BILL NUMBER: S1827

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of
the state highway system as the "Charles 'Chuck' Kelly Memorial Highway"

 
PURPOSE:

This bill acknowledges the life and contributions of Charles Kelly to
his community and renames a portion of the state highway system to honor
him

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the highway law by adding a new section 344-k which
designates all that portion of the state highway system constituting
state route thirty-seven from the intersection of state route thirty-
seven and New York Avenue to the intersection of state route thirty-sev-
en and state route thirty-seven-a in the town of Ogdensburg as the
              

"Charles 'Chuck' Kelly Memorial Highway"

Section 2 designates the commissioner of transportation as the provider
for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing and stipulates
that this designation is ceremonial in nature and the official name of
such highway shall not be changed.

Section 3 provides that the act shall take effect immediately

 
JUSTIFICATION:

When Ogdensburg's Charles W. "Chuck" Kelly passed away on Sunday, Octo-
ber 21, the people of the North Country lost a great leader, friend and
unparalleled advocate for the region. He was a man who spent his entire
career fighting for the people of St. Lawrence County as if each of them
were a member of his family.

Chuck-who was known by many as "Mr. Ogdensburg"-spent 56 years in the
journalism industry, working each day of his career for his readers-
helping to keep them knowledgeable about issues impacting their lives
and serving to keep government accountable.

Mr. Kelly used his journalistic skills along with relationships he
cultivated with state and local leaders to help grow Ogdensburg. He will
perhaps best be remembered for efforts to locate new state correctional
facilities in the city, as well as for his work to keep the Ogdensburg
Correctional Facility from closing in 2011, and successfully fighting
alongside other local leaders to prevent the closure of the St.
Lawrence Psychiatric Center in 2013.

Known throughout the North Country not only for his leadership, but also
his compassion for others, it was not uncommon for Mr. Kelly to visit
people at St. Joseph's nursing home, or for him to personally deliver
newspapers to those who called to say their copy was missing.  The list
of organizations Mr. Kelly donated his time to is seemingly endless, as
is the list of accolades he received for his role in the community as a
public servant.

A U.S. Army veteran who served in Bamberg, Germany and Orleans, France,
Mr. Kelly was someone who knew the meaning of service and sacrifice. He
was a mentor for many-especially young reporters-and an example of dedi-
cation, empathy and leadership for all to follow.

The name Charles W. "Chuck" Kelly is synonymous with the City of Ogdens-
burg. He will forever be remembered for his contributions to the North
Country and the region is surely a better place because of his tireless
efforts on behalf of those who live there. It is only fitting that we
rename a portion of New York State Route 37 in his honor not only as a
tribute to his memory, but also so that people never forget his example
and are inspired to follow in his footsteps to make the North Country a
better place.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: S. 9187.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.