Main Street grant goes to 457 Equities

MONTICELLO, NY — 457 Equities, LLC owner Jeremy Gorelick, left, was presented with a check for $25,000 on September 29, a New York Main Street grant awarded to him for his development of the Peachtree Building, seen behind the group. With him, left to right, are Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce VP Lisa Mills, Partnership president Tim McCausland, Sullivan County legislator Alan Sorensen, chamber president Terri Ward, legislator Ron Hiatt and Partnership vice president Susan Jaffe.

The 25,000-square-foot, two-story structure, known as the Peachtree Building, was formerly three separate buildings, now combined for more efficient use of the space. Gorelick has spent nearly $1.1 million renovating 10 new office spaces, including two 1,000-square-foot lofts on the second floor. All 10 spaces are currently occupied, and four additional spaces are still available on a “build to suit” basis.

For more information on New York Main Street grants visit www.nymainstreet.org .

Rendell staffer leaves to join gas driller

HARRISBURG, PA — A deputy chief of staff to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has left his position and has accepted a job with a gas drilling company.

According to various published reports, Scott Roy has left his job with the government and will work for the Texas-based company Range Resources, Inc., which has been active in signing gas leases and drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

On October 6, Rendell announced that Roy’s replacement will be Naomi Wyatt, who has served as secretary of the office of administration since August of 2007.

In that cabinet post, Wyatt oversees a 600-person department that provides services to executive branch agencies of the Pennsylvania state government. Those services include information technology, human resources, records management, and travel management.

Sullivan West vote on slate roof

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Residents of the Sullivan West Central School District will have a chance to vote on whether to spend capital reserve funds to fix the historic 1938 slate roof on the Jeffersonville Elementary School.

In a letter to residents, superintendent Dr. Ken Hilton and board president Anna M. Niemann wrote, “The major problems are with the wooden structures—the windows, dormers, clock tower, railings and balusters. They will need extensive repair or replacement. So too will all of the gutters and many of the supporting eaves. Finally, approximately 10 percent of the slate tile shingles will also need to be replaced.”

The entire project is expected to cost $1.5 million, $600,000 of which will come from a historic preservation grant. Other money will come from the state and the school district. The letter emphasized that the project “will not require any increase in taxes. It will add nothing to our district’s debt. It will not deplete the capital reserve fund.”

Voting will be held on Tuesday, October 20, from 12:00 noon until 9:00 p.m., at three polling places: the elementary school in Jeffersonville, the public library in Narrowsburg, and the youth center in Callicoon. For more information visit www.swcsd.org.

Rieber proposes Rock Hill zoning change

MONTICELLO, NY — Town of Thompson Councilman Bill Rieber has proposed a zoning change for over 500 acres of property along Glen Wild Road and Rock Hill Drive, the site of the proposed Rock Hill Town Center development. The proposal change is to revise the zoning from SR (Suburban Residential) and HC (Highway Commercial) to be entirely zoned RR-1 (Rural Residential 1 acre zone), which will require a minimum lot size of one acre per home.

Rieber said, “The development proposed for this site has the possibility under current zoning of becoming very dense, and with little commercial development included, there will be a negative tax impact on Thompson residents.” He also said that the change would be in keeping with the town’s master plan.

Hinchey helps secure $350 million for dairy farmers

WASHINGTON, DC — The 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill that has just emerged from the conference committee includes $350 million in aid to dairy farmers across the country. Under the agreement, $290 million will be allocated in direct payments to dairy farmers while an additional $60 million will be directed toward the purchasing of cheese products for food banks and other nutritional programs.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will determine which farmers will receive the aid. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), as a member of the subcommittee that oversees agriculture spending, will work closely with Secretary Vilsack to ensure that New York dairy farmers, particularly family farmers, receive support.

A vote on the bill in both houses is expected soon.