Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 5:02 pm
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.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 - 6:07 pm
BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week
OGDENSBURG – Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly says the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is failing in its goal to be a catalyst for economic development in the city and region.
In a scathing letter issued to local media outlets Skelly criticized OBPA Board of Directors Chairman Vernon ‘Sam’ Burns.
Attempts to compact Burns and OBPA Executive Director Steve Lawrence for comments on this story were unsuccessful.
In his letter Skelly said the current majority city council has been working to strengthen the Ogdensburg economy, but says the OBPA is hindering their endeavor.
Friday, April 23, 2021 - 7:18 am
To the Editor:
At a recent Board of Directors meeting the President’s proposed American Jobs Plan was discussed by members and staff regarding how it would relate to the operations of the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority.
As the general public is aware, a recent study by bridge engineers gave an estimate that it could take up to $130 million to bring the Ogdensburg International Bridge back to a condition that would ensure it lasts another 60 years. Every year the OBPA hires an Engineering firm to inspect the bridge and every other year there is an underwater inspection. Currently, there are no concerns regarding safe use of the bridge. In fact, it is the desire of the Authority and State of New York to ensure bridge safety is priority one! As a result, thanks to Gov. Cuomo and New York State DOT staff, the Authority has received millions of dollars to upgrade a large section of the bridge last year and this year.
OGDENSBURG â Just moments after unanimously and enthusiastically passing a resolution naming Steven P. Lawrence the new executive director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, the authority Board of Directors reluctantly passed a resolution to pay out vacation time to Wade A. Davis, the former executive director of the agency.
Mr. Davis resigned in January 2020. His last day of work was one day after his hiring anniversary date.
When Mr. Davis was hired on Jan. 16, 2006, management confidential employees were fully vested in vacation time on their anniversary dates. When Mr. Davis resigned, one day into his 15th year with the authority, he was owed seven weeks of vacation time, expect for 4½ hours he took on his last day. The resolution passed Thursday called for paying Mr. Davis for 275 hours at his rate of $63 per hour, or $17,378.
OGDENSBURG â Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Interim Executive Director Steven P. Lawrence will have to wait another month before he can drop the âinterimâ from his title.
Naming Mr. Lawrence the permanent executive director of the authority was the last item on the boardâs agenda Thursday afternoon, but Chairman Vernon âSamâ Burns added a twist.
âBecause I should have moved faster regarding moving information to Albany â so that they understand what weâre thinking â I ask someone to table this until next month,â Mr. Burns said of the resolution calling for Mr. Lawrenceâs promotion.
Mr. Lawrence became interim executive director after the departure of previous executive director, Wade A. Davis, in January of last year. Mr. Davis left Ogdensburg to be director of airports in Shreveport, La. Mr. Lawrence had been the director of operations for the authority.