Referred to:  The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit Committee (Chairman Woltman and Legislators Archer, Delaune, Maio, James Maloney, Joseph Maloney, and Rodriguez)

Legislators Kathy Nolan and Brian Woltman offer the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is a public benefit corporation formed for the benefit of Ulster County and governed by Article 18-A of the New York State General Municipal Law; and

WHEREAS, the IDA is a tool utilized for economic development purposes throughout the County for the benefit of the County and the taxpayers thereof; and

WHEREAS, it is paramount to the operation of the Ulster County IDA that it maintain transparency to allow taxpayers to truly evaluate its effectiveness and provide assurances that it is generating the promised economic benefits; and

WHEREAS, if the IDA posted audio or video recordings of its open meetings and public hearings, its transparency would thereby be increased and provide assurance to the taxpayers of Ulster County that the IDA was effective in its mission; and

WHEREAS, legislation requiring IDAs to post similar recordings on their websites has been proposed in the State Legislature; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature seeks to take a leadership role in ensuring that the public has confidence in the operation of the Ulster County IDA, and therefore has determined that the provision of recordings on the IDA’s website should be implemented by the Ulster County IDA on a voluntary basis, even absent the passage of State legislation mandating the same; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency is hereby requested to post audio or video recordings of all open meetings and public hearings on its website within five business days of the meeting or hearing,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE