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Resident asks Ogdensburg to decide status of Center Street after four-wheeler damage; borough to consult engineer
Summary
A resident told the Jan. 8 borough meeting that four-wheelers are damaging the dirt portion of Center Street and urged the council to determine whether that stretch is a road; Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro and Chief Gordon recommended an engineer review and noted police authority to close a road if unsafe.
Resident Vicky Schroder addressed the council during the public session on Jan. 8, saying repeated four-wheeler use on the dirt portion of Center Street is damaging the roadway and asking the borough to make a definitive determination about the stretch’s public status.
"It isn’t the resident she has an issue with because he is just doing what his landlord is telling him he can do...it needs to be decided is this a road or is it not a road," Ms. Schroder said.
Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro said preliminary research suggests the borough's legal obligation is to provide property owners with reasonable access to a road but not necessarily the best or multiple accesses. He recommended that the borough's engineer examine the site to clarify legal and technical questions.
Chief Gordon, speaking for the police department, noted the State of New Jersey grants a municipal chief law enforcement officer the authority to close a road if he deems it unsafe and that he would assess sight lines, grades and other safety factors before taking action.
Mayor Rachael Slater said she would contact the borough engineer to obtain a professional assessment; the matter was not placed on the record for a formal vote and no executive session was held.
Why it matters: Determining whether a dirt stretch is an accepted public road affects maintenance responsibilities, liability, and whether the borough can regulate or restrict vehicle use. The council directed follow-up engineering review rather than taking immediate enforcement or legislative action.
Next steps: The mayor will contact the borough engineer and staff to obtain a site assessment; Chief Gordon may take temporary safety action if conditions warrant.
