IURA approves contract extensions, interim accounting and amends hiring language

The IURA (Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency) on Wednesday approved multiple one-year contract extensions and an interim accounting arrangement while continuing to refine hiring language for a new part-time accounting position.

The board voted to authorize a one-year extension for the agency's current loan underwriting and community development consultant, identified in meeting materials as Harrison Studio, with contract funding to be drawn from CDBG, HOME and other sources and a total amount not to exceed $8,000. Speaker 2 described the firm as the incumbent and said, “They've been doing that work for us for over 15 years.”

The agency also approved a one-year extension for independent legal services with Sharon St. Louis, attorney, at a stated maximum hourly rate and a total amount not to exceed $6,000 unless the firm is assigned a low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) project. Speaker 2 noted that a prior LIHTC closing produced a higher-than-usual legal bill, saying the legal bill for the last LIHTC closing was "$14,000," a factor in setting higher caps for LIHTC assignments.

Separately, the IURA authorized an independent contractor agreement with Jill Cook to provide transitional accounting services through the period specified in the resolution at a stated hourly rate. The board recorded the motion and voted to approve the arrangement. Speaker 2 explained Cook will provide transitional support after the current accountant moved to a full-time role and that the contractor arrangement was negotiated to bridge hiring and onboarding.

A hiring resolution to authorize the director of community development to offer the search committee's recommended candidate a part-time accounting position was amended on the floor. Members debated whether to include a precise annual salary in the resolution; Speaker 3 and others argued to remove the salary figure and instead specify expected hours. The board amended the resolution to add an average of 22 hours per week and passed the amendment.

What the IURA approved are contract extensions and interim staffing measures; details such as exact hourly rates and the contract caps are those stated in the meeting materials and the resolutions as read into the record. The director will proceed with the authorized offers and contract executions as amended and upon legal review.