By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council tabled a resolution Monday that would allow Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad to provide service within the city.

The resolution would allow the squad to provide service within the city limits and bill users of the service directly.

“The purpose of this agreement is for the parties to exchange services to their mutual benefit,” the resolution says.

The city, which is struggling financially, provides in-kind services to the squad. This includes at cost fuel sale, docking space for rescue boat, sewer and water service, breathing air refills, snow removal and workman’s compensation coverage.

In return OVRS provides transports services for city employees and retirees at no charge, provides automobile extrication, offshore rescue and recovery service and emergency scene standby and rehabilitative services.

The Monday meeting started with an executive session to discuss the financial history of a particular corporation, according Mayor Wayne Ashley, however the council did not disclose what “corporation” was discussed. The county attorney was present for the meeting as well as the City Comptroller Tim Johnson. It is unclear whether there was discussion regarding OVRS resolution during the closed meeting, but city council members did express a desire to negotiate terms with the squad before signing the agreement in open session.

Deputy Mayor Michael Morley said he did not believe the city should be providing plowing services for the rescue squad and said the OVRS should pay water and sewer fees. Councilor Daniel Skamperle said he believes the service they provide is valuable, but says the squad should contribute financially for the services it receives.

He said the squad uses only a portion of its building, but does not pay taxes on any of it. He said the portion of the property not used by the squad should be taxed.

Councilors said they would like to see the representatives from the rescue squad attend a council meeting to discuss the agreement, but City Manager Sarah Purdy said the squad was not interested in talking on camera.

Following some debate the council agreed to invite the squad to discuss the agreement in executive session for the purposes of negotiating a contract.

The OVRS is made up of over 40 volunteers, 12 employees including a full time director of operations.

The squad covers approximately 175 square miles and responds to 2,300 calls annually, according to the OVRS website.