'Significant year' justifies GCEDC bonuses, board member says

I got ONE HUNDRED BUCKS from my employer!!!

At the very least the bonus should be held up until Project Wave is finalized.

This is really out of line. Nothing against Mr. Hyde, but $72,000 in todays economy. People are being taxed to death and this is tax money anyway you look at it and we as taxpayers cannot afford this. Also, Are there any guarentees that these companies that are getting tax breaks from Genesee County are going to hire amajority of Genesee County residents ? I feel that if this county is giving the tax breaks then there should be a stipulation as to a minumum percentage of new hires coming from this county.

$72,000 could feed and house a lot of low income people in Genesee county. Watching the traffic jam the last 2 days at Salvation Army of people picking up free food and toys for kids should be an indication of where our tax dollars could be going. Wonder how much of that $120,000 will be donated for the holidays. My bonus this year-- I get to keep my job at a salary less than half of Steve Hyde's bonus.And I don't get any tax breaks.

I'm sorry, giving out all of those tax breaks (not to me!), and THEY deserve bonuses 3x more than my salary? I just don't understand... willing to listen to other opinions.

So let me put this in perspective...Gov Cuomo makes 179,000 a year, and Steve Hyde makes 232,000. Mmmmm. Cuomo should resign and become the CEO of an IDA..m.o.u.s.e

Our schools are going bankrupt and have to sell a building to stay afloat. There are hundreds of families living below the poverty line. I don't know how this guy can take this much money and still live with himself!

172 jobs created but how many jobs were lost in the county this year?

172 jobs created this year but when are they starting....2012...2013

172 jobs created that works out to about $1500 per job for Mr. Hyde.

172 jobs created but how many jobs were lost in the county this year?

172 jobs created this year but when are they starting....2012...2013

172 jobs created that works out to about $1500 per job for Mr. Hyde.

sorry button got stuck

This is the perfect place to drop this Christmas Card.
http://front.moveon.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gop-xmas-card-1-LARG…

A 72,000 dollar bonus for doing his job? All I get is a paycheck each week for doing mine. This is an absurdity in these tough economic times. Do the right thing Steve, give it back.

Why should there be a bonus for doing your job.......For one those jobs are not real jobs until they are actually hired...What about all the Lowes workers who lost there job ,Are they adding that in...That building got a PILOT...No bonus ...."i feel he deserves it," Upson said.Really Mr.Upson,you are spose to over see the county tax money that goes to GCEDC..Its 240,000 dollars..
Maybe we should ask for it back as long as GCEDC has 160,000 dollars to hand out as bonuses...Why did we county tax payers have our tax rates raised and our car and truck registration fees raised...But Hyde can go around handing out tax breaks and collecting tax dollars and then make more than the Governor of New York...What is wrong with this picture.................Time to write the Governor and see what he thinks about Hyde making more than him...IT is not right........

Mark, I think all county residents who oppose this ridiculous bonus should sign a petition, and send that to the governor.
Didn't Mr. Hyde recieve a 66,000 dollar bonus last year? In 2 years this guy has sucked up almost 140,000 dollars in bonus money. Maybe thats why we have bad attitudes.

Frank you so right..Earlier to day i sent and email to the Governor...Also called..Hope more residents of this county do the same..This whole GCEDC is just a way to give out corporate welfare.....No one should ever get a bonus for handing out tax breaks......Also write and call your county legislator and let them know that handing them 240,000 tax dollars a year ,so that they can then hand out 160,000 dollar in bonus is wrong.........Taxpayers have to speak up and complain ,Let all government officials know how you feel..Take about greed..

Frank,
The state audit of the GCEDC said it was up to the Genesee County Legislature to stop this type of behavior. We had an election last month and the people in Batavia and LeRoy voted to elect people who will continue to keep things the same. While many of here may not like the bonus, it appears the majority do.

John were do you get the idea that the majority likes this bonus..All the people i have talked to today think is crazy for him to get..I say pass the word ,put pressure on the county and write and call the Governor..Let the state do another audit...............

deja vu,,,,,,,,

John, if your choices are idiot A, or idiot B, it's not much of a choice. Does your comment put you in favor of these taxpayer gifts?

You have already heard how I feel about this, so let me say that if your choices are Idiot A and Idiot B then next term you better run for office! I think this so often when I am completely underwhelmed at the polls. "All it takes for the triumph of evil is for GOOD men to do nothing."

Frank,
So two candidates who wanted to reform the GCEDC, if they had won, are idiots? Why? Lets hear your basis for that.
New York State did an audit and said the GCEDC needed reform. They also said it was up to the legislature to do it. Even State Senator Ranzenhofer said bonuses for public officials are wrong. But you think people who want to stop that are idiots?

I don't think bonuses for public officals should be allowed, while you seem to. Can you tell us why you do?

Mark,
I said the majority seem to approve of the bonuses because the people who wanted to end the practice lost in the elections, by a majority vote.

All I got was a 1 way ticket to the unemployment line. I worked 2 full time jobs before and my yearly income wasn't even 1/3 of his bonus. Wow. Just wow.

$72k for Hyde who had how many people underneath him, reseaching, paperwork, communicating. He makes already more than our Governor, who has done more than him. I think MR Hyde should return the bonus to the taxpayers. Like it was mention above by Wayne "how many jobs were lost". I also wonder how many more have to collect welfare in this county. Hyde should step down if, he feels that this bonus is justified. No one can justify 72k bonus especially, when you know there other people involved in making things happen. Just another drain on society by these greedy CEOs.

When I used to work for an company if, they made a huge profit still only gave a $400-$500 bonus for our hard work which was the reason they made their profit.
Pennies compare to thousands.

Oh so I am make myself clear, I know MR HYDE didn't give himself the bonus but, feel he should do the right thing and give it all back except maybe a modest amount maybe 1-2 thousand.

Mr. Woodworth,
The GCEDC board gave him the bonus. There is more money that he gets to give out (about $2,000), so let's see how much he gives the board members who gave him his bonus?

This should be a thread separate from this topic, but here goes.
We, the people, are the oversight of the Legislature.
We can do that through the ballot.
Unfortunately, here in Genesee Co., regardless of the caliber of candidate - Genesee Co. will never change it's stripes.
There is a wailing and gnashing of teeth. We snarl. We are upset. Yet, on election day, voters go to the polls with selective and collective amnesia.
Good people, who share the belief that our Legislature should do better, were voted down. Not because of their belief, but because they didn't run on the Republican line.
If there is any finger pointing to be done, the fingers should be pointed directly at the the voters who insist on keeping the status quo.

Bea, for someone who generally posts on facts, I am quite surprised you would link to baseless, inflamed rhetoric like that (referring to the moveon.org piece)

Jeff: "Good people, who share the belief that our Legislature should do better, were voted down. Not because of their belief, but because they didn't run on the Republican line." That is fact.

Dave, I have clarified my post, I was referring to the link Bea put up to the moveon.org "Christmas Card". If you look it, it says reply to #12. I happen to agree with her latter post, if you embrace the status quo at the polls, then it shouldn't come as shock when it perpetutates itself in policy.

So how do we start this petition ? .
How do we as a community fix this so it won't happen again ? Because if we don't fix this now ... so I'm asking how do we fix this now ?

BTW Steve, don't return the money. Take it & start a business in our county and I don't mean another deli or pizza place. I mean a real business, a machine shop, or even a box factory. One where my husband, a laid off employee of Lowes can work.

Bea, this time you are right. People had a chance to fix this, but declined.

Jeff: Oh, Never mind.. LOL
Emily Latella (by Gilda Radner) still one of the best SNL recurring characters

Emily Latella, great throwback memory

John, I disagree with giving out these outlandish bonuses, and I sure as hell did not vote for the idiots who are currently in office, voting anything but republican in this county is like voting for the rabbit to get trix.

Frank,
Why did you call the people who ran to reform this, idiots?

We need to protest by sitting in front of Mr.Hydes house on Garden Dr. /Occupy Garden Dr. movement . Upson Maybach should be bouycotted and any all other legislatures businesses or interests . The majority of people oppose these bonuses . The problem is the majority doesn't vote due to lack of confidence in the system in whole . When something like this happens at this point of our finacial crisis across the US then there should be a radical shake-up . I myself couldn't show mt face in public if i were Mr. Hyde , but like many people of his stature , they just don't care about anyone but themselves and the ones who support them .

It’s appropriate to measure the GCEDC bonuses against the total wages and salaries of the jobs brought to Genesee County and kept in Genesee County. For me, it’s a more meaningful measure than comparing a dollar based bonus to the number of jobs created/retained.

Just doing some back of envelope calculations, the GCEDC brought in jobs that surely pay a combined total of more than $120,000 in. Add to that the materials and supplies purchased from local businesses, etc. and that total would more than exceed $120,000.

Jobs are the key to stemming some of population loss in the area and including people to move to these parts. There are some good K-12 schools in the GLOW area, but without jobs, the vast majority of people will not be able to move to this area and take advantage of school, etc.

There is a high level of what I call negative “demographic inertia” (e.g. low birth rate, general aging of WNY population, older residents leaving the area when retiring). Any jobs that can be created and retained can work against that inertia. It seems to me that Genesee County got a good return for $120,000 in additional compensation of the GCEDC staff.

There is probaly close to two million dollars tied up into shovel ready sites if not more . Pemboke has a site with one vacant building . It will take 20 to 30 years to re-coup all the money that has been spent with no gaurentee of any jobs by then .Mr. Hyde is the only one making out and he has the wool pulled over your eyes Tom as with many others . Mr. Hyde , Merry Christmas and do you believe in Karma , I would think not other wise you wouldn't be able to sleep at night,.

Tom,
If the GCEDC was a private enterprise, then ok, that is their business. But Mr. Hyde is a public official and even the State of New York has said the GCEDC needs reform.

Of course, by your reasoning, the governor should get a bonus because the jobs were here in New York.

Great point John...

Yeah, well, I told you so.

That's all I have to say about that.

Hello John, here is my second comment right after my first and before your comment I am replying to.

"Oh so I am make myself clear, I know MR HYDE didn't give himself the bonus but, feel he should do the right thing and give it all back except maybe a modest amount maybe 1-2 thousand."

So, where did I state MR Hyde gave himself the bonus? Didn't is the key word.

Yeah, it is a classic game of, I WILL LINE YOUR POCKETS; IF YOU LINE MINE! Ding, Ding, Ding, you all win.......

I am just saying that MR Hyde should not keep such an outrageous bonus. He may have a high stress, high profile type job but, that is why he is paid 232K.

Tom how many people lost their job in this time frame? How many families are collecting welfare in Genesee County? So, take that combine total of 120K and divide it up by the number of new jobs. What will be their average salaries? Prices of food, fuel and health care are going up, up, up. These jobs that they brought in are not high paying jobs. Oh, I am sure there will be a few for management positions but, not for the average employee.

No disrespect towards those who may collect welfare. I just feel that these jobs are low paying jobs and some of these employees will still have to subsidize their income with some social services.

John, campaign promises are a long way from reality, and coincidently, so are politicians.

Frank,
Nice ducking. On what do you base that if they had won, they would not have kept their word to try and reform the GCEDC? Is that why you called them a name?

Congratulations to Steve and the GCEDC, and Merry Christmas to all of you.
Howard, you could have informed your readership about this with any number of tones and nuances, but as usual, you chose to stir the pot. Why is that? Why not take the more appropriate tone of ovation with this piece? Rewarded with a bonus for a job well done. Nope, can't do it. Gotta stir the pot... I hope you are satisfied with the responses to your tug, tease, pull, and yank the ire out of people piece that could have, at a minimum, reflected the holiday season we are enjoying. What, pray tell, are you conspiring to bend into a copious, unfair act next? As you sit by the fire...

Merry Christmas to you also, David.

Funny, I was wondering why Howard sat on it for a day? It ran in the Daily much earlier than when Howard posted it. I believe Howard was trying to avoid what he saw as inevitable...people are pissed and were going to utilize this forum to express their disdain.
Just because the GCEDC is a "quasi" government agency is not justification for tax money to go to exhorbent bonuses. I would think $160,000 is adequate compensation for a job well done.
Whatever, it's a done deal, and it's Christmas. I'll wait till Monday to post about this again.

Howard and Billie- love this site, and I appreciate the labor of love it is for you. And I absolutely appreciate you for not using "nuances" and "tones"...that is our job. Merry Christmas to all the Batavian readers, and naysayers...and spring is 90 days away :)

Apparently Mr. Anderson lives in a different economic situation than the rest of us. The bonus are insane in a time when we are losing things in our schools and in general in many of our towns and villages. There is such a thing as fiscal responsibility. If the poor our expected to live within our means then the people in the higher paying jobs need to learn the same. They all should be ashamed of themselves. Also remember we just voted? Should have chosen better, I know I did!

In all fairness to the business owning legislator's, I'm sure they have shown the same appreciation to their employees. At least the ones that "exceeded all of the goals we set for them". If not what a slap in the face to their employees.

Steve Hyde took a position where the expectation of a bonus was part of the package. He delivered an acceptable performance and was awarded the bonus based on his salary agreement.
Railing against Steve or demanding that he return all or part of that bonus is a knee jerk reaction to what many consider fiscal irresponsibility on the part of our legislators (who, I might add, were voted in by popular demand).
As Chris noted a few posts up, "I told you so.".
The outrage should not be focused on Steve. The outrage should be focused on those who approved the initial salary package and certainly should be focused on those who blindly put those legislators back in office.
At this point, I think we should focus on Legislator Hollis Upson:
"It will be up to the legislature in 2012 to determine whether he continues to represent the county on the GCEDC board.".
Do you feel Mr. Upson has done his job as the county's representative on the GCEDC board?
If he isn't retained as their representative, which legislator will be chosen to fill that position?
At any rate, do you think that anyone assigned that position will truly represent the people of Genesee County and perform the oversight needed?

I take it you believe a six digit figure is not enough to show one's appreciation. What it comes down to is, $72K is and outrageous bonus. Especially when it almost half of Steve Hyde yearly salary. What do you suppose that workers behind his success receive? I bet it is pennies compare to dollars. $5k would be reasonible and more than one weeks salary.

You see what these people forget is that a successful person is only as good as the people that work for them. It is a chain affect that starts from the top to the bottom and works up from the bottom to top. Example: Officers are only as good as their NCOs, who in turn are only as good as their Enlisted and works in reverse. It is whats known as a team effort.

Do you think everyone below MR Hyde received enormous bounuses that were nearly half their yearly salary? Most bonuses are usually one's weekly salary, sometimes one's monthly salary but, not for the person that earns a six digit figure. Corporate nonsense, this is just one of the reasons we are in the mess we are in.

Bea write this down, I agree with you that, MR Hyde should not be the main focus. GCEDC board should be looked at as the main contributor to this issue. What I like to see is MR Hyde to be understanding and refuse the bonus. At some point we need to ask ourselves, "Is this right?"

The whole economic collapse is corporations falsifying records, lucrative bonuses and greedy CEO.

MR Hyde should get a bonus but, not to exceed a monthly wage.

Bea,
Upson did not run for reelection and will be replaced by Council President Clattenburg, who ran unopposed. The legislature can still keep Upson on the board if they want, but not as their representative.

John, I misspoke.
Yes, he can be retained but not as a representative of the county. The question should be who will replace him?
Will this just be another blind eye, rubber stamping whatever? If so, who do you think the blind eye will be?

If you want my guess which legislator will take Upson's place, i think it will be Ed DeJaneiro.

OK John, it is of my opinion that most politicians are way out of touch with reality, thus I consider them to be idiots. I should have said flavor A, or flavor B.

Would GCEDC be able to post these so called gains if the county didn't fund it to the tune of 250,000 dollars..And if the answer is yes then why are we giving them taxpayers dollars..

I agree Mark.....I don't see where they should need any tax dollars with amount of success they are having..would be nice to know the actual number of jobs "Gained" for 2011.

I would say 'vote them out' but that was tried and the people returned the status quo to power. There were three very reform minded candidates regarding the GCEDC for County Legislature in John Deleo in Batavia and Jackie Whiting/Sid Horgan in LeRoy (both were very strong candidates on reforming the agency) and none of the three won because the voters felt more comfortable with people they knew rather than changing things for the better.

In the past, anti-status quo candidates in Genesee County have also been defeated and rejected. Bill Cox lost because he didn't have a major party endorsement, sad that my party chose not give it to him, probably because he wasn't afraid to call a spade a spade and advocate for tough decisions on the City's future. My friend Chris Charvella would have pulled the rug out from under the bonus ATM at the GCEDC. Fighting Rose Mary 'RoMa' Christian wouldn't have let anyone on the County Legislature get away with defending those outrageous bonuses without getting them on the record as to why and explaining why they were "taking bread out of the people's mouths," as Thomas Jefferson once said, along with voting no on every budget because of it. Instead, the people would rather have people whom are 'nice' and don't want to make too much progress because it might upset the way things are. Oh, and before anyone accuses me of shilling for my party, Ed DeJaneiro could use a good challenge, I hope that Kathy Briggs runs in a primary.

That's not to say that everyone serving is bad, I'm very happy that Marianne Clattenberg got elected to the Legislature, her service on the City Council was very productive and her time as Council President will benefit the City for years to come. She will serve us all well on the Legislature and I hope that she stays there. As I mentioned, Rose Mary Christian and Kathy Briggs always fight hard for what's right for the citizens of Batavia and I'm glad that they'll continue to serve the city. Tim Buckley is a great guy and a great Councilman. Steve Hawley is an outstanding Assemblyman who represents us well in Albany and I think in many ways epitomizes statesmanship.

I credit the Conservative Party of Genesee County for supporting candidates who actually stand for getting something done, regardless of how hard it may be. I hope that they'll continue to be a reform minded party that supports candidates who stand for a brighter future and doing the difficult work that will ensure it.

Im sorry but this is 2011.... Polticians are like the wizard in the wizard of oz, the curtain has been pulled back now, but the wizard has yet to turn around and see that he has been revealed as the fraud he is? I wonder if anyone suspects or realizes that we will probably get what we want from the wizard just like the scarecrow, tin man and lion did. We will get little almost worthless tokens representing our desires along with a large con artist like speech, then or wizard will slip away in his balloon while we do what we should have all along, look for our own answers and take decisive action on them.

Heres to hoping we wake up in Kansas too, and end up looking at this time as almost a silly dream.

Kevin that means (sarcasm) they have to be accountable for any misquotes or fraudalent remarks. They could not used the line "Things did not fall through!' It is amazing that the bonus was made on promises.

Anyone remember this???

http://thebatavian.com/howard-owens/state-report-blasts-compensation-pr…

This is as plain as it can get...

While officials told ABO investigators that bonuses were paid based on agency performance, the report states that in 2008 the GCEDC did not meet its job creation goals, yet $91,000 in bonus payments were approved; and, for 2005, $55,000 in bonus payments were approved, even though GCEDC met neither goals for job creation nor capital investment.

For 2008 a $500 bonus was paid to a consultant even though there was no provision in the $60,000 contract for a bonus.

"Although we make no judgment as to whether such an expenditure of public funds is legal," the report reads, "we are referring this to local law enforcement officials for further review."

Isnt it interesting how that just disappeared from officials notice when the time for this years bonuses come about?
How about this as well...

The GCIDA receives revenue from a variety of sources, including administrative fees charged to project applicants, annual contributions from Genesee County, and income from grants. Genesee County’s annual contribution is over $275,000 and the total contribution over the five year period 2005 through 2009 exceeded $1.3 million.

I am by no means highly educated, but this stuff still is very clear that bs is rampant, local county leaders have DEFINATELY swept this under the rug and continue with business as usual. Next election I think someone, myself if need be. needs to be throwing this out there along with this years numbers, I dont see why we give them any money from the county taxpayers at all.....they dont seem to need it and want to run GCEDC like a private sector business.....well lets see how they do, County says its broke but supplys this group with money that appears to be used for bonuses, on top of other perks.

For those curious souls who want to try to read the State's report here it is right from the horse's mouth unflitered by local politicians ad opinion makers...

http://www.abo.state.ny.us/reports/GeneseeCountyIDACompensationReportJa…