Ogdensburg passes budget

The Ogdensburg Council unanimously adopted their $2.9 million budget, May 13, for the 2019 fiscal year.
Municipal Auditor Thomas M. Ferry and Chief Financial Officer Michael Marceau attended the public hearing, but the budget passed without a comment or question.
Councilwoman Rachel Slater was absent.
Maurceau confirmed there were no changes from the budget introduction on April 8. In 2019, Marceau had noted the average home in the borough is assessed at $221,166 and will have an average municipal tax bill of $2,556, resulting in an average annual increase of $67 or 2.68 percent.
The council also unanimously adopted an ordinance amending administration fees, land development waivers, enforcement violations and penalties in the Ogdensburg Borough code.
Additionally, before voting on an ordinance amending regulations to the parks, recreational and swimming areas, Council President Michael Nardini asked if the proposed ordinance allowed dogs in the sand and grass area, where people swim, sit and walk.
After officials discussed the ordinance, Attorney Matthew Posada explained the ordinance is broad, allowing dogs in the Heater’s Pond swimming area during hours of operation.
Mayor George Hutnick suggested they should table the ordinance, and he thought previous discussions had been included.
Officials unanimously tabled the ordinance until its wording can be fixed.
The council also unanimously introduced an ordinance fixing the salaries of Ogdensburg employees. Public hearing will be May 28.
Other business
The Ogdensburg Fire Chief Rick Keslo and Deputy Fire Chief and DPW employee Chris Smith attended to give an update of hydrant flushing progress.
Smith presented plastic water bottles containing what they had found so far during the hydrant flushing — metal shavings from the inside of pipes and stones, including Franklinite, which Hutnick identified.
Smith reported they are way ahead of schedule, having completed 42 of the 105 hydrants in Ogdensburg.
Hutnick also asked about the leaf and brush collection progress.
Smith said everything was picked up, as long as the materials were bundled and tied.
Councilman David Astor said he gave the crosswalk estimates to Bruno Associates grant writers, with the crosswalk costing $20,000 and a final estimate of everything at $22,543.
Nardini said Van Cleef Engineering Associates completed the pump house inspection, saying it needs new asphalt roofs over the pump house and storage tank, new stone for drainage, and to secure the fencing. He said a temporary fix would be to fix the wall with a little bit of concrete and a new roof, so they need to secure roof bids.
Councilman Anthony Nasisi recommended patching the roof first and assessing the life expectancy. He added, the structural integrity of the building is not compromised, but requires more aesthetics with repairs and updating.
Nardini also said he and Nasisi will replace the Heater’s Pond Lifeguard and Swim Building door; and they still need to seal all the stone work.
Hutnick said they fixed the docks which floated away and fixed the swim dock as much as possible.
The council unanimously approved encouraging the state of New Jersey to make Franklinite the state mineral. Slater and Councilman Peter Opilla were absent.
Astor explained before the vote that Sterling Hill Mining Museum is abundant with the Franklinite Mineral and suggested Ogdensburg partner with Franklin to pass resolutions encouraging the state to finalize adopting Franklinite as the state mineral.
There are many geological people who come to the area, Astor said, where the majority of Franklinite is found; “Why would we not support what is in our backyard?”
Furthermore, Astor said they have the fourth graders writing letters to the state supporting the resolution, and “How cool would that be for our fourth graders to say, ‘Wow!’ I was part of this.”
Hutnick said the Sterling Hill Mine and Franklin Mineral Museum offer something, “which is not anywhere else on the planet,” - the minerals which fluoresce are available in Ogdensburg and in Franklin.
With around 210 to 250 kids coming to the mine almost every day, Hutnick continued, they as a council and Land Use Board need to find ways for people and families to spend more time in Ogdensburg.
At the end of the meeting, Hutnick presented a plaque to Astor in appreciation of his work as a councilman and in honor of Astor’s last council meeting. Astor resigned as of May 13.