Legislature adds control for tourism funds

PENN YAN--The Yates County Legislature adopted a new resolution Monday, July 10 to provide the legislature with more control over county tourism funds. The legislators voted for a new procedure and language with the Yates County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC).
The TAC is the committee that was established back in April, 2011 to serve as a review body and also the group that would make funding decisions for events that were seeking seeking financial support.
The new resolution adopted Monday now requires a member from the Keuka and Seneca Lake Wine Trail to also become members of the TAC. The make-up of the committee will also include two chamber members, one member from each of the lodging sectors (hotel/motel, bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals), as well as one member of the Yates County legislature and the county administrator. In addition, the resolution designates the president of the Tourism Promotion Agency (currently this is the Yates Chamber executive director) and the Yates County treasurer as non-voting members of the advisory TAC. Previously, the Chamber established the TAC members. Now the legislature is set up as the group that will appoint the TAC members. Members of the TAC must be Yates County residents or be principals of businesses having operations in Yates County. The TAC is advisory only in nature, ultimate decisions as to allocations of the funds are the responsibility of the legislature.
Julie Coleman, interim Yates Chamber of Commerce executive director, attended the Monday meeting and provided legislators with a 45-minute presentation about county tourism in general and the Yates Chamber involvement with some details.
Coleman was appointed interim director after the sudden passing of longtime former chamber director Michael Linehan in February, 2017.
After the resolution passed, Coleman said she didn't see any problems with the changes. Coleman said she feels the chamber works well with the various groups and thinks the new arrangement will work just fine.
The TAC is now tasked with setting up by-laws for review and adoption by the Yates County Legislature.