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Ogdensburg council approves software contract, employee COVID‑leave carryover and reappoints municipal clerk; adopts staff COVID policy
Summary
At its Dec. 14, 2020 meeting held remotely, the Ogdensburg Borough Council approved a consent agenda including a one‑year software contract ($7,159), a temporary vacation carryover for 2020, the reappointment of municipal clerk Robin Hough and amended a mortgage subordination; it also adopted a written COVID‑19 staff policy and moved into executive session on pending litigation.
The Ogdensburg Borough Council on Dec. 14 approved a package of administrative measures and policies intended to keep municipal operations running through the COVID‑19 emergency.
In a unanimous roll call, council members approved a consent agenda that included Resolution 90‑2020, authorizing a one‑year contract with Municipal Software, Inc. for accounting, tax and utility billing and licensing software at a cost not to exceed $7,159.00; Resolution 91‑2020, temporarily waiving the Borough’s vacation cap so employees may carry over unused 2020 vacation into 2021 because of COVID‑19; and Resolution 92‑2020, reappointing Robin Hough as Municipal Clerk for a three‑year term beginning Jan. 1, 2021.
The council also approved Resolution 95‑2020 to amend earlier approval for subordinating a Borough home‑improvement loan (principal $13,710) to allow a refinance mortgage from Watermark Home Loans so long as the refinance does not exceed $167,000. The consent agenda included several other routine items: a 2021 holiday schedule (Resolution 89‑2020), a tax overpayment refund to Barbara Stanton (Resolution 93‑2020, $306.92), a transfer of appropriations in the 2020 budget totaling $4,975 (Resolution 94‑2020) and approvals for temporary COVID‑era ABC permit expansions.
Mayor George P. Hutnick opened the meeting and read the required public‑meeting notice consistent with the Open Public Meetings Act and the state guidance for remote meetings. Borough Attorney Robert McBriar recommended adopting a formal COVID‑19 personnel policy to give staff clear procedures aligned with CDC guidance. McBriar said the policy could be amended as federal, state or local health guidance changes.
Councilwoman Slater moved to adopt the COVID‑19 policy; Councilman Nardini seconded. The motion passed with Yeas from Alvarez, Cruz, Nardini and Slater; Councilman Nasisi recorded an abstention. Mayor Hutnick said the policy will be distributed to all staff to avoid misunderstandings.
During the public comment period, Jackie Espinoza, representing JCP&L and the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership, presented a certificate recognizing Mayor Hutnick for his work during the COVID‑19 emergency and praised the Borough’s efforts, saying she would deliver the certificate to Borough Hall. “Thank you for all that you have done to keep Ogdensburg going; we certainly appreciate that,” Espinoza said.
The council entered executive session at 7:24 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and attorney‑client privileged matters; officials said the session could last about 15–20 minutes. They returned at 7:50 p.m., then approved payment of vouchers and finance reports by roll call. The current‑fund payments listed in the minutes totaled $121,126.57 before a noted $505 printing error (net $120,621.57); a large item in the vendor list was a $96,663.92 payment to Wallkill Valley Regional High School.
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. The Council recorded no votes against the consent measures and no ordinances were introduced for first or second reading during this session.
