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Ogdensburg council approves ordinances, planning contract, temporary remunerations and a $30,000 settlement
Summary
Council approved two ordinances, a one-year contract for grant-writing services, temporary remunerations for staff filling planning duties, a resolution opposing state walleye-restocking cuts, the consent agenda, and a negotiated $30,000 settlement in pending litigation.
At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Ogdensburg City Council voted on multiple ordinances and resolutions, including code changes, a professional-services contract, temporary remunerations for staff absorbing planning duties, a resolution opposing a DEC decision on walleye restocking, and a lawsuit settlement.
Key outcomes:
- Ethics-code amendment (Bill 14): Council amended Chapter 27-22 of the Ogdensburg Municipal Code to specify that "ethics complaints filed against the city manager or unpaid municipal officer shall be referred to the city council for review." The proposed amendment was moved and adopted by roll call; all voting members present recorded "yes."
- Deletion of local-incentives section (Bill 15): Council adopted an ordinance deleting section 199-39 of the municipal code (local incentives extended). The measure passed by roll call with all members voting yes.
- Professional services for grant writing (Strategic Development Specialists): Council authorized the city manager to enter a one-year professional-services agreement with Strategic Development Specialists for a flat fee of $5,000 plus reimbursable expenses. Staff noted the consultant’s prior work with the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority and reported confidence in their ability to support the city. The resolution passed on roll-call votes with all members in favor.
- Temporary remunerations for additional duties: Council approved a resolution providing temporary remunerations (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025) to cover duties left vacant by the director of planning and development’s resignation. The resolution authorized: DPW Director Shane Brown — $7,500 for 2025; Fire Chief Ken Stull — $7,500 for 2025; and a temporary remuneration for the city manager of $3,500 per month while the planning department remains unstaffed, with the city manager’s amount to be reduced to $2,000 per month once a planning staff member is hired. The resolution also included budget line adjustments moving $15,000 from planning salary lines and identified the funding lines to be modified; the measure passed unanimously in roll-call votes.
- Resolution opposing DEC decision on walleye restocking: Council adopted a resolution urging the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to reconsider discontinuing the walleye restocking program in the St. Lawrence River. The resolution, which cited the historical role of restocking since 1987 and local economic benefits from walleye fishing, passed on a unanimous vote.
- Litigation settlement (Mack v. Skelly, et al.): Council authorized the city manager, subject to city-attorney approval, to execute a negotiated settlement of $30,000 in the matter captioned Mack v. Steven Skelly, Jeffrey Skelly, and the City of Ogdensburg. City staff said continuing litigation could increase legal costs materially and recommended settlement to limit net expense. Roll-call votes recorded approval by all members present.
Vote summary: For each formal roll call shown in the record the votes were recorded as yes from Mayor Tooley (Mayor Tully in some roll-call readbacks), Councilor Powers, Councilor Scamperley, Councilor Trim and Councilor Weaver; the measures noted above were approved.
