Ogdensburg council approves fire-apparatus purchase, enters county fire‑marshal shared service and clears lien for homeowner refinance

The Ogdensburg Borough Council on Nov. 9 approved a package of measures affecting local emergency services and one homeowner’s refinance.

Councilwoman Slater moved and Councilman Nardini seconded adoption of Resolution 82-2020 to award a contract to HME, Incorporated for the purchase of a new fire-service apparatus through the Houston‑Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program; the motion passed on a roll-call vote of the members present. Mayor George P. Hutnick presided.

In a related step, the council approved Resolution 85-2020 authorizing a shared-service agreement with Sussex County for the County Fire Marshal to enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the State Fire Safety Code. Mayor Hutnick said the change follows the impending retirement of the borough’s fire marshal, Kevin Kervatt, on Jan. 1; the measure was moved by Councilwoman Slater and seconded by Councilman Nardini and carried on roll call.

Separately, the council adopted an item on the consent agenda (Resolution 84-2020) to subordinate the borough’s Home Improvement Program mortgage lien on property at 72 Passaic Ave. so the owner may refinance. Borough Attorney Robert McBriar said the lien was ‘‘a modest amount of thirteen thousand and change,’’ that the same lender is involved and that his office would waive additional fees to facilitate the refinance.

All formal votes and motions were recorded by roll call. The council also reviewed departmental finance reports and approved payments of vouchers covering multiple funds, including a current‑fund register that listed the Ogdensburg Board of Education payment of $212,734.00 and a line for Wallkill Valley Regional High School for $96,663.92; the payment register showed a current‑fund total of $608,096.00.

The meeting closed after brief public comment and an update on grants and local projects.