One group of people that Ginsberg’s Food Vice President John Brusie was not able to photograph during Wednesday’s IDA public hearing: The County IDA board itself.
Out of six members, only one (James Mackerer) bothered to show up for their own meeting, ostensibly held to hear the views of the public. Chair Bruce Bohnsack, vice chair Sid Richter, Secretary-Treasuer Don Kline, plus Board members Robert Galluscio and Robert Stickles were all missing.
Instead, the Board was represented by attorney Ted Guterman (who ran the meeting) and IDA Executive Director Ken Flood, who was almost entirely silent... But who spent much of the hearing making long faces and rolling his eyes along with Mr. Brusie, who was seated across from him in the front row.
After this glaring absence was pointed out, Guterman tried to reassure the audience that the missing board members would be provided transcripts. This did not seem to mollify the audience, as anyone who has ever attended such hearings understands that reading a transcript is no substitute for attendance. One misses not only the nuances of each speaker’s presentation, but also the audience reactions, side comments, etc.
The audience also noted another absence at the meeting: David and Nancy Ginsberg.
