Oswego committee authorizes sealing of city time capsule, sets reopening for 2048 and 50‑year cycle

The Administrative Services Committee authorized the city’s time capsule committee to schedule a sealing ceremony in early July and to set the capsule’s first reopening for 2048, with subsequent openings on a 50‑year cycle.

Greg, deputy city clerk and time capsule committee chairman, told the committee the event would coincide with July Independence Day activities and that the resolution “just authorizes us to have that event” and sets the baseline schedule going forward. He also said the committee is “actively working on collecting items” and that the project is “going very well.”

Mark Slozik, city historian, spoke in support and said the capsule is a “time honored tradition that we ought to continue.” Committee members noted students from the local school district are participating by contributing items.

The resolution packet lists a sealing-ceremony date of 07/05/2025; during discussion Mr. Greg also referenced July 6. The committee approved the authorization by motion (mover: Councilor Plunkett; second: Councilor Allen) and recorded votes of Councilor Walker, Councilor Plunkett and Councilor Allen in favor.

The measure also changes a prior practice: committee members said the group decided to use a 50‑year interval rather than the 10‑year interval referenced in an earlier 1985 authorization. Committee members said the 2048 opening was selected to align with the city’s 200th anniversary. No additional procedural steps for the ceremony were specified during the discussion.

The council’s action establishes a baseline scheduling rule for future time capsule committees and directs staff to proceed with planning the early‑July sealing ceremony; specific ceremony details and a final, single confirmed date were not specified in the meeting record.