By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- City councilors say they cannot take over the Ogdensburg Cinemas, but are seeking a private investor interested in operating the defunct theater.

Owner Gilbert Jones offered to give the theater to the city after he said he lost money operating it for years.

The theater closed in July 2012 after struggling financially.

In February 2014, Jones considered reopening the theater, if he could secure funding for the new digital equipment. He requested a $100,000 loan from the city's Growth Fund, but was only approved for $60,000.

Jones declined the offer, accusing city officials of not supporting his effort to provide the service.

Mayor William Nelson said the city would love to have someone operating the theater, but that the city can’t legally do it.

Nelson said the theater would need to be converted to digital before it could begin showing movies again, which would require some investment.

He said city staff has been actively searching for a buyer interested in running the facility and added that the city’s growth fund would likely be willing to help with funding for an interested entrepreneur.

The discussion was spurred by a letter from Jones asking the city to take over the theater.

“It’s been two months since I made the sincere offer to donate the cinema property to the city. To date I have only had an informal meeting with (John Pinkerton, Patrick Kelly and Jennifer Stevenson),” his letter said. “They requested and received an on-site visit to the cinema. As of this date no further communication has been received as to the city’s position on the transfer of the deed.”

Councilor Wayne Ashley said he and several other councilors also met with Jones and toured the facility.

The council agreed to respond to Jones, saying they would help facilitate a sale, but could not legally operate the theater.