Nassau OKs tax breaks in sale of Hicksville property
This building at 801 S. Broadway in Hicksville, formerly the location of a restaurant and a bank branch, will be the new home of Liquidation Settlement Administration Corp., which is moving from Mineola. (July 24, 2012) Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
A service provider to law firms hopes to nearly double its workforce with a $1.4-million expansion in Hicksville, officials said.
Litigation Settlement Administration Corp. gained the support of Nassau County on Monday night for its plan to purchase a former restaurant and bank branch at 801 South Broadway, near the former Grumman Corp. factories.
The county's industrial development agency granted Litigation Settlement a sales tax exemption of up to $62,000, and $7,350 off the mortgage recording tax. The company also received a property-tax break, valued at $28,350 over 10 years.
Thomas Stringer, a consultant for Litigation Settlement, said it would add six people to its payroll of seven once the move from Mineola to Hicksville is completed. Employees earn $40,000 per year, on average, excluding benefits.
"This is a small but growing business," which processes settlements for lawyers, Stringer told the industrial development agency's board of directors.
Separately, the IDA board approved, with one abstention, purchasing a $22,500 sponsorship for The Barclays PGA Tour Playoff. The golf tournament will be held next month at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale.
Joseph J. Kearney, executive director of the IDA, said the sponsorship would boost the agency's profile in the business community and provide opportunities to entertain prospective clients. The IDA has a similar arrangement with organizers of the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the triple crown of horse racing.
However, Christopher Fusco, IDA assistant secretary and president of Local 7 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners union, abstained and said the PGA was using contractors from outside of Long Island at the golf course. He also alleged the PGA had ignored entreaties from local construction unions to discuss employment opportunities.
"It's a great event . . . I play golf, but we have to protect the local standards," he said, explaining his abstention.
On Tuesday, PGA officials said they had multiple conversations with Local 7 but were prohibited from hiring union members because of national contracts for tent and bleacher construction.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the authority to use local people for this work," said Peter M. Mele, executive director of The Barclays tournament. "We do have a number of local contracts for the plumber, electrician, cranes, bus service etc.. . . . I'm not against unions."
Mele added most of the tournament proceeds would be donated to charities in the metropolitan area. The 2011 tournament, in Edison, N.J., generated $1.25 million for not-for-profit organizations. The Barclays returns to Bethpage State Park's famed Black Course in 2016.
