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OBPA will provide Ogdensburg council with beach proposal, safety and liability concerns raised

Posted 5/6/21

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority will provide a counter proposal to the city’s plan to reopen the former city beach. Following a candid but …

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OBPA will provide Ogdensburg council with beach proposal, safety and liability concerns raised

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority will provide a counter proposal to the city’s plan to reopen the former city beach.

Following a candid but courteous exchange between city and OBPA officials, OBPA Chairman Vernon ‘Sam’ Burns said the authority would discuss their concerns regarding the lease agreement in executive session.

Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly opened the presentation sharing concerns that the OBPA may be hindering plans by the city for political reasons. Deputy Mayor John Rishe asked the OBPA to help the city move the beach plan forward.

City Manager Stephen Jellie asked the OBPA to continue its partnership with the city. He said that just days into taking the job for the city he was tasked with assisting the OBPA secure a security agreement at the airport.

He said that when the city has been asked to help the OBPA, the city has stepped up and requested that the OBPA do the same.

Chairman Burns noted that when he ran for city council he proposed reopening the city beach and while he remains unopposed to the idea he does have concerns.

He said that in his position as OBPA chair, he has to look out for the liability and safety of the authority and its facilities.

Major concerns regarding the beach raised by Burns were related to parking and insurance liability, but even more so he said safety had to be the top priority.

He said while the lifeguards will look out for safety on the water he wanted some assurances that safety would also be a priority in the surrounding areas including the nearby hill and parking lot.

Jellie assured the OBPA that the city would step up and take responsibility for all aspects of the beach and would be a good partner for the authority.

Burns said he would have a proposal for the city in time for the May 10 city council meeting.