Michael Tooley

BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Following an announcement that Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County and Sullivan Correctional Facility in Sullivan County would be shuttered, city council expressed gratitude to state officials.

According to legislation, both prisons are to be closed in the next three months.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has been given the power to close as many as five prisons, but at this time there is no indication additional prisons will be closed this year.

In recent years Ogdensburg Correctional Facility was shuttered and remains vacant and off the tax rolls with no indication with a reuse plan on the horizon.

Though the state has continued to keep the heat on in hopes of maintaining the structural integrity of the facility.

In St. Lawrence County, state and municipal governments remain the area's number one employer.

On Monday Mayor Michael Tooley read the following statement to offer his appreciation to the state in recognizing the quality of St. Lawrence County's remaining prisons.

"Ogdensburg City Council thanks Gov. Kathy Hochul and Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Daniel F. Martuscello and their respective administrations for recognizing the excellent work by administrators, security and civilian staff at Riverview Correctional Facility in its implementation of the DOCCS mission statement.

That being to provide sound rehabilitation for incarcerated individuals to the many in education and vocational programs with a high degree of professionalism, integrity and efficiency.

Ogdensburg city council also expresses its appreciation for the continuing support of North Country Prisons and in particular Riverview Correctional Facility by New York State Sen. Mark Walczyk and New York State Assemblyman Scott Gray.

“Councilor (Michael) Powers, Councilor (Dan) Skamperle, City Manager Fonda Chronis and I will continue to serve on the St. Lawrence County Prison Task Force as it continues its efforts to develop ideas for protecting and advocating for Gouverneur Correctional Facility and Riverview Correctional Facility."

St. Lawrence County Prison Task Force Chairman and County Legislator James E. Reagen offered similar words in a recent statement.

"As the chairman of St. Lawrence County’s Prison Task Force, I want to commend the outstanding staff and administrators at Riverview Correctional Facility and Gouverneur Correctional Facility for their dedication and hard work. It’s their tremendous efforts day in and day out to make our prisons two of the best operated facilities in the state," he said.

He also offered appreciation to his fellow Taskforce members.

"I want to thank our county-wide task force which has worked very hard behind the scenes to make Albany and our state officials aware of the terrific job our security staff, educational staff, maintenance and administrative staff do each and every day to care for and make a difference in the lives of those they have been entrusted to safeguard under difficult and often very dangerous conditions," he said.

Reagen also offered appreciation to Governor Hochul.

"Our prisons offer outstanding programs that have proven track records in helping to rehabilitate incarcerated individuals and help them get ready for life outside the walls. I want to thank the governor and administration of the Department of Corrections for recognizing the outstanding work that our state employees are performing each and every day."