Geneva nix’s non-profits offer – FingerLakes1.com Archive

City Council has rejected Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ latest proposal to help pay for the city’s transportation system. The Colleges and FingerLakes Health initially offered to contribute $190,000 a year for 10 years — with HWS paying $150,000 of that annually — in hopes of convincing the city to abandon aTransportation Benefits Assessment District law itadopted May 31. Council turned it down.After that offer was rejected, the Colleges, hospitaland other city-based non-profits filed a lawsuit against the city. In an effort to avoid additional litigation, theColleges and Finger Lakes Health said they would upthe offer to $200,000 — HWS would fork over theadditional $10,000 — and extend the life of the agreement to 20 years.After meeting in executive session last night, the council said no to the latest proposal. HWS spokeswoman Cathy Williams said this morning that the Colleges have yet to be formally contacted by the city.Initial arguments in the lawsuit, which were scheduledfor Tuesday morning before Judge WilliamKocher in State Supreme Court for Ontario County,have been pushed back to Nov. 22. Mayor Stu Einstein,O’Malley, Alcock and Councilors Paul D’Amico and Louis Cosentino attended Wednesday’s session. Councilors Jacqueline Augustine, Stephen Valentino, Jason Hagerman and John Greco were absent.