APPROVED

AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING

Executive Session Minutes -Released 9/27/07

June 7, 2007 Room 304

Members Present: Carol Tytler; Chairman, Dan Tagliente, John Steger, John Daniels, Larry Cornell, and Mike McKee

Others Present: Don Spaulding; Legislator, John Troy; Legislator, Scott Schrader, County Administrator, Brian Parker; Director of Buildings and Grounds, Susan Morgan; Clerk of the Legislature

Brian Parker reminded legislators that Motor Vehicles needs 4,000 square feet. He presented 11 properties that have been discussed over the years as option for DMV re-location and provided maps to help identify the property locations as follows:

Rex Property, 4033 Route 281, 1 story building with 11,893 square feet. The building is empty and could double as a Records Center. Assessed value $275,000.
Old Cortland Glass, 1013 Route 13, with 3,240 square feet. Building is for sale or lease. Assessed value is $385,000.
County Airport – it is our property. If we build on the other side of the hangers and build a house like structure it would be saleable if we no longer needed it.
Bob Evans, 1-3 River Street, with 3,175 square feet. Mr. Daniels said that this property has a 20-year lease and the owner gets paid whether he sells it or not. Assessed value $381,300.
Golden Skillet, 840 Route 13 has 4,062 square feet and assessed at $300,000.
Other Golden Skillet (Waffle House), 145-147 Clinton Ave. has approximately 1,800 square feet. Assessed value is $255,600. We would need to acquire adjacent property. Mr. Schrader said there are 2 residential lots behind on Cleveland Street that are in disrepair and could be purchased. It was mentioned that MV would need 50-60 parking spaces. There is also an adjacent lot on Clinton Street that is for sale for $300,000.
Armedio property, 240 Port Watson Street is in a flood plane and the concern would be the insurance rate. Assessed value is $777,000.
Beaudry property, 13 Elm Street assessed at $187,500.
Paul Gallow car dealership, 3548 Route 281 has 3000 square feet and assessed at $402,100.
Berlew Honda dealership, 222-226 Port Watson Street assessed at 223,700. It is a 2 story building with 10,584 square feet.
China Moon-Riverside Plaza is also in a flood plane. Assessed at $2,750,000.

Mr. Tagliente said that after the concern raised regarding the South Main Street project of taking property off the tax rolls he thought the county should look at the property across the Street (Greenbush Street). Most of those houses are leased and not in good shape. There are only 3 homeowners in that area. It would be easier for maintenance and for the general public. If we took those properties we would not remove any more from the tax rolls than the South Main Street project. Mr. Parker added that in the year 2003 there was a Guido conference and we were asked to put together a plan that would take all three properties on Elm Street and add 30,000 square feet to the back of our present building with a three story addition. The problem was we made the assumption that there wasn’t enough parking. Mr. Parker asked the committee 2 questions: why lease and why does Motor Vehicle need to be in the City? Ms. Tytler said we will leave those as rhetorical questions. Mr. Daniels agreed that the Elm Street expansion is an excellent idea. He said that we have been puttering around for six years and everything we do takes forever. The reason he is in favor of leasing is that we could go out and find a 4,000 square foot building, set a date, move in and move on to other projects. He was in favor of having McNeil build for us as they could have it done in one-third the time it would take us to do it and it doesn’t take property off the tax rolls.

Brian Parker said the legislature has spent close to $80,000 for 2 space studies that said the same thing….that we are 30,000 square foot short and that was 20 years ago. Mr. Daniels said we could look at the Elm Street property, talk to the City and move that direction. Brian asked Mr. Schrader if we can discuss alternative options on South Main Street. Mr. Schrader said it is no secret that we may end up owning that property. With the sale of the residential pieces we know we can no longer put a combined Health project there. If we put in a 15,000 square foot building instead of 30,000 we could move the Office of the Aging there and relocate Mental Health into this building with some renovations that will not be cheap. You need to address the heat plant. We are talking in the neighborhood of 2 million dollars. He has talked to Carol Deloff, staff and some seniors and they like the idea. We can address agency problems and needs and relieve parking here. Mr. Daniels said that could be done without tearing down the building as that building is not that bad. Mr. Schrader that building is that bad. Mr. Parker stated that there is no heat in the building as the boilers are shot, the structure has cracks, the roof is shot, there is asbestos and an underground water leak in the basement. Mr. Daniels said that McNeil is talking about renovating it.

Ms. Tytler said whatever direction we choose, she is very interested in having them green buildings and access a different pot of dollars building environmentally sound buildings. Mr. Steger agreed and added that would put the County as a leader in that field. Mr. Daniels said that won’t be cheap, only in the long run. If there is alternative financing then it would be worth it. Mr. Tagliente said that we have missed opportunities on properties as recently as 8-10 months ago as one was for sale adjacent to the parking lot. Brian said the county has been offered every property on Greenbush over the years and they have been turned down. Ms. Tytler said it is clear we need to be more vigilant.

Ms. Tytler offered two more properties to consider. 1. The old Tops Plaza offered for DMV site by Bill Porter and 2. Recreation Bowling Alley in the City. Mr. Schrader said the motel next door could be added. Mr. Daniels also added a property owned by Bill Cleary on 281 that backs up to Tops and Staples. Mr. Cleary is going to build a 20,000 square foot building that could be leased to DMV.

Ms. Tytler said the committee needs to get back to the needs, make a list of criteria, i.e. parking, volume of traffic etc. and start from there.

Executive session ended at 8:32 AM.

Prepared by Susan Morgan, Clerk

Minutes Released September 27, 2007

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