Schenectady County Democrats said they are willing to compromise with Republican leaders in the state Senate and Assembly to complete a bill that would raise the Metroplex Development Authority’s bond cap from $50 million to $75 million before the close of Legislative session on Monday, June 23.
Susan E. Savage, chair of the Schenectady County Legislature said the tentative agreement was reached last night after a nearly two hour meeting of the county Democratic caucus.
The County Legislature is expected to pass a home rule message at its meeting on Tuesday, June 10 that accepts two Republican amendments brought forward by Senator Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna.
The amendments to the bill would bar party chairpersons, county legislators and managers, with the exception of the county’s top economic development official, who is now Ray Gillen, from serving on the Metroplex board.
Gillen is currently chairman of the Metroplex board and would keep that post under the current legislation.
The bill would also bar state legislators from serving on the board.
Farley said the amendments are an attempt to remove politics Metroplex.
For more on this story pick up a Schenectady County print edition of the Spotlight Newspapers next week.
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