{"id":50471,"date":"2023-03-03T07:17:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T12:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=50471"},"modified":"2023-03-03T10:15:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T15:15:17","slug":"jamestown-mayor-sundquist-says-city-looking-into-possible-conflicts-of-interest-law-violations-with-arpa-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/jamestown-mayor-sundquist-says-city-looking-into-possible-conflicts-of-interest-law-violations-with-arpa-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Jamestown Mayor Sundquist Says City Looking Into Possible Conflicts of Interest Law Violations with ARPA Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Grant Manager Tim O’Dell presents on business grant fund to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation board. (January 18, 2023)<\/p><\/div>\n

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist<\/strong> says the city is continuing to look into possible violations of conflict of interest laws, due to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation<\/strong> awarding grant moneys to sitting board members, including one who also sits on the city council<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As WRFA first reported on Wednesday<\/a>, the JLDC board appears to have violated its own by-laws by awarding federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act<\/strong> to its own members to assist their personal business interests.<\/p>\n

The businesses in question included a $64,000 grant to It’s Your Day<\/strong> wedding planning service from the JLDC’s Building Acquisition & Business Expansion program<\/strong>. It’s Your Day is owned and operated by the wife of city councilman and JLDC board member Jeff Russell<\/strong>. The other business was Jamestown Skate Products<\/strong>, which received a $15,000 grant from Downtown Small Business Evolution program<\/strong>. That business is owned and operated by JLDC board member Pete Scheira<\/strong>. A third violation may have also occurred when JLDC board member Luke Fodor<\/strong>, an employee of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church<\/strong>, applied for and was awarded a $9,500 downtown programming grant<\/strong> for a fundraising concert for the church, scheduled for later this month.<\/p>\n

In all three instances, the board members in question either recused themselves or did not attend the voting session. However, the JLDC by-laws are clear in stating that no funding will be awarded to any business where a board member owns a material interest.<\/p>\n

Not only did the awards appear to violate JLDC by-laws, but also state conflict of interest rules for municipal officers, and potentially federal rules as well.<\/p>\n

The city claims it was aware of the language in the JLDC bylaws, but felt they didn’t apply to grant awards related to ARPA funding since JLDC was only serving as a pass-through agency for that money.<\/p>\n

In a statement released Thursday morning, the mayor said all grant awards related to ARPA were made under the knowledge that they were appropriate and legal under state and federal law, and if there are any discrepancies, or actions contrary to state or federal law, the city will work to rectify those issues as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Sundquist also claimed the awarding of the funds were done in “a transparent and public process.” However, while the votes were done in a public setting, they were not 100% transparent.
\nWhen it came time for the JLDC board to award the grants in question, there was no advanced notice given to the public, including no mention of the businesses on the official meeting agenda, which does not appear on the city website and is only sent out to media.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the official minutes for the respective meetings don’t provide any details on which businesses were awarded funding.<\/p>\n

As Sundquist and his staff continue to look into the matter, the New York State Comptroller’s office<\/strong> has informed WRFA it is aware of the situation and is monitoring it as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the city is continuing to look into possible violations of conflict of interest laws, due to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation awarding grant moneys to sitting board members, including one who also sits on the city council. As WRFA first reported on Wednesday, the JLDC board appears to have violated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":49497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[4],"tags":[11144,12756,8664,12843,7652,12760,1122,1147,2704,9779,5067,4221,4188,2833],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/JLDC-1-18-23.jpg?fit=905%2C601&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3YlJ4-d83","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52352,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/jldc-releases-arpa-funds-for-two-jamestown-businesses-whose-allocation-had-been-in-question\/","url_meta":{"origin":50471,"position":0},"title":"JLDC Releases ARPA Funds For Two Jamestown Businesses Whose Allocation Had Been in Question","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"June 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Jamestown Local Development Corporation has released American Rescue Plan funding it had been holding back for two businesses pending counsel on whether the appropriation of those funds had violated federal law. The JLDC Board had approved a $64,000 Building Expansion & Business Acquisition program grant for It's Your Day\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50738,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/two-jldc-grants-that-raised-questions-of-by-law-violations-on-hold\/","url_meta":{"origin":50471,"position":1},"title":"Two JLDC Grants That Raised Questions of By-Law Violations On Hold","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"March 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Two grants approved by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation Board that raised questions of whether the board violated its by-laws are now on hold. Jamestown Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo, who is also now the legal counsel for JLDC, said he is still awaiting guidance following conversations with the state and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54623,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/city-council-to-vote-on-non-profit-funding\/","url_meta":{"origin":50471,"position":2},"title":"City Council To Vote on Non-Profit Funding","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"September 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Jamestown City Council will vote on approving $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan funding to seven non-profit organizations. The Jamestown Local Development Corporation has already approved funding from the Non-Profit Assistance Grant Program to the seven organizations and it comes before City Council now due to the requests crossing the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/JamestownSeal.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":51385,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/jldc-to-receive-an-update-on-questionable-grant-awards-for-board-members-during-wednesday-meeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":50471,"position":3},"title":"JLDC to Receive an Update on Questionable Grant Awards for Board Members During Wednesday Meeting","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"April 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE: The Jamestown Local Development Corporation will not be discussing the ARPA grants awarded to Jamestown Skate Products and It's Your Day at its monthly meeting following an update sent this morning that removed that item for tonight's agenda.\u00a0 City officials are expected to offer an update Wednesday afternoon on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/JLDC-3-15-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53604,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/jamestown-local-development-corporation-considering-four-scenarios-for-funding-non-profit-grant-applicants\/","url_meta":{"origin":50471,"position":4},"title":"Jamestown Local Development Corporation Considering Four Scenarios For Funding Non-Profit Grant Applicants","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"August 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Jamestown Local Development Corporation will consider four scenarios for funding Non-Profit Assistance Grant program applicants. The Non-Profit Assistance Program was funded with $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act monies. Nine organizations have requested a total of $2,756,457 toward $43,462,532 in project costs. Grants Manager Tim O'Dell said funding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/JLDC-8-3-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/JLDC-8-3-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/JLDC-8-3-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/JLDC-8-3-23.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31722,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/as-jamestown-prepares-for-new-mayor-city-development-director-resigns-for-private-sector-position\/","url_meta":{"origin":50471,"position":5},"title":"As Jamestown Prepares for New Mayor, City Development Director Resigns for Private Sector Position","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"November 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"JAMESTOWN - The city of Jamestown will have a new Director of Development when a new administration takes over in January. The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting that current City Development Director Vince DeJoy is retiring from his position with today being his final day at the position. 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