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St. Lawrence County legislator responds to outgoing county chair

Posted 1/8/15

To the Editor: In a recent news article, outgoing St. Lawrence County Chairman Jonathan Putney explains his version of events concerning the pending Tribal Land Claims agreement. Mr. Putney, in …

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St. Lawrence County legislator responds to outgoing county chair

Posted

To the Editor:

In a recent news article, outgoing St. Lawrence County Chairman Jonathan Putney explains his version of events concerning the pending Tribal Land Claims agreement. Mr. Putney, in anticipation of the newly elected county board’s rollback of a post election resolution, attempts to make a compelling argument regarding the distribution of monies contained within the agreement.

Mr. Putney states that the county is violating the agreement and that the county is attempting a “money grab”. Mr. Putney states that it is “very sad”, that his “constituents are being shortchanged” and negotiations were done in good faith. Mr. Putney would like you to believe that he did his best for you and that now, you (Brasher and Massena townships and respective school districts) and he are the victims of a future, greedy, Republican controlled board.

Let’s state some facts; First, the Republican board members had no role and no input in the Tribal Land Claims negotiations…zero. Secondly, the whole board, Democrats and Republicans, never voted on any of the terms of the negotiation and therefore no debate on distribution of monies ever took place…ever. Third, County Administrator, Karen St. Hilaire and County Attorney Mike Crowe, repeatedly advised Mr. Putney to get a vote of consensus from the 15 member County Board concerning the terms of negotiation. It was never done. Fourth, the Tribal Land Claims settlement or officially, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is quite clear about the distribution of monies. It is available online for all to see.

There are two specific items that dictate the financial terms of this agreement. Item 3c says the State will make annual payments of $4 million to St. Lawrence County for its unrestricted use. His is followed by 3d, which states that payments will be made by the State to “St. Lawrence County and respective towns sufficient to hold them harmless from the loss of future property and school taxes for parcels that become part of the Reservation”. Item 3d states or implies that the state, not St. Lawrence County, will reimburse those communities who transfer property to the Reservation.

This is not an agreement that we, the Republicans, negotiated, signed or had any part of. This agreement was negotiated solely by Mr. Jonathan Putney. This agreement has the signatures of Governor Cuomo, Ron LaFrance, Paul Thompson, Beverly Cook (the three tribal chiefs) and NYPA president Gil Quiniones on it. Additionally, it has St. Lawrence County Chairman Jon Putney’s signature on it. This MOU doesn’t contain any written statements of ANY dollar amounts transferring from the County to the towns or school districts…zero. The promises of $750,000 annual payments to the towns of Brasher and Massena and the promises of $50,0000 annual payments to their respective school districts are the empty words of Mr. Jon Putney. Words issued solely by Mr. Putney. Words issued without authorization from the full board, without discussion or debate. Words not included in the Tribal Land Claims agreement.

Mr. Putney, who has no previous business or negotiating experience, apparently felt he was qualified to negotiate an agreement without input from any representatives of the county board, the towns of Brasher and Massena and their respective school districts.

This colossal mistake by Mr. Putney, has resulted in the loss of almost 5,000 acres of land. A loss that many feel they will be inadequately compensated for. If I lived in the communities of Brasher and Massena, I would have a word with County Legislator Jon Putney.

Kevin Acres

District 8 Legislator