MEETING MINUTES - JUNE 2019
To: Board of Directors
From: Allison Cappella
Re: June Board Meeting Minutes
Date: June 10, 2019
A. Organizational Matters
I. Call meeting to order – Meeting called to order at 3:10 p.m.
II. Attendance
Board Members Present:
Ali Church (arrived 3:15 p.m.)
Lisa Daily
Joe Donat
Paul Halayko
David Potack
Joe Surace
Others Present:
Allison Cappella
Burke Blackman
Amy Blair
Diana Mangaser
David Rothman
Ben Galy via Telephone
Aaron Lown
Max Dworkin
III. Minutes – approve March and April 2019 Board Meeting Minutes – J. Surace made a motion to approve March and April 2019 Board Meeting Minutes, D. Potack seconded the motion. All approved, none opposed.
IV. Financial Report through May 2019 – After Board review, J. Donat made a motion to approve April and May financial reports, and P. Halayko seconded. All approved, none opposed. Allison Cappella let the Board know that we are expecting to receive an additional unanticipated expense for general liability insurance this quarter, due to timing of grant-related construction expenditures.
V. Auditors – Allison Cappella recommended switching to a new auditing firm that the Albany County Land Bank currently uses. The firm, The Bonadio Group, works closely with our auditors, their office is closer to us, and they have expertise in Land Banking financials. D. Potack made a motion to switch auditing firms, and P. Halayko seconded. All approved, none opposed.
B. Property Related Matters
I. Extensions
143 Washington St.,– Update- Purchaser A. Lown was introduced. D. Potack said that unfortunately the Board repeatedly set down criteria that the purchaser was not able to meet, and said that it’s frustrating on all sides that the project has completely stalled when it’s the goal of the Land Bank to see projects through to completion. He said that it would not be necessarily appropriate to provide the purchase price back, as it has been dormant for a long time and the Land Bank has expended significant funds on the project at this point. L. Daily said that it was very clear what was expected in the contract. A. Church requested a list of any costs incurred by the owner, and D. Potack said that the Board would evaluate any improvements made for monetary value. A. Cappella requested that he email this list to her, but that we would be pursuing the return of the property to NCLB.
61 Liberty St., -Update- Owner M. Dworkin is introduced to provide an update and request extension. He reported that he has engaged a structural engineer, architect, electrician, and plumber, and plans are finished and ready to be submitted for permits. A. Church made a motion to extend deadline to July Board meeting if owner meets goals of applying for building, electrical, and plumbing permits, as well as having a clear demonstration of property stabilization (fencing and boarding up, as necessary). L. Daily seconded the motion. D. Potack added that the Board will add new milestones at the July Board meeting, assuming these have been met. All in favor, none opposed.
96 Broadway -Update- A. Cappella reported that owner gave an update on May 20, and she is very pleased with progress. Owner states that he should have a certificate of occupancy for the residential units by July, and for the restaurant by September. P. Halayko made a motion to grant extension for certificate of occupancy for the residential units to the July Board meeting, and J. Donat seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed.
17 Dubois, 9 & 12 S. Miller St. – Update – A. Cappella reports that owner expects to have certificates of occupancy for 12 S Miller by June, 9 S Miller by the end of July, and 17 Dubois by August. A. Church confirms that they have permits and are progressing although has concerns the timeline could be overly optimistic. The Board agrees that September would be a more realistic completion date to get certificates of occupancy. D. Potack makes motion to extend deadline for all three certificates of occupancy to the September Board meeting, and A. Church seconded. All in favor, none opposed.
II. Property Update
a. Review Impact and Property Report – A. Cappella reported that 23 S. Miller and 146 S. Miller will be marketed soon on MLS. We are in contract with Habitat for Humanity on 114 William. 45 and 45A Lander will be marketed by August, and we hope to market 167 N Miller by July. Our General Contractor has request for bids out for asbestos abatement for our building preservation projects.
i. Abatement Planning—Abatement RESOLUTION w/ SEQR Type II – A. Cappella requested formal resolution from the Board that abatement is considered Type II under SEQR and Board agreed to pass a resolution that 7 properties (128 Dubois, 115 Lander, 34 Dubois, 150 Lander…) would be declared Type II under SEQR. A Church made the motion and D. Potack seconded. All in favor, none opposed.
b. Status of 2017/2018 LISC Grant – B. Blackman reported that the LISC grant is closed out and we were the first land bank to complete our work plan.
c. Progress of 2019/2020 Enterprise Work Plan – 45 and 45A Lander should be finalized by August, and for building preservation we are ready to proceed with stabilization and abatement.
d. Update on City acquisitions – For 27and 43 Johnston, we are seeking proposals for architectural services to convert to two-family homes.
e. Habitat site selection
Acquisition of 139 and 141 Johnston Street – These are vacant lots where Habitat will do new construction. The acquisition will go before City Council in July. D. Potack made a motion to acquire 139 and 141 Johnston, and P. Halayko seconded. All in favor, none opposed.
III. Rupco Phase II –Update – All is on track to close on these properties before the end of the year.
IV. Reschedule July Meeting (Annual Meeting) and Confirm remainder of 2019 meeting schedule and time – July Board meeting will be moved to July 22 at 3:00 due to scheduling.
V.Outreach – We had a meeting at the Apostolic Church along with representatives from Habitat for Humanity that was well attended and engaging. In addition the new President of the local NAACP has asked Allison to speak at an upcoming meeting, which she will do.
VI. Artist in Vacancy – D. Mangaser reported that we are moving into the 3rd year of the AIV program. We have engaged 10 artists so far, and we presented at Center for Community Progress’ conference in Milwaukee. We were recently awarded an Arts Mid-Hudson grant in support of the project. Diana has planned exciting installations for this summer in sculpture, dance, and sound, among others.
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION at the call of the Chair. L. Daily made a motion to enter executive session for attorney consultation with regard to proposed, pending or current litigation. A. Niles seconded the motion. All approved, none opposed.
Motion made by A. Church to move out of executive session, seconded by L. Daily.
D. Potack made a motion not to extend the deadline for 141 Washington, and A. Church seconded. All in favor, none opposed.
A.Church made a motion to pursue extinguishing the covenant for 53 Beacon or continued enforcement of owner occupancy of the property, and P. Halayko seconded. All in favor, none opposed.
P. Halayko made a motion to deny purchaser’s request for extension. Purchaser must provide NCLB with quitclaims and we will pursue litigation if necessary. J. Surace seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed.
4:56 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Next meeting: July 22, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.