By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council is considering rescinding recent resolution that charges non-profits like Alcoholics Anonymous for use of the Dobisky Center.

A letter from Ogdensburg’s Alcoholics Anonymous groups requested the city grandfather the volunteer organization in the law so that it could continue to provide meetings at the Dobisky Center.

The letter prompted some councilors to reconsider a recent resolution that required non-profits to be charged for use of the visitors center. Prior to that, volunteer organizations and Ogdensburg non-profits were not charged for rentals.

The rate hike passed Sept. 11 raised the fees to $15 per hour for the small room, $20 per hour for the large room and $30 per hour for both rooms for private rentals. Costs for non-profits and service groups rose from no charge to $7.50, $10 and $15 respectively.

The rate hike passed by council was against recommendations from the recreation commission.

Deputy Mayor Michael Morley said he the council should reconsider the resolution. He said organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous do a lot of good, and alcohol and drug abuse in the city is a major problem.

Councilor David Price suggested the council compile a list of non-profits and determine if some exemptions should be allowed, but City Manager Sarah Purdy advised against that as the subjective decisions could lead to problems.

Councilor Daniel Skamperle said the non-profits should be charged. He said the price is reasonable and city taxpayers are already footing the bill for too many services from which non-profits benefit, but do not contribute.

Purdy told the council that no extra revenues from the new rates was included in the budget because recreation officials believed the groups would likely find an alternative venue in the wake of the rate hike.

Morley said that if the city isn’t making or losing money by allowing the organizations to use the facility at no-charge, then council should take another look at the rate hikes.

Councilor Jennifer Stevenson asked Purdy if the recreation commission could put together a list of non-profits that use the facility in order to determine the number of groups that rent the space.