Independent Investigation Considered

The city council took steps Monday to open an independent investigation into Ogdensburg's troubled housing programs.

"It makes sense to have someone come in and look at the whole program," Mayor William D. Nelson said.

Problems with Ogdensburg's housing programs came to light when the council discovered a family had lived in city-owned property at 819 Knox St. without paying rent or taxes for three years.

"I think we ought to have an independent investigation," said Deputy Mayor Michael D. Morley. "It has been two months and we're no closer to dealing with it."

Mr. Morley was venting his frustration over the ongoing investigation into the sale of the Knox Street home and one other, 2 Grove St. Both were renovated using the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

City Attorney Andrew W. Silver, who had been conducting the investigation, initially promised the council that his report on the problem would be ready for the council's review on Friday. In a Friday email, he notified councilors that his report would not be complete until some time this week.

Initially, Councilor Nicholas J. Vaugh objected to the third-party investigation.

"First, let's educate ourselves and get the facts from the city attorney's report," Mr. Vaugh said.

However, Mr. Vaugh supported a resolution to allow Mr. Nelson to call the offices of the New York State Comptroller and the Attorney General to explore options for an outside investigation of the housing program.

"This will be a different, more thorough analysis," said Mr. Nelson.

In addition to the problems with the neighborhood stabilization program, the city has also had issues with the handling of New York State Main Street grant funds and in developing and following policies to sell properties it owns.

The council decided to act on the independent investigation at the end of a well-attended, sometimes boisterous meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, city residents addressed the council to voice displeasure with the city's handling of the Knox Street situation.

"I can't believe what a cluster of mistakes and mismanagement have occurred," said Lois D. Bruyere. "How can the city manager continue to make such poor decisions?"

Ms. Bruyere also took issue with the use of more than $105,000 in grant funds to renovate the home at 2 Grove St.

"How could so much grant money be spent on one property?" she asked. "I hope no taxpayers who applied for grants were turned away because there were insufficient funds."

Another resident, John Oakes, complained a large quantity of money in the city's housing program was dedicated to property owned by the city.

"People who own property should get that money," said Mr. Oakes. "When you take money and put it into a home that you've repossessed, it is gone. There's no way you're going to get that money back."

Though the council is considering requesting an independent investigation, the body seems poised to act on the city attorney's report when it receives the report later this week.

"I think we might end up getting the report tomorrow," said Mr. Nelson. "I will call a special council meeting two days after receiving the report so we can meet and decide where we go from there."

The council was supposed to consider a lease for the 819 Knox St. property at the meeting, but due to the vacancy caused by the resignation of Douglas G. Sholette and the absence of Councilor Michael B. Powers, they chose not to take up the matter. Ogdensburg's charter requires a 3/4 vote of all the members on the council to approve the lease or sale of property.