Ogdensburg gets permit for dam work

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg Mayor Steve Ciasullo said on Oct. 11 the state issued Ogdensburg the permit to complete the Heater's Pond Dam improvements. As of now, he said, other information is not required by the state; and Ogdensburg will move forward with their engineers.
Officials agreed the work will go out for bid, and construction on the dam will probably begin in springtime. Ciasullo added, the work should not affect the use of the pond.
Councilman David Astor said he had letters, one to state Sen. Steve Oroho, and a copy of a resolution to get the Passaic Avenue Bridge completed. Astor said he would like to send the letter and resolution to Sparta and Franklin, once approved by Ogdensburg.
Ciasullo said possibly Oroho will come to a council meeting to discuss the Passaic Ave. Bridge.
Next, Ciasullo said Ogdensburg will get the full amount of the “little amount of state funding we do get” next year. The borough received 90 percent on the State of N.J. Best Practices Worksheet questionnaire. The questionnaire is available to the public.
Astor said the school water results came back; everything was fine; and there is no lead in the system. However, he added, one water fountain in one of the girls' bathrooms, which had not been used for a long time, contained slightly elevated lead. He said, it is more than likely some residuals. All other six areas passed.
Astor also said schools are now mandated to test the water; and they could get reimbursed.
Officials discussed the fire at 276 Main St. in Franklin with Fire Chief Chris Smith and Operator Kenny Smith. During the fire, Kenny Smith discovered a problem when the Franklin Fire Department started using the next hydrant in line. The house was in Franklin, but the hydrant was in Ogdensburg. He said his water stopped, ran out, and he had to get the firefighters out of the house quickly. No one was hurt.
Ciasullo said the engineer would talk to Department of Public Works Supervisor Chris Ross in order to determine options.
Ross told officials, the hydrants which have been newly painted were flushed, per maintenance plan. He also provided a property maintenance plan to the Council.
During public session, officials discussed an official reprimand of Ross. Ross wanted to discuss the issue in public.
Ciasullo explained, the reprimand was due to a garbage mess in the Ogdensburg ball field. He said, for the most part, the department is run well. However, there were guests from other towns, and it was really an embarrassment that day. Especially when people are renting, and the park is one of the focal points of Ogdensburg.
Ross said, the place in question had been checked at 12:45 P.M. that day for garbage. Since then, he has added more cans. He also added, they do not have the man power to be everywhere.
Ciasullo said he had a valid point and suggested he quantify what was completed in the last three months, to contrast with what could have been completed with an additional employee.
Astor and Councilman Robert McGuire agreed about a paper trail to benefit the DPW department.
“If you need another guy, you have to prove it," McGuire said. "It has to be justified. The more you put in writing, the better.”
The council also agreed to support Sergeant Joseph Sanfilippo's third state grant application to the “2016 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Holiday Crack Down,” from December through January.
The grant will cover $50 per hour police work, with a maximum of 100 hours, not to exceed $5,000. Officials unanimously agreed to pay the overtime difference when necessary. Councilwomen Regina Rizzo and Rachel Slater were absent.
During final passage, the Ogdensburg Council unanimously approved an ordinance amending the fee schedule for Memorial Park badges to: $5 per person and $25 per family, of five or more. Three year-old children and under will be charged $1.