City To Consider Knox Street House Sale

OGDENSBURG - City Council members will discuss the potential sale of the controversial 819 Knox St. property at their meeting Monday.

The house became an issue for debate after it was revealed that a family was allowed to live rent- and tax-free in the home since the city foreclosed on the property for back taxes in 2008. The city spent more than $85,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Neighborhood Stabilization Program to renovate the home while the family was living there. The situation led to a City Council investigation into the matter and the firing of City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra.

A resolution for a public hearing regarding the property sale is on Monday's agenda.

Two members of the City Council are voicing opposition to the sale of 819 Knox St. to the family of Brett A. Burke, its current tenants.

Councilor William D. Hosmer said Friday he is not ready to approve sale of the property without researching the legality of it.

Questions have been raised about whether selling the property without using a lottery system for the sale of city-owned property called for under the City Charter will violate local laws or stipulations within the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

"I have not made decision on where I stand on that yet," Mr. Hosmer said. "I think we need to follow the rules that were put in place, and I think that means we will need to put it up for auction, but we need to look at the legalities to make sure we are doing things right," he said.

Councilor Michael D. Morley said he would oppose sale to the Burke family based on his current understanding of the process. He also took issue with the property's most recent appraisal of $52,000. It is assessed for $86,200.

"I've said in the past that it needs to be reappraised, and I think that is what we need to do. I don't think the appraised value is the true value, and we need to be honest, not only to the purchaser, but to the taxpayers."

The opposition from the two councilmen would be enough to derail the property's sale. Ogdensburg's charter requires that six of the seven sitting council members vote yes to approve the sale or lease of any property.

Mayor William D. Nelson and councilors Jennifer Stevenson, Daniel E. Skamperle, Wayne L. Ashley and R. Storm Cilley could not be reached for comment.