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Originally airing Thursday, May 9, 2019

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Justin Hanft from the Chautauqua County Education Coalition to get more details about the coalition and how its working with dozens of partners across the region to improve traditional and non traditional education opportunities for area residents.

Justin Hanft, executive director of the Chautauqua County Education Coalition

JAMESTOWN (Jan. 26, 2018) – The mayor of Jamestown now has more power when it comes to making appointments to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation’s (JLDC) board of directors.

The JLDC was established in 1981 to serve as the not-for-profit lending agency of the city, in order to provide low interest loans to help spur economic development. The JLDC was originally set up to include a board of directors, that would authorize loans while also providing oversight of the organization. As part of its establishment, the JLDC was required to follow a set of bylaws to serve as a guide for governance and regulation of its affairs.

In 2016 and 2017 the Jamestown City Council approved three separate resolutions related to updating the JLDC bylaws. Action was taken during the June 2016 council voting session, the April 2017 council voting session, and the August 2017 council voting session. In all three instances the council voted unanimously in support of the resolutions.

• Original 1981 JLDC Bylaws [PDF]
• Updated 2017 JLDC Bylaws [PDF]

At the time of each vote, the action received little to no attention by the media or public in general. The proposed updates were also not discussed in any council committee meeting or work session prior to action. In fact, during each respective voting session the resolutions were introduced as “new business,” meaning there was no advanced public notice that they were going to come before the council. Also, when it finally came time for the council to vote on the updates, they were mainly described as a “procedural update” that involved “minor revisions” or “clean up language.”

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi did discuss the proposed changes during a 2016 JLDC meeting, saying that the proposed updates were the result of recommendations from legal counsel.

“Several months ago it was advised by Corporation Council and City Bond Council that the by-laws and certificate of incorporation be reviewed. Everything is in good order, but there was recommendation that some of the language be updated,” The minutes report the mayor saying during the JLDC’s October 2016 meeting. “City Council authorized submission of updates to the Department of State. When received back, the Board will be updated and provided with copies of updated by-laws and certificate of incorporation.”

However, earlier this month the revised JLDC bylaws were posted on the city website and they show the changes involved more than just minor revisions and clean up language.  Not only do the changes account for the possession of assets (likely in anticipation of a proposal to have the JLDC purchase the city Wastewater Treatment Plant), but some also involve transferring the power of appointment for three of the nine JLDC board seats.

MAST, Jamestown Chamber, JRC Presidents Can No Longer Appoint Their Own Representatives

Under both the original and revised JLDC bylaws, three JLDC board seats are to be filled by the presidents of the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturer’s Association of the Jamestown Area (today the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier, or MAST), and Downtown Jamestown Business Association (today the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, or JRC).

The original bylaws also stated that if the president for each of those respective organization was unable to serve on the board (because they are not a resident of the city, for example), he/she would then have to appoint a qualified member from his/her organization to serve. But under the recently revised bylaws, that appointment power was removed from each of the three respective presidents and given to the mayor:

(Editors Note: WORDS CROSSED OUT are removed text from the original 1981 by-laws. WORDS IN RED are added text from the revised 2017 by-laws)

“Every Each Director shall be a resident of the City of Jamestown. In the event a Director, to be seated by virtue of office or title, is not a resident of the City of Jamestown, he shall appoint a member from his organization to serve on the Board of Directors, said appointee shall reside in the city of Jamestown or chooses not to serve on said Board, the Mayor of the City of Jamestown shall appoint an official from said organization, who resides in the City of Jamestown to serve on the Board of Directors.”

Another change in appointment power deals with how vacancies will be filled, giving that power solely to the mayor.  The original bylaws stated:

“Any vacancy on the Board of Directors arising at any time and from any cause, including an increase in the number of Directors by amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, may be filled within ninety days at any meeting of the Board of Directors by a majority of remaining Directors or the Directors then in office, as the case may be, or thereafter, by members at a special meeting of members called for the purpose.”

The revised bylaws state:

“Any vacancy on the Board of Directors arising at any time and from any cause, including an increase in the number of Directors by amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws, may be filled within ninety days by the Mayor of the City of Jamestown.”

Yet another change was the addition that tthe city council president would serve as Vice President of the JLDC board.

• REVIEW ALL REVISIONS TO JLDC BYLAWS [PDF]

MAST President Disappointed with Changes to the Bylaws

Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers’ Association president Todd Tranum

Among those critical in the changes to the bylaws is Todd Tranum, president of MAST.

Tranum is precluded from serving on the JLDC Board because he is not a resident of Jamestown. Under the original JLDC bylaws, he would have the ability to select who serves in his place.

When the MAST seat on the JLDC board was vacated by Justin Hanft in mid 2017 because he moved out of the city, Tranum wanted to appoint former BPU chair John Zabrodsky to the seat and he tells WRFA he informed the Department of Development of his decision in May 2017.  However, that appointment wasn’t acted on when the JLDC held its next meeting in December 2017. Instead, according to the Post-Journal, the JLDC acted on accepting the new bylaws.

The revised JLDC bylaws were finally reviewed and authorized by the state at the end of 2017. As a result, Mayor Sam Teresi – using his new power of appointment for that seat – appointed JCC development director Tim Smeal to the board as part of his slate of 2018 appointments. Those appointments were all approved by the city council, 8 to 1, during its Inaugural Meeting on Jan. 8.

“This is a continuation of Mayor Teresi’s and (Department of Development) Director Vince DeJoy’s attempts to limit the voice and input of the business community,” Tranum said in an email to The Post-Journal in December following the JLDC meeting, and also reiterated to WRFA. “The mayor and the director of development’s methods are not business friendly, inspire distrust and undermine efforts to improve the local economy. The business community will not be silenced.”

When WRFA spoke with Mayor Teresi about the bylaw changes, he said they were done to reflect what had already been taking place in practice and pointed out they were the culmination of a year-and-a-half long process. While it’s evident the bylaw updates were approved by the council in three separate public votes, it’s also worth noting there appears to be no actual public discussion or detailed explanation of what specifically was being changed before voting actually took place.

EDITORS NOTE [Jan. 28, 2018]: A previous version of this story erroneously reported the original JLDC bylaws had no language in place regarding who would serve as president. This is incorrect. The language regarding the Mayor being elected as President of the JLDC board, was listed in another area of the 1981 bylaws (Article IV).

TIMELINE OF JLDC BYLAW CHANGES

As noted above, it appears that none of the changes in the bylaws were publicly reviewed and discussed by the city council prior to their action. A timeline of the related action, along with comments from city officials, is outlined as follows:

June 2016 – City Council Voting Session

Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association president and CEO Todd Tranum talks during the Jamestown City Council’s public hearing on the 2018 city budget.

[Editors Note: This story was revised on Jan. 12, 2018 to correct the details regarding how a member of the JLDC board of directors can be appointed, both under the original bylaws and under the new bylaws.  WRFA had incorrectly stated the rules regarding bylaws in the original version of this story. We apologize for the inaccuracy.]

JAMESTOWN – The head of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST) is offering his thoughts on the recent inaugural meeting of the Jamestown City Council.

The meeting on Monday night saw the election of a new council president in Marie Carrubba, (D-Ward 4) along with the appointment and reappointment of more than two dozen city residents to various city agencies, boards, and commissions.

Chamber president Todd Tranum told WRFA on Tuesday that it was truly an historic moment with the swearing in of the new council, which for the first time in the city’s 132 year history, is comprised of a female majority.

“This is certainly a major achievement and something we should celebrate. Hopefully this will be an inspiration for more women to enter leadership roles in our community. Certainly want to congratulate Marie Carrubba in being voted on as president of the city council,” Tranum said.

While offering his comments on the new city council, Tranum also acknowledged the actions of newly elected councilman Andrew Liuzzo (R-At Large), who voted against not only suspending the rules of order for voting on 27 different mayoral appointments, but also voted against the appointments themselves. Rather than voting for each appointment on its own as the city charter requires, a motion was made Monday night to block all the appointments into a single vote and it was approved 8 to 1, with Liuzzo casting the lone “no” vote.

Andrew Liuzzo

Liuzzo also felt the election of the city council president should have been done by secret ballot rather than a public roll call vote. He told WRFA on Tuesday that he felt a ballot vote would encourage more honesty by each individual council member. No other council member supported his motion for a ballot vote and he was the only council member to not vote for Carrubba as council president.

“I want to acknowledge councilman Liuzzo’s efforts to challenge the status quo. We need more of that in the community,” Tranum said. “We are certainly glad he is in a position to be able to ask some of the important questions.”

Tranum wouldn’t comment on any specific appointments that were made Monday night, but did say that, generally speaking, some were not in line with the needs of the Chamber and MAST.

“This is certainly a continued effort to alienate the business community and our organization. We are used to it. The business community is used to it. I’m used to it,” Tranum said. “This has been going on for a long time. We and many others have tried to work collaboratively and proactively with this mayor for the past 17 years. He clearly does not value what we have to say and he thinks he has better ideas.”

Tranum has been critical of Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi for not appointing individuals who are recommended by the Chamber and MAST to agencies like the BPU and JLDC.

Under the current JLDC bylaws, the board must include the presidents of MAST, the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. When those individuals are unable or unwilling to serve, the mayor then has the power to “appoint an official from said organization, who resides in the City of Jamestown to serve on the [JLDC] Board of Directors.”

However, those bylaws were only recently changed midway through 2017. The original bylaws, enacted at the formation of the JLDC in 1981, stated that the president of each of the three organizations shall be the one who makes the appointment when he/she is unable to serve.

Prior to the updated bylaws being finalized, Tranum said he notified the JLDC that he wanted to appoint former BPU Chair and city resident John Zabrodsky the JLDC board of directors as a representative of MAST.  The vacancy for the MAST representative opened up after the previous MAST representative, Justin Hanft, left the board in mid 2017 due to moving out of the city.  Transum said that instead of honoring his appointment as laid out in the original bylaws, the JLDC opted to leave the seat vacant until after the new bylaws were in place, giving the power of appointment to the mayor, who then appointed Jamestown Community College Development Director and city resident Tim Smeal to fill the vacancy. That appointment was approved by the city council during Monday’s meeting.

According to the Post-Journal, the JLDC bylaws were recently revised to address filling a vacancy on the board, because the former bylaws didn’t address it. As a result in the changes, the bylaws state the mayor can appoint city resident to serve as the MAST representative when a vacancy occurs, so long as that resident is affiliated in some way with the agency. Because JCC is a member organization of MAST and Smeal is an employee of JCC, he qualifies as a representative for MAST.

In addition to several re-appointments to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, the council also approved several appointments to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation (JLDC) board of directors, including one individual to ensure representation by the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST).

City resident Tim Smeal, who currently serves as Director of Development at Jamestown Community College and previously had served on the mayor’s ad hoc Downtown Parking Committee, was appointed as the MAST representative.

The appointment comes following concerns voiced last month by MAST president Todd Tranum that the board needs to have MAST representation, as outlined in the JLDC Bylaws, following the departure of former MAST representative Justin Hanft, who moved out of the city last year. Tranum said MAST had requested that former BPU chair John Zabrodsky be appointed to replace Hanft, but that request was not acted on and instead, Teresi opted to go with Smeal – who qualifies as MAST representative because of his employment at JCC.

Teresi was allowed to appoint his own MAST representative because of a recent amendment to the JLDC Bylaws that removed the JLDC appointment power from the MAST president. Under JLDC bylaws, the MAST president is to serve on the JLDC only if he is a resident within the city. But because Tranum resides outside of the city, another individual connected to MAST must be appointed in his place.

Other JLDC appointments included:

• Kimberly Ecklund (Jamestown City Council representative);
• Resident Tyler Case (At Large member)
• Russell Diethrick (Chaut. Co. Chamber of Commerce representative)
• John Whittaker (Jamestown Renaissance Corporation representative)

Also on the JLDC board are newly elected council president Marie Carrubba and city council finance chair Tony Dolce, by virtue of their positions on the council.

The JLDC is a not-for-profit corporation created by the Jamestown City Council in April 1981 which serves as the lending agency of the City of Jamestown’s Department of Development. No taxpayer dollars are used as loan money.  Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi has also proposed having the agency purchase the city’s wastewater treatment plant in an effort to raise capitol for the city to help pay for infrastructure improvements and equipment purchases, along with going toward a tax stabilization fund.

JAMESTOWN – Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant is hosting its second annual Women in Manufacturing Night on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. This event is geared toward young women and parents of young women who have an interest or may be considering a career in manufacturing. Attendees will hear perspectives of women who currently work in manufacturing.

On the Oct. 20 edition of Community Matters, WRFA public affairs director Jason Sample talked with Justin Hanft (Dream It, Do It WNY), Janet Forbes (AAUW), and Lori Jafarjian (Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant) about the  event.

During the interview, Hanft explained that while women represent nearly half (47%) of the total U.S. labor force, they comprise less than a third (27%) of the manufacturing workforce. While women make 79 cents to the dollar as compared to male wages in all fields; that gap is reduced to 92 cents to the dollar in STEM disciplines. With women representing less than a third of the manufacturing workforce, it is clear that manufacturers are missing out on a critical talent pool, which could aid remarkably in closing both the skills and pay gaps.

The Oct. 27 event will include a tour of the Cummins plant. The goals are to engage future generations of women, educate them about manufacturing, outline opportunities, introduce them to role models in the field, and provide a forum to network and talk with local women. The format encourages girls and young women to pursue their dreams and help develop the self-confidence to seek a variety of career options including advanced manufacturing.

Dream It Do It Western New York is helping to coordinate this event.  As a strong advocate for women working in manufacturing careers, DIDIWNY works to educate young people about career paths in manufacturing, the sciences, technology, engineering, and math.  The mission of DIDIWNY is to increase the skilled workforce pipeline in manufacturing careers.

The Women in Manufacturing panel will be moderated by Cindy Aronson, owner of Cindy Aronson Workplace Training, and will include women who work in manufacturing in human resources, industrial engineering, electrical, and materials. 

This event is free to attend, but advanced registration is appreciated. Please note, that no open toed shoes or heels higher than 1-inch will be allowed, since participants will be touring the plant.  For more information, please contact DIDI Coordinator Justin Hanft at (716) 969-6014.

To register, look for the Women in Manufacturing Night event listing on the Dream It, Do It WNY Facebook Page.

Congressman Rep. Tom Reed was in Falconer Oct. 13 to tour Truck-Lite Company, Inc. and recognize the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier and Dream It Do It Western New York for their effort in training the workers of tomorrow.

FALCONER – Chautauqua County’s representative in Washington says the only way America can remain competitive on the world stage when it comes to manufacturing is by equipping the workers of tomorrow with the skills and knowledge they’ll need to get the job done.

Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) was in Falconer Tuesday to promote National Manufacturing Month with a tour of Truck-Lite and to recognize the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier and Dream It Do It Western New York for their efforts in training the workers of tomorrow.

Reed pointed out that Truck-Lite has been a major partner with the local Dream It Do It program, giving high school students in the area an opportunity to learn about the operation and what they’ll need to know to work in a manufacturing setting.

“This is manufacturing of tomorrow,” Reed said. “It takes a hi-tech [approach]. It takes a lot of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – that’s why we’re a firm believer in the STEM program. And it’s also about raising awareness. This being National Manufacturing Month, one of the things we hope to accomplish with this [visit] is to raise awareness to the next generation and to mothers and fathers and say, ‘This isn’t the manufacturing of the 20th century. This is the manufacturing of tomorrow, which is safe, it’s exciting, it’s hands on and it’s stimulating.”

Truck Lite Sr. Vice President Brad VanRiper said the Dream It – Do It program has become a valuable component for the local manufacturer.

“Through Dream It – Do It and the education coalition, we’ve seen an effort to align education with the needs of business and industry,” VanRiper said. “If education doesn’t know our needs and the students don’t know the opportunity, then we can’t get the employees – which is probably the single biggest opposition to our growth here in Western New York.”

Reed also presented a Congressional proclamation to Manufacturers Association director Todd Tranum and Dream It Do It Coordinator Justin Hanft, who said the program has given hundreds of students an opportunity to learn how they can work in manufacturing.

“Dream It Do It program throughout Chautauqua County – through a variety of different strategic approaches – hosts a lot of different events around the county at different times throughout the year,” Hanft said. “The one we just did recently was our Manufacturing Day event on Oct. 2, when we had over 600 kids throughout the county that visited a manufacturer, Truck-Lite being one of them.”

In addition to the proclamation, Congressman Reed also toured the Truck-Lite plant to learn more about the operation and the products that it provides to its customers around the globe.

According to Joni Blackman of the Fenton History Center, Doors Open is designed to give area residents a look into our local attractions, with free admission for the day to demonstrate the many tremendous tourism opportunities right here in our own backyard.

More from Joni Blackman, along with Justin Hanft (Jamestown Chamber) and Lynn Warner (Reg Lenna Center for the Arts) is available in the above interview.

Locations participating this year are:  Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Busti Historical Society and Grist Mill, Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, Fenton History Center, Gateway Train Station, Infinity Performing Arts, Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, Lucille Ball Little Theatre, Lucille M. Wright Air Museum, Lucy-Desi Center for Comedy, Prendergast Library, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Robert H. Jackson Center, and Roger Tory Peterson Institute for Natural History.

Many of the participating venues will offer specials in their gift shops or prize drawings, and local businesses and restaurants will offer Doors Open specials as well.

The event is  Sponsored by the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Up Close.