Democratic Rural Conference of New York State

Democratic Rural Conference of New York State

Board of Directors Meeting, June 11, 2016, Patterson, NY

Minutes

Chair Stein called the meeting to order at 10:04 AM. Secretary Clark called the roll. Chair Stein, Mr. Clark, Ms. Dodds, Mr. Young, Ms. Kirsch, Ms. Hunter and Mr. Hurley were present. Mr. Bujanow arrived at 10:11. Mr. Peter Stein (Tompkins County), Ms. Karen Greenfield-Sanders and Ms. Kathy Croft (both Putnam County) were also present.

Chair Stein requested that the Board defer action on the Minutes and treasurer’s Report until a quorum was present. She stated that the DRC was still owed more than $3000.00 from program book ads and conference sponsorships. She noted that Mr. Brodsky was expected at 10:30 and that Mr. Smikle was expected at 11:30.

Communications and Outreach Committee

Ms. Hunter reported on the activity of the Speakers Bureau. She noted that she had spoke in Oswego County in April, Mr. Bill Wood would be speaking in Tioga County and Chair Stein would be speaking in Columbia, Tioga and Otsego Counties. She stated that she had handed out press packets at the spring conference. She stated that she had participated in a few television interviews. She then added that it is difficult to gauge how much impact the Facebook page is having despite the number of page likes increasing from 667 last year to 836 this year. A quorum was achieved at 10:11 upon Mr. Bujanow’s arrival.

Secretary’s Report

Secretary Clark presented minutes from the March 5, 2016 Board of Directors meeting. Those present spent a few moments reading copies of the minutes. With no questions regarding the minutes, Ms. Dodds motioned that they be approved. On Mr. Young’s second to Ms. Dodds’s motion, the minutes were approved unanimously.

Finance Committee

In Mr. Alquist’s absence, Mr. Bujanow presented a report that had been prepared by the Finance Committee in response to an alternate proposal for DRC assistance to member counties that had been circulated by Mr. Clark at the conclusion of the spring conference. Mr. Bujanow noted that the discussion regarding county funding had not been an actual agenda item at the recent committee conference call. The report addressed each part of the proposal offered by Mr. Clark. Both the proposal and the report are attached to these minutes in their entirety for reference. Following an extended objection exercised by Mr. Clark, Chair Stein requested that Mr. Bujanow motion to endorse the report. Mr. Bujanow motioned that the Board endorse the report. There was no second. Mr. Bujanow then motioned that the Board accept the report, which recommended that funding be offered to member counties and State Senate candidates, and Mr. Hurley seconded his motion. Discussion ensued.

Contrary to the recommendation of the report, Ms. Dodds stated that she understood what Mr. Clark had proposed in trying to retain a larger treasury balance. She also suggested investigating what it might cost to do fundraising in Neon. Mr. Hurley offered that it was healthy for organizations to take a step back and look at their past as being relevant to what it is still doing in the present. He questioned, “Is there a better way to do what we have done in the past?” and he further pointed out that one of the original goals of the DRC organizers was to develop more influence as a rural caucus. He stated that there may well be value in having a stronger cash reserve position for use in targeted races and suggested that, perhaps, we also need to find new sources of revenue. Ms. Hunter discussed the timeliness of raising money for Senate candidates and suggested that the Board email the membership to promote a special effort to raise money for Senate candidates. Chair Stein suggested that the Board attempt to raise money by hosting a wine tasting event at an upcoming state committee meeting. The Board agreed to host a wine tasting event by acclimation. Mr. Clark explained the nature of the IT sharing component and related it to a conversation that he had with Mr. Thickstun from Oneida County. Shortly after 10:40, Chair Stein introduced Mr. Brodsky who had arrived at 10:25.

Presentation by Richard Brodsky

Mr. Brodsky spoke about two topics. He started his presentation by discussing whether economic development in New York State was being handled properly. He began with a brief explanation of the history of economic development in New York and some of the regulations impacting policy. He spoke generally on empire zones, public benefit corporations, the recharge New York program, the Orange County Electric Plant, economic development in the Moses era, the Buffalo Billion, Industrial Development Corporations and their lack of regulation or compliance with statute that requires that their activity be tied to job creation. He further suggested that IDA’s be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. He then discussed how economic development financing was starting to be investigated much like campaign finance has been. He discussed the importance of FOIA and the NY Yankees report, which illustrated how 32 permanent jobs were created through an investment of $7.8 Billion.

He then spoke at length about his perception of a need for a constitutional convention. He started by stating that 20 years ago, two Democrats favored a convention; Mario Cuomo and himself. He stated that a call for a constitutional convention was due again in 2017. The last successful convention was held in 1937. He spoke about some of the issues that would be discussed during a constitutional convention, including the APA and Forever Wild, charter schools, the Board of Regents, prevailing wage, free common schools, women’s health and state pensions. He urged the DRC to take up the discussion of the constitutional convention at its 2017 conference.

Ms. Kirsch stated that there would be three delegates per Senate district, essentially enabling the same people that are in office now to be delegates at the convention. She also stated that the delegation can also set so many limiting factors that it will be almost impossible to invoke real change. Mr. Hurley and Mr. Bujanow led a brief discussion about the unlikeliness of getting three people who are not already elected to office to be electable as a delegate.

Mr. Brodsky then offered to assist the DRC if it was to provide a specific project worthy of investigation. Chair Stein, Mr. Clark and Ms. Hunter discussed possible examples. Mr. Bujanow asked Mr. Brodsky if there were oversight tools in place. He replied that the Authority Budget Office (ABO) had been established for that purpose. Mr. Bujanow then discussed the PARIS reporting system and the challenges that local investigators have in convincing IDA’s to release documents via FOIA.

Chair Stein then discussed how the Tompkins County Democratic Committee had hosted a pro and con forum on the constitutional convention recently. She stated that because you are not eligible to serve in two positions at the same time that it could pass. Mr. Brodsky excused himself at 11:37 AM.

Issues Committee

Following his prior discussion with Mr. Brodsky, Mr. Hurley cautioned against moving forward too aggressively on IDA reform. Ms. Hunter asked for a copy of the link to the Yankee’s report.

Treasurer’s Report

Members of the Board reviewed the Treasurer’s report in Mr. Alquist’s absence. On a motion by Mr. Clark and a second by Mr. Young, the report was approved unanimously by acclimation.

Young Democrat Involvement Committee

Mr. Clark explained the success that the committee was having with recruiting volunteers from New York City and Long Island to canvass or call on behalf of upstate Senate candidates. He explained that there had been no decisions made on which races that they would work on but the decision would ultimately be up to the individual following consultation/suggestions from DSCC.

Conference Committee

Chair Stein thanked Ms. Dodds for her patience in putting the 2016 conference together. Mr. Clark handed out his analysis of the survey results from the conference and explained the results including limitations to paper surveys. Ms. Dodds explained that because there were so many changes in the final agenda, many of the sections were out of order on the actual survey form. She encouraged the Board to move away from paper surveys and replace them with an electronic survey that would be sent out post-conference in 2017. There seemed to be agreement from those present. Ms. Dodds also explained how helpful Congressman Tonko had been by making appearances in each Congressional District breakout session and asked that Chair Stein send him a letter of thanks. Ms. Kirsch closed out the discussion by stating that the conference made the front page of the Albany Times Union and that she and other attendees had been photographed.

Chair Stein indicated that Mr. Souza will now chair the political committee and that she would like to pursue regional training events per discussions that she had with Mr. Ian Phillips. The Board discussed the upside potential of regional training events.

Ms. Dodds handed out copies of initial tentative agendas from prior 11 conferences and led a discussion about variations in the program agenda in odd numbered years. She spoke about the venue size necessary to host 500 participants. She then added that if Donald Trump were to win in November that the DRC should host an event on Inauguration Day focusing on how does a person run for local office. Chair Stein indicated that this was a great idea. Upon further investigation, it was determined that January 20, 2017 will be a Friday. Chair Stein asked if the Board would like to invite Mr. Cilento to speak again in 2017. On a motion by Mr. Bujanow and a second by Mr. Clark, the Board voted to invite Mr. Cilento to speak in 2017 unanimously by acclimation.

Mr. Hurley suggested that the Board strongly consider Mr. Brodsky’s suggestion to host a forum on the Constitutional Convention during the conference. Mr. Clark requested that the Labor community be invited to participate in a panel should one be convened. A discussion about the pros and cons of hosting a panel ensued. Mr. Hurley suggested that an initial neutral speaker describe the mechanics of the process before breaking out into a weighted discussion. Ms. Dodds added that the initial speaker could then serve as a moderator and suggested that one and a half hours be allocated as opposed to the traditional hour. There was no decision made on whether it would be a panel discussion or a discussion with a single pro and a single con voice. There was complete agreement that there should be a session on the constitutional convention at the conference.

Ms. Dodds initiated discussion on the location for the 2017 conference by noting that Ms. Crane had sent out a spreadsheet concerning five union venues in Corning, Saratoga, Albany, Niagara Falls and Syracuse. It was noted that Easter would be April 16. On a motion by Mr. Young and a second by Mr. Clark, the Board voted to host the conference in Syracuse on April 21-22 unanimously by acclimation. A discussion then ensued regarding the concurrent Saturday sessions with focus being on social media, campaign finance and a draw back for Bernie Sanders supporters. Ms. Greenfield-Sanders explained that rural Democrats should better understand the redistricting process as control of the legislature is tied directly to redistricting. Chair Stein indicated that she would invite an expert on redistricting to attend an upcoming Board Meeting. Chair Stein expressed concern over Mr. Smikle’s inability to attend and his inability to notify her. (Postscript: upon returning home, Chair Stein sent an email to the board indicating that Mr. Smikle had, in fact, sent her an email stating that he would no longer be available to attend.)

Neon Guidelines and Procedures

Chair Stein asked again if a disclaimer was part of the Neon registration process. Ms. Dodds explained that it was. Chair Stein then asked that the Neon guidelines be updated. Mr. Clark stated that he would re-send a copy of the procedures that had been previously adopted by the Board to the Board. Ms. Dodds asked that registrants be able to log into registration directly from their membership page.

Old Business

Mr. Clark resurfaced the discussion regarding county funding. He stated that there had been a break from standard procedure by referring the discussion to a committee first before addressing it as a Board. Chair Stein disagreed with Mr. Clark by suggesting that it had been a common practice to refer items to a committee before presentation to the Board. Mr. Clark disagreed by stating that during his eight years of attending Board meetings that this was the first time this item had been referred to a committee without the Board discussing it first. Ms. Dodds explained that the discussion should be referred to the full Board based on prior precedent. In response, Chair Stein then stated that she would add the issue of county funding to the August meeting agenda due to an unusually small number of Directors being present at the meeting.

New Business

On a motion by Mr. Bujanow and a second by Ms. Hunter, the Board voted to host a wine tasting fundraiser at an upcoming State Committee meeting unanimously by acclimation.

Ms. Hunter suggested that the DRC logo be updated and modernized. She suggested that it include a map of member counties that could become an interactive part of the DRC web page. She said that she would explore a few options and report back.

Mr. Hurley stated that the DRC Board was the third Board that he had been a member of where the Board was transitioning from founding leadership to new leadership. He said that he had spoke with Mr. Mike Schell about the two of them developing a new Board member orientation program. There was universal agreement that furthering this idea was a good idea.

Ms. Dodds explained that she would not be pursuing another term as a member of the State Committee and that she would still like to serve as a volunteer and chair the program committee. There was universal agreement that her continued involvement would be appreciated.

Chair Stein and Ms. Dodds suggested that the Board meet at the Syracuse Marriott in August in order to get a walk-through prior to hosting the spring 2017 conference there. There was universal agreement to do so.

Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Bujanow and a second by Mr. Young, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:21 PM.

By:Date:

Jason A. Clark,

Secretary