Ogdensburg freezes spending

OGDENSBURG — Mayor Rachel Slater said there is a spending freeze in Ogdensburg on Sept. 10.
She added, nothing goes through until the council discusses it.
Officials worked to determine from where $57,000 could be transferred to over-budget line items in November.
Slater reviewed the over-budget amounts provided by CFO Monica Goscicki: the Land Use Board is over about $25,000 due to unplanned legal fees regarding updating the ordinance code book and master plan; the state health benefit is about $10,000 more than anticipated; and around $22,000 is required for police overtime.
Before discussion, the council had unanimously adopted a code containing the codified ordinances of the Borough of Ogdensburg. The mayor, council, and borough clerk brought the project to completion after working on it since around the year 2000. Councilmen David Astor and Anthony Nasisi were absent.
Officials estimated needing $16,342 for police overtime, instead of $22,000 because $6,058 was still available per payroll posted through Aug. 1.
Slater read a note from Goscicki saying there should be money left from what was budgeted for a new police officer, who was not hired July first as planned.
In addition, Goscicki wrote about talking to Municipal Auditor Thomas M. Ferry about the legal bills being an emergency, and then the budget will be raised next year.
Councilman George Hutnick asked how the freeze occurred.
Slater answered, the Land Use Board did not provide the re-examination of the Code Book and master plan budget numbers until after the Ogdensburg budget was finished and finalized, and both had to be completed this year.
Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro clarified, the Municipal Land Use Law says, the borough is required to re-examine the ordinances at least once every 10 years, but it can also be completed as many times as desired in that 10 years.
“So the Land Use Board has caused the town's budget to go into a freeze,” Hutnick said.
Slater said it was not only the Land Use Board, but also the health insurance change and possible police overtime.
Hutnick asked how they could make s ure the Land Use Board has budget numberes reading in time for next year's budget, but there was no answer.
While determining which line items money will be transferred from, Hutnick said, the council cut the fire department significantly last year; and the fire department should not be cut again – if possible.
Ultimately, officials proposed freezing and possibly transferring: $3,300 from the fire department; $9,000 from the DPW new hire amount budgeted as of July 1, which has not, yet, been used; and the budgeted money beginning July 1 for the future new police hire — possibly to be hired in November.
Slater also suggested speaking with Goscicki and Police Chief Stephen Gordon for more information regarding exactly what amount they need to stay in budget.
Councilman Robert Gunderman said he will talk to Gordon regarding the overtime budget.
Slater later read an update from Councilman David Astor that they put two of the no trespassing signs on telephone poles at Heater's Pond Dam, and the DPW will work on two others.
In addition, Slater read an email from the Land Use Board saying they only want to support recreation for the people of Ogdensburg and, as of right now, are not going to look into the NJDOT Bike Path Grant. She added, the grant was more for side of the road bike paths and not bike paths through the woods.