BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg has resurfaced the pavement at the temporary skate park location, made repairs to damaged equipment and will discuss three possible permanent locations on Aug. 9.

The skate park was recently moved from the Greenbelt to the parking lot of the Lockwood arena. In its place, the tennis courts were resurfaced and one of the courts was repainted for pickleball use.

During the move some of the equipment at the park was damaged.

The uncertainty raised concerns regarding of the future of the park and the conditions of the equipment and pavement in the new location.

Since the move, the city has resurfaced the pavement at the new location and repaired the damaged equipment, according to City Manager Stephen Jellie.

Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly says he and others including councilor Steven Fisher and at least two local businesses plan to donate money to provide additional equipment for the park. Skelly is hopeful the city can decide on a permanent location in the near future.

“The park was in a spot that was notorious for troubles between the different users of the park, the new location allows everyone do their own thing,” he said.

He said moving the skate park out of Greenbelt and adding a pickleball court provides more recreational opportunities for city residents. He says he’d like to see the former cheese plant be torn down and establish that area as a recreational area.

“I’d like to see an outdoor rink there and a building for indoor sports in the winter, but for now we’re going to keep the skate park where it is,” he said.

The mayor said that while there have been complaints from some regarding the costs that could be associated with the changes to the Greenbelt and moving of the park, he isn’t dismantled.

“A hater finds fault. A hater never has a solution,” he said.

Councilor raises concerns

While the news is welcomed from some members of the public who expressed concerns about the future of the park to North Country This Week, the plans for the park have not escaped controversy between city officials.

The moving of the park and decision to resurface and convert a tennis court into a pickleball court has prompted concerns from City Councilor Dan Skamperle.

In an email issued to the city manager and fellow councilor members, Skamperle expressed his displeasure with the process and called for immediate remedies at the park.

“Since receiving this information on the unilateral decision to resurface the tennis courts, I’ve received several complaints about the surface at the current location of a skateboard park, specially that it is not safe or conducive for “good” skateboarding,” his email said.

“Also it appears that some of the equipment was damaged during the move. The decision to replace the skateboard park apparently with pickleball courts was a unilateral decision made by yourself with no discussion by council on the matter. Nor do I see it specifically itemized in the 2021 budget. Who authorized this decision and when?” Skamperle asked.

“Furthermore I feel this unilateral decision completely disregards and belittles the sentiments and importance of the youth in our community. The city’s youth are an important part of the social fabric of this community and to simply treat them as second class citizens, as this decision clearly does, is simply wrong, all the while showing ZERO respect for the democratic principles of our government and charter.”

Skamperle said that while he is pleased to hear the problems being addressed he has major concerns about how the process was handled and the fact that the minority council was left in the dark in regard to the work that was done.

He says the majority council continuously keeps the minority members in the dark and leaves them out of the decision making progress.

Skamperle accused the majority of handling the city’s business like a “dictatorship.” He says that he has repeatedly requested weekly updates from the city manager regarding operations and has continuously been disappointed by the lack of communication from the city manager.

He also accused the majority members of council of meeting privately to discuss city business and make decisions outside of the city council chambers. He pointed out that a quorum of council is barred from holding such meetings.

Jellie fires back

The email prompted a reply from the city manager, who said the decisions regarding the skate park move, resurfacing of equipment and repainting of the tennis court were well within his decision-making duties as city manager.

“The "temporary skate park" props have been rehabilitated to much improved condition than they were at the tennis courts. The surface of the parking lot at the Dobisky Center where the "temporary skate park" is located was completely re-surfaced and sealed yesterday. The entire operation is in much better shape than it was at the tennis courts. If you have not stopped by there since all the above was completed, please do, and let me know your feedback. Hopefully you had been at the skate park at the tennis courts to know the actual poor conditions that existed there. The City Department of Public Works continues to make progress beyond all expectations,” he said.

Jellie said City Planner Andrea Smith will provide a list of three locations for the new permanent skate park for City Council to consider at the meeting on Aug. 9.

“The process city council uses to select the next permanent site will be up to city council. I certainly recommend public input prior to making a final decision. In parallel effort, city staff will begin efforts to establish the new skate park concept and props, which will also be open to public comments prior to final council decision. We hope to have all this completed so we can consider the funding in the 2022 budget,” he said.

Jellie went on to accuse Skamperle of using the skate park for political reasons.

“Majority Council was well aware of my actions, because they ask questions and interact with me (daily, weekly, monthly). Minority Council does not. You should give that mechanism of communication a try, as you did with the fire department, and you will always get the information you seek and need to effectively communicate to your constituents. Starting a movement against "the city" on behalf of the youth is ridiculous when you are a member of the city leadership council,” Jellie wrote.

“Your lack of knowing what goes on in the city has nothing do with my "unilateral" decisions and everything to do with your lack of participation in every topic from sales tax, property tax, law enforcement, fire protection, library, wwtp, etc. I will let you defend to the community why the only effort you make is during city councils meetings when everyone of your supporters are listening. Please don't attempt to drag me into your politics, I won't tolerate it. I always provide facts to support each and every decision I make,” he said in the email.