R B Lawrence?

What ever happened with that DWI charge?

Journal:Ogdensburg Job Fair Organized By GOP Senators

OGDENSBURG HOSTS FIRST JOB FAIR EXPO

Senator P. Ritchie and Senator J. Griffo are hosting a Job Fair Expo at Odd Fellows on Route 37. The fair is going to introduce individuals to training opportunities, resume and interview techniques, and potential job opportunities. Many time we look at organizations like Claxton Hepburn Medical Center and think they hire nurses, lab techs, and x-ray technicians and assume we are not qualified. Organization this large have their own Maintenance, MIS, Clerical, Business, Environmental Science, and Lawns and Grounds Departments. This is true of many other employers so it is time to get off the couch and get back into the game. Take this opportunity to check out the job fair.

With over 50 employers and agencies setting up booths unemployed workers can get information on required qualifications and the type of jobs they offer. This is a good idea and something that usually happens in Canton or Potsdam not Ogdensburg.

Senator Patty Ritchie had a similar event in Fulton and over 300 people showed up. With over 10% unemployment rate in St. Lawrence County this should be a success.
 
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Senator Ritchie's Home Page

Journal:Chinese Businessman Invests In Ogdensburg

Good Luck & Good Fortune Mr. Ma

Mr. Ma has decided to invest in the Ogdensburg area. Ivy Ridge and Sholette's Restaurant have been on the market for some time, who thought they would be purchased by the same person. It is also rumored he is looking at a home, rental property, and other river front property. Mr. Ma plans on opening a Chinese Restaurant and possibly a specialty shop. Good luck Mr. Ma!

With elections just around the corner each incumbent will be looking to put a feather in their cap due to Mr. Ma expansion into Ogdensburg and surrounding area. Each will claim they had something to do with the incoming business opportunities. This should be a good election year hopefully the voter will be able to read between the lines.

Mr. Ma was looking at various locations, I believe Ogdensburg was the best bang for his buck.

Journal:Executive Session Reason Disputed

           Executive Session or Not Executive Session
                         That is the Question
This is one of the biggest cover-up in sometime. The councilors have no problem talking about 90% of what went on in executive session to the press. It appears Mayor Nelson executive session was more about policy and little about Mr. Woods personnel record and his wrong doing.

Mr. Skamperle is not sure if it is an investigation or a review of the processes that took place with the Knox Street property. Mr. Cilley does not know what would be gained by going after one person or the another. That sounds like a play out of the Mayor's handbook on how not to micro-manage. Just maybe, we might find out who is or is not doing their job and if the tax payers are getting the right representation.

Mr. Nelson stated the council is seeking legal advice from the City's Attorney. Is that advice on how to proceed or how to follow the City's policies relating to Wood's and Scorria's involvement in the Knox Street property scandal. If this is the case policy and procedure should be discussed in open meetings.

Journal Article

Boston Herald:President Obama’s uncle had Social Security ID

Uncle Obama, Illegal Immigrant Booked for DWI

Only in America! President Obama's uncle has been running around the United States living the American Dream, ILLEGALLY. For the last 20 years Obama Onyango has been able to obtain a social security number, a driver license, and avoid a judge's deportation order issued in 1992.

Obama was living as an illegal immigrant until he was pulled over by Farmingham Police Department and charged with DWI and other driving infractions. Days earlier, 15 minutes away from Farmingham another illegal immigrant was criminally charged for running down a 23 year old man.

With the Presidential Election getting underway and the inability of the President to reform the immigration system, many Americans will not look favorably on Obama's re-election run. Illegal immigrants continue to run under the radar, reaping benefits, and creating an undue burden on the American tax payers. Something needs to be done soon.

Boston Herald Article 
Obama's Police Report Page 1
Obama's Police Report Page 2
Obama's Police Report Page 3

Journal:Mayor Calls Special Council Meeting

Free Pass for Art

Well Mr. Woods has resigned/fired/buy out/who knows, and with a confidentiality clause in his contract what can  he say...I wonder if this applies to the City Council? If so Art will get a Free Pass on this one and Mr. Woods will take the heat on the Knox St. property.

I would think the City Manager and the comptroller would have oversight when spending all or any grant money. There appears to be no checks and balance on who gets the money and how the Department Heads spend it. Apparently paying taxes, with grant money, on a property owned by the City was a misappropriation of funds. Then add the City's renovated, with grant money, to the house for the tenants, what a deal for the tenants.

If the City continues to buy, sell, renovate, and compete with the private sector they should have created a department to handle collecting rent.  I wonder if they inspected the apartment on Knox Street.  If so that is another $90.00 of grant money in their pockets...then again apartment inspections would not apply to them only the private sector.   

Art proclaimed his inability to do his job to the paper and stated he basically had no idea what his department heads are doing or responded to their emails.  What more does the City Council need to put this guy under wraps. I believe when this comes to a head and the City Council goes into executive session we will never know what happened.  With Mr. Woods as the scapegoat, Art should go unscathed.

Journal Article

Journal:Standing RoomCrowd Talks State Tax Cap

County Budget Meeting

Everyone had a voice Monday at the County Courthouse. I have to believe the majority that showed up were personally being effected by the cuts. With a 14 Million dollar deficit many county employees could lose their jobs. The sheriff's department was represented, claiming public safety would be at risk if the road patrol was closed. These are tough decisions and we elected our legislators to make them.

Standing Room Only

Preserving the current services would result in a 9.5% increase in the property tax. How much more can the property owners take and maybe it is time to look at the sales tax again.



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Journal:Ogdensburg Assessor Retires After 39 Years

                                  Kathy Bateman Retires

City Assessor is a tough job and one who never hears thank you for raising my assessments. Kathy Bateman has decided to the retire after 39 years of service to the community. Times are tough in the City and it is a good time to get out...her husband has plans of retiring the end of the year so they will be able to enjoy their time together.

I have been before Kathy about my assessment and if you do your homework and come prepared she has always treated me fair. Good luck Kathy and Steve on your retirement.
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Journal:Woods: Foreclosure Policy Presentation Stopped

The City turmoil continues! This just reinforces the chaos that exists between Mr. Scorria and his department/s head/s. With continual infighting not much of the City's business is getting done.

How deep this goes and what other departments are run without oversight only Art knows. The City Council is left in the dark, fed only half truths and misdirection does not fend well with the voters going into an election.


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Journal:Ivy Ridge Owner Meets Officials

Mr. Ma, Could be the New Owner of Ivy Ridge

Looks like there may be a new owner for Ivy Ridge Academy. Mr. Ma plans to open a school concentrating in ESL (English as a Second Language) for troubled Chinese youths. This is a nice piece of property that has set vacant and hopefully will lead to a good working relationship with the neighbors and the County.

Journal Article 

Vacation

Golfing Three Great Days in Penn. Then back to the blogging.

Journal:Woods Wants Knox Street Probe

City House for RENT (free rent, no taxes, and free renovations)

Art, 600,000 emails you have not read, what else have you missed?  We may never know! With a salary of approximately $120,000 and only 9000 citizens I would think Mr. Scorria should have a better handle on all issues in the City. Mr. Scorria has taken a laissez faire to a new level, it hard for me to believe he has any idea what actually happens in each department. The best part of this article is the idea Mr. Scorria tells everyone he does not or cannot do his job. When you're not reading emails from your department heads something is wrong.

There are a few underlying issues in this article that have not been brought to light.

First why would Mr. Woods publicly promulgate his boss's misfeasance and openly criticize him to the City Council; when it appears Mr. Woods has some culpability in the matter?  Mr. Woods claims fear from retaliation, retaliation of not telling or telling. If he did not tell what retaliation would there be. Something does not smell right.

Secondly, why is the City buying property, renting property, and developing it with tax payers money? This continues to perplex me.

This could be the tip of this conspiracy and could be the start to cleaning out some dead wood in City government.

Journal Article



Salvation Army Taking School Supply Donations
@ Walmart

There is a big Yellow School bus parked at Walmart.  The Salvation Army has established a tent and concession stand to support students in the Ogdensburg School District.  They are looking for individuals to donate school supplies. Donating helps the community and sets a good example for your children.  They let the kids bring the supplies on to the bus. 

While you are there you can get a hotdog and soda for $2.00.

Summer In Ogdensburg

HCS Big Winners

Summer 2011, it has been a great summer with some signature storms to keep the ground moist and the greens in good shape. A great summer just makes it difficult to blog on a regular bases. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and we are taking advantage of the positive things that happen in our area. Pirate's Weekend is underway in A-Bay and the streets are getting crowded.

The fishing is always great on the St. Lawrence, we went out 3 times last week and caught some nice walleye and a load of perch. That just means we will have a great feed this weekend.

I am not sure when Doug Sholette is leaving but he will be a big loss to the City Council and to the City Ogdensburg. Best wishes on his new career and business.

Journal:County Legislators Discuss Budget



Can the County Cut the Budget or Will They Raise Taxes?

The part of the process I missed and I guess all the County Legislators missed was how this snuck up and became a 15 million dollar deficit over night. This was the same legislature that last year approved raises for the last 2 years of the County's employees contract. This will not effect those employees with seniority but the employees with less than 10 year would of passed on this temporary pay raise in lieu of losing their jobs.

St. Hilarie wants to implement cuts to various departments and raise property tax by 15% to offset part of the deficit. As County Administrator, I have to question her lack of ability to foresee such a deficit and/or her negligence to inform the legislature. It may be time to re-evaluate her ability.  Maybe the legislature should cut their pay...we did elect them to represent us and they are failing.

Faced with such a deficit it is easy to come back to the property owners to foot the bill again, while those receiving services are paying little or nothing. Times are tight and the County needs to hold a tight line to balance the budget.

With a democratic controlled legislature we will most likely increase our property tax instead of cutting services. The time is right to take a hard look at the Sheriff Road Patrol, is it necessary with the presents of State and Federal law enforcement?

I guess if I had to choose between a property or sales tax, I would chose the sales tax! The legislature tried to end run Senator Ritchie with a last minute sales tax hike as the Senate Legislative session was ending. The big problem would have been the veto by our beloved Governor Cuomo.

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