EDA Welcomes New Quorum-Making Member, Takes Care of Brief Action Agenda

New Warren County-overseen Economic Development Authority (EDA, WC EDA, FR-WC EDA) Board of Directors member Dave McDermott was welcomed aboard at a Special Meeting called for 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, July 8, at the Warren County Government Center (WCGC) Caucus Room. McDermott’s presence allowed for a quorum of the seven-member EDA board, as he joined remaining members Chairman JD Walter, Rob MacDougall, and Bruce Townshend in convening the meeting despite three remaining vacancies.

Once McDermott, appointed by the county supervisors on June 25th to fill one of four vacancies on the 7-person EDA board, was greeted and a tech issue for legal counsel Rodney Young of Timberlake-Smith, attending remotely was solved, the board took on a three-item Action Agenda.

From the left, near side of table, Bruce Townshend, Chairman JD Walter, new member Dave McDermott, and Rob MacDougall ponder meeting-opening tech issue. Timberlake-Smith attorney Rodney Young, below present remotely, informed the EDA board that while he had visual contact, he was getting no sound on his end. The issue was resolved with a phone connection to the legal counsel’s end. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

The Action Agenda items were:

Item 4a: Agreement for Fiscal Agency Services with the Warren County Board of Supervisors;

Item 4b: Amendment to Extend Due Diligence (study) Period on development of the 53-acre Stephens Industrial Park parcel by Equus from July 15 to August 15;

Item 4c: Kendrick Lane HVAC Repair of the C-CAP office space.

All three items were approved by 4-0 votes on respective motions by, Townshend, second by MacDougall (4a), Townshend, second McDermott (4b), and Townshend, second MacDougall (4c).

During discussion of the Kendrick Lane HVAC repairs it was noted that County Public Works had looked at the necessary work and estimated a similar cost to that quoted to C-CAP by its contractor. However, it was noted it would take the County department three weeks to acquire the necessary parts for the repair work. On the other hand, the contractor C-CAP has contacted could begin the work immediately. And in this summer’s mid-90s to low triple figure weather, “immediately” seemed the best option, the board agreed.

The EDA Board consensus was that “immediate” was the best HVAC repair option for the C-CAP space in the Kendrick Ln. building in this summer’s weather.

Fortunately with the outside temperature flirting with triple digits as the week began, it was pointed out that not all of C-CAP’s office space AC units were dysfunctional. The option of giving C-CAP rental credit for their costs in contracting the HVAC repair work was suggested if allowable in the rental agreement.

With no additional “New Business” on the agenda the meeting was adjourned at 4:27 p.m.