By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- A grant-writer the village hired for $42,000 in May has identified 37 “projects and initiatives,” according to Mayor Tim Currier.

He said that includes developing a vacant lot on Water Street and a project to bring broadband internet to downtown Massena and out to St. Lawrence Centre.

He declined to give a complete list of all 37 points.

“That information is not public at this point. It's economic development ideas and concepts, which are part of our overall strategy to diversify our economy and create jobs,” Currier said.

The board hired Strategic Development Specialists last year as part of Currier’s economic development plan he unveiled shortly after taking office.

“It’s an ongoing process,” Currier said. “”They’ve met with a number of departments and entities in our community.”

Trustee Tim Ahlfeld had requested last month that the public be given an update on the grant-writer’s work. He said he thinks the village’s $42,000 was well-spent.

“I want to know if the money’s being well-spent. It looks like so far, we’re getting the bang for our buck,” Ahlfeld said.

In January, a former Massena mayor criticized the village for hiring Strategic Development Specialists. They are a subsidiary of Wladis law firm, which is suing the Local Government Task Force.

Wladis represented the task force in their 10-year license review negotiations with the New York Power Authority for their right to operate the St. Lawrence-Roosevelt Power Project.

The task force includes members of Massena, Louisville, Waddington and Louisville town governments, plus a Massena Board of Education member.

“What disturbs me is Wladis law firm, is suing the village along with other members of the task force for $3 million … I don’t think they did a good job as far as negotiating with the Power Authority,” former mayor James Hidy said during public comment at the Jan. 19 village board meeting. “Refrain from doing any other business with the Wladis law firm. Why would you pay them to do grant writing with one hand and they sue you with the other hand.

“I don’t think it’s a fair representation or the right thing to do.”