The President of the Monroe County Legislature says the business of COMIDA will go on, despite the recent controversy that caused four of the seven board members to resign in recent days.
Anthony Daniele says he has confirmed information with the state that technically, the COMIDA board can have as few as 3 and as many as 7 members, so he thinks that economic development agency can do its work as it stands now, although he says obviously, that's not an optimal situation. The Monroe County Legislative Minority Leader, Cindy Kaleh, released a statement saying that state law requires the COMIDA board to have at least four members for a quorum. She says she's concerned about projects now under consideration facing legal problems.
Four members resigned in recent days in the wake of controversy over the way an incentive package was enforced for the I-Square development in Irondequoit, with the COMIDA members leaving saying they felt the controversy unfairly cast a shadow on their personal ethics.
Daniele says he understands why the members left.
“I would have obviously preferred that they not resign, but at this point, my job as president and as a county legislator in general is to move forward and to make sure that the business of county government and specifically the business of economic development, which is critical in our community, continues.”
Daniele praised the board members the work they've done over a number of years.
“I think at the end of the day COMIDA does a great job, it’s a vital aspect of our economic development that allows us to compete with other communities in Western New York and frankly across the country. I think they do good work, obviously looking forward we want to make sure they’re running in a transparent, ethical manner and that’s something we’ll be keeping an eye on.”
Daniele says he would like to see the rest of the board vacancies filled, and his office is accepting resumes right now. He's looking for a wide diversity of backgrounds, including labor, financial and legal expertise.
