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Ogdensburg residents calls on city councilors to come together

Posted 2/26/21

To the Editor: We would like to address the mayor and council with regards to those who have been calling in and writing letters during the council meetings. The name calling, negative comments, and …

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Ogdensburg residents calls on city councilors to come together

Posted

To the Editor:

We would like to address the mayor and council with regards to those who have been calling in and writing letters during the council meetings.

The name calling, negative comments, and loud distractions are rude and cruel. Some of these will stay with our city manager, mayor and council members forever.

Is it really necessary to behave with such cruelty? Can you not get your point across without this kind of behavior? When all of these decisions are made and final to make Ogdensburg better, will there still be hard feelings and disruption among everyone?

Do you need to keep saying that we will not be safe when cuts are made? We feel fortunate to have a police department, a fire department, a rescue squad; along with the sheriff’s department, and state police here in Ogdensburg to keep residents safe.

To add to that, we have a DPW crew to keep our roads and city safe.

We know the cuts to the police and fire departments are hurtful to many in the city. Please remember how receptive you were to the mayor and his three supportive councilmen when they were campaigning prior to election. They, along with the city manager, have cut taxes 10%. To do this and to accomplish future enhancements to the city, painful cuts are necessary.

You all know the financial crisis we are in was not caused by the people you are asking to resign. In fact, some of the people who caused this insolvent situation here in Ogdensburg are the ones most vocal. Whoever has heard of seven year contracts with huge raises? Does anyone believe that these were put into effect to improve the city? How many of you out there believe that they really were intended to tie the hands of the newly elected council and make it difficult for them to make their promises?

Arbitration and the city charter can be thought of in different ways. They are not the final say and not irrevocable. Some have referred to The Constitution of the United States as similar. We agree; and that is why the Constitution has amendments due to changes in the world.

We know that there will be different views to all of this. The way it is appeared throughout the county is that only those speaking have the only view. That is not true! There are many taxpayers out there who are either intimidated or will only speak the it is time to vote.

It is time for all of you to stand up together and let those fighting for you know you are with them.

Do not let them sneak up and get rid of those with the courage without your vote. Now, we will say thank you to City Manager Stephen Jellie, City Planner Andrea Smith, Mayor Skelly, councilmen Fisher, Rishe, and Dillabough for having our backs and trying to make improvements under such turmoil.

We would like to thank Cathy Jock, city clerk, and her assistant for making it possible to attend all these meetings virtually. We really appreciate being informed on how our city is progressing.

Thank you for allowing our thoughts to be heard at this meeting. Stay safe, healthy and well.

Dean and Diane Hebert

Ogdensburg