Board of Directors Confirmed for Onondaga Civic Development Corporation - Brenda Leung

By Brenda Leung
October, 06, 2009

St. Joseph’s Hospital will receive tax-exempt bonds from the newly formed Onondaga Civic Development Corporation. It was assured Tuesday afternoon when the County Legislature approved six appointees to its Board of Directors by a 19-0 vote.

However, the Democrats seemed unpleased with the all-Republican governing body.

The Board of Directors will create jobs and improve the economy. It will also issue tax-exempt bonds to projects of non-profit corporations.

The new members are all Republicans: former legislators James W. Farrell, Donald Colon, and Dale Sweetland appointed by the County Legislature Chair and Cydney Johnson, Matthew McAnaney, and Thomas Dadey appointed by the County Executive.

During the legislative meeting, William Kinne, D-Syracuse, expressed discontent over the Republican-controlled legislature, especially with the selection process. “There are very few female and minority representatives on the board,” Kinne said.

Majority Leader Kathleen Rapp, R-Salina, said she was quite surprised by Kinne’s reaction, “I thought they knew what happened … the information’s been on the desk for two weeks.”

Although Kinne complained about the Democrats having no say in the Republicans’ pick, “the ultimate goal of the group is to help St. Joseph's Hospital … It serves the greater good of the community," Kinne said.

The five-year St. Joseph’s Hospital facility expansion is projected to cost $220 million. “Huge opportunity for jobs from the get-go to finish project which is your physicians down to home care … we’ve got the best of the best here now,” Sam Laguzza, D-Syracuse, said. "The project would mostly benefit the underserved in the community."