AUBURN - The Cayuga County Planning committee Tuesday continued its discussion about plans for the economic development program.

The committee talked about whether it would be more beneficial to use the existing Cayuga County Development Corporation or create a whole new agency.

Chairman of the committee, Daniel Schuster, D-Auburn, said that there is no reason to form a new agency when there is already an existing agency that does what the county is looking for.

“If we don't like how that organization is structured right now, that's fine because all we have to do is amend the bylaws of that organization,” Schuster said. “If it's going to be effective, it's going to require that we have a competent staff with enough funding so that it can do its job. The board itself isn't really going to make a whole lot of difference ... Our oversight comes in what's articulated in the contract.”

The committee would report back to the Legislature with regular progress and fiscal reports. If it does not stick to the terms of the contract, the county can pull the funding, Schuster said.

However, Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn, said that he would feel more comfortable leaving the agency blank for now and filling it in when necessary.

“What I would like to try to do is put together a contract with our requirements and needs ... and be able to present this to any agency that would want to come and provide economic development to Cayuga County,” he said. “I'm disappointed in the letter that I received in my mailbox from the Stardust Foundation and the Blueprint that they do not want to continue discussion in this. I think that they're an important part of this process and need to be at the table.”

Tortorici was referring to an Aug. 27 letter from the Stardust Foundation that indicated that the foundation would not make any financial contributions until it sees the county's long-term funding proposals.

“At this time we are not interested in being involved in discussion that we do not believe to be in Cayuga County's best interests,” the letter said.

Another issue that the committee debated was how the economic development board should be formed. Tortorici believes that the board should consist of more people from the private sector.

“Whatever agency that we go with, I just don't see this agency that's going to want to fail,” Tortorici said. “We want to control this board and I think that's where the failure comes from. There's a lot of important business people out there that may have greater input than we have.”

Schuster said that what is outlined in the contract is more important than how the board is formed and he would be open to having less county-appointed members and more from the private sector. But David Axton, R-Mentz, had a different opinion.

“If we're handling the purse strings in this whole thing, then we should control it,” he said. “If we were back to two months ago when the option of having some private funding (was) involved, then that's a different story.”

George Fearon, R-Springport, also said that the board members who are selected will play an important role in whether or not the agency will succeed.

“Historically, corporations that have disappeared ... a lot of times the leadership was right at the top. We need to be very careful what we do set up and really, really have a success,” he said.

What is important is that the Legislature is comfortable with the structure of the board because this is a long-term commitment, Schuster said.

The committee agreed to make some changes in the tentative contract that was brought forward last month and to hold a Committee of the Whole meeting, at which all the legislators would be present for discussion.

The changes that Schuster requested consist of: goals and objectives of the economic development committee, other economic development tools, reporting federal and state grants that the agency secured, the county's ability to do surprise audits and the requirement of a code of ethics. These changes will be made by Stephen Lynch, director of the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development , and once they are in the contract, the Legislature will hold a special meeting to discuss the proposal.

Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net

Committee makeup

As of Tuesday's discussion, the planning committee agreed to bring this list in front of the committee of the whole at a special meeting. The first seven people would be appointed by the Legislature, with four of the members being on the board because of their position within the community. The remaining six would consist of people from the private sector who would have to meet certain criteria. These six individuals would be selected by the first seven members of the committee. The board for the economic development committee, if approved by the Legislature, would consist of the following people:

• The chairman of the county Legislature

• The mayor of Auburn

• The chairman of the Cayuga County Industrial Development Authority

• The chairman of the Auburn Industrial Development Agency

• Three other people from the community, one from a town or village and two at large

• One person from the small business sector

• One person from the large business sector

• One person from the agricultural sector

• One person from the retail sector

• Two people at large