TOWN OF OGDEN 2024 FALL NEWSLETTER
Message from the Supervisor:
As we head into fall, I’m reminded of the tremendous honor and responsibility I’ve had over the past three years as your Town Supervisor From day one, we set into motion a number of ambitious goals and initiatives aimed at directly benefiting the residents of Ogden We’ve made significant progress thus far, and I’d love to share what we’re continuing to work on.
With the approval of our 2024 Comprehensive Plan, Ogden residents had the opportunity to share their thoughts on important issues for our town. We’ve already made strides in updating outdated residential codes and enhancing park amenities, including new paved paths We're also discussing infrastructure studies, new nature trails, and the development of a new park!
Additionally, the town will be replacing the Splash Pad in Pineway Ponds Park This beloved feature of our community was first installed in 2006, but due to unrepairable issues, we have decided to replace it Thanks to careful planning, the entire project will be funded through savings, a generous donation of labor, and a state grant I’ll keep you updated as this project progresses!
This year, the town celebrates our third year of leaf pickup service, the second year of the Mobile DMV returning to town, and the rollout of our online permit processing through Municity, which will be fully operational early in 2025 We’ve also redesigned our town website to enhance navigation and accessibility for residents Our new site will launch in the coming weeks! You may notice our new domain, ogdennygov, which helps identify us as an official government entity We will soon transition to gov email addresses for all town employees as well. These community-focused initiatives were established to prioritize you, the residents of our town.
With some big initiatives on the horizon that I am very excited about, I also want to take a moment to address the challenges we face as we prepare the 2025 budget While the inflation rate has just begun to cool off, the cost of good and services remain high and we are now starting to see the longer term effects of these difficult economic times Like all of you, the town is experiencing significant increases to expenditures across the board but especially in areas such as health care and vehicle insurance
With these challenges in mind, I remain committed to responsible fiscal management of the town It is my top priority to uphold the promise I made that the town-wide reassessment would not impact our budget decisions Increased assessments do not automatically lead to higher taxes, and we are committed to staying below the 2% tax cap while maintaining the same level of service despite rising costs I appreciate the trust you have placed in me to deliver on that promise and encourage you to attend the public hearing on our 2025 Town Budget at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 23rd, to learn more
I invite you to explore the rest of this newsletter to learn more about our initiatives. Stay updated on town news by following my Facebook page @MikeZaleOgdenTownSupervisor, where I share important updates and my new "Ten Minute Tuesday" series on town business. Feel free to reach out with any questions at supervisor@ogdenny.com or call (585) 617-6128.
Mike Zale Town Supervisor
Aaron Baker Councilman
Sal Gerbino Councilman
Josh Hinman Councilman
Steve Toms Councilman
TOWN BOARD
2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7pm; Workshops as needed on alternate Wednesdays at 5pm
PLANNING BOARD
2nd Thursday at 7pm
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
1st Thursday at 7pm
CONSERVATION BOARD
1st Tuesday at 7pm
Ogden’s Magical Holiday Celebration and Christmas Tree Lighting
We are excited to announce Ogden’s Magical Holiday Celebration and Christmas Tree Lighting, taking place on Friday, December 6, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm Gather your family and friends and join us at the Ogden Community Center for a variety of festive activities, including games, food, stories, songs, and a visit from Santa! Our celebration will culminate with the annual Town Tree Lighting at 7:00 pm. This is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season more details to follow!
Noelle Burley, Town Clerk Clerk's Office
Visit the Town Clerk’s Office for hunting and fishing licenses, dog licenses and marriage licenses and passport services by appointment We process both passports and passport cards For more details, visit the Town Clerk tab on www ogdenny gov or check travel state gov for the latest updates on passport processing times, fees, and procedures
Please note that the Department of State has implemented new passport processing guidelines As an Acceptance Agency, we handle both routine and expedited passport applications during regular business hours Appointments can be scheduled by calling our office Passport renewals for eligible applicants can be mailed directly to the National Passport Processing Center We recommend using a
Dan Wolf, Highway Superintendent Highway Department
Brush Pickup:
trackable USPS delivery method for your renewal (Form DS-82) and supporting documents, as UPS, FedEx, or DHL cannot be used due to PO Box requirements
The Clerk’s Office is dedicated to serving residents, town employees, and the community Our Dropbox, located outside the main entrance to Town Hall near the flagpole, offers a touchless payment option when the office is closed Please use checks or money orders only and include a payment stub with each check Deposits are collected at 8:30 AM on business days, and transactions will be processed using the previous day's business date For tax information, visit www monroecounty gov, where you can view and pay taxes online
The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. If you have any questions, please contact us at (585) 6176111.
Western New York Village Superintendents Association Equipment Show Over the past four years, this event has generated $37,000 in additional revenue for our community
October d brush removal istance
Leaf Vac
As leave mence
Please rake your leaves to the edge of the road; our crews will be making rounds throughout the town to collect them.
Equipment Show Success:
For the fourth consecutive year, the Highway Department hosted the
Town Assessor’s Office
Exemption Renewal Applications for 2025: Mailing of Exemption Renewal Applications: Renewal applications for the Low-Income Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities and Limited Incomes, and various other renewable exemptions will be mailed to current exemption recipients by the end of October 2024
You may be eligible for the Enhanced STAR exemption if you are (or will be turning) 65 by December 31, 2025, have been receiving a Basic STAR exemption on your current property (prior to 2015), and the 2023 income of all owners was below $107,300. *Other requirements may be
Recycling Event Recap:
In June, the town held its a document shredding, electr waste collection Stay tuned
Cemetery Maintenance:
Our crews have begun maintenance at Ogden s five cemeteries: Fairfield, Maple Grove, Locust Grove, Pleasant Hill, and Whittier. Please contact the Highway Department for more information.
applicable You may be eligible for a “low-income” Senior Citizen exemption if: you are (or will be turning) 65 by December 31, 2025, have owned and resided on the property for at least 12 months, and the 2023 income of all owners was below $58,400 *Other requirements may be applicable
All exemption applications (new and renewals) must be submitted to the Assessor’s Office no later than March 1, 2025
The Assessor’s Office page at www ogdenny gov contains links to exemption application forms, useful publications, and STAR information. Feel free to call us at (585) 617-6107 with any questions!
Travis Gray, Chief Ogden Police Department
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since our last Fall Newsletter Over this period, the police department has been highly active Both our civilian and sworn staff remain steadfast in their commi
Since y
ers: Animal Control Officer Ariel Ambrose, Police Officer Carlos Ortiz-Speed, and Special Police Officers David Booher and Joshua Drake. These officers have joined us to fill existing vacancies within both the Police and Special Police Departments. Having completed their required training, I’m pleased to report that all of them are already proving to be valuable additions to our team.
Our 2024 goals for OPD focus on four key areas: community outreach, patrol readiness, preventing substance abuse among minors, and promoting wellness and professional development for our staff As of
Andrea Hansen, Director Parks and Recreation
Three seasons have flown by, but we still have one more to go, and your Ogden Parks and Recreation Department is ready! Through August, our department has offered 135 programs and 180 activities, engaging over 2,700 participants. In addition to these registered programs, many people have joined us at our free community events, and we look forward to even more participants before the year ends.
Our parks have been equally popular, with over 330 facility reservations accommodated through August Our lodges book up quickly, so if you need a venue for your party or gathering, don’t delay!
Facility updates are ongoing at our parks and community center The pathways at Pineway Ponds Park and Heritage Park have been newly paved, and the gym wall mats at the Ogden Community Center have been re-wrapped We've also enhanced our programming space at the Community Center by paving our back lot, which is used for outdoor programming and recreational activities for our Preschool, Beforeand After-School Programs We're making progress on bringing LRS to a usable space for programming and have held numerous planning meetings for the upcoming 2025 Splash Pad replacement project Stay tuned for the new Splash Pad design, which will be revealed very soon!
this writing, I’m delighted to report t progress towards achieving these go program has successfully completed its first year, and our officers have hosted several engaging community events We are evaluating and upgrading our equipment using funds approved in our FY2024 budget and through grant awards Additionally, our staff is receiving ongoing training to stay prepared for the demands of their roles. Our targeted enforcement efforts have been effective in preventing the sale of alcohol and drugs to our youth All these efforts are underway while we remain focused on our primary mission: protecting and serving our community
In closing, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated men and women of both the Police and Special Police Departments. The safety of our community and the success of our agency would not be possible without their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and courage I would also like to thank the citizens of our community The support and encouragement we receive from residents is deeply appreciated and means a great deal to
As we welcome children back for another school year, our fall programs are resuming and filling up fast! If you see a program that interests you, don’t hesitate to join us Pineway Ponds Park will remain busy with sports activities and playground fun until the first snowfall, and we have many exciting community events planned, including the 10th anniversary of the Pineway Ponds 5K Run/Walk, Town Trick or Treat, Townwide Garage Sale, Ogden Senior Center Veteran’s Day Celebration, and the Town of Ogden’s Magical Holiday Celebration and Christmas Tree Lighting
Finally, to keep the fun going, our department is seeking enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to join our OPR team Openings are available in our Before/After School Program a great opportunity to work with children, play sports and games, and provide crafts and education If you're interested, apply today!
Our Fall Program Guide is available now, listing all the programs and events Check out our website at www ogdenparksandrec com, and follow us on Facebook at www facebook com/ogdenparksandrec for up-to-date department information
John Cohen, Director Ogden Farmers’ Library
Greetings from the Ogden Farmers’ Library, located on the Town Hall campus! We offer a wide range of materials, including books, movies, CDs, and audiobooks Our technology services include public computers, printing, faxing, and personalized tech support from our staff If you can’t visit us in person, you can access our resources from home through our online platforms, Libby and Hoopla
It’s been an exciting year for us at th we’ve seen a 12% increase in circulation and a 14% rise in program attendance! Our adult programs feature crafts, movie nights, and
Jesse Diehl, Historian Historian's Office
The Town Historian been busy planning events and activities for the 2026 celebration of 250 years of the United States. Be sure to check out the display near the Town Clerk’s counter, and stay updated with future details on our website.
In addition, he is working on identifying historic buildings and sites in Ogden with the goal of installing roadside markers These markers will celebrate our community’s history and serve a dual purpose: they will educate the public and encourage historic tourism, which can bring valuable economic benefits to both the town and the village
Brian Thompson, Building Inspector Building Department
It’s been a busy year for the Building Department! We’ve experienced a significant increase in commercial, industrial, and residential permits, as well as development applications To help manage the surge in on-site inspections, we’re excited to welcome Joshua Greenman as our new part-time Assistant Building Inspector Joshua brings valuable expertise in framing for both residential and commercial projects and will be a great addition to our team
We’re also pleased to announce that our new Municity software will soon allow residents to apply for and pay for permits online, further streamlining the application process As the year draws to a close, please remember to schedule a final inspection if you’ve completed your project but haven’t yet called us
Additionally, we’ve welcomed new board members to our team: Melissa
presentations on various topics For kids, we offer story times and crafts, while our teen programs (for grades 6-12) include movie nights, crafts, and the Teen Advisory Board Our Summer Reading program was a great success, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at our fall events, next spring, and for Summer Reading 2025!
Check out our events calendar on our new website at ogdenfarmerslibrary.org. Don’t worry your old bookmarks will redirect you to our new site! Stay updated on all our upcoming events and offerings. A special thanks to our Friends group for their continued support Be sure to look out for their big book sale this October!
This summer, the Adams Basin location was a stop on the Erie Canal bike ride, which traveled from Buffalo to Albany. He is also continuing to develop a searchable database for our historical collection This new system will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our retrieving information
Banning (Planning) and Brent Surgeoner (Zoning), along with alternate members for each board to better serve the community
As a reminder, spring, summer, and fall are particularly busy times for our Code Compliance Department in enforcing the property maintenance code Please help us by maintaining your property and being a good neighbor Together, we can keep our Town a beautiful place to live