Corrections officers voice concerns
OGDENSBURG — Last October, Lyndsey M. Tolman's father transferred to Edgecombe Correctional Facility from Ogdensburg Correctional Facility to take a promotion as a lieutenant with the state Department of Correctional Services.
Now the Tolmans, like many other families across the north country, are wondering if their loved ones will have a chance of ever transferring back home if the Ogdensburg prison closes.
"I want my father back home," said Miss Tolman, a senior at Ogdensburg Free Academy. "I hope OCF stays open."
Keeping the prison open was the topic of discussion at a public town meeting hosted Saturday at OFA by Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, who took the place of Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, who is dealing with a death in her family.
With approximately 300 to 400 people in attendance, Ms. Scozzafava listened to concerns and promised to pass their comments on to Mrs. Russell and state officials.
One of those concerned is corrections officer Joseph G. Balcom, Clayton. He said it took him 71/2 years to get back to the north country after working downstate and now he's in the same position once again if the prison closes.
With two children in high school and another in college, he wants to be able to stay in the area for his family, he said.
"I need to be here for my kids," said Mr. Balcom, who was one of several corrections officers to voice his concerns.
Bobby Domena, a counselor at the prison and a native of Long Island, said he moved north 15 years ago and doesn't want to have to leave the area.
"I consider myself a Northern New Yorker," said Mr. Domena, with his thick Long Island accent. He and his wife, Christine, run Waddington Bloom, and he's afraid that it would mean the end of his business if the prison closes and he's forced to leave the area.
With two children, ages 11 and 8, Mr. Domena doesn't want to be a "weekend father," working downstate during the week and traveling home on weekends.
John A. Bodwell, a corrections officer in Ogdensburg for 20 years, said he believes the prison closure is "an attack on the north country and our way of life."
"I would not deny anyone to live in the hustle bustle and bright lights of the city, so why are they trying to deny my pursuit of happiness, by taking away the means for us to survive in the north country?" Mr. Bodwell asked.
Chad J. Stickney, local sector chief for New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, agreed.
"This is a plain assault on the north country," he said.
NYSCOPBA is working to get the message across to state legislators, Mr. Stickney said. The union was asking participants to sign letters to various state legislators.
The letter tally, according to Mr. Stickney, would be more than 20,000 signed letters.
The prison also received support from officers at Watertown Correctional Facility, according to Nickie L. Kogut, the NYSCOPBA chief steward there.
"I bring you 100 percent support from our facility," said Mr. Kogut, who added that he helped open the Ogdensburg prison in 1982-83.
"OCF is near and dear to my heart," Mr. Kogut said, "I cannot believe our commissioner or governor would allow the prison to close."
With many open seats in the auditorium, OCF Task Force Chairman Charles W. Kelly told the crowd that he would have liked to pack the auditorium, with more turnout from area businesses as well.
"There should not have been an empty chair in this room today," said Mr. Kelly, editor and publisher of St. Lawrence Newspapers. He told those in attendance that the rally planned for 4 p.m. March 12 on the steps of city hall needs to have a greater crowd to get the attention the task force is seeking.
He also asked the crowd to bring several family members to the rally and to keep writing letters to the Advance News and to place signs in front of homes throughout the city. It's work that has to be done in order to be successful, he said.
"We need to have a sign in every window in Ogdensburg, every window," he said. "We can win this fight. We can't win it if we sit on our butts."
