MARTUCCI SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMS SENATOR BROUGHT TWO SIDES TOGETHER TO START DIALOGUE WHERE THERE HAD BEEN NONE
The meeting that Legislature Chair Rob Doherty refers to below with the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) regarding their contract with the County omits some key details, according to a source with knowledge of it.
The source said that the meeting today (Wednesday) was actually called by State Senator Mike Martucci and that he wanted to meet with just Doherty and Sims Foster, the chair of the Board of Directors of the SCVA.
But Doherty decided to also bring Legislature Vice Chair Michael Brooks, Legislator George Conklin III and County Attorney Michael McGuire to the meeting that was held at Tilly's Diner in Monticello. He did not bring County Manager Josh Potosek.
The source said that Foster reportedly honored that agreement and that no other SCVA members were present.
Separately, Thomas Corlett, a spokesperson for Martucci, confirmed late tonight that the Senator's intention was to simply bring each representative (Doherty and Foster) to the table for coffee since the two sides had not spoken for a few months. Corlett said that Martucci was receiving many calls while in Albany on Monday and Tuesday of this week about this high profile spat and then decided to invite the pair to meet.
Corlett said that Martucci has no role to play in any negotiations over the contract but has a real interest in the economic development of the County, adding that the Senator has good relations with the SCVA and County officials. Martucci sits on the State Senate's Small Business Committee.
