Lee Mendelson of Aquebogue, an attorney and founder of a New York-based cannabis testing lab, has been appointed by the Riverhead Town Board the the board of directors of the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency.
Mendelson, who is also a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and Riverhead’s Business Advisory Committee, replaces Councilman Bob Kern on the IDA board. Town board members unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday accepting Kern’s resignation from the IDA board and appointing Mendelsen in his place.
“I’m excited to be on the board. I’m looking forward to being able to contribute,” Mendelson said in an interview Wednesday.
As an attorney, Mendelson is general counsel to Hampton luxury home builder Telemark Inc and has a law practice in Bridgehampton. He is also the cofounder, manager and general counsel of Phyto-Farma Labs, a cannabis testing lab in Orange County that opened in 2020. The lab tests cannabis products’ potency for compliance, and also for harmful chemicals like metals and pesticides. Mendelson has been vocal in discussions around crafting the town’s marijuana policy during advisory forums.
“He’s been a member of the community for many years. He has served on various committees. He’s smart and he’s dedicated to the community, and he came highly recommended,” Supervisor Yvette Aguiar said. “The entire board decided that he was a good choice.”
The Riverhead Industrial Development Agency was established in 1980 by an act of the State Legislature at the request of the Town of Riverhead. Its mission is to induce economic development in the town by attracting new businesses and helping existing businesses expand and remain in Riverhead.
To do so, the IDA has the authority to issue tax exempt or taxable industrial development bonds, offer real property tax abatements, sales and compensating use tax exemptions, and mortgage recording tax exemptions. It also assists business owners and developers in locating suitable sites for development.
The IDA is managed by a five-person board of directors who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the town board. In addition to Mendelson, they are: Chairperson James Farley, Vice Chairperson
Lori Ann Pipczynski, Tony Barresi and Tom Cruso. The agency has one full-time employee, its executive director, Tracy Stark-James.
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