BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country Now

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg’s Citizens Watch Committee has filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Jeffrey Skelly for blocking constituents on his private Facebook account.

Maureen Brashaw spoke to a crowd of people on the steps of City Hall Monday prior to the city council meeting.

“This gathering tonight is a critical step in protecting Ogdensburg’s Citizens from what we believe is a blatant erosion of their First Amendment right,” she said.

She said Mayor Skelly uses his private Facebook page as a public forum to air city business and censors those who ask for information or question his actions by blocking them.

“These measures, of providing city business on a private, one person controlled site, deny critical information to those blocked. In addition to the mayor providing an open forum, we are requesting that all those obstructed be reinstated thus seeking assurance that all voices need to be heard, not just the feedback the mayor wants to hear. We are speaking for those that have denied and cannot,” said Brashaw.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in Federal Court by attorneys Gleason, Walsh & O’Shea on behalf of Cynthia Layng, Douglas Loffler, Brian Mitchell and Angela McRoberts.

Those filing the suit say that they are active and vocal participants in discussions regarding the affairs and policies of the city and have been denied a voice on a social media platform maintained by Skelly.

“More specifically, after listening to commentary critical of the defendant’s performance as the mayor of the City of Ogdensburg on the Mayor’s Facebook profile, he ‘blocked’ the plaintiffs from participating in the ongoing discussions regarding the affairs of the City taking place on the Mayor’s Facebook profile,” the legal document says.

Citizens Watch members allege that the blocking constitutes a viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

Similar suits against more high profile candidates resulted in rulings favoring plaintiffs.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the interactive portion of a public official’s Facebook page is a “public forum,” and as such officials are barred from blocking citizens.

Councilor Nichole Kennedy attended the event and said she supported the citizens’ efforts.

Doug Loffler, a former City Council member and frequent speaker at meetings, said the administration has failed to answer questions posed by citizens.

He says they create false narratives and fail to include three members of the council in updates as well as deny them access to the city attorney.

He said he is hopeful the lawsuit will be the first step in bringing real leadership back to the city.

Mayor Skelly declined comment on the matter.

City Manager Stephen Jellie issued the following statement in response to the lawsuit.

"The City of Ogdensburg will address the matter presented by the so-called “Community Watch Group” as it pertains to the Mayor when official notification is received. It is unfortunate that a very small group of individuals continues to attempt the disruption of progress in the City in the name of protecting the community when all they really care about is protecting their own agenda and drawing attention to fictional tales of corruption and wrong-doing. Mayor Skelly’s administration has worked tirelessly to ensure the survival of the city since defeating a fully dysfunctional administration that led the city to the brink of bankruptcy and once defeated took hasty action to solidify irresponsible and unaffordable contracts with the Police and Fire Unions in an attempt to create a wedge between the City and Unions. These shameless acts will not be forgotten by the City electorate regardless of their latest efforts to appear concerned about the community. Mayor Skelly and the City Team will remain focused on fully improving public safety, reducing taxes, advancing the local economy and providing a world-class recreational facilities. The revival of the City started some time ago and the City calls on this small group of disrupters to join the progressive efforts needed to improve the community instead of continuing their relentless search for something to complain about," Jellie said.

To help offset legal fees donations are being accepted by Citizens Watch at https://www.facebook.com/donate/903058393620952/4011626982300462/