Nancy Larraine Hoffmann's loss continues to plague those in the 49th Senate District who were promised money for projects through the Republican majority.

The Civic Heritage Society, looking to build a museum to house artifacts from the Cato, Conquest, Ira and Victory area, has not received $50,000 promised by Hoffmann, the incumbent who lost her seat in the November election.

"When I called Albany to inquire, I was told it was put on hold indefinitely," said Kathleen Damiani, a regional program specialist for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "But with the end of the fiscal year coming, and coming quickly, I told (the heritage society) it was important to get some other money in place."

Damiani confirmed to Peg Sweetman, chairwoman of the building committee, that the grant had been held up because Democrat David Valesky now represented the 49th district. Damiani is the OPRHP liaison for the project.

"No one told me that directly, but obviously, that's what's happening," she said.

Sennett Town Supervisor David Sikora got a similar story from the state Department of Environmental Conservation about a $60,000 grant Hoffmann secured for a water line for his town.

Sikora said DEC officials told him the money wouldn't be coming because Valesky beat Hoffmann, and the Senate Republican Majority Conference felt no obligation to make good on the grants she promised.

There is also a question about the $100,000 that Hoffmann had secured for Cayuga County in October 2003 to convert a snack bar in Emerson Park into restrooms for Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.

The work is nearly completed and the county Legislature voted to move ahead with the project in anticipation of Hoffmann's grant.

But county treasurer David Farrell has discovered there was never a signed contract with the state for the money.

Mark Hanson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, at first suggested the Senate Minority Conference is responsible for making good on the grants. He then said the projects were "under review" by the Senate Majority Conference. He did not know how long the review would take.

"The minority does have funding," he said. "It could pay for the projects."

Valesky's office contacted Mike Webber, the deputy director of the Senate Minority Finance Committee. Hoffmann's grants, however, were promised from the majority pool of dollars from budgets adopted by the Legislature.

"We've talked about dysfunction in Albany before, but really, there can't be a more blatant example than this," Valesky spokesman Cort Ruddy said. "There's no reason for these projects to be held hostage."

Webber could not be reached for comment Monday. But Ruddy said he held little hope Webber could shake loose the dollars that Hoffmann had promised. There has been no change in the status of the Sennett grant, although Valesky will continue to seek the funding once he gets an official letter from Sikora.

Sweetman said she's disillusioned with state government for putting the heritage project - a museum for local history and artifacts - in jeopardy.

"I feel like they're not being fair," she said. "Promises were made and the rug has been pulled out from underneath us. We'd hoped to start building this spring."

The society has raised $50,000 over several years. A parcel of property has been donated on Route 34 in Cato for the museum, which will house items that belong to the society.

They are being kept in peoples' homes because there is no central place for them, said Donald Thompson, the society's treasurer.

"We really need this facility," Thompson said. "It's poor politics as far as I'm concerned. We were promised the money. Sen. Hoffmann told us even if she wasn't elected, it would be a given. Well, nothing is a given in politics."

Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or e-mail louise.hoffman@lee.net