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Ogdensburg council requests county traffic study of Route 517, discusses capital equipment and staffing changes
Summary
Council authorized the clerk to request a Sussex County traffic study of Route 517 citing increased truck traffic and recent quarry operations. The council also reviewed capital needs including a new alcotest, vehicle replacement options, portable signboard, fire turnout gear requests and proposed personnel and handbook changes.
The Ogdensburg Borough Council voted to request an updated traffic study of Route 517 (Main Street) from the Sussex County Department of Engineering and discussed several capital and personnel matters at its June 24 meeting.
Councilman Ciasullo explained the county would reassess Main Street, examine sightlines and review the borough's last study from 2008; the county asked the borough to provide an OPRA request for crash and incident data starting from 2015. "If the council wants to proceed with having the county engineers take a look at Main Street, speed, line of sight," Ciasullo said, "we would put together a letter requesting that to the county engineering department." Chief Gordon supported the request and said increased quarry operations have raised traffic volumes; he noted that when Route 517 was paved it was done at night because the traffic count exceeded 20,000 vehicles per day.
The council authorized the clerk to send the request; the motion by Councilman Ciasullo was seconded by Councilwoman Ruitenberg and passed on roll call.
Council members also reviewed capital equipment and budget items. CFO Mike Marceau said roughly $28,433.81 remains in an ordinance account set aside for a prior alcotest purchase and that the newer model the State recommends will cost about $22,000 to $23,000. "You have the money in the budget; it was [approximately] $6,200," Mr. Marceau said in reference to the sum available for proposed salary adjustments, and later noted the ordinance account balance for the alcotest. Chief Gordon said the department is allowed to use drunk-driving enforcement funds for the purchase subject to program rules. The fire department requested about $16,000 for bottles, packs and turnout gear; council members discussed addressing the request through an ordinance.
Mr. Marceau outlined proposed changes to purchasing policy following state law changes, suggesting council could pass a resolution to eliminate vendor claimant certifications on purchase orders (with exceptions), which he said would save staff time. He also proposed adding one additional five-hour part-time day to help workload coverage. Councilwoman Ruitenberg described proposed employee handbook updates including standardized paid holidays, revised part-time vacation accruals, tuition-reimbursement with a service payback clause (up to four years), and a potential longevity provision to be considered.
No executive session was held. The meeting closed after routine voucher approvals and adjournment.
