Ogdensburg officials say Republicans in Senate won't OK prison closures

OGDENSBURG — City officials said they are more optimistic about the fight to keep the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility open after having been assured that all 30 Republicans in the state Senate will not support any budget that forces prisons to close.

Mark E. Hansen, a spokesman for state Senate Republican leader Dean G. Skelos, Rockville Centre, confirmed Monday that all 30 Senate Republicans are against closing state prisons as part of the budget. He said only one more vote is needed to tie the state Senate and block the budget from passing.

Recently, city Mayor William D. Nelson, City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra and city councilors Michael B. Powers and Nicholas J. Vaugh met with several senators and assembly leaders in the state capital to lobby against closing the Ogdensburg facility.

"From what we've heard from the folks we talked to, the Republican minority is standing with us," Mr. Nelson said. "I can't speak for all those 30 people, but the individuals we've talked to feel very strongly in supporting our effort and were very positive in encouraging us and we're excited about that."

However, according to Robert N. Wells Jr., a St. Lawrence University government professor emeritus, getting a majority or tie vote does not ensure the prisons will be spared.

If the Senate vote on the budget is even, lieutenant governor Richard Ravitch can cast a tie-breaking vote, Mr. Wells said. However, even if the budget were to pass the Senate without mandating the prison closures, Gov. David A. Paterson still has the power to veto line items, he said.

"If they tinker with his budget and change things, he can veto that. He can line item veto anything in that budget he didn't agree with," Mr. Wells said. "It's a very powerful tool that the governor has."

The medium-security state prison is one of four targeted for closure in the governor's proposed 2010-11 state budget. According to state officials, closing the prisons will reduce the work force by 637 staff, including 17 managerial positions, and save the state about $7 million for the next fiscal year, and $52 million the following year.

The Ogdensburg facility employs 286 workers and could close by April 2011.

Chris Leo, legislative director of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, met with city officials in Albany. He said he is working to reach out to all state leaders about the prison closures.

"There are a lot of what-ifs, so my primary concern at this point is to continue to educate the Legislature and the Assembly combined as to why we need the prisons to stay open," he said. "I also know that Sen. (Darrel J.) Aubertine is working very diligently to keep Ogdensburg open, so I'm not sure where that would put the Senate vote."

Mr. Powers, who is also a state corrections officer, said he was encouraged that the future of four north country prisons is still an important part of the debate in Albany.

"We're out there. We are hitting it hard," he said. "It's very much alive and well down there. There weren't too many people we spoke to who weren't aware of our area."