Oswego, NY -- The Oswego Common Council Wednesday afternoon voted to buy the International Marina from the Port of Oswego Authority for $2.1 million. The vote was 5 to 2, with aldermen Constance Cosemento, Ronald Kaplewicz, Michael Myers, Catherine Santos and Daniel Donovan voting yes. Aldermen William Sharkey and Shawn Walker voted no. Walker said he voted no because he...
Oswego, NY -- The Oswego Common Council Wednesday afternoon voted to buy the International Marina from the Port of Oswego Authority for $2.1 million.
The vote was 5 to 2, with aldermen Constance Cosemento, Ronald Kaplewicz, Michael Myers, Catherine Santos and Daniel Donovan voting yes. Aldermen William Sharkey and Shawn Walker voted no.
Walker said he voted no because he needed more information about the deal. "I had tons of phone calls from constituents and I didn't have the information to answer them," he said.
Sharkey said he turned down the sale because the city can't afford to take on any more debt. He said the city has $40 million in debt now and will incur another $87 million with the consent order from the federal government that mandates that the city fix its sewer problems. With the marina purchase, the city will take on another $2.1 million in debt, he said.
"Only 17,369 people live in the city and only a third of them pay property taxes," Sharkey said. "It doesn't take an idiot to do the math."
The council was supposed to vote on the issue Monday, but tabled it so aldermen could talk to their constituents about the purchase. Mayor Randolph Bateman said some aldermen received phone calls from constituents during the weekend with more questions.
The port authority decided to sell the International Marina, which is on the west side of the river, because it is concentrating on its commercial and industrial business. The marina business consists mostly of pleasure and recreational craft.
Bateman said the city decided to buy the marina because it brings in, on average, about $103,000 a year. Even though the city would have to borrow to pay for it, he said, the marina will eventually make money for the city through rental of 69 boat slips and through the rent from the Oswego Yacht Club, which has its building on the marina property.