Ogdensburg looks to stop 'engine braking'

OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Council unanimously introduced an ordinance prohibiting “engine-braking,” Jan. 14, in the borough of Ogdensburg.
The council, residents, and Police Chief Stephen Gordon previously had discussed, at meetings, the noise problem created by trucks “engine-braking” while traveling through town. Public Hearing will be Jan. 28. Councilmen Anthony Nasisi and Peter Opilla were absent.
The council also unanimously introduced an ordinance adding the Senior Payroll Clerk position and fixing the salary of offices and Ogdensburg Borough employees. Public Hearing will be Jan. 28.
Mayor George Hutnick said he thinks the borough will need to increase the DPW budget this year to cover many little projects, which have been pushed off for years. Regarding the 2019 hydrant flushing plan, he continued, the fire department will assist and coordinate where needed. He explained, the project will involve hydrants, water, and roads, so everyone is involved and needs to give input. Furthermore, he continued, a number of sieged or stuck hydrant valves need to be fixed, and they will consider a piece of equipment which may help.
Hutnick also said, they had completed a series of interviews for the shared services CFO position with Sussex Borough. He added, they interviewed three candidates and narrowed the position down to one person. Due to a new law, he continued, they had sent the candidate a Rice notice of being discussed during Executive Session by the council. Finally, he said, the candidate would also be discussed by Sussex Borough, and if everyone agreed, they would give the candidate an offer.
JCP&L fixed the light on Center Street, Hutnick said, and the lights in the firehouse parking lot have been improved. He added, they will continue to improve the firehouse parking lot lighting in the future.
Councilman David Astor said Elizabethtown Gas is finished installing natural gas in Ogdensburg. They will continue to finish a little remediation on soils and property, he added, when the weather is better. Also, he said, more residents are adding on natural gas.
In the near future, Hutnick said, the borough can start pushing for the rest of the town to receive natural gas.
Council President Michael Nardini said everything has been updated regarding the electric work and well heaters; and all council emails have been setup for use instead of personal emails.
Astor said the crosswalk meeting will be set up soon, where the issue of buses entering the school parking lot will be addressed. In addition, a request came to put a crosswalk with activated lights by the school, he said, possibly at the intersection of 517 and Passaic, which is used more than in front of the school. Pedestrians would press a button, he concluded, letting drivers know someone wants to cross the street.
Hutnick said he received several inquiries to buy a ten acre parcel of woods owned by the borough, at 76 Kennedy Ave., for possible building and reselling of one-to-two homes. The council agreed to continue investigating the possibility, because it could be a potential rate-able.
Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro recommended after the council finishes investigating the possibility, they should also get an appraisal, consider possible constraints, and go out for public bid.
Nardini discussed and will apply for New Jersey State Radon Awareness Kits. If accepted to the program, he said, they can pre-purchase up to $1,000 worth of radon kits and offer to residents at a reduced cost or free. He explained, the borough would be reimbursed by the state for the difference of cost and amount received from residents up to $1,000.
It might be a nice thing to do, he added, for residents who are concerned or curious, due to the borough living on top of a mine. If they are accepted to the program, Nardini said, he was thinking of starting with 25 or 50 kits; and if the demand increases, they could re-order.
Hutnick said, professional services attorney and engineer proposals were sent out in order to look at other potential attorneys and engineering firms to work for the borough.
In addition to discussing different attorney and engineering firms during Executive Session, the council also discussed a Blue Diamond contract.