Open Letter to NiagaraCounty Legislature:

There is a point where a county appointed employee or appointed board member can cross one of two lines , the line of Public Trust and the criminal line. The worst being that of crossing the legal line and breaking a civil law or a criminal law. In reference to the Niagara County IDA, there is an investigation underway into the "illegal" Tax cut PILOT given to AES and the way it was carried out; resulting in a $94 million dollar loss to taxpayers with no new jobs or new assessed value to benefit the county or the taxpayers. ( $43.4 million with no inflation)

The majority caucus seems content to just look at the legal line and stand idly by waiting for a politically appointed judge to render his final opinion. Many already know where that decision is going based on the Court comments made by the judge before he has even heard or seen all the evidence.

The Majority Caucus in this legislature ignores their responsibility and the fact that there is another line that has been crossed and it comes before the legal line.

It is the line of "Public Trust and integrity", it is the line where a public official or appointed agency fails in their fiduciary responsibility to protect the interest of the County and the County taxpayers. The Judge of that failure is you; the County Legislature;

The Niagara County IDA board members failed you when they brought this illegal AES Tax cut PILOT to the public. The IDA failed you and slapped you down when in the dead of night just prior to a crucial vote asking for the Rescinding of the PILOT, the IDA Board approved the PILOT and signed it. Accepting a $250,000 fee check from AES.

The IDA board members failed you when they forced you to file a Lawsuit against your own agency. Forcing you to pay thousands of dollars on a big outside law firm to fight the lawsuit on the County's behalf.

The IDA has crossed the line of Public trust, the IDA has failed as responsible public servants and it is time for a change. You - the Majority Caucus of Republicans and some Democrats (in name only) must act for the public good. For the Majority Caucus to sit idly by and just say you are waiting for the legal case or the legal investigation to conclude; is siting down on the job and passing the buck. The Line of Public integrity and trust has been crossed and violated. The appearance of impropriety has been a huge red flag from the very start.

The IDA Board members serve at the pleasure of the Niagara County Legislature and are not appointed to terms. It is time for you to replace them. IDA reform can happen in Niagara County and does not have to wait for Albany. The kind of reform we need is the kind that restores public confidence; prevents Millions of taxpayer dollars from being given away to wealthy corporations in the future; and builds Niagara County the Right Way and not the Wrong Way. Replace this IDA Board NOW! They have crossed the line of Public Trust and lost the taxpayers over $94 million dollars; negating the good of all other IDA projects.

The question is; What are you going to do? Why are you not doing more? Why is the Republican leadership only allowing 2 throw away votes from the Republican caucus on IDA Replacement and continue to play games to protect their largest donor? Why did only one Republican get offered to sign the County PILOT lawsuit individually? More for show than substance I suspect?

If you do not act to replace the IDA board then it is the majority caucus that will have lost the Public's Trust and crossed the line. It will then be the Majority caucus that will be replaced in November with Independent Republicans, Democrats and Conservatives that will work for the voters and taxpayers and not for County Republican puppet masters.