OBPA asked to help foot repair costs

OGDENSBURG — A request by the operator of the New York & Ogdensburg Railroad line for partial reimbursement for repairs done on the deteriorating engine house in Norfolk got a cool reception Tuesday from the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority.

At a board meeting, OBPA board members expressed concerns about the facility and about not being involved in the contracting process.

The board decided to table the action until the Dec. 9 meeting.

"If they want to go halves on this, they should have made us a partner," board member Mary M. Farley said.

Vermont Rail System, Burlington, which leases the rail line from the OBPA, paid a Vermont contractor $40,200 to replace the roof on the 100-year-old structure last week, without an agreement with the authority.

Although the OBPA owns the rail and is responsible for raising money for major maintenance projects, Vermont Rail System is responsible for general maintenance of the track and buildings.

"Rather than waiting around for the Port Authority to act, we figured we'd better do something; otherwise it might fall in while we're waiting," said Jerome M. Hebda, vice president of Vermont Rail. "We went ahead with it, without any kind of agreement from them. We acted and we're hoping that they're going to do the right thing."

Although the building remains sound, the engine house, which stores two locomotives nightly, was becoming dangerous because water from the leaky roof was getting into electrical equipment and causing chunks of the ceiling to fall, Mr. Hebda said.

According to OBPA Executive Director Wade A. Davis, the OBPA was notified of the roof project Oct. 5. The topic was discussed at the October facilities meeting, but officials requested schematics and cost estimates before deciding how much to spend.