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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURAGOV-2014-04-17Approved: 6/20/14 108 E. Green Street Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-6559 (607) 274-6558 (fax) MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Governance Committee (GC) 8:30 AM, Thursday, April 17, 2014 Third Floor Conference Room, 3rd Floor, City Hall, Ithaca, NY Present: Eric Rosario, Susan Cummings, David Whitmore, Kathy Schlather Excused: None. Vacancy: 1 Staff: Nels Bohn, JoAnn Cornish, Charles Pyott Guests: None. I. Call to Order Chairperson Rosario called the meeting to order at 9:02 A.M. II. Agenda Additions/Deletions ― Bohn noted a brief staff report should be added. There were no objections. III. Public Comments (3‐minute maximum per person) ― None. IV. New Business A. Authorize Hiring of Community Development Planner Bohn reported that following completion of a practical exercise including oral presentations by each of the two finalists, the search committee unanimously recommended Lynn Truame as the best candidate. Cummings inquired into the staff oversight process. Bohn replied that the Community Development Planner would oversee the Grants Monitor position, while the Accountant would report to Bohn (and everyone reports to JoAnn Cornish). IURA GC Minutes April 17, 2014 Page 2 of 6 Whitmore moved, seconded by Schlather: Hire Community Development Planner WHEREAS, on December 16, 2013, the IURA authorized the Executive Director, or her designee, to advertise, form a search committee, conduct interviews, and recommend a preferred candidate to fill a full‐time, permanent Community Development Planner position with the salary to be determined depending on qualifications, and be it further WHEREAS, a job search has been undertaken by the search committee composed of Tracy Farrell, IURA member; Kathy Schlather, IURA Governance Committee member; JoAnn Cornish, IURA Executive Director; Schelley Michell‐Nunn, City of Ithaca Director of Human Resources; and Nels Bohn, IURA Director of Community Development, and WHEREAS, 27 job applications were received, and WHEREAS, four interviews were conducted with two finalists selected, and WHEREAS, reference checks have been conducted for the two finalists, and WHEREAS, a practical exercise was conducted for the two finalists involving a presentation and a brief memo, and WHEREAS, the search committee recommends Lynn Truame as the preferred candidate to fill the job position and recommended that she be offered the employment position, contingent upon IURA approval, and WHEREAS, at their April 4, 2014 and April 17, 2014 meetings the Governance Committee reviewed this matter and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby authorizes the hiring of Lynn Truame as Community Development Planner subject to the following terms: Salary: $53,000. The employee is eligible for up to a $2,000 discretionary salary increase on the 1st year anniversary subject to results of a performance review. Work Hours: 35 hours per week Start Date: TBD Employment Status: Regular, full‐time “at‐will” employee IURA GC Minutes April 17, 2014 Page 3 of 6 Duties: Job responsibilities are outlined in the Community Development Planner job description, dated 12/16/13 Other Terms: Governed by the IURA Human Resource Policies, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA Executive Director, or her designee, is hereby authorized to submit and negotiate a contingent employment offer to the preferred candidate subject to IURA approval. Carried Unanimously 4‐0 Cummings asked if it is absolutely necessary to perform a comprehensive search if one happens to have an in‐house candidate whom one knows would be a perfect fit for the job. Cornish replied the position would still need to be publicly advertised. Cummings asked how the Community Development Planner hiring resolution would be retained in the permanent record. There is a job description in the body of the resolution and she would like to know how it would be attached. Bohn replied the job description could certainly be attached to the resolution and minutes. Cummings approved, as long as it could be easily searchable and locatable. She added, at some point, she would like to hear an update on the IURA’s records retention policy. B. Authorize Hiring of Part‐Time Accountant Bohn announced that, unfortunately, recently‐hired IURA Accountant Paola Woolfolk has been offered another position that pays far more than her current one. She applied for the job before applying for the IURA position and only recently has been pursued by the employer. She has decided that she could not pass up the opportunity. She would probably leave the IURA in mid‐May 2014. Bohn noted the resolution contains an additional “Resolved” to authorize the IURA Director to hire someone from an accounting agency on an interim basis, if needed. Schlather moved, seconded by Whitmore: Authorize Job Search & Hiring for Part‐Time IURA Accountant Position WHEREAS, on April 14, 2014 the newly hired part‐time Bookkeeper provided notice of resignation to accept a full‐time job, and IURA GC Minutes April 17, 2014 Page 4 of 6 WHEREAS, IURA management, in consultation with the IURA auditor, recommend seeking a candidate with a minimum education of a 4‐year accounting degree to manage the IURA finances, resulting in a recommended authorized employment position change from Bookkeeper to Accountant, and WHEREAS, there is a high demand in the local labor market for experienced and capable accountants and a pressing need to hire an accountant within the six weeks to allow for transition training of a newly hired Accountant, and WHEREAS, IURA management recommends the IURA authorize the Executive Director, or her designee, to form a search committee, advertise, conduct interviews and hire an Accountant position for 22 hours/week at $27‐$30/hour plus benefits but also authorize the Executive Director to incrementally modify the hours/week and/or hourly wage rate to hire the preferred candidate; WHEREAS, at their April 17, 2014 meeting the Governance Committee reviewed this matter and recommends the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Executive Director, or her designee, is authorized to form a search committee, advertise, and conduct interviews for a part‐time, permanent, Accountant position at 22 hours/week earning $27‐$30/hour plus benefits; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Executive Director, or her designee, is authorized to submit a binding employment offer to the preferred candidate, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Executive Director, or her designee, is authorized to negotiate and incrementally modify the work hours/week and/or hourly wage rate to hire the preferred candidate, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Executive Director, or her designee, is authorized to procure temporary accounting services or hire an Accountant on a short‐term basis to ensure continued accounting coverage. Carried Unanimously 4‐0 V. Other Business A. Review of IURA Financials: March 2014 Bohn indicated there has been good spend‐down activity and no projects are approaching expenditure deadlines. IURA GC Minutes April 17, 2014 Page 5 of 6 Cornish inquired into the situation with the terminated eLab Downtown Retail Support program. Bohn replied those unexpended funds were rolled into this year’s Action Plan. Bohn reported the loans are largely current. The Bandwagon Brewpub made a payment, but remains two months behind. He has inquired into what the situation is. It may possibly have something to do with a transition to a new brewer and possible exiting on one of the original owners. Cummings asked if the IURA has received anything in writing regarding any changes in the ownership of Bandwagon Brewery LLC. Bohn replied there were some very elaborate procedures for any of the original five founders to sell their shares, but he does not recall any notice requirement to the IURA for ownership changes. All founders executed unlimited personal financial guarantees to secure the IURA loan. Cummings indicated she would definitely like to know if there is a real problem or not. ― EXECUTIVE SESSION ― Whitmore moved, seconded by Cummings, to open the Executive Session at 9:28 a.m. to discuss the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof. Carried Unanimously 4‐0 Whitmore moved, seconded by Cummings, to close the Executive Session at 9:39 a.m. Carried Unanimously 4‐0 No action was taken in the Executive Session. Bohn noted that Southside Community Center’s Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles (RIBs) program is delinquent. They have usually been pretty good, so he is not sure why they missed a lease payment. B. Staff Report Bohn reported the Ithaca Housing Neighborhood Services (INHS) Stone Quarry Apartments Project has now been funded by the state, which is good news. It was the only housing project in Tompkins County to receive an allocation of low‐income housing tax credits though the New York State Unified Funding round. IURA GC Minutes April 17, 2014 Page 6 of 6 Cummings noted she is not very pleased with the project in terms of its appearance and density. The fact that so many community members are unhappy with it suggests it could have been improved. Moreover, the project was also poorly initiated and managed in terms of public engagement. She strongly recommends the IURA encourage INHS to commit to holding future community meetings from the very outset of a project. Cornish agreed. To be fair, she noted, there is a considerable amount of NIMBYism in the community, which needs to be appreciated. She noted that residents concerns were heard by the several boards reviewing the project, including the Planning & Development Board. C. Next Meeting: May 16, 2014 VI. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:49 A.M. — END — Minutes prepared by C. Pyott, edited by N. Bohn.