IDA aims for fix broken relationship

The agency and county economic development officials have been at odds for more than two years.

KINGSTON, N.Y. » The Ulster County Industrial Development Agency is seeking to repair its relationship with county’s Office of Economic Development after more than a year of avoiding contact.

At a recent meeting of the agency’s board, Chairman James Malcolm said meetings already have been conducted to determine what areas should be given attention by both agencies.

“We’ve met with the county executive (Pat Ryan) and some of his staff, along with the economic development group on things we’d like to get back to and reaffirm our relationship,” Malcolm said.

“It’s no secret,” he added.

“We need to work with people. I think we’ve proven we can do a lot of things on our own, but at what cost at the end of the day?”

The Industrial Development Agency and county economic development officials had been at odds for more than two years, arising from when thencounty Legislators Hector Rodriguez, D-New Paltz, and Joseph Maloney, DSaugerties, led efforts to replace three IDA board members who the lawmakers considered to be doing the bidding of then-County Executive Michael Hein.

On Jan. 2, 2019, the Industrial Development Agency cut ties with the County Executive’s Office by declining to renew a contract with the Office of Economic Development, which had handled all agency administrative matters. Hein was responsible for appointing office employees.

The IDA followed the split by moving out of the Ulster County Office Building, where it had conducted business for nearly 15 years, and moving first to the Arc of Ulster-Greene building on Albany Avenue in Kingston and then the SUNY Ulster Kingston Center on Mary’s Avenue.

However, county lawmakers earlier this year replaced agency board member Randall Leverette, who had become IDA chairman last year and had been an ardent supporter of the agency’s independence.

Malcolm, the longestserving member of the agency’s board, took over as chairman last month. He said it’s important to have people appointed for their expertise rather than their politics.

“I’ve sat on this board for a long time, and I’ve never seen it as active and positive as it has been for the last month,” Malcolm said.

He noted that the effort to establish a better relationship with the County Executive’s Office has come from agency Chief Executive Officer Rose Woodworth and board member Faye Storms, one of the appointees seated on the board when lawmakers were seeking to break the agency from Hein’s oversight.

“I think all of that comes from giving people an opportunity and utilizing them with their skill sets and not micromanaging people,” Malcolm said.