UTICA  — At its meeting on Wednesday, the Oneida County Board of Legislators voted to authorize the county to apply for funding to help rehabilitate 131 Genesee St. — the building that formerly housed the Boston Store.  

131 Genesee St. rehabilitation

Oneida County has already submitted a letter of intent stating that it will apply for up to $2 million in funding through the NYS Empire Development Corporation, as part of the Restore NY initiative. The county is now fully authorized to send in its application.  

The Restore NY initiative provides financial assistance to municipalities to help revitalize commercial and residential properties, like 131 Genesee St.  

The county will partner Mohawk Valley EDGE to plan and implement the project, with the county serving as the administrator and Mohawk Valley EDGE providing technical assistance.  

A portion of the building is occupied by the non-profit Resource Center for Independent Living which provides an array of programs and services for individuals with disabilities.

Public Comment Period 

Merima Oren-Smajic, a candidate for Oneida County Clerk, addressed the board for the third time, calling for the county to use sales tax revenue to reopen the Rome DMV full time. 

Oren-Smajic has previously spoken out about her dissatisfaction with the Rome DMV, specifically the fact that it is only open two days a week. 

“From January through June 2021, Oneida County collected $99.2 million in sales tax revenue. From January through June 2022, Oneida County collected $104.7 million in sales tax revenue. That’s an increase of 5.6% or $5.5 million year over year, and the money keeps coming in,” Smajic-Oren said. “$5.5 million. Whose money is that? Is it your money? No. Is it the county executive’s? No. It’s the people’s money.” 

“Here’s a thought, why not give some of that sales tax money back to those who gave it to you in the first place? Rome has already more than paid for its own full-time, fully-staffed Department of Motor Vehicles. The time has come to give Rome what Rome has paid for,” she added. 

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. spoke at the end of the public comment period, addressing the concerns that other speakers had, and then speaking about the Rome DMV and Smajic Oren’s statement.  

Picente said that the county clerk is the sole person who could reopen the Rome DMV, not the county executive, not the board of legislators. 

The current Oneida County Clerk is Sandra J. DePerno. 

“The argument that comes to this board and to my office doesn’t belong here,” he said. The county clerk’s budget is and has been properly suited and funded to fill those positions, she has the authority and the administrative ability through personnel in the department to fill all those positions and to reopen the office.”  

Picente said that in the same way that he does not tell the sheriff who to arrest or hire, or the district attorney who to prosecute, the county clerk has the sole jurisdiction over reopening Rome DMV. 

“If you want to talk about sales tax and revenues, I’d be glad to. We’re doing a great job, thank you for those kudos … so we can keep our taxes low,” Picente said. “We also have collective bargaining units that are negotiating contracts for all of the employees in this government, and I’d expect you to know that. I’d expect that anyone running for office should know the details of that office and what they’re running for and what the lay of the land is like.”