Slater named mayor of Ogdensburg

OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Council on Monday unanimously appointed Council President Rachel Slater as mayor.
She will replace former Mayor Steve Ciasullo, who resgigned on Sept. 12, and fill his unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2018.
Former Mayor Steve Ciasullo, thus, filling his unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2018.
Slater will be sworn in as mayor at the next council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
After executive session, Councilman Peter Opilla said, the council met with two of the three recommendations submitted by the Ogdensburg Republican Committee, Slater and Robert McGuire to in order to fill the vacancy. Nancy Masar-Sands did not attend the meeting.
As mayor, Slater said Councilmen George Hutnick and David Astor met with the engineer two weeks ago regarding the armoring of Heater's Pond Dam. She continued, Heater's Pond will be lowered about 5 feet in mid-October; the fish will be removed and not replaced; and the engineer will work with Solitude Lake Management for the majority of the work. In addition, she added, no pond use will be allowed, including ice fishing and skating.
Hutnick said they will have to restock the pond. He then continued, weather pending, the construction company will work straight through — starting in December and filling the pond again by March 18, 2018. In addition, he said, the construction company advised, 'They are designed to go all weather.'
Slater also said Hutnick and Astor met with Elizabethtown Gas last week, and as reported earlier, the numbers are close for Beardslee Hill, Bettino, and Maryann Estates, while Presidents Estates is a little low. They are leaving the natural gas survey open, she said, until Oct. 1. After they get increased numbers through advertising, she added, they will probably have another town hall meeting.
Councilman Anthony Nasisi said, there was a 1994 Statewide Insurance Fund surplus for the borough of $4,454. Officials agreed with the CFO, the amount should be taken as a check and placed in borough surplus.
Nasisi also said, he is following up regarding reviewing ordinances already completed.
McGuire said, when he was a councilman, he met with the Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro and reviewed everything, thus, creating a list of departments and questions still needing to be answered.
Nasisi said, he has the list and agreed there are some minor items which still need to be finished.
Officials decided Ogdensburg Day will be June 9. Hutnick would like to begin reserving amusements as soon as possible in order to have a larger selection. He added, the Sterling Hill Mine will allow the borough to launch fireworks from the mine mountain top, provided the borough covers the insurance.
McGuire said he did not think there would be enough clearance for fireworks.
Councilman Robert Gunderman said, he thinks there is enough room.
Hutnick said the mine is open in the back, and he will push for the fireworks to be there. He also said, the mine is trying to see about lighting the side of the mountain with a black light, in order for the minerals to fluoresce as they do inside the mine.
Michael Nardini asked about being led to believe the fish would stay in the pond during the last meeting. He asked if there was a reason why that changed.
Hutnick said it is in the proposal as part of the plan.
Nasisi also remembered being told the pond would go down 3 1/2 feet — not 5 feet.
Nardini added since they are lowering the pond further, does that mean there would be room for negotiation to do some dredging.
Hutnick said no permits were taken out and it would be something about which to inquire.
Officials agreed they had discussed the possibility. Astor added, it would require another bid.
Nasisi suggested the pond committee consider the possibility.