OGDENSBURG — The city is moving along with the cleanup and redevelopment of three waterfront properties.

At their meeting Tuesday, City Council members approved a pre-demolition asbestos and hazardous materials survey at the former Standard Shade Roller complex and an environmental assessment of the former Augsbury Tank Farm property, both to be completed by the engineering and environmental science firm Barton & Loguidice.

The environmental assessment will examine the condition of the soils to determine the level and location of pollutants, City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra said.

The city has allocated a maximum of $65,000 to be spent on the project, and money will come from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfields grant.

There was some dispute about accepting the bid for the asbestos and hazardous materials survey, as the offer from Barton & Loguidice was $6,000 more than the amount the council had in mind.

Councilor Michael D. Morley cast the sole vote against the survey, saying he had an obligation to the taxpayers to approve the least expensive offer. The city agreed to pay no more than $35,000 for the project.

City Planning and Development Director J. Justin Woods urged the council to vote on the issue so the study could be completed before December.

"This is for assessment, not remediation," Mr. Woods said. "It leaves us and the private owners with an option to determine how to move forward."

Mr. Sciorra moved forward on the redevelopment of the former Diamond International property Friday by meeting with James W. Sharp, president of American Communities Inc.

In May the city entered into an exclusivity agreement with American Communities Inc. to develop the waterfront property, which includes apartment and housing complexes.

"We had a good meeting," Mr. Sciorra said, adding that negotiations are still moving forward, despite some slowdowns owing to the nationwide economic concerns.

"We are going to take as long as it takes," Mr. Sciorra said. "We're not in a mood to speed this up and in this climate there is no reason to suggest we should."

The meeting was to review some predevelopment plans to satisfy the city's concerns, Mr. Sciorra said.

"This will lead to decisions on how the property develops," he said.