Glenville Town Councilman and Republican candidate for Glenville Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle is proposing a fund for Federal Emergency Management Agency money the town received after the December 2008 ice storms, totaling in at $425,000.
The plan, called REDI (Revitalization and Economic Development Investment), would be a program that placed the FEMA money in a fund that would soley be used for investing in economic development projects within the Town Center, which includes the stretch of Route 50 surrounding the old K-Mart building. Other ideas for spending the money that are on the table include the purchase of new public works trucks and paving roads, or putting it in the fund balance while the 2010 budget is created.
It kind of came to me as we were looking at what to do with the FEMA money, said Koetzle. `In this instance we can invest it and get it to a point where we can have businesses come in and have more property taxes and we’ll end up making more in tax revenues in the long run.`
Koetzle said that he wants to pass a resolution where the town isn’t spending the money right away, but the money is secured.
`The board is ready to spend it on trucks or paving, and before they do that they should have the opportunity to look at what else they can do with that money,` said Koetzle.
He said he isn’t sure if his resolution is going to get support from other board members, but said he `thinks that it’s something important to talk about and be able to see a vision of what’s important here.`
Rick DiCresce, owner of Enterprise Auto Sales in the Town Center, supports the REDI plan.
`If I spent all my money developing this property and making it look good and didn’t have money to buy cars I wouldn’t be in business very long,` said DiCresce.
`They’re looking to buy a truck or two and that would be what they would using the money for. Chris is proposing to do some developing which is [better in the long run],` he said.
Alan Boulant, who is the head of the Glenville Business and Professional Association who is also running for a seat on Town Council on the republican line for the first time, is also in support of REDI.
`The interesting part is that before the ice storm hit and the FEMA money was available there was never a conversation about new trucks, and it’s ironic that all of a sudden this money comes in and we want to spend it on vehicles,` said Boulant.
He said that he isn’t saying that the town doesn’t need new trucks ` but he thinks that the town does need a new plan for the FEMA money.
`What can we do with this money to be more smart?` asked Boulant. `The K-mart property is an eye sore, and that’s a piece of property that needs to be rejuvenated. I just feel that there’s more use with that money than going out and buying vehicles.`
He said in business one of the things you have to do is have a three and five year plan ` `something that guides you along.`
`[The town] doesn’t know what they’re going to do next. Everything is reactionary,` said Boulant. `My thought is, why spend all that money? Why not put it in the fund that can be used for economic development to make money?`
Not everyone is on board with REDI.
`The money from FEMA that we got is in the fund balance. It is perfectly safe and locked up,` said Town Supervisor Frank Quinn.
`Now we have the competing interest for trucks, paving roads, doing this REDI thing, and in addition we have a town budget,` said Quinn.
He said that the town has to buy police cars, they have health care increases coming up for town employees, bonds from projects and purchases that were financed in 2009 that come due in 2010.
`The state retirement fund took a big hit and they’re coming for more money from the state retirees ` it’s crazier than hell. The money is burning a hole in their pocket,` said Quinn.
`As far as I’m concerned, no way in hell should we spend any money until we’re aware of what tax payers will need to spend next year,` said Quinn.
He said that last year $1 million surplus was put in the fund balance to keep taxes down.
`There’s $400,000 and they want to spend it ` they won’t have it for the fund balance,` said Quinn.
He said that he is also puzzled by REDI because it is in direct competition with the Schenectady Metroplex, who is already working on development in the town. Metroplex also is funded by taxpayers.
`That doesn’t make any sense. It’s the taxpayers’ money either way and why would they want to pay twice when the Metroplex is the professional staff that does this county-wide, all year long?` said Quinn.
`No way in hell would I want to pay twice for the funding,` said Quinn.
He said that he is trying to put the first draft of the town’s 2010 budget together and is already looking at `staggering numbers.`
Quinn said the FEMA money is needed for next year to keep taxes down. `As far as I’m concerned anyone can put a resolution up. That’s fine and dandy. There’s obviously competition for money, but do we spend it for trucks and pavement? REDI funds? Are we going to screw over the tax payers?` said Quinn.
`Let’s wait until we have the budget settled in November and see if we should put the funds in REDI, trucks or pavement. Let’s solve it first,` said Quinn.
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