Correction: An earlier version of this story quoted Putney as using the term "chump change." In fact he rephrased that statement using the term "pocket change." North Country Now regrets that error.

By JIMMY LAWTON

A resolution proposing amendments to the St. Regis Mohawk land claim in the towns of Brasher and Massena has drawn fierce debate between county Democrats and Republicans.

A memorandum of understanding between the tribe, the state and St. Lawrence County, signed last May, would provide the county with millions of dollars, but an amendment proposed by Democrats would give a significant portion of the county’s share of the pot to the towns of Brasher and Massena.

“There is no good reason, given the financial condition of St. Lawrence County, to give away this money,” Oswegatchie’s county legislator Joseph Lightfoot said.

But Jonathan Putney, who chairs the board of legislators and helped negotiate the deal, said the towns and school districts most affected by the land claim deserve a larger portion of the funding.

“If the towns affected by the land claim were in (Joe Lightfoot’s) or (Kevin Acre’s) districts, I don’t think they would be so quick to give up the money,” he said. “It’s unjust. Just because the county can keep all of the money, doesn’t mean it should.”

According to the MOU, the deal would force the tribe to pay the balance of gaming revenues they withheld in prior years. This would result in an immediate payment of $1.87 million for St. Lawrence County and $937,500 each to the towns of Brasher and Massena.

Once the final settlement has been negotiated, the tribe would be required to make a one-time payment of $1.5 million to St. Lawrence County.

The MOU also states that the tribe would continue to make revenue sharing payments required under the tribal-state compact. Those payments include an estimated annual payment of $1.45 million to St. Lawrence County and $725,000 each to the towns of Brasher and Massena.

It also includes a one-time payment of an additional $2 million and as well as an annual payment of $4 million, each going to St. Lawrence County. Combined, St. Lawrence County will receive approximately $5.45 million each year.

Lightfoot says the deal has the potential to solve many of the county’s budget woes and would allow the county to rebuild its fund balance.

However, Putney has proposed an amendment that would give more than half of the county’s $4 million annual payment to the towns of Massena and Brasher and their respective school districts.

The proposal would give $500,000 each to Massena and Brasher Falls central school districts annually and $750,000 each to the towns of Massena and Brasher.

Putney said sharing the annual payment with the towns and school districts was always part of his plan, even though it was not in the MOU. The plan had in fact been discussed in news articles as far back as April of 2014.

“(Joe Lightfoot) says we are trying to do this to create some legacy, but we are doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “It’s not like every town or every school district is being affected by this and that is the key factor to consider here.”

Lightfoot said giving away $2.5 million of the county’s $4 million would hurt St. Lawrence County taxpayers in the other 30 towns. He said the county is more that $40 million in debt and should not be giving up money that can help stabilize taxes.

“This could add sufficient money to the county’s fund balance and could totally eliminate the county’s need to borrow money. That would save us $100,000 a year in interest payments immediately,” he said.

Lightfoot said he understands that the land being claimed by the tribe lies within the towns of Massena and Brasher, but noted that both towns are being compensated for that in the MOU. He also said that the land is as much a part of St. Lawrence County as it is part of the towns, therefore all residents should benefit from the deal.

Putney said the compensation included in the MOU for Brasher and Massena is “pocket change” compared to annual payments proposed in the amendment. He said Brasher and Massena will be losing the any potential economic development on that land and the towns and schools deserve adequate compensation.

Lightfoot said the amendment also raised ethical questions. He said legislators Putney and Gregory Paquin work for the Massena school district and should not vote on the amendment because it represents a conflict of interest.

Lightfoot said the county’s ethics committee is investigating the issue.

The county tabled the amendment, but it is expected it to come back to the board Dec. 15.

Putney said if he and Paquin are unable to vote and the measure will fail, because legislator Tony Arquiett also abstained due to a potential conflict of interest.

“Only time will tell. For now I am going to speak out about the issue,” he said. “The compensation for Brasher and Massena is not adequate,” he said.

Lightfoot said if the amendment is passed, it could be rescinded with a two-thirds vote. Democrats currently control the county Board of Legislators with a 9-6 majority, but in January Republicans will hold a 10-5 majority.

“There is an option available and that is for new board to not want to have its hands tied by a lame duck board,” Lightfoot said. “The current board has every right to bring it to the board and the next board will have every right to try to rescind it.”

The complete memorandum can be viewed at http://www.srmt-nsn.gov/_uploads/site_files/NYS-SRMT-SLC_MOU_Signed_5-28-14.pdf.