NEW WINDSOR – The new board of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency has appointed the county attorney and economic development director to assist it in reorganizing the agency, but the chairman of the State Senate Investigations Committee says there should be a separation between the county and the IDA.
Senator James Skoufis was among those meeting with the IDA board on Tuesday evening and he told the members there needs to be a “runway” for them to reorganize, but they should appoint their own staff in the long run.
“There are going to be a lot of businesses walking through the county economic development office over the next six or seven months and I think there will be the need for the separation then,” he said.
That was echoed by Senator Mike Martucci, who said the new board is “solidly committed to making a series of reforms.”
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the new board is cleaning up “a real mess,” maintaining the former IDA administration and board were running the agency like “a CIA clandestine operation.”
That former IDA leadership is being investigated by the district attorney’s office and county legislature.
