Chairman Robert A. Purtell has called a meeting of the Economic Development/Planning Committee for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in the Legislative Chambers, County Office Building, 64 Broadway, Fonda, New York.   

In conjunction with Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order, this meeting will also be held electronically via teleconference on April 20, 2021 at 6:00 pm.  Members of the public may participate in the meeting by attending or by calling 1-312-757-3121, Access Code 456-944-325. Minutes of the hearing will be transcribed and later posted on the Montgomery County website at www.co.montgomery.ny.us. 

 Items on the agenda, at this time, are as follows:

1.  (DISCUSSION)

 A.  Privilege of Committee Chair, Committee Members & Legislators to discuss items of interest, etc., regarding departments governed by this Committee

2.  RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO SIGN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES-COMMUNITY WIDE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT GRANT (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING)

3.  RESOLUTION AMENDING 2021 BUDGET FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITY GRANT PROJECT– NYS ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NYSERDA) (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING)

4.  RESOLUTION SCHEDULING 30 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD MONTGOMERY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT NO. 1 (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING)

5.  RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT Of APPLICATION TO DESIGNATE 68 CHURCH STREET IN CANAJOHARIE NY FOR DESIGNATION AS A BROWNFIELD OPPORTUNITY AREA (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING)

6.  OTHER

RESOLUTION NO. 84 of 2021 DATED: April 27, 2021 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, Resolution #78 of 2021 accepted a grant funding award in amount of $300,000 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to inventory, characterize, assess and conduct cleanup, planning and community involvement related activities for brownfield sites along the Mohawk River; and

WHEREAS, in order to carry out said tasks and goals associated with the awarded funds the County solicited RFP 04-21 Community Wide Hazardous Substances Assessment; and

WHEREAS, the Montgomery County Brownfield Assessment Grant Steering Committee has extensively reviewed all RFP’s and recommends that a contract be awarded to Weston and Sampson as the vendor with the best quality services at the lowest possible cost; and

WHEREAS, Weston and Sampson has extensive experience with projects of a similar scale to the Shared Services Facility as well as extensive experience working with the federal agencies that will be involved in this project.

RESOLVED, the Montgomery County Legislature hereby authorizes awarding of a contract to Weston and Sampson at a cost not to exceed $300,000 for professional services as outlined in RFP 04-21; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Executive, upon review and approval of the County Attorney, is hereby authorized and directed to sign the aforementioned contract.

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8). Legislator Duchessi was absent. (4/27/2021)

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RESOLUTION NO. 85 of 2021 DATED: April 27, 2021 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, Resolution #20 of 2021 authorized the County Executive to sign documents associated with a grant in the amount of $150,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to purchase four (4) plug-in hybrid Electric Vehicles (EVs) and two (2) EV Charging Stations for County owned property; and

WHEREAS, that the County Treasurer was authorized and directed to amend the 2021 Operating Budget to cover the costs of the Vehicles and Charging Stations.

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2021 Operating Budget as follows:

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8). Legislator Duchessi was absent. (4/27/2021)

I. Nature of Request:

II. Justification:

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RESOLUTION NO. 86 of 2021 DATED: April 27, 2021 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, January 29, 2022 will mark the anniversary date of Montgomery County Agricultural District No. 1 in the Towns of Minden, Canajoharie, and Villages of Fort Plain, Canajoharie and Ames; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture and Markets has directed the Montgomery County Legislature to conduct an eight year review of Agricultural District No. 1 pursuant to Article 25-AA Section 303-a of Agriculture and Markets Law; and

RESOLVED, that the County Legislature hereby schedules a 30-day public review period for Agricultural District No. 1, commencing on May 1, 2021, notice of which shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that notice of this review period and a map of the existing district shall be posted and open to public inspection at the Montgomery County Clerk’s Office, the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and Planning Office, and the Clerk’s Office in the Towns of Minden, Canajoharie, Villages of Fort Plain, Canajoharie, and Ames; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all municipalities and land owners within the district will be notified that they may propose a modification of the district by filing such proposal with the Clerk of the Legislature within thirty days of the publication of the notice; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that County Legislature hereby directs the Montgomery County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board to coordinate this review and prepare the reports and recommendations as required by law, and to submit them to the County Legislature for review.

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8). Legislator Duchessi was absent. (4/27/2021)

I. Nature of Request:

II. Justification:

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RESOLUTION NO. 87 of 2021 DATED: April 27, 2021 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of State may designate Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA); and

WHEREAS, Montgomery County intends to submit an application to have 68 Church Street in Canajoharie NY, the former Beech-Nut site, designated as a Brownfield Opportunity Area through the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program; and

WHEREAS, 68 Church Street is in the heart of the downtown of the Village of Canajoharie and has a footprint of approximately 26.9 acres, a footprint that encompasses over half of the entire Village of Canajoharie;

WHEREAS, designation of 68 Church Street in Canajoharie NY as a Brownfield Opportunity Area through the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program is anticipated to greatly benefit the community by bolstering redevelopment of a brownfield that has been vacant for many years; and

WHEREAS, a long form SEQRA was conducted on 68 Church Street so additional SEQRA review is not necessary for Brownfield Opportunity Area designation; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing was held by the County to hear public comment on the submission of 68 Church Street in Canajoharie NY to be designated as a Brownfield Opportunity Area through the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program and all public comment (s) were considered.

RESOLVED, that the Montgomery County Legislature supports Montgomery County’s application to designate 68 Church Street, the former Beech-Nut site, as a Brownfield Opportunity area; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Executive, upon review and approval by the County Attorney is authorized and directed to submit and execute any documents to designate 68 Church Street, the former Beech-Nut site, as a Brownfield Opportunity area.

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8). Legislator Duchessi was absent. (4/27/2021)

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RESOLUTION NO. 102 of 2021 DATED: April 27, 2021 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, Montgomery County has obtained the real property parcel by tax foreclosure known as SBL #63.14-1-9.1 located at 68 Church Street in the Village of Canajoharie; and

WHEREAS, Montgomery County is in the process of subdividing the East Side of this property out from the West Side; and

WHEREAS, the East Side is not needed for County purposes; and

WHEREAS, Montgomery County has been marketing this property for the purposes of redevelopment that will lead to job creation and increase in tax base for the County, Village and School District; and

WHEREAS, the County has identified a purchaser for an approximately 19.6 acre portion of said real property on the East Side of  what is currently SBL #63.14-1-9.1 located at 68 Church Street in the Village of Canajoharie; and

RESOLVED, the Montgomery County Legislature hereby authorizes to convey all the right, title and interests of the County in and to the East Side of  what is currently SBL #63.14-1-9.1 located at 68 Church Street in the Village of Canajoharie 102 Church Street, LLC., 74 Layatte Avenue, Suite #202-124, Suffern, NY 10901 for the sum of $550,000  per the terms of a Purchase and Sale Agreement; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Executive and County Treasurer, upon review and approval by the County Attorney, is hereby authorized and directed to execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement and all related documents associated with the conveyance of said property to 102 Church Street, LLC., 74 Layatte Avenue, Suite #202-124, Suffern, NY 10901 for the sum of $550,000.

MOTION TO AMEND by Legislator Pepe, seconded by Legislator Purtell,

to add the language; upon review and approval of the County Attorney attached hereto and made a partof, at the end of the RESOLVED clause

passed with Aye(8). Legislator Duchessi was absent.(4/27/2021)

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8). Legislator Duchessi was absent. (4/27/2021)

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