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New Ogdensburg mayor takes office

| 07 Jan 2019 | 03:08
    From left, Borough Clerk Robin Hough swears in Councilwoman Rachel-Lynn Slater, as her sons, Alexander and Damian, hold the Bible.
    From left, Borough Clerk Robin Hough swears in Councilwoman Rachel-Lynn Slater, as her sons, Alexander and Damian, hold the Bible.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKIFrom left, Borough Clerk Robin Hough gives the Oath of Office to Mayor George Hutnick, while his father, George Hutnick, holds the Bible.
    PHOTOS BY VERA OLINSKIFrom left, Borough Clerk Robin Hough gives the Oath of Office to Mayor George Hutnick, while his father, George Hutnick, holds the Bible.
    From left, Borough Clerk Robin Hough administers the Oath of Office to Councilman David Astor, with Charlotte Gough holding the Bible.
    From left, Borough Clerk Robin Hough administers the Oath of Office to Councilman David Astor, with Charlotte Gough holding the Bible.

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg's new mayor and council members took their seats on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
George Hutnick took over as mayor, while former mayor Rachel-Lynn Slater returns to the council after taking over as mayor after the resignation of former mayor Stephen Ciasullo.
Hutnick will serve a four-year term while Slater and Astor will serve three-year terms.
Hutnick gave the mayor’s address covering four highlights from everything the mayor and council plan for the 2019 year. He said Ogdensburg hydrants will be flushed in 2019, because of the importance to the water system health.
In addition, Hutnick said, the council will address the ongoing truck issue. Everyone is entitled to make a living, he continued, however, laws need to obeyed, and trucks need to drive safely through town. He already started working with Police Chief Stephen Gordon, Hutnick added, which will slow down trucks and alleviate accidents.
Hutnick also said, the council completed the Main Street Revitalization Project a few years ago, and now, they will continue revitalization around town. He added, he has already started talking to code enforcement; and they will examine all abandoned homes and properties, to make sure everything is neat, clean, and welcoming. The goal, he concluded, is for people and businesses to move into town.
The borough will also create a “Directory and Welcome Kit,” Hutnick said, of every commercial and home-based business in town, which wants to participate. The council will post a list of Ogdensburg businesses on the website, he added, as a resource and provide all the information to local realtors in order to promote Ogdensburg and emphasize why people should move there.
Furthermore, Hutnick said, the council will work with groups to promote community based events. For example, the council will work with the Friends of Heater’s Pond, and the first event will be “Winter Fest,” Jan. 19, at Heater’s Pond.
Finally, Hutnick said, Councilwomen Slater and Brenda O’Dell will work on a plan to draw volunteers to the first aid and fire departments, who are in dire need of memberships. One goal, Hutnick said, is to create a Youth Emergency Services Group, showing young people what is involved in fire rescue and first aid.