Ogdensburg council hires DPW laborer, backs Complete Streets policy and applies for NJDOT storm‑drain grant

Mayor George P. Hutnick called the Borough of Ogdensburg meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Sept. 23 and led the Pledge of Allegiance. The council approved a consent agenda that bundled minutes, appointments and routine municipal resolutions.

The council appointed Joseph Silerto to a full‑time Department of Public Works Laborer 1 position at $18.00 per hour, effective Sept. 16, 2019, under Resolution 74‑2019. The consent agenda also authorized a non‑fair‑and‑open contract for municipal public defender services with Vanessa Henderson, Esq., at $150 per case for the remainder of 2019 (Res. 75‑2019), and approved a discharge of mortgage for a $9,500 Housing Rehabilitation Program loan on 15 Jefferson Terrace after the 10‑year forgiveness period and occupancy conditions were met (Res. 76‑2019).

The council approved Resolution 77‑2019 to submit and execute a grant application with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for a storm‑drain repair project and adopted Resolution 78‑2019 expressing support for the state’s Complete Streets policy, signaling a commitment to consider multimodal access in borough transportation projects. The body also renewed a one‑year maintenance agreement with Gramco Business Communications for the borough’s sound and recording system for an amount not to exceed $1,045 (Res. 79‑2019).

Councilman Opilla moved to approve the consent agenda and Councilman Nardini seconded. The minutes record the vote as passing with the roll call line reading: “Yeas: Nardini, Nasisi (abstain #1), O’Dell, Opilla (abstain #1), Slater; Nays: None; Absent: Alvarez.” The minutes later list “Abstain None,” creating ambiguity about whether Nasisi and Opilla were recorded as abstaining from a specific numbered item; the council approved the consent agenda as entered in the minutes.

On old business, Councilman Nasisi said he would follow up with the engineer about the Borough Hall roof and is awaiting a third quote for replacing the steam boiler at a historic building. Councilman Opilla praised the Department of Public Works for recent repair work at the Bettino Drive cul‑de‑sac, saying the DPW “did a fantastic job.”

Councilman Michael Nardini described a chart he is developing to track water and DPW duties, project targets and vendor quotes for purchases over $2,500. Mayor Hutnick turned responsibility for the fall newsletter to the borough’s newsletter coordinator; Robin Hough, Borough Clerk, explained planned content.

Councilman Opilla said the borough’s standardized state health insurance plan is up for renewal and that October is open enrollment; the council indicated no immediate changes were planned. Mayor Hutnick said he will assign Councilman Alvarez to take on police contract matters (Councilwoman Slater currently handles those responsibilities). He also reported on a recent meeting with the first aid squad about staffing and state certification, and the council discussed volunteer recruitment and options such as shared services and a LOSAP incentive program.

During public session no members of the public stepped forward. The council approved payment of vouchers and departmental finance reports; the minutes list itemized checks, including a $208,562.83 payment to the Ogdensburg Board of Education and a $102,172.00 payment to Wallkill Valley Regional High School. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

What happens next: Grant applications and procurement steps will proceed per the approved resolutions; the minutes show follow‑up tasks on the Borough Hall roof, the historical building boiler, DPW tracking and police contract assignment.