TRR photo by David Hulse State Senator John Bonacic (Click for larger image)

Bonacic:‘wait and see’ on new Concord money

Developer to air requests before
county legislature

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — Concord developer Louis Capelli today is expected to outline requests for new state and county assistance before the Sullivan County Legislature, but the man who would probably be expected to come up with the lion’s share of any new public money isn’t convinced yet.

New funding for the Concord project reportedly would go for a convention center on the Kiamesha Lake property, a project that has been on the Legislature’s wish list, but has never made it beyond preliminary discussion.

Capelli requested two hours before the Legislature to outline his project goals and progress. He asked that Assemblyman Jacob Gunther (D-98) and State Senator John Bonacic (RC-40) be invited to attend. One source said privately that part of Capelli’s efforts thus far includes his having contracted with a national hotel management firm, Starwood, which would supply the Marriott Hotels “flag” for the new resort.

A spokesperson for Gunther said the assemblyman had schedule conflicts for the afternoon session, and that Gunther’s plans were unresolved.

Bonacic too said Monday that he was not sure if he or a representative would attend.

But, in general, Bonacic went on to say that he wants to see a clear “300-percent” consensus from the county Legislature before he takes up the issue, and that hasn’t happened yet. While he says “a convention center may well be a good idea,” Bonacic noted Rodney Gaebel (RC-5) and Chris Cunningham (DC-1) have both expressed concerns about the Concord project. “They have to be of one mind when it comes to the appropriation of public funds,” he said.

“I’ve met with Mr. Capelli before, and I’m ready to meet again down the road if the support from Sullivan County is there,” Bonacic said.

Stepping in at this point, he said, would be inappropriate. “I don’t want to micro-manage.”

Admitting that in the past there had been a good deal of skepticism about Capelli’s completion of the ambitious plan he outlined last fall, legislative chair Rusty Pomeroy now said, “I’m pretty confident that he’s ready to build.”

Pomeroy said it is not unusual for the developer of a major project like this to seek a public-private partnership for funding. “He’s saying that the county and state can expect to see significant increases in sales and occupancy taxes coming directly from his project. He wants them to help put it together.”

Public participation would also indirectly cut Capelli’s bonding expenses, as state and county backing would decrease investor risk in the eyes of rating agencies, Pomeroy added.

As Bonacic noted, Gaebel and Cunningham have expressed concerns about the existing taxpayer expenses in the project. Cunningham balked at the scope of Industrial Development Agency incentives, while Gaebel expressed concern about the developer’s requests for special landfill tipping charges to dispose of demolition debris from the old Concord buildings.

Capelli was scheduled to address the Legislature’s Executive Committee at 2:00 p.m.