BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – A contract that would have continued to provide airport security at the Ogdensburg Airport was not renewed Monday.

The contract would have allowed Ogdensburg City Police to continue providing security there, but some councilors had concerns over payments from the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, which had been consistently late over the past year.

Acting City Manager Andrea Smith told council that the OBPA had a zero balance as of Monday after making a payment, which was reportedly for three months of service.

Councilor Nichole Kennedy asked if an amendment could be made to the contract that would include language that the bill must be paid within 30 days.

The amendment was supported by councilors Dan Skamperle and Michael Powers, but Councilors Steve Fisher, Bill Dillabough and Mayor Jeffrey Skelly voted it down. Deputy Mayor John Rishe abstained, likely due to the fact that he is an OBPA employee.

Skelly said the airport is important to the city and that the OBPA is a good partner.

The resolution was then put forward without the amendment, with councilors Skamperle, Kennedy and Powers voting no and Skelly, Dillagbough and Fisher voting yes. Rishe abstained.

Mayor Skelly accused the councilors of wanting to close the airport and criticized their decision to vote against the measure.

Councilor Powers said he’d support the amended resolution if the mayor wanted to recall the vote.

However, the issue was not revisited. The current contract is set to expire on May 31.

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