Public hearing held for ordinance amending use of city-owned vehicles.

OGDENSBURG

LEGAL NOTICE



Notice is hereby given that a public hearing was held on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM, in the City Council Chambers, 330 Ford Street, Ogdensburg, NY 13669, and the following was passed by the City Council, meeting in regular session on February 23, 2025:




ORDINANCE #1 OF 2026

ORDINANCE AMENDING AR-31 ENTITLED “USE OF CITY-OWNED VEHICLES” OF THE CITY OF OGDENSBURG MUNICIPAL CODE




BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the City Council of the City of Ogdensburg, New York, as follows:




ITEM ONE: That AR-31 entitled “Use of City-owned vehicles” is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

AR-31. Use of City-owned vehicles.




A. Purpose. 

The purpose of this regulation is to save money by prohibiting the use of City owned vehicles for personal use and to improve the City's public image and to increase the visibility of City-provided services.




B. City logo

All City-owned vehicles, except police cars and fire apparatus, will be clearly identified by the City logo, which shall be applied to both sides of the vehicle. Vehicles that may be used in police undercover work are exempted from this regulation.




C. Use of City-owned vehicles. 

[Amended 10-22-2012 by Ord. No. 8-2012] (1) All City-owned vehicles shall remain at a City work site or garage facility at the close of the business day.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by Council-approved contractual terms, City-owned vehicles shall only be used for City work-related transportation, except as listed below:

(a) Personnel who are regularly assigned the use of a City-owned vehicle may use the vehicle to go on coffee or meal breaks, provided that they remain in contact with their offices or dispatcher for immediate recall, and provided that they travel within a reasonable distance of city boundaries. Reasonable distance will be judged by the department head and city manager in questionable instances.

(b) Personal use of the vehicle outside the employee’s jurisdiction or obligation to respond to an emergency is prohibited.

(c) Subject to supervisory discretion and control, City-owned vehicles may be used to pick up coffee or food supplies for City employees who cannot leave their work site, provided that the vehicle is not used outside the City.




D. Take-Home Vehicle Authorization for Public Health and Safety.

(1) The City Manager is authorized to approve take-home use of City-owned vehicles when operational circumstances require immediate or after-hours response to protect public health, safety, welfare, or critical municipal operations.

(2) Such authorization may apply to specific employees, classifications, or functions, based on demonstrated operational need.

(3) The City Manager shall maintain a written record of all active take-home vehicle authorizations, including the justification for each approval.

(4) All take-home assignments authorized under this section are subject to revocation by the City Manager at any time based on operational, financial, or policy considerations.




E. Unmarked Law Enforcement Vehicles

(1) Use is permitted solely be a full-time law enforcement officer who is authored by law to carry firearms, execute search warrants, and make arrests, and who regularly carries firearms (except when undercover).

(2) Personal use must be officially authorized by the City Manager and must be incident to law enforcement functions.

(3) Failure to meet these requirements will result in a taxable fringe benefit.




F. Fire Rescue/Response Vehicles

(1) Fire vehicles must be clearly marked and used solely by full-time fire personnel who are on call at all times when not on regular shift.

(2) Personal use (other than commuting) of the vehicle outside of the limit of the firefighter’s obligation is prohibited. All use must be incident to public safety functions.

(3) Failure to meet these requirements will result in a taxable fringe benefit.




ITEM TWO: This ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days after publication of a notice which shall give the title and describe same in summary form.




Dated: February 24, 2026




Cathy A. Jock

City Clerk