To the Editor:

Ogdensburg is getting a grant of up to $550,000, from the NYS Financial Restructuring Board (FRB). It’s said to be a reimbursement for staff accruals and incentives paid out to retiring firefighters; a good thing, financially.

But is it reason to celebrate, as the mayor and city manager gleefully did on camera? Footage that won’t play well if things go bad because of their reckless push to get rid of firefighters.

The FRB, in their 2019 report, loosely stated that, “the City could potentially operate with as few as 20 firefighters.”

After the report was received, the City signed a binding contract, in 2019, which calls for a minimum of 24 firefighters. A number that provides for adequately staffed shifts, avoiding contractual hazard pay (which could cost close to $200,000 next year, due to imposed shift shortages).

During the award announcement last Friday, a FRB member said: “Our report cited, even though we are not fire experts, all decisions need to be made locally, out of safety, out of service, with the residents and the administration.”

So the Board member was making it clear that they only make recommendations; the final decisions are up to the municipality, based on what’s safe and effective. Which is exactly what was done in contract negotiations in 2019.

The Board member also stated, during the award presentation, ”Departments, they can design the contract. Our reports and our resolutions state, it's got to be subject to the terms of that contract." So they clearly understand that contract terms can’t just be ignored.

Is the FRB even aware that the City has violated the firefighters contract? Because the Board member said, “We felt 20 was, by analysis of peers, a comfortable minimum level for the time being, so that’s what they brought that budget down to…We are not trying to incentivize going below that.”

From that statement, it appears the Board also doesn’t know there’s been only 18 firefighters for over five months now, or that there’s only 17 budgeted for 2022.

And is the FRB aware that the City is spending a considerable amount of money on legal fees, just to have their contract violating cuts upheld? Or is that something else they don’t know?

So here’s a suggestion, for the $550,000 reimbursement award: Hire three police officers (as the Chief requested) and three firefighters (to get to 20) for 2022. And then apply again for the SAFER Grant in 2022, to fully fund four additional firefighters for 2023-2025.

If the SAFER Grant is awarded, the contract dispute could be settled. We’d have 24 firefighters for the price of 20, for three years. The firefighters contract expires at the end of 2025, so contract negotiations, including on staffing levels, will take place just before the Grant would expire.

This suggestion gives the city manager what he’s asked for. A solution, and money to pay for police and fire. Just because he doesn’t prioritize public safety, doesn’t mean he should dismiss ways to fund it.

Ron Bouchard
Ogdensburg