Price Rite, Jubilee Homes break ground on upcoming South Avenue store

Get our email updates

Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Grocery store Price Rite plans to open a store at 611 South Ave. in Syracuse, expanding on a property that Jubilee Homes

Upstate University Hospital to provide Ogdensburg hospital with stroke-treatment services

Health Care, New York News, Nonprofits, Regional News, Technology

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate University Hospital has agreed to team up with Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) in Ogdensburg in St. Lawrence County for the treatment

Syracuse Auto Dealers Association elects Barbuto as president

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, People on the Move

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Auto Dealers Association recently announced it has elected Gino Barbuto, East Syracuse Chevrolet owner, as its president for the coming

Bousquet Holstein launches drones practice group

Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE — Bousquet Holstein PLLC attorney Aaron Frishman started learning more about commercial-drone applications during the middle part of 2015. He had heard a presentation from CenterState CEO on its proposal for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s economic-development contest, and how the proposal partly focused on the testing and development of commercial drones.

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

SYRACUSE — Bousquet Holstein PLLC attorney Aaron Frishman started learning more about commercial-drone applications during the middle part of 2015.

He had heard a presentation from CenterState CEO on its proposal for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s economic-development contest, and how the proposal partly focused on the testing and development of commercial drones.

Drones are more formally referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.

At first, Frishman was skeptical but started reading more about the topic.

“…learning that … looking at it from a legal perspective that, really, this is a brand new legal field,” he says.

Frishman decided to propose the formation of a UAV/UAS practice group at Bousquet Holstein.

UAS, or unmanned-aircraft systems, another related term, is a common moniker in the industry to describe the “broader interplay” between UAVs and flight-management and safety systems, according to the firm.

Bousquet Holstein conducted market research and couldn’t find any law firms north of New York City that “focused on this area of law.”

“We really felt this would be a good opportunity to be an ancillary service that we could provide both to our current business clients and also for any new businesses that would want to look into this,” Frishman adds.

Syracuse–based Bousquet Holstein on May 11 announced the formation of the practice group, which didn’t involve any new hiring at the firm.

The practice group focuses on the legal issues surrounding the commercial and recreational use of small UAVs.

Besides Frishman, the new practice group includes attorneys Eva Wojtalewski, Philip Bousquet, Natalie Hempson, and Joshua Werbeck.

Both Frishman and Wojtalewski spoke with CNYBJ on June 10.

Over the next several years, the UAV/UAS industry is poised to play a “significant role” in the growth and evolution of commerce not only nationally and globally, but specifically in the Central New York region, the law firm contends.

Bousquet Holstein formed its drones practice group to work alongside clients to help them “successfully navigate the newly developing” legal and regulatory issues while pursuing opportunities for expanded commercial use of drone or UAS technology.

“Clearly, there’s a need, and I think we’ve determined, based on our research, there’s a need for this legal service,” says Wojtalewski.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is treating commercial applications of UAVs in the same way it would any aircraft, she adds.

Bousquet Holstein’s practice group will work with clients that have FAA registrations; section 333 exemptions; FAA regulatory-compliance matters, risk assessment, and other business and contract-related matters associated with the commercial use of UAVs.

Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 “grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to determine whether an airworthiness certificate is required for a UAS to operate safely in the national airspace system (NAS),” according to the FAA website.

“I think what we can do as a firm … is to help navigate the process with the FAA, which can be quite involved,” says Wojtalewski.

Small drones are remote-controlled aircraft, typically weighing about 55 pounds or less, which a pilot can fly from a ground-control station. Pilots can fly the drones “autonomously,” using pre-programmed flight plans or “more complex, dynamic” automation systems, according to Bousquet Holstein.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

NYSSCPA inducts new leader, okays “certain” non-CPAs as members

Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

The New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) on May 19 inducted Michael Zovistoski as its 97th president. He is a certified public accountant and a partner at UHY LLP in Albany. The group’s members also voted to allow “certain” non-CPAs to become NYSSCPA members. The May 19 ceremony was part of the NYSSCPA’s Foundation

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

The New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) on May 19 inducted Michael Zovistoski as its 97th president.

He is a certified public accountant and a partner at UHY LLP in Albany.

The group’s members also voted to allow “certain” non-CPAs to become NYSSCPA members.

The May 19 ceremony was part of the NYSSCPA’s Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE) Moynihan Fund Gala held in New York City.

Zovistoski’s one-year term started June 1.

The NYSSCPA describes itself as the nation’s first nonprofit accounting association.

Zovistoski has served on the society’s board of directors each year for the past six years, including two years as the society’s secretary/treasurer, according to an association news release. He’s also served as finance-committee chair and Northeast-chapter president, in addition to service on “multiple” statewide and chapter committees.

Zovistoski has been an NYSSCPA member since 1987.

He assumes the leadership role as the NYSSCPA membership has approved a change to the organization’s bylaws that would allow “certain” non-CPAs to become associate members of the organization.

“The Society has welcomed non-CPAs into the membership for the past few years; however, these associate members had to be working under the supervision of a CPA,” Zovistoski said in the release. “With this latest bylaws amendment, which was to align our membership categories with the types of professionals we see working in CPA firms more and more, that’s no longer a requirement. I would like to offer an invitation to all the bankers, lawyers, educators and alike … to consider joining our family and become an associate member in the NYSSCPA.”

Non-CPA professionals with a bachelor’s degree, who are working full time for the government; nonprofits; or in financial, legal, or banking services, are eligible to join as associate members.

However, the NYSSCPA notes that these new members cannot hold leadership positions or vote in society elections.

Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com

DiNapoli report: IDA-backed job gains increased in 2014 compared to previous year

Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

Projects that New York state’s industrial development agencies (IDAs) supported produced nearly 36,000 additional jobs in 2014, an increase of 18 percent from the prior year, the latest state data shows. That’s according to a report that New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued recently. It is DiNapoli’s 9th annual report examining the performance of

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

That’s according to a report that New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued recently.

It is DiNapoli’s 9th annual report examining the performance of the state’s IDAs and how these agencies work to attract, retain, and expand businesses in their communities.

Job-gain comparison
IDA projects in 2014 reported a total of 645,010 full-time jobs, which reflects an increase of 235,888 jobs over the life of these projects, at a median cost of $1,882 per job gained.

The 235,888 figure was up 18 percent over the cumulative job gains of 199,943 in 2013, with the median cost per job gained of $2,095.

The state’s 109 active IDAs in 2014 provided $1.1 billion in total tax exemptions, according to DiNapoli’s report.

At the same time, $483 million in payments-in-lieu of taxes partially offset these exemptions, leaving the total net exemptions for the year at $632 million, a decrease of $28.5 million, or 4.3 percent, from 2013.

The five IDAs with the largest job gains in 2014 included New York City with 48,859 jobs; Suffolk County with 13,817; Monroe County with 12,038; Oneida County with 10,476; and the Town of Amherst in Erie County with 10,227.

IDAs are an “important catalyst” for economic development statewide, DiNapoli contended in the release.

“But as the value of tax exemptions to private businesses continues to increase, taxpayers must be reassured that their community is receiving promised benefits.

Thankfully, my legislative proposal to increase transparency and scrutiny of IDAs was signed into law last year and will result in better evaluation of the economic impact they are having in New York,” he added.

DiNapoli in 2015 crafted legislation he said would improve the process by which IDAs approve new projects, the quality of the information they gather about the projects, and policies for recapturing financial assistance if companies don’t meet project goals.

The new law, developed with support from the New York Economic Development Council, became effective on June 15.

Other findings
DiNapoli’s report also found that the 4,581 projects that IDAs supported in 2014 were valued at $83.7 billion, up 9 percent over 2013.

At 27 percent, manufacturing as the “most common purpose” of IDA-sponsored projects in 2014, DiNapoli’s office said.

The report also found Western New York’s 804 IDA-sponsored projects was the highest number of any New York region in 2014.

Regional data shows IDAs in the Mid-Hudson Valley ($136.7 million), Long Island ($131.5 million), the Capital District ($92.3 million), and New York City ($75.7 million) granted the highest amount of tax exemptions.

Total expenses for IDAs in 2014 equaled $102.6 million, an average of $950,000 per agency, the report found.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

Smith takes over as director of finance at St. Joseph’s Health

Health Care, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, People on the Move, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — St. Joseph’s Health recently appointed Julie Edmunds Smith as its new director of finance. In this role, Smith is responsible for St. Joseph’s Health’s accounting and financial operations, the organization said in a news release. They include general finance and reporting, accounts payable, treasury management, reimbursement, and capital management for the system. “Julie

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

Division of Human Rights Adopts Regulation Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Relationship or Association

Business Mentors, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

On May 18, the New York State Division of Human Rights adopted a new regulation prohibiting employment discrimination based on an individual’s relationship or association with a member of a protected category covered by the New York Human Rights Law. The proposed rule was published in the State Register on March 9. The agency did

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

The proposed rule was published in the State Register on March 9. The agency did not receive any public comments regarding the proposed rule, and adopted the rule without making any changes.

According to the division, the purpose of the new regulation is to confirm long-standing precedent supporting anti-discrimination protection for individuals based on their relationship or association with members of a protected class. The new regulation applies to employment discrimination and all other types of discrimination protected under the New York Human Rights Law, including housing, public accommodations, access to educational institutions, and credit. In order to prove a claim of employment discrimination in this context, an individual must prove that he or she was subjected to an adverse employment action based on the individual’s known relationship or association with a member of a protected class.

This latest expansion of the protections afforded by the New York Human Rights Law underscores the importance of basing all employment decisions on legitimate reasons that can be supported by objective facts, and documenting the legitimate reasons for those decisions. Supervisors should also be trained to apply workplace policies and standards fairly and uniformly among all employees, to further reduce the risk of discrimination claims.

Alyssa Campbell is an associate at the Syracuse–based law firm Bond Schoeneck & King, PLLC. She focuses her practice on labor and employment law. Campbell represents private and public-sector employers in a broad range of matters including claims alleging discrimination, harassment, unlawful discharge and retaliation, as well as employee discipline, employment agreements, separation agreements, union campaigns, and collective-bargaining disputes. This viewpoint article is drawn from the firm’s New York Labor & Employment Law Report blog. Contact Campbell at acampbell@bsk.com or (315) 218-8362.

State comptroller: New York pension fund generates lowest rate of return in seven years in FY 2016

Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

The $178 billion New York State pension fund produced a 0.19 percent rate of return on investments during the fiscal year that ended March 31 of this year, its lowest rate of return since 2009. “Despite weak equity markets, the fund’s diversified portfolio and our investment team delivered a positive return,” New York State Comptroller

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

The $178 billion New York State pension fund produced a 0.19 percent rate of return on investments during the fiscal year that ended March 31 of this year, its lowest rate of return since 2009.

“Despite weak equity markets, the fund’s diversified portfolio and our investment team delivered a positive return,” New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli noted in a news release.

Fund’s performance
During state fiscal year 2016, domestic and non-U.S. equities lost 0.54 percent and 8.54 percent, respectively, which was “consistent” with the declines in U.S. and global equity markets, DiNapoli’s office said.

The fund’s broader approach to fixed-income markets over the last year “was a positive,” returning 2.26 percent in the TIPS portfolio and 1.81 percent in core fixed income. TIPS is short for Treasury Inflation Protected Securities.

The fund’s diversification strategy “performed well,” with private equity, opportunistic alternatives, and real-estate delivering returns of 9.12, 4.00, and 13.14 percent, respectively.

Absolute return strategies were “challenged” during the year and a portfolio restructuring, focused on fee reductions and “strategic” market exposure, is underway, DiNapoli’s office said.

About the fund
New York’s fund is the third-largest public-pension fund in the country.

The New York State and Local Retirement System serves more than 1 million active state- and local-government employees, retirees, and their beneficiaries.

Over the last 20 years, 79 percent of benefits have been funded from investment returns. Employer and employee contributions cover the remainder of the benefits costs.

Investment results over a multi-year period — along with numerous other actuarial assumptions, including wage growth, inflation, age of retirement and mortality — determine employer-contribution rates, DiNapoli’s office said.

The fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 7 percent, it added.

Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com

Changes Coming in the Archaic New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law

Business Mentors, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced recently that he is advancing legislation to “modernize” the State’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (“ABC Law”). As someone who has spent years of his life ensuring license applicants comply with the law — first as an employee of the Liquor Authority and more recently as counsel to individuals and entities appearing before the Liquor Authority — this is a welcome announcement. While we don’t yet know all of the exact details and language, we do know some of the areas that Governor Cuomo is proposing to change. They are as follows:

Expand Sunday sales — Current law prohibits sales of alcoholic beverages for all on-premises locations (e.g., bars, restaurants, taverns). The governor has proposed a special permit that licensees can apply for to allow them to serve patrons between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sunday mornings.

“200 Foot Law” — ABC Law currently prohibits on-premises licenses from operating within 200 feet of a building that is exclusively used as a school or place of worship. The current proposal would do away with the outright ban and provide the Liquor Authority with discretion on this matter and also provide for input from the local municipality and school or place of worship. Often times a local church would have no objection to a business opening nearby and now that can be considered in determining whether or not to grant the license.

Reduce paperwork for craft manufacturers — Anyone who has ever completed a liquor license application in New York can appreciate this proposal. Craft manufacturing (breweries, wineries, and distilleries) has seen enormous growth and change in New York state over the last decade. According to the governor’s office, this portion of the industry, combined with distribution and retail, accounts for more than $27 billion in economic impact and supports tens of thousands of jobs statewide. Prior to 2012, manufacturers could not hold more than one manufacturing license. So if an entrepreneur wanted to make both wine and beer, he/she would have been required to have a separate facility for each business. In 2012, the law changed so that a manufacturer could hold more than one license in the same location. The current proposal would combine craft-manufacturing licenses into one application — considerably reducing the burdensome paperwork for these small businesses.

Authorize the sale of wine in growlers — We’ve all seen growlers of craft beer for years so why not wine too? Current law requires that wine sold at retail for off-premise consumption be kept in their original sealed containers. Cuomo’s proposal would change that law, allowing customers to go to their favorite wineries and fill a growler with their favorite wine. The legislation would also authorize wineries to allow customers to take home partially finished bottles of wine.

Reduce fees for craft beverage salespeople — Currently, ABC Law requires that any salesperson employed by a manufacturer or wholesaler must obtain a “solicitor’s permit” in addition to a bond. Recognizing that all manufacturers are not created equal and vary greatly in size — and that there is a financial hardship imposed by unnecessary fees on small business — the governor has proposed reducing the fees for a solicitor’s permit and eliminating the bond requirement.

I think most New Yorkers will agree that reducing the bureaucratic burden on small businesses is a positive development for our local economies and these proposals will encourage growth in the industry and add to the already great choices of New York manufactured alcoholic beverages.

Bradley J. Moses is a member of the business department of Syracuse–based law firm Mackenzie Hughes LLP. This viewpoint article is drawn from the firm’s Plain Talk blog. Moses’s practice areas include business, alcoholic beverage control law, public law & policy, and real estate. Contact him at bmoses@mackenziehughes.com

Get our email updates

Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Get our email updates

What's New

Upcoming Events

Project Homecoming Job & Career Fair 2025

Annual Nonprofit Conference 2026

2026 CenterState CEO Economic Forecast Breakfast

CNYBJ Job Board

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get our email updates