Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Property topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ogdensburg council discusses Willis Ave. auction, asks engineer to explain $25,000 estimate
Summary
Council members debated next steps for the Willis Avenue/ambulance squad property — auction, RFP or redevelopment designation — and asked Van Cleef Engineering to explain a roughly $25,000 cost estimate while counsel and the CFO clarified legal and process distinctions.
Ogdensburg council members spent a substantial portion of their Jan. 12 meeting debating options for a parcel on Willis Avenue (the ambulance squad property) and an adjacent lot that the borough may seek to acquire or otherwise redevelop.
Councilman DeMeo said he wants clarity on whether recent State overlay and planning work answered questions about redevelopment, and pressed for the borough’s engineer to explain a $25,000 cost estimate tied to studies and designation work. "I would like someone from Van Cleff to come and address how they came up with those costs," DeMeo said during discussion of next steps.
CFO Mike Marceau clarified that a State strategic plan referenced in earlier discussions was not the same as the more formal redevelopment/designation work DeMeo described. Borough Attorney Joseph Maddaloni explained the difference between acquiring property at auction — where the buyer may develop under existing zoning — and pursuing an RFP or formal 'area in need of redevelopment' designation, which requires special votes and additional costs. He also noted physical site constraints the borough must consider, including an on-site well and an easement.
Council members discussed reported daily fines and summonses related to a neighboring property and how their condition could affect the lot’s character should the borough acquire it. Councilman Ciasullo suggested scheduling a meeting with the engineer to get details and move the process forward.
Council members did not adopt any resolution or motion at the meeting but agreed to request further explanation from the engineering firm and to determine next procedural steps before pursuing auction or redevelopment options.
