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Massena Central School District Board of Education concerned about being cut from land claim

Posted 1/16/15

By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- Massena Central School District Board of Education wants answers as to why the district is getting cut out of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe land claim settlement. Trustee …

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Massena Central School District Board of Education concerned about being cut from land claim

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Massena Central School District Board of Education wants answers as to why the district is getting cut out of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe land claim settlement.

Trustee Kevin Peretta said he wants St. Lawrence County Legislature Chairman Joseph Lightfoot to come before the board and fill them in.

“I’ve had discussions with Mr. Lightfoot. He seems willing. I think we’re owed an explanation,” Peretta said.

“I agree. I think we need to be educated a little about this,” Trustee Pat Bronchetti said.

The school district was cut out of the deal at the last minute.

Massena Central School District was supposed to receive $500,000, but the legislature took that provision out at the last minute because of a conflict of interest with legislators Jonathan Putney and Greg Paquin, who work for the school district.

According to a memorandum of understanding ratified by St. Lawrence County, the state and the tribe, the deal would force the tribe to pay the balance of gaming revenues they withheld in prior years. This would result in an immediate payment of $1.87 million for St. Lawrence County and $937,500 each to the towns of Brasher and Massena.

Once the final settlement has been negotiated, the tribe would be required to make a one-time payment of $1.5 million to St. Lawrence County.

It also includes a one-time payment of an additional $2 million and as well as an annual payment of $4 million, each going to St. Lawrence County. Combined, St. Lawrence County will receive approximately $5.45 million each year.

An amendment passed recently by the county cuts half of the county’s annual $4 million payment, splitting $1.5 million between the towns of Massena and Brasher and gives the remaining $500,000 to Brasher Central School District.