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Ogdensburg Democrats urge state reps to help save senior nutrition program

Posted 8/4/15

OGDENSBURG – Three Ogdensburg Democrats are urging state representatives help save St. Lawrence County’s senior nutritional program that the county is eyeing for cuts. St. Lawrence County …

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Ogdensburg Democrats urge state reps to help save senior nutrition program

Posted

OGDENSBURG – Three Ogdensburg Democrats are urging state representatives help save St. Lawrence County’s senior nutritional program that the county is eyeing for cuts.

St. Lawrence County legislators are considering eliminating two nutritional sites that provide meals to seniors, one in Ogdensburg and one in Edwards.

The county is also considering cutting home delivered meals from five days per week to four days per week and offering a frozen meal instead on the fifth day.

The county operates nutrition sites in Ogdensburg, Massena, Canton, Potsdam, Morristown, DeKalb, Star Lake, Edwards, and Brasher through the Office For the Aging.

With sales tax revenues below projections and health care costs rising, the county is looking at cutting costs.

Legislators say the cuts could save the county more than $100,000 annually.

Mayoral candidate Vernon ‘Sam’ Burns, Ogdensburg City Councilor Jennifer Stevenson and city council candidate Tim Davis recently visited the Ogdensburg Nutritional Site at Centennial Towers.

“Jen Stevenson, Tim Davis and I went to the Ogdensburg Nutrition site at Centennial Towers to witness the procedures followed at the site as well as a desire to hear from those who receive services what effect the proposed cutbacks will mean to them,” Burns said.

“Needless to say, the discussion was lively and emotional. As a result, the three of us feel that while we understand that the county is looking to cut, to start with services for seniors that have few options is not the best choice.”

“Therefore, we ask for Gov. Cuomo; Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, and Assemblywoman Addie Russell D-Theresa, to help the county and the City of Ogdensburg in providing whatever grant or aid that might be available to offset the cost of this program to St. Lawrence County,” Burns said.

“We stand ready to help in any capacity any of us are able to do and we’re sure the entire City Council feels as strongly about this loss of services to city residents as we are. This program is too important and vital to our seniors to stand by and do nothing.”