by Rachel Hunter
At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees faced a wave of pointed criticism from residents deeply concerned about the NY Forward process.
The atmosphere in the municipal courtroom was charged as community members demanded transparency, equity, and meaningful inclusion—challenging what they saw as a flawed approach to downtown revitalization. While some acknowledged the program’s potential, many questioned how projects were being selected and whether local voices were truly being heard. The call was clear: restore trust, honor local values, and ensure that revitalization reflects the needs of the people.
Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that the Village of Gouverneur was awarded $4.5 million through the NY Forward program as part of Round 3 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative—an ambitious state effort aimed at transforming rural downtowns into vibrant, livable hubs. The announcement, made in March by Governor Kathy Hochul, positioned Gouverneur as a North Country recipient of this competitive funding. The award was heralded as a turning point for the village, promising investment in housing, business development, and public spaces. But, as recent board meetings have shown, the path from promise to progress is far from smooth – as residents demanded clarity and accountability.
The regular monthly meeting of the Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees was held on Sept. 16, a mere eight days before the second public open house was held on Wednesday, September 24 at the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center. The meeting was called to order by Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall at 6 p.m. in the municipal courtroom. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, Mayor McDougall called upon Village Attorney Henry Leader of Case & Leader LLP in Gouverneur to give an opening prayer. Mr. Leader also serves as Deacon at the St. James Catholic Church in Gouverneur. The prayer was recited as follows: “Dear God, In these times of uncertainty and division, we ask that You would bless us with security and unity. Please protect us and give us wisdom to make prudent decisions that will benefit our Village. Please send your Spirit upon us to grant us tolerance and mutual respect for those times when we disagree. Let there be civility and clarity in all of our discussions. Finally, we thank you for the gifts of democracy, free speech, peace and all of your blessings – especially those that we don’t realize or that we take for granted. In Christ’s name, Amen.”
The public concern over Gouverneur’s NY Forward process intensified following a social media post in late-August by Village Trustee Troy Besaw after the Gouverneur NY Forward Local Planning Committee’s Work Session Recommendations were made public. The post sparked widespread discussion and prompted residents to seek clarity on how project decisions were unfolding. For many, it underscored the urgency of community involvement and raised questions. Those concerns surfaced during both the Sept. 8 Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce meeting and the Sept. 16 Village Board meeting.
Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, who serves as co-chair of the Gouverneur NY Forward Local Planning Committee (LPC) alongside SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran, gave the following update: “NY Forward core team was yesterday. I’m happy to report that there’s eight more applications in. I know that there was some talk, but no one has dropped out or pulled their application. There’s handouts (for the public open house on Sept. 24) at the entrance tonight. I know I am going to repeat some of this for the people who were at the Chamber meeting. Unfortunately, it was one of my worst Chamber meetings because some people there – it wasn’t about the NY Forward program. They were ridiculing some other businesses in Gouverneur, and businesses don’t need to be ridiculed. At least one of the owners, I apologized for the Chamber to him…”
Mayor McDougall also took time during the village board meeting to explain to the public that the LPC was formed to include a diverse mix of local and regional leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives. In addition to the co-chairs McDougall and Szafran, the LPC members include the following: Gouverneur CSD Superintendent of Schools Jackie Kelly, Cives Steel Company Regional Sales Manager Bart Kidwell, Central Fill Manager (Kinney Drugs) Brooke Plowman, Small Town Supply Ace Hardware and Jumbo’s Diner Owner Clark Porter, Gouverneur Cargill Inc. Production Supervisor Greta Schrader, Town of Gouverneur Supervisor David Spilman, Jr. The LPC is supported by Village of Gouverneur Deputy Clerk Kristina Ayen. According to the NY Forward framework, LPC members are tasked with brainstorming ideas, guiding consultants, reviewing planning materials, and prioritizing proposed projects. The selection process aims to balance expertise with community insight gathered via various public engagement opportunities.
During Mayor’s Updates, Mayor McDougall noted the unusual appointment process for Gouverneur’s NY Forward LPC, stating that individuals were required to be named to the committee without prior notice or consent. “When it came about the LPC, I was advised to select between five and seven members, so I did that - but based upon the criteria that they laid out. It was regimented to find people that fit the mold. But it was strictly on the QT. I could not actually ask them. But I submitted the five names to the state. And then they came back and recommended six. It just happened that the breakdown was three men, three women. And then, in a week or 10 days, they did a background check on all six of those people. Apparently Dr. Zvi and myself, they didn’t need to do a background. But nevertheless, they did. And then once they approved it, I had to go about asking the people, sometimes more than once, to volunteer to serve. And I am sure there is at least one or two of them that are having second thoughts about that, but I appreciate their service, whether anybody else does or not. I think the board – or most of the board – appreciates their service. I know I do. If you know any of them, you ought to thank them. That’s how it came about. It’s a strange process. Don’t tell me, just send a name in. I thought it was strange… But it is their money, their rules, so we did it.”
At each meeting of Gouverneur’s LPC, the NY Forward preamble was read aloud. This featured a clear directive on the recusal process: members were expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and abstain from related discussions or decisions, reinforcing the initiative’s commitment to transparency and integrity. Yet despite these formal safeguards, concerns about the process persist among local residents – and were voiced during the Public Comment period at the village board meeting.
John “Scooter” Wetmore of Gouverneur said the following: “I want to shine a light on something. One day I was surfing the Internet. I saw Troy’s posting of a document that outlined some of the NY Forward projects that had been approved. I was absolutely shocked and appalled, and my comment was: This is outward conflict of interest, corruption and at the very best shows a complete lack of ethics amongst everyone involved in it. Most of the projects there were either projects for people that were on the committee or a relative of somebody who was on the committee. It is just ridiculous. I saw that, and my recommendation would be to fire everybody on the committee, take all the people that had been approved and they lose it, and each one of those people from that point forward can never apply for government grants again. You’ve got the village attorney, for God’s sakes is getting money. I received a call from one of the members of the LPC. He asked me if I had any interest in getting a grant. I told Jerry Peck to take it way back when he was doing it. Mayor, on August 2, I sent you an email explaining the way I feel about New York State, NY Forward and the entire program. I wouldn’t want a penny from those people.”
“And the governor, don’t forget that,” Mayor McDougall said.
“Absolutely,” Mr. Wetmore said. “As far as I am concerned, I want nothing from New York State because I don’t agree with most of their policies. But that is aside. This gentleman asked me if I had any interest, and I simply referred to that document. I said, “Look, I’ll tell you the same thing I told the mayor. I have absolutely no interest in taking any government funding whatsoever because anytime you take something, it comes with strings. And I am not willing to sell my freedom to do as I wish for any amount of money. So anyway, I said that my official recommendation to the mayor was to take the grant and send it back to Albany and say: “Thanks, but no thanks. We don’t agree with NY Forward. We don’t agree with the pro-housing thing, which requires zoning changes so that you can force low-income multi-dwelling units in residential neighborhoods that are right now zoned for single-family occupancy. Want no part of that. Another thing with NY Forward is all this decarbonization. Want no part of that. After I told him that my recommendation is to send the money back, he said, “Well, we can’t do that. I certainly don’t want that money to go back to Albany because I am planning on getting a bunch of it for myself. And this was a person on the committee. Now if you are on a committee to hand out government funds, you should not have the ability to take any for yourself, your relatives, your family or any government official. We’ve got a sitting judge in the town and village of Gouverneur has applied for grant money. We’ve got some of your very relatives that applied for grant money that looks like it has been approved…”
Mayor McDougall said, “If I can intercede for a minute, your two minutes must be up. Nothing has been approved. This is a long ways from done... Who is next?”
“Can I interject?” asked Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine. The floor was given to Deputy Mayor Newvine to address the public. “The Village of Potsdam got a grant for Downtown Revitalization in 2019. They haven’t even started theirs yet. Right, so it is not like they are breaking ground tomorrow. The process of this grant is quite detailed too. I am sure that everyone knows that and can look that all about. We have applied for this grant three times, and have been denied twice. How this grant works… You don’t just put Gouverneur on a piece of paper and throw it in a hat for grant money. It has to be quite detailed as to what you are going to do and how you are going to do it and where you are going to do it. Now everybody knows that this thing is, in layman’s terms, from Church to Trinity, Jumbo’s to Jreck’s. You are restricted where it can be used too. And that’s something that State did. And then, after you meet that criteria, it’s not like they say, “Here’s a $4.5 million check. Put it in the general fund and give it to whoever you want.” The LPC, that process was a little more difficult than it should be. But just like anything that we did here today, you can abstain from voting… There is a way to recuse yourself from voting on any project that you have any interest in. That is how the grant works.”
Looking at Mr. Wetmore, he said, “Like you said in the beginning, I don’t like a lot of stuff that NYS does, but they came in with $4.5 million. Also the person that applies for this grant money has to give detailed information (banking, personal information) and then they have to get financed, 100 percent of the cost of that project, in hopes that they get reimbursed by the State. Not a lot of people in the community can do that, especially if you are restricting where it can be anyway. Right, so if you want a million dollars in grant money, if you are applying for a million dollars, then you have to find a bank that will give you a loan for a million dollars and then you’ve got to hope that the State is going to give you 75 percent of that back. Not a lot of people can do that. So you are restricting it. Granted, I agree with you 100 percent about the people on the board, but New York State is in charge of all of that. I don’t necessarily agree with it. I think the optics look bad. But I don’t want to see New York State say that they are not coming back to Gouverneur again… I wish that the State would say, “Here’s $4.5 million. Do what you want with it.” But it is quite strict as to what you can do. That is just my opinion.”
Mayor McDougall asserted that the NY Forward documents have been swiftly and transparently made available online, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to public access and accountability.
Village Trustee Troy Besaw then said the following: “My thing is, folks, I think this thing stinks. It stinks to high heaven. I am going to interject with Scooter. Now, from what I read, the Mayor had a hand in the places this grant could go. Isn’t that correct, Mayor?”
“The idea was to enhance the application, which meant restricting the footprint,” Mayor McDougall said. “So you did have a hand in restricting the footprint,” Trustee Besaw said. “Yes, along with our consultant and the State,” Mayor McDougall said. “So you did, and then you handpicked individuals to sit on the committee,” Trustee Besaw said. “Based on the criteria, set by the State,” Mayor McDougall said. Trustee Besaw then asked: “Now, which came first the chicken or the egg? Did the people get picked for the committee before they filled out the grant paperwork, or after they got picked for the committee? Were the individuals in question seated on the committee and then were able to fill out grant paperwork to enhance their properties, their in-laws’ properties, or however that shakes out?” After some discussion, it was noted by Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. that the committee was seated before the Open Call For Projects period (June 17-July 31, 2025).
Trustee Besaw didn’t mince words. He challenged the room with a pointed question—“Does anybody have a problem with that?”—before condemning what he saw as a blatant conflict of interest: committee members applying for the very grant they were tasked with overseeing. “That looks horrible,” he said. In his view, every application submitted by committee members should be disqualified. Instead of pursuing questionable proposals, Besaw urged the board to focus on tangible improvements: repaving the stretch behind Kinney’s, installing better lighting and security cameras, and finally building a public restroom in the village park.
Deputy Mayor Newvine called for a return to public comment before firmly clarifying the limits of the NY Forward grant. Paving and sidewalks replacement projects, he explained, don’t qualify—funds must be used to visibly enhance and revitalize the downtown area in ways that attract people and improve aesthetics. The State sets strict guidelines on eligible uses. He noted that repaving the municipal parking lot and adding sidewalks alone would cost $4.9 million. Newvine encouraged residents to attend the upcoming Sept. 24 Public Open House. Village Trustee Floyd McAdam firmly stated that the issue had been unequivocally addressed from the outset—made crystal clear during the very first LPC meeting. “The list of the stuff you couldn’t do was longer than the list of what you could do,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said, continuing the discussion on the matter for several moments.
“If the State comes by 203 W. Main St., and says there are funds available, I’m applying,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said. “If you ask me to get on the board, I’d probably say no, especially after this. But any business that is in the scope of those things, they are crazy not to take this money.”
Trustee Besaw then said, “Let’s talk about it: What are we gaining for business?” Deputy Mayor Newvine said, “The property values in the area will increase. The total assessed value of the Village of Gouverneur will increase, which will lower taxes. The appearance of the community will be better, so when people drive by they will say, “Look at that nice new building.” Multiple people drive by and look at the park when it is lit up. If there’s new buildings that look nice here, maybe they will say, “This place looks nice. Let’s stop...” Property values in the area will go up because people’s properties look better.”
Emily Bush of Emily’s Flower Shop in Gouverneur questioned how certain project proposals would meaningfully enhance the downtown district. She voiced concern over grant dollars being funneled into apartment development, challenging whether such investments align with the community’s broader revitalization goals. Bush pointed out that property owners stand to profit from the grant, yet it remains unclear how those private gains will translate into public benefit or attract new businesses to Gouverneur.
“I would assume that if people live in the Village of Gouverneur, they are going to spend money in the Village of Gouverneur,” Deputy Mayor Newvine said. “That is a far reach, don’t get me wrong.”
“What I read about the NY Forward and the vision of it is to bring tourists,” Bush said. “These people who are going to live up in these apartments are not going to be considered tourists. If you think about the people that drive directly through Gouverneur, because they are driving out of town to go to dinner and a movie…”
After announcing that Emily Bush’s two minutes had concluded, Mayor McDougall turned to the room and asked, “Who’s next?”
Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that, as part of its NY Forward pursuit, the Village of Gouverneur submitted an application dated October 2024 with an ambitious slate of projects aimed at sparking downtown revitalization. Once selected, the process shifted into a public planning phase, where both the original proposals and new ideas generated through local input during the Open Call for Projects (June 17-July 31) were reviewed by the Local Planning Committee and the State. This phase was intended to foster innovation, encourage collaboration, and refine a list of catalytic projects tailored to Gouverneur’s long-term goals. The Village of Gouverneur’s NY Forward application and meeting documents have been posted online for public perusal at gouverneurnyforward.com. Still, some residents viewed the initial application as a fixed roadmap, prompting concerns about transparency and meaningful inclusion.
Nancy Spilman of Gouverneur said the following: “Communication was not followed… I took everything off Facebook and decided to research and read 564 pages. My brother asked me to educate myself, so I did. Communication was not followed. So many people were shocked with this development alone, which enabled you to stack the deck. You are sitting here, saying that the applications were chosen after. Look at your October 2024 PowerPoint that you put out there. Every applicant that I put on Facebook is listed on that. So that is false. The deck has been stacked. The deck to your committee was stacked. I want to reiterate this: All of these people work hard in this town. I’m mad at the process. I’m not mad at the people. I am mad at the process that you enabled and you put in place for everybody that is related to the committee or a personal relationship was able to be there before July 31st. That is my issue. Had it been done right and the right process, I wouldn’t be upset. I want Gouverneur to have the grant money. I want these buildings bustling. I want the apartments filled. I want the back parking lot done. I wish you had gotten a grant for $100 million so you could get that parking lot done. I believe in this grant. I like every individual that was listed on there. I have no problems with the individuals. It’s the process. It was taken and it was incorrectly done. You just sat here and said it was done exact opposite of what the proof of October 2024 stated. I am just bringing that to the forefront.”
Deputy Mayor Newvine addressed the methods of communication employed throughout the NY Forward process. “But how did the Village communicate?” Spilman asked. “There were so many ways. I’ve got every way that it could have been communicated. There were so many ways. The Village wasn’t communicated. That’s what the irate is. The lack of following of the guidelines of the communication to stop the stacking of the deck… I hope to God this village flourishes. I really do. My mother believed in this. My brother believes in this. My whole family believes in this village. This process was just done wrong. I want everybody that applied that is on the committee, attached to the committee, and everything else to remove their application and let’s do it right. Let’s put all of that money into the municipality of this town so everybody is happy, not five people.”
“Thank you for your input,” Mayor McDougall said. “Anybody else?” Village Trustee Troy Besaw then proposed a sweeping reset—calling for the full replacement of the Local Planning Committee (LPC) and the dismissal of the submitted applications. The motion, however, failed to gain traction, as it received no second. “Then it is mute,” Mayor McDougall said. “Public comment is over. Thank you all for coming.”
The Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees encouraged residents, business owners, and community members to attend two key events – a Public Open House (Sept. 24) and LPC #5 Meeting (Sept. 25). Both events were promoted as vital moments for public engagement. Coverage from these events will be included in an upcoming edition of the Gouverneur Tribune Press.
About NY Forward: NY Forward is a central component of the State's economic development efforts, working together with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), to accelerate and expand the revitalization of New York's downtowns. NY Forward serves smaller communities with historic character that distinguishes them from the larger, more urban central business districts typically funded through DRI. NY Forward communities are walkable, less dense areas that serve the immediate local community, and are more local in nature - focusing on the immediately surrounding residential or rural agricultural centric development. Governor Kathy Hochul has committed $100 million for the third round of the NY Forward program. Each of the State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) recommended two communities for NY Forward awards. In the North Country Region, Gouverneur and Keeseville were each the recipients of a $4.5 million award. NY Forward is led by the Department of State, in close partnership with Empire State Development, NYS Homes and Community Renewal and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The NY Forward process is being facilitated by a consultant team led by M.J. Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Land Surveying, P.C. and supported by Andropogon, Hamlin Design Group, E.M. Pemrick & Company, and Captain Consulting. For more information, visit gouverneurnyforward.com.