MEMORANDUM

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

July 7, 2000

TO; Senator Joseph L. Bruno

FROM: Sheila Seery

SUBJECT: Meeting with President Karen Hitchcock, UAlbany

Per your request, Abe, Bob Hotz and I met with President Hitchcock yesterday . We
discussed the following ISsues on your behal f.

1. President Hitchcock has invited you to bast a grand opening/ribbon cutting of the Center for
Functional Genomics at the East Campus. You provided a $5 million grant for this project in 1999.
The ceremony is planned for mid-September. More details will follow.

2. The planned land purchase for the East Greenbush Incubator is not moving as quickly as we bad
hoped. Upon consummation of the lease on the Gardenway facility to the Computer Science
Corporation, Gardeoway entered into negotiations to sell their 18 acre parcel and the CSC lease to
an investment group who bas the option to buy the property. The deal is expected to close the week
of July 10. President Hitchcock understands how important this project is, but the University has to
restart negotiations with the new owners. The University believes the new owners are only
interested in the property as an investment and tax shelter and feel confident that the property will be
made available to the University. However, complications and price concerns could arise. The
negotiations for the Carpinello Ice property have been delayed because of family concerns about
selling land wbicb has been in the family for generations and tbe family's focus on a family member
who has been experiencing serious medical problems .

3. President Hitchcock is working with Jim Barba of Albany Medical Center to package a
Biomedical/Biotechology Initiative which they hope to present for funding this fall. Bringing RPI
into the collaboration is also being pursued, but the SUNY Albany/Albany Medical Center effort is
more advanced.

4. Finally, the labor issue between the Marriot Corporation, the current Food Service Provider at~
University of Albany appears to be resolving itself. By mutual agreement, the University of AJb y
has terminated its contract with Marriot and will cboose between two possible providers within day .
The two possible providers expect to be approached by the union and both are willing to work wi~...;,..... •
the union. The result of the vote for unionization of the food service workers will likely delermin~ ~ L -

the continuation of lawsuit against the Marriot Corporation. The University presumes if the workers ~
vote 10 unionize the lawsuit will be dropped, otherwise the lawsuit will progress . We will continue
to monitor the situation and keep you informed.

Abe suggested thar the Grand Opening of the Genomics Center at the East Campus and the
Biomedical /Biotechnology proposal being drafted by the University of Albany and Albany Medical
Center complements your desire to launch a major initiative in Biotechnology in next year's budget.

cc: Abe Lackman GOVERNMENT

EXH IB IT
GG- 10
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
JOSEPH L BRUN O
.n RD DISTRICT
PRESID ENT PRO TEM AND /
M..\I ORIW LEAD ER
7/11/00
Dat e - - - _
Rick Burdick
To - - - - - - - - - - - - - _
JLB
From _

0 Your Co mments 0 For 'o ur In formatio n

0 As Request ed 0 Draft Reply
D Read and Return 0 o r Your Signa ture
0 Read and File 0 Per Tel. Co nversation

Remarks.

Tell Wolf.