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Ogdensburg council introduces parks code and bond ordinances, tables fee change over nonprofit concerns
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 12-2021 (replace parks and recreation chapter) and Ordinance 14-2021 (bond ordinance for $351,300 in road improvements) with public hearings set for Nov. 22, and tabled Ordinance 13-2021 (administrative fees) after concerns about nonprofit exemptions.
The Ogdensburg Mayor and Council used the Nov. 8 meeting to introduce two ordinances and to table a third pending revisions.
Councilwoman Cowdrick moved to introduce Ordinance 12-2021, which would replace Chapter 6 (Parks and Recreation Areas) in its entirety. Councilman Nardini questioned language in section 6.1.9, Ballfield section C, that referenced "or Borough Board of Education" and said the borough does not control that body; Borough Attorney Robert McBriar described removing that phrase as a ministerial correction and suggested circulating a revised draft if a material change is necessary. The Council voted to introduce the ordinance and set a public hearing for Nov. 22, 2021.
Councilwoman Cowdrick also moved to introduce Ordinance 13-2021, amending administrative fees. Councilman Nardini raised concerns that the draft lacks clear nonprofit exemptions and that the fee schedule as drafted—"we are going from one hundred to five hundred per day to five hundred to two thousand per season per activity per event"—could place an undue burden on local nonprofits such as scouts or community recreation groups. Borough Attorney McBriar said clarifying exemptions would be a material change and recommended circulating a revised draft; Cowdrick amended her motion to table Ordinance 13-2021 and the Council voted to table it.
Councilman DeMeo moved to introduce Ordinance 14-2021, a bond ordinance to appropriate $351,300 for various road improvements and authorize the issuance of bonds and bond anticipation notes. No public comment was offered; the Council voted to introduce the bond ordinance and scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 22, 2021.
The minutes show the Council paused final action on administrative fees to address nonprofit exemptions and will consider revised language prior to reintroduction.
