A key point of Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo’s “State of the County” message last night was a reorganization of COMIDA, the industrial development authority. But the county may have a serious issue in that agency to overcome first: there may not be a legal COMIDA board because of a paperwork error.
13 WHAM reporters noticed this week that only one of the COMIDA board members has filed the legally required “oath of office” with the Monroe County Clerk. State law says all elected and appointed government officials have to file paperwork proving they were legally sworn in within 30 days of taking office. Only Chair Ann Burr among the current board members ever did.
The law says an appointment becomes vacant if the form isn’t filed after 30 days. County Legislature President Anthony Daniele says the county is aware of this, is moving to fix it, and the county attorney doesn’t think it’s a problem.
But outside lawyers say there’s a possibility that any of the dozens of economic development deals approved by the COMIDA board over the last two years could be challenged in court.