BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

Following an executive session Monday, Ogdensburg City Council lifted a hiring freeze on the city’s police chief position.

The move followed a meeting that spanned more than three hours.

Prior to that vote, city council set a public hearing for a change to the city charter that would require the police chief to become a city resident.

The resolution drew opposition from councilors Dan Skamperle and Michael Powers.

Powers questioned the legality of the move, fearing it could be a violation of civil service regulations and requested the city attorney to speak on the issue at the hearing, which is set for Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Both Powers and Skamperle cited concerns that the move was political in nature, but Deputy Mayor John Rishe said that was not the case.

“We would love all for all our city employees to be residents,” Rishe said. He added that public safety positions in particular should come with a residency requirement.

Powers wondered if the requirement would make for a smaller pool of candidates when attempting to fill the position, but Rishe said the resolution only requires that the chief live in the city after he or she takes the job.

In an interview that occurred outside the meeting Mayor Jeffrey Skelly said the city is hoping to solve the vacant police chief issue as soon as possible, but did not share details of what would be happening.

The city’s newly appointed interim city manager recently assumed the role of fire chief as part of his duties.