Thursday, April 25, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – With a projection to lose $500,000 in excess sales property tax revenues as a result of the pandemic, city council will consider cutting fire, …
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BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week
OGDENSBURG – With a projection to lose $500,000 in excess sales property tax revenues as a result of the pandemic, city council will consider cutting fire, police and administrative positions.
The proposal will be addressed Thursday at 6 p.m. at a special meeting held online.
The proposed cuts include four layoffs in the police department, four layoffs in the fire department, two administrative positions in the recreation department and a layoff of one housing inspector and the city assessor.
The proposal also calls for the recreation department to be absorbed by the public works department and a 40 percent reduction in police department overtime.
Additionally the proposal would leave the city manager position vacant for the remainder of 2020 and implements cuts to engineering consultants, city hall maintenance, central services contractual expenses, pumper truck payments, recreational capital construction, parks equipment and capital construction, fishing derby, landfill closure, no summer recreation camp and pool closure.
Finally the proposal would extend the hiring freeze through the end of the year.
The proposal has gained tremendous backlash on social media with many Ogdensburg residents offering support for the police and fire departments.
However, many have also praised the mayor for the proposal to make extreme cuts.
To view or listen to the meeting go to https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/439044429 or call 1-872-240-3212 and enter access code #439-044-429
Some concerns have been raised that the meeting may not allow for public comment. However, the mayor says the public will be given a chance to speak at the meeting.
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