Heater's Pond fountain would cost around $2K

OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Council discussed, at a recent meeting, the possibility of buying a new fountain for Heater's Pond. Council President Rachel Slater reported the Heater's Pond aerators are broken, and a fountain could cost between $1,699 and $2,959.
Councilman David Astor said the Passaic Avenue Bridge inspector informed him that the delay in fixing the bridge included unexpected events that were not in the county's hands. The inspector also said that the county will be able to proceed in four weeks. Astor added, the Sept. 15 completion date is extremely optimistic, and the bridge could be finished around Oct. 15.
Councilman Anthony Nasisi said the oil tank permits are ready, and the firehouse tanks will probably be pulled within the next two weeks.
Mayor Steve Ciasullo said that as a result of Borough Clerk Phyllis Drouin retiring in November, the council needs to develop a hiring plan including: job description, advertising date, interviewing process, hiring date, and training schedule alongside Drouin. He said that the job description should not only include Drouin's current responsibilities, but possibly include town management requirements.
Nasisi — in charge of personnel — said he would like to have a job description drafted by the next meeting, including some key town manager requirements. He also asked for suggestions from the council in developing the hiring plan.
Councilman George Hutnick suggested documenting everything Drouin currently does and including her in the interviewing and screening process.
Jackie Espinoza, of JCP&L, apologized for a recent electrical outage caused by a motor vehicle accident involving a transmission line. She said that 11,000 people were without power for about five minutes. JCP&L is checking, she added, about linking the Franklin sub with the Sparta sub, in order to add more flexibility.
Ciasullo reminded residents to report any outages.
Espinoza also discussed replacing the high pressure sodium lights on main street with LED lighting. The lighting would then be white instead of the current more amber color.
Ciasullo had suggested testing the LED lights on a pole in a dark development in order to give the borough an idea of what the lighting looks like.
Espinoza said that the borough would get more light, but not much of a cost savings. She explained it is a different style light, but not softer.
Police Chief Stephen Gordon suggested changing the light at the crosswalk between the intersection of Main Street and Passaic Avenue. Due to a bent pole, he added, the light shines out and not on the ground.
Officials agreed it is difficult to see people crossing in that particular crosswalk at night. Ciasullo asked Espinoza to have that pole and light fixed.
Espinoza continued, the LED light life expectancy is much longer. She added, a minimum of 12 lights — no charge — must be completed at once. Currently, she is working toward installing a few LED lights throughout the county, thus, giving residents an idea of the type of lighting. LED lights are new, she said, and they are not yet used as street lights in the county.
Holden Schwabe — of Schwabe Contracting — presented a request to pave the adjacent lot to Sam's Convenience Store. Owner Harry Patel would like — at his cost — to pave approximately 40 feet, landscape, move his sign to the corner — with LED lights — and possibly place tables behind the parking area. The lot is owned by Ogdensburg.
Officials were interested in the idea, and Ciasullo offered to take Schwabe's conceptual drawing to the chairman of the land use board.
Ciasullo said that hey will also verify the lot actually is Ogdensburg property.
Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro advised Schwabe to first present the conceptual drawing to the land use board, telling them what happened at the council. If the board gives a favorable response, Brigliadoro continued, then Schwabe can make a more formal presentation.