should be attainable. Four or five closures are expected to be scheduled over the next 45-60 days. A cash surplus of between $200,000 and $300,000 is projected for the fiscal year. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman thanked Mr. Poirier and his staff for all their good work. He continued saying he wanted to talk about some projections for the next year and a half. PARC anticipates at least 15 to 20 closing on deeds it holds. The number could change, but PARC continues to benefit from significant help and support from Randall Beach and his team at Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna, as well as from Mr. Gagnier and Mr. Farnsworth at the Air Force Real Property Agency. He stated that PARC will continue to market properties aggressively, particularly the parcels along Arizona Avenue near the airport and the acreage along Connecticut Road. PARC’s goal is to sell a minimum of seven parcels by the end of June of next year, leaving eight to sell by the end of 2008. PARC is working hard to get 27 of the last 30 deeds from the Air Force. The Air Force is holding one last group of 30 deeds because of environmental issues. Property is normally transferred under an Economic Development Conveyance from the Air Force, but a Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) has to be completed first. He explained that the Air Force has developed a Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) to address the areas where there are some on-going environmental issues. The FOSET will allow PARC to obtain title to the 30 parcels. PARC has written several letters to the Air Force and petitioned through Congressman McHugh’s office, Assemblywoman Duprey’s office, the legislature, and Senator Little’s office, with some positive response. The Air Force Real Property Agency central operation in San Antonio has agreed to put together a FOSET that will allow PARC to obtain 27 of the 30 parcels. Hopefully, he said, PARC will receive the titles by the end of June. Approximately 25 of the parcels are already sold, so those sales transactions will be closed within 30 to 180 days from the date the titles are received. Receiving the deeds by the end of June 2008 should enable PARC to close on the properties by the end of 2008. The remaining three parcels are closer to an area of concern environmentally that is still being addressed by the DOH, DEC and the USEPA. In addition to petitioning through the aforementioned government offices, PARC is working with Ms. Bassett, Governor Spitzer’s representative in the north country, to seek the governor’s help in this situation. By the end of June 2008, Mr. Steadman continued, the properties sold at PARC will have an assessed value of roughly $85 million on the tax rolls in the city and the town. PARC will have paid approximately $3.8 million in taxes and PILOTs by the end of June 08. Mr. Steadman stated that there are some specific legal and financial requirements that have to be dealt with as PARC nears closure. PARC will be utilizing the services of an attorney at Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP who is experienced in the legal and tax implications of not-for-profits, as well as the services of people that understand DoD and government regulations. The Board will be provided a checklist of things that need to be accomplished. He noted that over the next year PARC will continue to work closely with the city, town and county. Two miles of streets within the Town await transfer pending receipt of the deed from the Air Force. As issues come up, it’s PARC’s goal to continue to foster those excellent working relationships. In conclusion, Mr. Steadman thanked everyone attending the meeting for their great support. Chairman: Mr. Duken commented that when he came on the Board about nine years ago, some community leaders told him that the best thing the PARC Board could do was to return everything to the Air Force and let the property grow over with weeds because otherwise, “the PARC Board will bankrupt Clinton County.” He said that it certainly didn’t turn out that way, and he thanked Mr. Steadman for the leadership he has provided as CEO. He noted Mr. Steadman’s tremendous support within the city, the town, the county, the state, and the school districts, and thanked him for his spirit of cooperation in working through any issues that arose. Mr. Duken then opened up the floor for elections of the Board for the upcoming year. Motion to elect Gilbert Duken as President/Chairman of the Board of Directors made by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Motion to elect Henry Fortin as Vice Chairman made by Mrs. Bourdeau; seconded by Mr. Garrant. All in favor thereof. Legal Report: Mr. Randall Beach of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP brought two resolutions to the Board. The first related to approval of the acts of the officers and directors in the name of or on behalf of the Corporation since the annual meeting held on September 18, 2006. Motion to approve the resolution made by Mr. Bouyea; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. The second resolution was a resolution accepting the independent auditor’s report and financial statements for fiscal year 2007, commencing July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007, prepared for Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation by Abbott, Frenyea, Russell and Coffey PC. Motion made by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. New Business: None Old Business: None Public Comment: Mayor Kasprzak said that when he became mayor, he didn’t realize that the incumbent gets the chance to appoint someone to the PARC Board. He stated that he has known Mr. Duken (his appointee) for many, many years, and that he has had the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with him since assuming office. He said that Mr. Duken has kept him informed continually, even while he (Mr. Duken) was in Florida. He also said that Mr. Steadman has been a great resource for the city. He and Mr. Steadman speak at least once and often twice a week about issues important to the city. He wanted everyone to know that Mr. Steadman has done an outstanding job. Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion made by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mr. Bouyea, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Advocacy and Resource Center/MRS, Inc., seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 abstain (Mr. Duken). Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Idacon LLC (Thylan), seconded by Mr. Garrant. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Keith Howe, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Northern Snow & Dirt, Inc., seconded Mrs. Bourdeau. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Titherington Properties, Inc., seconded by Mr. Bouyea. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of TKM Properties, LLC, seconded by Mr. Garrant. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Fortin moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Ralph Daust, seconded by Mr. Garrant. 5-0 in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adjourn the public session, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. -0- Executive Summary Directors Present: Gil Duken, Henry Fortin Jr., Don Garrant, Stephen Bouyea, and Marion Bourdeau Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: Chairman Duken stated that two of the board members were absent; Mr. Carroll had an emergency situation and couldn’t attend, and Mr. King was appointed by Governor Spitzer over the weekend to the Commission on Public Integrity. There was no public comment at this time. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2007 meeting. Motion by Mr. Garrant, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken stated that it was a pleasure to report that PARC is marking another year of stellar performance in achieving its short and long-term goals and objectives. He noted that PARC begins it’s 12th year with 15 parcels left to sell and some very good prospects on the line. He termed PARC’s continuing financial viability and its progress in completing projects essential to the redevelopment process as “especially noteworthy.” Mr. Duken recalled the events of November 30th, 1998, when bulldozers leveled the first structures on the base to make room for new development. That project became the Lake Forest Senior Retirement Community, he said, and all know what a success story that became. He wondered at the time, he said, whether PARC could meet the demolition challenges facing the organization in the future, noting that buildings on the tear-down list numbered in the hundreds. The environmental concerns then were overwhelming, he said, and costs would be staggering. He wondered whether PARC could handle “this nightmare” without encountering further controversy; without burdensome interference; without going broke? As it turned out, there was no reason to worry. The rest, he said, is history. He continued with the following update: Mr. Duken stated that PARC’s accomplishments in creating a thriving and attractive industrial park out of a crumbling former military installation deserve the plaudits and the gratitude of the entire north country. He termed them “a total team effort.” He continued saying that it was an honor on behalf of the Board to thank every member of the PARC management and staff who “continue to make the impossible jobs look easy.” He also acknowledged the support of the community in general and its leadership in particular. He noted that PARC has continued to work closely with its partners on the federal, state and local levels, including Congressman John McHugh, State Senator Betty Little, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak, Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Bernie Bassett, County Legislature Chairman Jim Langley, and Empire State Development Corp. (ESDC). Also included are the administrators and department heads who share their expertise to foster progress at PARC in the interest of their constituencies. He concluded by saying that PARC appreciates their help and their confidence in what is being done to accomplish PARC’s mission. Mr. Duken asked for committee reports. He stated that since Mr. King isn’t here, Mrs. Bourdeau will present the Public Relations Committee report. Public Relations Committee Report: Mrs. Bourdeau said that when this committee was formed a little more than nine years ago, PARC’s needs for traditional public relation activity were vastly different from those in practice now. Few would argue back then, she continued, that PARC – together with its task to redevelop what had been this community’s most highly cherished economic asset – constituted the top story throughout the North Country. Retained on a part time basis, PARC’s public relations staff kept busy churning out press releases and scheduling press briefings, writing scripts for television and crafting presentations for several organizations, planning and coordinating open house programs, producing newsletters and other printed materials, creating a web site, and by serving as an intermediate between the PARC Board and its administration and the local, regional and national news media. She noted that over time, as tenants arrived and property transactions accelerated, as economic recovery progressed from possibly to probably to certainty, PARC’s credibility and community standing improved. Gradually, demand for a full range of PR services declined and that allowed for a substantial reduction in job requirements and payroll. It also allowed for a specific shift in job responsibilities. She stated that today the incumbent’s creative skills are being used primarily and efficiently and effectively helping PARC achieve its marketing goals. She concluded by saying that Mr. Steadman would be presenting some examples of public relations activity over the past year. CEO Comments: Using a PowerPoint presentation (a printed version is appended to these minutes), Mr. Steadman briefly discussed the media currently being utilized to market the remaining parcels. He said that PARC is using a variety of brochures, ads, and the organization’s web site to project a consistent message in each medium. He showed slides depicting how this is being accomplished. The slides illustrated a series of direct mail brochures, ads created for local, regional, and national audiences, substantial web site modifications and materials produced in support of a special program for the Clinton County Board of Realtors. Mr. Steadman pointed out that all publications and camera-ready ads are produced in-house, resulting in significant savings. The emphasis in the coming months will be on creating marketing pieces in support of a campaign to sell the 40-plus acres along Connecticut Road. Finance Committee Report: Mr. Fortin stated that the Finance Committee met with the audit team from Abbott Frenyea Russell and Coffey, PC, on Thursday, September 20th, and, as in past years, the audit was clean and free of problems. He continued saying that this marks the 11th consecutive year that PARC has “breezed through this intensive financial review process, and that’s a feather in the cap of those who manage property transfer, cash flow and record keeping systems that are as complicated as PARC’s.” He lauded Marc Poirier, Vice President for Finance, for being at the helm for nine of the 11 years, as well as the other members of PARC’s finance staff, Lee Mitchell and Lisa Conto. Mr. Fortin said that Mr. Poirier and Mr. Frenyea of the auditing firm would give more detail later in the meeting. Personnel Committee Report: Chairman Duken said that, in keeping with its mission, PARC continues to reduce staff as it heads for the finish line. The more PARC succeeds, he said, the fewer the personnel that PARC requires to achieve its remaining objectives. To recap the headway in simplistic terms, he said, he offered the following: Chairman Duken continued by saying that, accordingly, PARC staff will be cut in half from the current level of 14 employees by the end of the year. The former South Side School, which currently houses PARC offices and shops, will be closed after the Thanksgiving holiday and the remaining staff will be relocated to 130 Arizona Avenue. In addition to marketing the 15 remaining parcels, their ongoing tasks will include closing on properties with purchasers where PARC has received title, pursuing the transfer of deeds from the Air Force on 30 others where titles are outstanding, and following through on remaining construction projects. Chairman Duken stated that these activities are expected to take place over the next 12 to 15 months, placing the end of PARC’s day-to-day operations at the end of 2008 or in the first quarter of 2009. However, he added, this timetable is a moving target that is dependent upon the delivery of deeds from the Air Force and the completion of necessary financial and legal tasks set forth by state and federal requirements. In concluding, he said that the personnel committee prefers to remain in the background because of the confidential nature of the issues it must address. However, he felt it was important at this time to outline PARC’s current situation in respect to personnel and the Board’s plan for proceeding toward closure. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman requested Department reports. Construction/Engineering Department Report: Mr. Davis said that the Construction & Engineering Department’s concentration over the past year has been on land planning and subdivision issues, marketing support, asbestos abatement and demolition, and construction and improvement projects. Major projects in 2007 came to a total of $2.5 million. Most of the money was expended for demolition and abatement. Property improvements included some new water lines and road construction. Upcoming projects include work around the former hospital and the Connecticut Road parcels. Mr. Davis discussed the division of lands. He stated that the former base consisted of approximately 3,500 acres. The Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC), which is now the County Airport, comprises 1,700 acres. The remaining land is the Economic Development Conveyance (EDC) which is broken into two parts - -EDC1 consisting of about 1,058 acres for industrial and commercial development, and EDC2, consisting of 742 acres, which is categorized as flight line support. He said that subdividing the EDC was difficult because of its existing infrastructure, but PARC completed the task. Demolition, he stated, has been a big part of the redevelopment of the base. The base hospital is gone, opening 20-plus acres, the Wing Intelligence building on Connecticut/Idaho has been taken down, and nine of 13 dormitories have been demolished. The Central Heating Plant is down and PARC is waiting for the Air Force to finish up its environmental work. Once that is accomplished, the remaining foundation will be removed. Approximately 300 housing structures have been demolished. Tenant Services Report: Mr. Hynes stated that tenant services maintains 17 buildings for 16 tenants, 150 acres of improved land, and 220 acres of unimproved land. PARC’s personal property, equipment and vehicle sales during the fiscal year totaled $55,000, and community support donations totaled $184,000. The main community support beneficiaries were the City of Plattsburgh, Town of Plattsburgh, the County Airport, CV-TEC, and PAI. PARC’s reduced maintenance staff continues to provide outstanding support to tenants. They relocated personal property from various building as PARC prepared buildings for demolition. PARC had completed the relocation of personal property from the temporary PBC area in July of 2006. Most noteworthy was the PARC and PBG staff providing mutual support and assistance during this time. Both groups continue to work together on issues that arise and are quickly resolved in a minimum amount of time. Mr. Hynes thanked the airport management staff and the county for their support during this transition period. In conclusion he reported that his staff had finished refurbishing the new PARC offices located at 130 Arizona Avenue with the move to take place in mid November. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman took this opportunity to thank Mr. Hynes and his staff for responding quickly and resolving issues that arise especially after normal business hours. He also thanked contacts at the city, town and county who are often called to respond. Next, Mr. Steadman recognized two employees who “are the heart and soul of PARC.” He presented Mr. Wayne Clark and Mr. Rollie McGee with 10-year service awards. Mr. Hynes read the citations. He concluded by expressing his own gratitude for their commitment and responsiveness over the years. Chief Financial Officer Report: Mr. Poirier continued with a slide presentation (included in the PowerPoint document appended to these minutes) reflecting PARC’s financial highlights for the year ending June 30, 2007. A summary follows: Mr. Poirier reviewed the balance sheet highlights for fiscal years 2007 versus 2006: Revenue for this year totaled $3.8 million compared to $9.3 million the previous year. Again, a prime reason for the decrease is the decline in grant income from $2.8 million last year to $900,000 this year. Operating expenses were $5.5 million vs $7.6 last year. Mr. Poirier said that PARC has received confirmation that it will receive another $1 million grant from Empire State. Rental income is expected to drop from $1.2 million to just over half a million. This, too, is a reflection of “the more we sell, the less we receive in rent revenue.” However, he noted, PARC profits by the income from sales. The budget for sales in the coming year is $3.5 million, which should be attainable. Four or five closures are expected to be scheduled over the next 45-60 days. A cash surplus of between $200,000 and $300,000 is projected for the fiscal year. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman thanked Mr. Poirier and his staff for all their good work. He continued saying he wanted to talk about some projections for the next year and a half. PARC anticipates at least 15 to 20 closing on deeds it holds. The number could change, but PARC continues to benefit from significant help and support from Randall Beach and his team at Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna, as well as from Mr. Gagnier and Mr. Farnsworth at the Air Force Real Property Agency. He stated that PARC will continue to market properties aggressively, particularly the parcels along Arizona Avenue near the airport and the acreage along Connecticut Road. PARC’s goal is to sell a minimum of seven parcels by the end of June of next year, leaving eight to sell by the end of 2008. PARC is working hard to get 27 of the last 30 deeds from the Air Force. The Air Force is holding one last group of 30 deeds because of environmental issues. Property is normally transferred under an Economic Development Conveyance from the Air Force, but a Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) has to be completed first. He explained that the Air Force has developed a Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET) to address the areas where there are some on-going environmental issues. The FOSET will allow PARC to obtain title to the 30 parcels. PARC has written several letters to the Air Force and petitioned through Congressman McHugh’s office, Assemblywoman Duprey’s office, the legislature, and Senator Little’s office, with some positive response. The Air Force Real Property Agency central operation in San Antonio has agreed to put together a FOSET that will allow PARC to obtain 27 of the 30 parcels. Hopefully, he said, PARC will receive the titles by the end of June. Approximately 25 of the parcels are already sold, so those sales transactions will be closed within 30 to 180 days from the date the titles are received. Receiving the deeds by the end of June 2008 should enable PARC to close on the properties by the end of 2008. The remaining three parcels are closer to an area of concern environmentally that is still being addressed by the DOH, DEC and the USEPA. In addition to petitioning through the aforementioned government offices, PARC is working with Ms. Bassett, Governor Spitzer’s representative in the north country, to seek the governor’s help in this situation. By the end of June 2008, Mr. Steadman continued, the properties sold at PARC will have an assessed value of roughly $85 million on the tax rolls in the city and the town. PARC will have paid approximately $3.8 million in taxes and PILOTs by the end of June 08. Mr. Steadman stated that there are some specific legal and financial requirements that have to be dealt with as PARC nears closure. PARC will be utilizing the services of an attorney at Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP who is experienced in the legal and tax implications of not-for-profits, as well as the services of people that understand DoD and government regulations. The Board will be provided a checklist of things that need to be accomplished. He noted that over the next year PARC will continue to work closely with the city, town and county. Two miles of streets within the Town await transfer pending receipt of the deed from the Air Force. As issues come up, it’s PARC’s goal to continue to foster those excellent working relationships. In conclusion, Mr. Steadman thanked everyone attending the meeting for their great support. Chairman: Mr. Duken commented that when he came on the Board about nine years ago, some community leaders told him that the best thing the PARC Board could do was to return everything to the Air Force and let the property grow over with weeds because otherwise, “the PARC Board will bankrupt Clinton County.” He said that it certainly didn’t turn out that way, and he thanked Mr. Steadman for the leadership he has provided as CEO. He noted Mr. Steadman’s tremendous support within the city, the town, the county, the state, and the school districts, and thanked him for his spirit of cooperation in working through any issues that arose. Mr. Duken then opened up the floor for elections of the Board for the upcoming year. Motion to elect Gilbert Duken as President/Chairman of the Board of Directors made by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Motion to elect Henry Fortin as Vice Chairman made by Mrs. Bourdeau; seconded by Mr. Garrant. All in favor thereof. Legal Report: Mr. Randall Beach of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP brought two resolutions to the Board. The first related to approval of the acts of the officers and directors in the name of or on behalf of the Corporation since the annual meeting held on September 18, 2006. Motion to approve the resolution made by Mr. Bouyea; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. The second resolution was a resolution accepting the independent auditor’s report and financial statements for fiscal year 2007, commencing July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007, prepared for Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation by Abbott, Frenyea, Russell and Coffey PC. Motion made by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. New Business: None Old Business: None Public Comment: Mayor Kasprzak said that when he became mayor, he didn’t realize that the incumbent gets the chance to appoint someone to the PARC Board. He stated that he has known Mr. Duken (his appointee) for many, many years, and that he has had the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with him since assuming office. He said that Mr. Duken has kept him informed continually, even while he (Mr. Duken) was in Florida. He also said that Mr. Steadman has been a great resource for the city. He and Mr. Steadman speak at least once and often twice a week about issues important to the city. He wanted everyone to know that Mr. Steadman has done an outstanding job. Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion made by Mr. Garrant; seconded by Mr. Bouyea, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Advocacy and Resource Center/MRS, Inc., seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 abstain (Mr. Duken). Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Idacon LLC (Thylan), seconded by Mr. Garrant. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Keith Howe, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Northern Snow & Dirt, Inc., seconded Mrs. Bourdeau. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Titherington Properties, Inc., seconded by Mr. Bouyea. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of TKM Properties, LLC, seconded by Mr. Garrant. 4-0 in favor thereof, 1 absent (Mr. Fortin). Mr. Fortin moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Ralph Daust, seconded by Mr. Garrant. 5-0 in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adjourn the public session, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. -0- Executive Summary Directors Present: Gil Duken, Marion Bourdeau, Stephen Bouyea, Kevin Carroll and Jim King Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was no public comment. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the September 24, 2007 meeting. Motion to approve, as amended, by Mrs. Bourdeau, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken marked the day as “bittersweet”, saying it is the last PARC Board meeting for several members of PARC’s current staff as downsizing continues. He said it is sad to say goodbye to people whose hard work has been responsible for the success PARC has achieved, noting, however, that “that’s the nature of PARC’s mission.” The more successful we are at selling land, buildings, and overseeing the redevelopment and reuse of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, he said, the scope of our responsibilities diminishes, and, therefore, PARC needs fewer people to continue operations. Everyone on PARC’s staff took the job knowing their goal was to work themselves out of that job. Today, he continued, we say goodbye and give our sincerest thanks to seven people who have done everything for PARC that was asked of them, and much more. He then recognized the following people: Larry Dominic (who, unfortunately, could not be present), Dana Zalesinski, Wayne Clark, Ken Hynes, Marc Poirier (not present due to starting a new job), Jody Seguin and Harold Hendrie. On behalf of the PARC Board of Directors, he thanked them for their excellent service to PARC. Mr. Duken noted that the PARC offices will move to the second floor of 130 Arizona Avenue the Monday after Thanksgiving. He said the remaining seven full time people will be challenged with closing on some 50 remaining deeds, finishing construction and upgrade projects, obtaining outstanding deeds from the Air Force, marketing and selling the last available parcels, and closing out all the financial and legal obligations of PARC. These tasks are expected to be accomplished over the next 15 months or so, and that represents a tremendous amount of work for seven people to do. The PARC Board is confident, he continued, that the work will be completed with utmost quality, adding that the excellent working relationships that have been developed with the city, town, county, state, and federal offices, agencies, and constituents that are involved in the process will continue. He said that PARC expects to report ongoing progress over the next several months on all fronts -- while maneuvering the usual bumps in the road, of course, but also with PARC’s solid commitment to carry out all duties with efficiency, responsiveness and professionalism. Committee Reports: None Chief Executive Officer’s Report: Echoing Mr. Duken’s plaudits about the people that won’t be here after this Board meeting, Mr. Steadman thanked each of them for their contributions to PARC over the years. He cited specifics regarding each individual. He stated that Marc Poirier could not be present today because he was starting a new position as CFO of a private company. He said that Marc, along with Lisa Conto and Lee Mitchell, did a terrific job in the Finance Department organizing finances and providing information when and how PARC needed it. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without Marc’s leadership in the Finance Department.” Clearly, he said, there aren’t any other closed DoD facilities around the country that have the type of financial success and financial integrity that PARC has demonstrated as evidenced by 11 straight excellent audits. Next, Mr. Steadman made a presentation to Ken Hynes in appreciation of his many contributions during his tenure at PARC. He cited Hynes’ accomplishments as Base Transition Coordinator, which involved serving as liaison between the Air Force and PARC. As coordinator, he worked all issues concerning a closed military facility, for example, whom to contact and how to move forward, and he turned in a great job while in that position. Then, as a member of the PARC staff, he was Director of Aviation and Tenant Services. Ken was the guy that got the call at 2 a.m. that a pipe had burst or a roof was leaking in one of the tenant’s buildings, and he made sure the tenant was back in business by the next morning. As Director of Aviation, he was able to turn the former flight line over to Clinton County with a surplus of income, a commendable feat. Mr. Steadman said that it will be a challenge to go from 14 to seven people, but that’s the plan as of the Monday following Thanksgiving. The workload won’t be cut by 50%, so the remaining seven will be picking up new duties. He said PARC looks forward to the challenge and to continuing on toward completion of its mission. Mr. Steadman requested Department reports. Construction/Engineering Department Report: Mr. Davis gave the status of the projects listed below: • PARC is still waiting for clearance from the Air Force that remediation work around the Central Heating Plant has been completed. Once confirmation is received, PARC’s contractor will remove the remaining foundation remnants and dress the site. The target date is Thanksgiving. Chairman Comment: Mr. Duken pointed out PARC offices are moving because its previous headquarters building on New York Road has been sold. He added that the move to a smaller space corresponds with a reduction in staff needed to complete the PARC mission. Finance Department Report: Mrs. Mitchell reported that rents for the month of October totaled $74,388, and the rate of collection was 99.83%. Other highlights of her report included: • Property sales included one closing this month for the sale of Lot 20. Tenant Services Department Report: Mr. Hynes said that this will be his last briefing to the PARC Board. He took the opportunity to recognize four members of his staff for their outstanding service to the PARC mission; specifically, Larry Dominic and his 2-man crew of Jody Seguin and Harold Hendrie, and personal property supervisor, Wayne Clark. He noted their talents were truly tested this past year. Their tasks were to provide the same level of outstanding service to tenants, validate the equipment and property required for the remaining personnel to close out the PARC mission, disposal of excess property, refurbishment of the second floor of 130 Arizona Ave for the remaining PARC staff, and, finally, to relocate the staff property and equipment to the new offices. He expressed his gratitude for the pride in the work ethic exhibited by these individuals. The challenges of economic development, he continued, appear overwhelming at times, but by sticking to the plan and remaining flexible, one will succeed where others were afraid to venture. PARC is a well thought out organization and well run, he said, and he referred to it as “a family operation.” Mr. Hynes thanked the PARC Board and staff for the opportunity to serve on the “greatest economic development team the north country has ever seen.” Chairman Duken took the opportunity to say goodbye and to thank him for his excellent work. He concluded by saying Mr. Hynes has been an outstanding PARC employee, and his leadership has been tremendous. Mr. Steadman added that Mr. Hynes is also a distinguished Vietnam veteran and is very active with many local charities and volunteer causes. He should be commended for all he has given to the community. Legal Report: None Chief Executive Officer Comment: Mr. Steadman recognized Press-Republican Reporter Dan Heath and asked him to pass along PARC’s thanks to Bob Grady, the newspaper’s editor. The previous week’s ‘Cheers and Jeers’ editorial, Mr. Steadman said, engendered a reaction regarding the flying of flags at companies within PARC. Mr. Steadman said he contacted Mr. Grady about the editorial, and Grady responded positively and apologized for the potential meaning in the manner in which it was written. Mr. Grady said he would make it right, and he did. Mr. Steadman gave a copy of the original editorial and the correction to the Board members, and, again, thanked Mr. Grady. The new ‘Cheers and Jeers’ column acknowledged the mistake and set the record straight. Old Business: None New Business: None Public Comment: None Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. King; seconded by Mr. Carroll. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Bouyea, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Carroll moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the ESDC Grant, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of appointing Lee Mitchell as Director of Finance, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the Idacon sale, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Mr. Carroll moved to adjourn the public session, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. -0- Executive Summary Directors Present: Gil Duken and Jim King Directors Present by Phone: Henry Fortin Jr, Marion Bourdeau and Kevin Carroll Directors Excused: Don Garrant and Stephen Bouyea Others Present: Bruce Steadman, Lee Mitchell, Bob Davis, Randall Beach, and Dennis Doyle Call to Order: Chairman Duken called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was no public comment. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the November 5, 2007 meeting. Motion to approve by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Noting that the meeting is the first for the Board in 2008, Mr. Duken began by extending greetings and best wishes for the New Year. He expressed pleasure in renewing his association with his Board colleagues. The seven-member group, he asserted, is as diligent and community-minded as any he’s served during his career, adding that its members’ hands-on contributions individually and collectively are genuinely appreciated. Mr. Duken noted that calendar 2008 is shaping up as an exciting year for PARC. It began with great news from the Air Force that the Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer, commonly referred to as a “FOSET,” is moving forward. CEO Bruce Steadman, he said, will have more to say on this topic, but he wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge the help received on the effort from Congressman John McHugh, State Senator Betty Little, and Assemblywoman Janet Duprey. Looking ahead, he continued, the remainder of the year will be crowded with additional closings, construction projects and marketing initiatives. He noted that productive economic activity is taking place in other corners of the community. He said that new carriers are offering more flights out of Plattsburgh International Airport, and that will translate to explosive growth in tourism for our region. He said that Garry Douglas and his team at the Chamber of Commerce deserve plaudits for championing the airport’s potential. Meanwhile, he added, it appears that hundreds of jobs at the Wyeth Pharmaceutical plant in Rouses Point will be saved. Nova Bus is reportedly ready to break ground for a new manufacturing facility in the Town of Plattsburgh. Canadian shoppers are once again flocking to our community, and new retail stores are coming to our malls. Finally, he said, we’re holding onto hope that the Laurentian Aerospace project will go forward. He observed that the national news media are feeding steady daily diet of economic gloom-and-doom to the American public. We certainly have plenty of problems locally, he said. All-in-all, he concluded, now is a good time to live and work in the North Country. Committee Reports: None Chief Executive Officer’s Report: Since there were no committee reports, Mr. Steadman requested department reports. Engineering Department Report: Mr. Davis began his report by stating that PARC continues to support remaining tenants. Also, efforts continue with the Air Force Real Property Agency (AFRPA) to complete inspections of buildings under lease. The main initiative, he said, is the upgrading of 130 Arizona Avenue in an effort to attract additional tenants, and, most notably, for a future sale. Completed work includes a new kitchenette on the first floor in the common area, fresh painted hallways, and new signs. Upcoming work includes the installation of ADA-compliant doors on the north end and front end of the building, upgrading in Simulator Bay 3 to include installation of a new overhead door, new electrical work, and general improvements to the space for a new tenant. Finance Department Report: Mrs. Mitchell reported that rents for the month of January totaled $41,992, and the rate of collection was 99.7%. Other highlights included: Mrs. Mitchell stated that, in addition to the day to day tasks, the following are other items worked on throughout December and January. (She noted that these items represent the collective effort of several PARC staff, and she especially acknowledged the efforts of Lisa Conto and Rocky Harfield on many.) Mrs. Mitchell concluded saying that PARC continues to look forward at the work that still lies ahead including the revision to the budget to the balance of this fiscal year, next year’s budget, and the related time frame for completing the balance of work in PARC’s mission. Chief Executive Officer: Echoing Mr. Duken’s comments, Mr. Steadman said it is good news indeed that the final group of deeds from AFRPA is now in the process of being reviewed and approved. He said it’s been a long process to get to this point as these deeds are part of the Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET), and require the approval of the USEPA, NYSDEC, and the NYSDOH. He cited Dexter Cochnauer, the new Chief Operations Officer at the AFRPA Office in San Antonio, as well as Steve Gagnier and Dave Farnsworth, the local AFRPA representatives, as great people to work with. In addition, he acknowledged the help PARC has received from Congressman John McHugh, Senator Betty Little, and Assemblywoman Janet Duprey in helping to move the process forward. Unfortunately, he continued, the process is taking longer than expected. It now looks like it will be September or October of 2008 before PARC receives the FOSET, and that time frame is a year and a half later than anticipated. Naturally, he said, that just further delays property closings and means PARC will be in business longer than expected. PARC cannot end its mission, he said, until it receives all of the deeds which could take 60-90 days after the FOSET. Mr. Steadman acknowledge ESDC Regional Director and former PARC Board Chairperson Randy Beach. Randy, he said, has been an effective partner of PARC over the years, not only through Board service, but also in his most recent role with ESDC. His foresight and understanding of PARC has been invaluable, Mr. Steadman said, and thanked him for his part in helping Senator Little and others to put the Phase 12 Grant in place. Mr. Steadman said that a number of projects are underway and several others will begin over the next several months. Legal Report: None Old Business: None. New Business: None. Public Comments: None. Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. King; seconded by Mr. Fortin. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion by Mrs. Bourdeau, seconded by Mr. King, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Fortin moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of Expenditures for Charitable, Cultural and Community Activities, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof. Mrs. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of a new lease for a perspective tenant, seconded by Mr. Carroll. All in favor thereof. Mr. King moved to adopt a resolution related to the EDC, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Mr. Carroll moved to adjourn the public session, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. -0- Executive Summary Directors Present: Gil Duken, Marion Bourdeau, Steve Bouyea, Jim King and Kevin Carroll Director Present by Phone: Don Garrant Director Excused: Henry Fortin Others Present: Bruce Steadman, Lee Mitchell, Bob Davis, Randall Beach, Dennis Doyle and Randy Beach Call to Order: Chairman Duken called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Public Welcome and Invitation to Comment: There was no public comment. Prior Minutes: Chairman Duken asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2008 meeting. Motion to approve by Mrs. Bourdeau, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Duken noted that it had been his routine to emphasize the positive during his remarks at the beginning of PARC Board meetings. However, he said, he couldn’t sidestep the recent announcement that Pratt and Whitney will cease operations on the former base this fall and move its jet engine testing program to Mirabel Airport north of Montreal. It is, he continued, a sad development for all associated with PARC. He recalled the joy and excitement when Pratt’s Doug Fage delivered a signed lease to PARC headquarters on Christmas Eve of 1999. PARC had landed its anchor tenant in aviation. It meant brand name recognition for PARC throughout the aerospace industry in its bid for additional tenants and investors. He stated that while Pratt’s business decision may be understandable, it is nevertheless a major disappointment all at PARC feel deeply. He wished the County good fortune in filling the void. On a brighter note, Mr. Duken said, it’s a pleasure to congratulate the County on the continuing growth and smooth operations underway at Plattsburgh International Airport. He stated that he has had the pleasure of flying round-trip to Florida on Allegiant Airlines on more than one occasion, and it can’t be beat in terms of price, service and convenience. He said that comments from friends and neighbors regarding travel experiences offered by Myrtle Beach Direct and Cape Air are similarly agreeable. Considering the bad press that has plagued the airline industry in general recently, he continued, we are truly fortunate to have the carriers and options currently available at Plattsburgh International Airport. Mr. Duken noted that the PARC staff is stepping up its campaign to market the remaining available properties in its inventory. A new printed piece on the theme, “You’re in Fast Company at PARC,” will be in circulation soon. The four-color direct mail publication will emphasize PARC’s attractive multi-modal features as well as advantageous site highlights and the community’s quality of life characteristics. Mr. Duken acknowledged that C. Randall Beach, a good friend and former Board colleague, who recently retired from his post as Regional Director for the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), was in attendance. He said that PARC couldn’t let Mr. Beach “fade into the sunset without a few kind words,” and asked him to “stay put.” Committee Reports: None Chief Executive Officer: Since there were no committee reports, Mr. Steadman requested department reports. He asked that Randall S. Beach Esq., of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, LLP, present the Legal Report first. C. Randall Beach was asked to step up to the podium also. Legal Report: Attorney Beach stated he had a resolution that had been passed unanimously by the Board a few weeks prior, and he proceeded to read the resolution in its entirety. Citing his many accomplishments, the resolution commended Randy Beach for his outstanding career achievements and his superb record in community service, thanked him for his friendship and guidance both as a PARC Board colleague and as ESDC’s top administrator in the North Country, and wished him excellent health and every success in all future endeavors. Mr. Steadman presented Mr. Beach with a framed copy of the resolution. The recipient acknowledged the honor, and credited his family as well as the PARC Board and staff for his success. He stated that, “You can’t make anything happen unless you have a fantastic team behind you and with you.” When considering all the projects he’s worked on over the years and all the places he’s been, he said, PARC has been the greatest team, the greatest Board, and, certainly, the greatest success. Attorney Beach had no further legal business to report. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman affirmed the contents of the resolution and personally thanked Randy. He said that when he thinks of Randy, two words come to mind: “Enthusiastic” and “details.” Whenever he had a meeting with Mr. Beach, there was always a point when the latter would get a smile on his face and be ready to go somewhere and get something done. He also noted that Randy has a great memory for details. He could always recall where things were located on the base. Mr. Steadman concluded by acknowledging Randy Beach as the father of PARC’s attorney, and by wishing him the best of luck in the future. Chairman’s Comments: Mr. Duken also thanked Mr. Beach on behalf of the Board. He recalled when he joined the Board during Mr. Beach’s term as Chairman, saying he was very impressed with the latter’s dedication, leadership and the number of hours he dedicated to PARC’s redevelopment effort and to other North Country service organizations. He commended him for all his service over the years. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman noted that he also wanted to say thank you and farewell to Mike Beaudin, Senior Vice President of NBT Bank, who was retiring at the end of the week. Mr. Beaudin, he said, was the first local financial person to stand up for and partner with PARC. He lauded Mr. Beaudin for his tremendous integrity and his willingness to listen, and said that he has been a great friend over the years. Mike Beaudin, he said, will be missed by PARC and by the banking industry. Engineering/Environmental Department Report: Mr. Davis stated that some changes to a large space in 130 Arizona Avenue had been completed to accommodate a new tenant. They included removing IT flooring, painting, construction of a satellite room, and installation of two new electrical outlets. Mr. Steadman pointed out that PARC was willing to spend time and money on the building since it is the last of the “serious” buildings PARC has to sell. The 40-year-old building has required some upgrades to attract an investor. However, the work accomplished in the facility would have been necessary irrespective of occupancy by a new tenant. Finance Department Report: Mrs. Mitchell reported that rents for the month of March totaled $43,422, and the rate of collection was 96%. The outstanding March rent was collected in full by early April. There were no property sales in the month of March. The first payment request under the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) Phase 12 Grant was submitted. Approximately 40% of that grant budget was spent as of March 31st, and PARC requested reimbursement for the costs paid. In addition, the final reimbursement request to close out the last remaining open payment item of $13,000 on an earlier grant was submitted at the same time. All grant phases prior to the current Phase 12 Grant are completed and closed out. The reimbursement request package has been reviewed by both PARC’s program and project managers. PARC’s ESDC Project Manager has received the requested follow-up materials. Following a meeting with PARC’s Site Manager, Finance staff will confirm that all review items are addressed satisfactorily. Thereafter, the approved request will be forwarded to ESDC’s payment office. Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Steadman recognized Steve Gagnier, Site Manager, and Dave Farnsworth, Environmental Site Coordinator, of the Air Force Real Property Agency (AFRPA), as well as Dexter Cochnauer, Chief of Operations, AFRPA, in San Antonio, and thanked them for their help and support over the last few months. Old Business: None. New Business: None. Public Comments: None. Chairman: Mr. Duken asked for adjournment to retire to Executive Session. Motion by Mr. King; seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Call to Order: On a motion by Mr. Carroll, seconded by Mr. King, Mr. Duken reconvened the public meeting. All in favor thereof. Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of the conveyance of Lot 31 to MEHO, LLC, seconded by Mr. Garrant. All in favor thereof. Mrs. Bourdeau moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of closing an obsolete checking account with NBT Bank, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof. Mr. Bouyea moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of modifying PARC’s long term investment strategy, seconded by Mrs. Bourdeau. All in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adopt a resolution on the topic of contributing financial support to the City of Plattsburgh’s 2008 Mayor’s Cup Celebration, seconded by Mr. Bouyea. All in favor thereof. Mr. Garrant moved to adjourn the public session, seconded by Mr. King. All in favor thereof.
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