BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – A May meeting between the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority and the city could determine the fate of the Ogdensburg beach.

City Manager Stephen Jellie said he and Deputy Mayor John Rishe met with OBPA officials last week where both sides aired some concerns and had some “hearty” discussions.

Jellie says at a follow up on the discussion he plans to make a presentation to the OBPA Board of Directors at their upcoming meeting.

The council is hoping to get the beach up and running by July, but a lease agreement between the port and the city will be needed before the city can move forward, according to Jellie.

Some members of the public asked if there might be concerns from the Department of Environmental Conservation, but Jellie said that because it was used as a beach in the past, he believes any hurdles in that area can likely be managed.

He said he has not reached out to the DEC yet, because the city first needs to secure access and a lease agreement.

While Jellie said estimating an operating cost for the beach was difficult at this time, he believed it would cost no more than $50,000. He expected the city would need at least three lifeguards.

Councilor Nichole Kennedy said she had heard lifeguards were in short supply at this time as many were unable to get their certifications renewed due to the pandemic.

Reopening the city beach is included in the city’s draft community development plan and at a recent meeting Deputy Mayor John Rishe said he'd like to see it happen this summer. That city took action to support his call in March by setting a goal to open the beach in July by resolution.

The plan has support from Sen. Patty Ritchie who sent a letter to the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority asking for cooperation with the city in reopening the beach.