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Finance Committee Approves Lease Agreement and Federal Grant Application

This is an official news release from the 26th Legislature published verbatim as received from the Office of Public Affairs, relative to recent Senate activity.
Feb. 15, 2005 — The Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Norman Jn. Baptiste, met Tuesday (2-15-05) on St. Thomas and passed a lease agreement between the Department of Property and Procurement, and Roberto Tapia, doing business as "Ine's Place 24 Hours." Mr. Tapia told senators that he was seeking their assistance in obtaining the lease to operate a restaurant business, located southeast of the Ulla Muller Elementary School.
Mr. Edgar Phillips, representing the Department of Property and Procurement, registered the Department's support for approval of the five (5) year lease, with a 5yr. option to renew, and which consists of approximately 1,600 square feet.
Under questioning by Senator Usie R. Richards, Mr. Tapia indicated that he was already located at the site and is in possession a of temporary letter of intent to lease from the Property & Procurement Department pending legislative approval. Tapia told Senator Richards that after approval, he will be able to take the document to his insurance company to execute the policy for the business.
Responding to queries of Senator Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg Jr., Mr. Tapia stated that the business is a removable stationary fixture because a permanent structure could not be placed on the property. Mr. Phillips informed Senator Donastorg that the requirements were based on the policies of the Dept. of Property and Procurement.
Property and Procurement Attorney Lyn Millin told Senator Terrance "Positive" Nelson that Tapia would have to pay the department a fee if he decided to sub-lease any portion of the property. Attorney Millin also indicated to Senator Neville James that the department was comfortable with the agreement since Tapia has both a mobile food service and a tavern keepers license to ensure that the activities at the business are legal.
Senator Roosevelt David suggested that the government officials negotiate longer time durations with young entrepreneurs like Mr. Tapia to add "value" to their leases.
Senator Jn. Baptiste expressed concerns with some of the inconsistencies within the lease namely the wrong parcel number and the types of licenses issued to Tapia to conduct his business activities. Atty. Millin told Senator Baptiste that there were no conflicts within the lease agreement, while Tapia assured the Finance Committee Chairman that his new licenses will contain the correct parcel numbers.
Senator Jn. Baptiste stated that Mr. Tapia or any other business operator should not be penalized due to the mistakes of government officials and urged the Property and Procurement representatives to be more "meticulous" when preparing leases in the future.
The Committee unanimously approved the lease agreement for Mr. Tapia and reported out to the Rules Committee for further consideration, with a favorable recommendation.
In other action, the Finance Committee approved a federal grant application for the St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation (Expanded Access – Oral Health Care) in the amount of $150,000.
Office of Management and Budget Associate Director Clement "Cain" Magras said the grant application would assist the St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation in reducing the barriers faced by the uninsured, underserved, underinsured, homeless individuals and individuals in long-term care facilities when seeking health care. According to Magras, when the Corporation's day-to-day operations move from the mobile van to its premises in the Tutu Park Mall, the mobile van will facilitate the expansion of outreach activities to more segments of the community,
Senators present at Tuesday's Finance Committee meeting were Norman Jn. Baptiste, Terrance "Positive" Nelson, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg Jr., Usie R. Richards, Neville James, Juan Figueroa-Serville, Roosevelt David and Craig Barshinger.

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