Council Votes 4-3 To Give $ For Highway
The Northern Corridor Transportation Group narrowly received backing from the Ogdensburg City Council and a donation of $5,000 to help fund a marketing campaign.
The group is ultimately seeking the construction of a four-lane, limited Interstate highway through St. Lawrence, Franklin, Lewis, Jefferson and Clinton counties with spurs to Massena, Ogdensburg and Lowville, as well as Plattsburgh.
For now, fundraising with a goal of $150,000 to finance a marketing campaign has begun and the city council will provide $5,000 to the effort with a vote of 4-3 Monday night.
Voting in favor of the appropriation were Michael D. Morley, Douglas Sholette, Daniel E. Skamperle and R. Storm Cilley, with Mayor William D. Nelson, Michael B. Powers and Nicholas J. Vaugh voting against.
Jason A. Clark, Northern Corridor Transportation Group chairman and director of the Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena, told city councilors Monday night that construction of the four-lane highway would spur an estimated 27,000 new jobs.
"This is something that can transform the employment picture in St. Lawrence County," said Mr. Clark.
He said that they have received commitments from the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC), county Industrial Development Agency (IDA), St. Lawrence-Lewis Central Trades Council, and the towns of Brasher and Potsdam. The funds would be taken care of by the county IDA.
City councilor Michael B. Powers said that he would have liked to have seen commitments from the counties involved before it was presented to the council. In fact, the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators has not even pledged financial support to date.
"I'm all for it, don't get me wrong," said Mr. Powers, adding, "until I see it, I won't support it" of pledges from the counties.
"Get there and then come to us," he told Mr. Clark.
Mr. Vaugh was concerned with a memo from City Attorney Andrew Silver on the matter, who stated that "I am not comfortable with the proposed donation to the Northern Corridor Transportation Group via the IDA."
Mr. Silver's stated, "The NYS constitution prohibits municipalities from giving money in aid of any private organization. However, it does not prohibit gifts to public corporations for public purposes. While the IDA is a public benefit corporation, the IDA's role is apparently to maintain an account out of which the Northern Corridor Transportation Group will be paid to advance its marketing and presumably lobbying activities.
"While, proponents of the highway could argue that the donation is for the benefit of the public, highway detractors could also argue that the purpose is clearly to advance the efforts of a private entity. I advise that before any donation is made that a written advisory opinion be first obtained from the New York State Comptroller's Office as to the propriety of such a donation," he concluded.
Mr. Vaugh wanted to table the resolution until they heard clarification from Mr. Silver, but he did not receive a second to his motion.
"I think it's a worthy cause," said Mr. Vaugh, "However, we have to do it by the law."
Mr. Morley didn't agree with Mr. Silver and said that the city has to start the process to help bring the highway to the region.
"I think the attorney is wrong in his opinion," said Mr. Morley. "We've got to give some money to get a benefit."
The mayor opposed the resolution for several reasons, one of them being the legal opinion of the attorney and the other being the city is unable to afford it due to a difficult 2010 budget process that saw cuts to city staff and dramatic decreases in funding to city departments and outside groups.
"I can't support this funding at this time," Mr. Nelson said.
Mr. Sholette said that the four-lane highway needs to go forward and that he thought the city should step forward and be a "leader."
"Ogdensburg should be a leader in this," he said.
"This is the next step to market the highway to show federal, state and other local officials we need this highway," said Mr. Sholette.
Mr. Skamperle agreed, saying that he wanted to do all he could to provide the best he could for his children in the future. "I don't want my kids to struggle like I did," he said, "I think it's our future, I think it's our kids future."
