Oswego council authorizes temporary public snow-deposit lot, approves $500,000 salt purchase and other storm-response measures

The Oswego Common Council on Feb. 24 authorized temporary public use of a lot at 410–420 West First Street for residents to deposit excess snow and approved a $500,000 budget amendment to resupply road salt, actions the mayor and city attorney said were driven by a mayor-declared state of emergency after the recent blizzard.

The council’s actions also included a series of routine approvals — a website maintenance renewal, contract amendment for consent-decree reporting, police camera upgrades and acceptance of a $5,000 donation for a rapid-deployment craft — each approved by a 5-0-2 vote (two members excused). The snow-deposit authorization came with a required waiver-and-release form and logistical conditions the administration described as steps to limit liability.

Mayor (name not specified) opened the meeting by thanking city employees and emergency responders for their response to what he described as a severe storm. "The state of emergency that I declared on Tuesday reflected the seriousness of the situation," the mayor said, noting official readings showing the city received "almost 4 feet of snow" and that some county areas saw 5–6 feet and structural collapses.

The mayor credited assistance from Oswego County and the county highway…