By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Two Ogdensburg councilors say the city could benefit from a contract that would bring the Development Authority into the operations at the wastewater treatment plant following tours in at facilities in Clayton and Carthage.

Both municipalities currently have contracts with DANC to help run operations at their plants. The tour was scheduled after employees at the WWTP expressed concerns about potential job loss and managerial changes that could occur if the city entered into a similar agreement.

Councilors Jennifer Stevenson and Timothy Davis toured the plants last week along with City Manager Sarah Purdy, DPW Director Scott Thornhill and employees at the city’s WWTP and DPW.

Stevenson said the tour was an opportunity for the city to preview potential changes that could occur at the city’s plant if an agreement is approved by council.

Both Stevenson and Davis said they felt good about the experience both at the tour and in talking to city employees after the meeting.

While both Stevenson and Davis spoke well of the tour, none of the employees spoke at the Monday council meeting.

DPW Union representative Shane Brown and WWTP Operator of Record Timothy Adams would not comment on the tour.

Although he did not attend the tour WWTP operator Darin King said he did not oppose a contract with DANC, if the city could guarantee it would not result in a reduction of jobs at the plant.

“If they keep the jobs, like they say they are going to I am good with it,” he said.

King said he would like to see something in writing from the city guaranteeing that jobs would not be cut in a contract with DANC.

Under the current proposal the city would hire an operator, known as the operator of record. Tim Adams, who agreed to stay on despite his recent retirement, currently holds that position.

Thornhill says it is mandatory that the position be filled by a city employee.

Under the proposed plan, DANC would provide a licensed, degree-holding employee to oversee operations at the wastewater treatment facility. This operator, would coincidently be a 4a operator, but would not be the operator of record.

The city has a total of eight positions in the budget, but only five people are currently working at the plant.

According to the plan, city would use the money set aside for two of the unfilled positions to pay for the DANC contract, which would give the city a second 4a operator who would oversee operations and help implement needed upgrades at the plant.

The city would maintain the five positions that it has and may fill the remaining vacant position.

Councilor Stevenson said the benefits of bringing in DANC stem beyond the additional employee. She says it would streamline communication between the city and DANC and open up an opportunity to seek grants and plan for future expenses that could offset costs for the city down the road.

This comes as the city is faced with a mandatory $5.3 million upgrade at the facility and an additional $5.2 million in long-term upgrades.

City Manager Sarah Purdy said DANC could likely help the city find financing for those long-term improvements.

Ogdensburg’s wastewater facility has the capacity to process 6.5 million gallons of water per day and currently only processes about 3.2 million gallons. The facility saw major reductions in processing when the cheese plant closed several years back.