Pine Island cuts pro-Elk Run city administrator

The Pine Island city council voted Tuesday night to eliminate its city administrator position and terminate the contract of Abraham Algadi, effective immediately, the Rochester Post Bulletin reports. Algadi was one of the most vocal supporters of the proposed Elk Run development, a long-delayed 200-acre biotechnology business park north of Rochester that remains empty.

Mayor Rod Steele, who opposed the motion, told the newspaper the decision was unrelated to the issues surrounding Elk Run. "It's pretty much a cost-saving measure," Steele said. "He's got a fairly hefty salary, and the city is looking to save some money over the next few years."

Executive director of Pine Island's Economic Development Authority added that the Elk Run project "will move forward," but declined to comment further.

Elk Run‘s developer, California-based Tower Investments, first proposed the $1 billion biotech campus five years ago. The project has had several false starts and missed deadlines since then.

Last October, an unnamed firm appeared to be interested in constructing a 200,000-square-foot building on the site and bringing roughly 200 biotech jobs to Pine Island after the first phase of construction.