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Ogdensburg council rejects sale ordinance for First Aid Squad building; opts for November referendum
Summary
After heated public comment, the council voted down Ordinance 07-2025 to sell the former First Aid Squad building and related lots, then approved placing a binding referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot asking whether those properties should be sold by public auction.
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ogdensburg voted on July 28 to reject Ordinance 07-2025, which would have authorized sale of several borough parcels including the former Ogdensburg First Aid Squad building (Block 26.06 Lots 6, 8 and 9). The roll call in the minutes lists Yeas: Ciasullo, Lame and Ruitenberg; Nays: Cowdrick, DeMeo, Gandarinho and Mayor George P. Hutnick. The minutes state the ordinance did not pass and that Mayor Hutnick broke the tie vote.
Public commenters urged the council not to sell the building, describing its community use and history. Chief George Lott (Lt. Robert A. Madden VFW) told the council the VFW and other local groups used the hall for meetings, fundraisers and ceremonies and asked that the borough "keep it for the use of the organizations in the town and keep it for the use of the residents for the future." Residents raised questions about whether grants had been pursued, whether environmental or building inspections had been completed, and whether the property lies in a flood zone. John Fierro, who identified himself as president of the Sussex County Board of Taxation, presented an estimate that if the First Aid Squad property were taxable it would generate roughly $11,784 in annual property tax revenue and an adjacent vacant lot about $3,215, for a combined roughly $15,000 per year; he also said a sale could generate "a couple of hundred thousand dollars" for borough needs.
Rather than proceed with an immediate auction, the council moved to place a ballot question on the Nov. 4, 2025 general election asking voters specifically whether the borough should sell Block 26.06 Lots 6, 8 and 9 by public auction. Attorney Joseph Maddaloni and Borough Clerk Robin Hough explained a written resolution with exact ballot language must be submitted to the Sussex County Clerk by Aug. 8; the governing body adopted an oral resolution to be memorialized in writing so the question can appear on the ballot. Clerk Hough confirmed the referendum question will identify the property as "formally known as the Ogdensburg First Aid Squad Building" for clarity.
The record shows competing priorities: residents and veterans' groups emphasizing community uses and historical ties, and council members and other residents noting limited borough funds and competing infrastructure needs. The council did not adopt any action tonight to transfer or auction the property; instead the sale is now subject to the outcome of the November referendum.
