BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Despite a lack of consensus from council, City Manager Mohideen Buharie said he would ask Fire Chief Ken Stull to hire two additional firefighters.

Buharie said the decision came from an attempt to improve city morale as well as making financial sense.

Buharie’s statement was met with a round of applause from those in attendance.

He also saw the decision as a step in making peace with the city’s fire union after what has been a contentious few years with some members of the council.

Buharie said he’s hopeful the union will take his action into consideration in potential negotiations down the road.

The decision followed a cost analysis that showed short and long term savings expected from hiring additional firefighters at the previous council meeting.

However the models presented by Comptroller Angela Gray did not include a savings analysis for hiring two firefighters.

Details on how much savings will be achieved through the addition of two firefighters was not discussed at the meeting.

Nor was there discussion of where the funding from the positions will come from as the city continues to see unexpected costs piling up.

However, it’s likely the positions will be funded through the savings generated in reductions in overtime and hazard time pay. North Country This Week will seek further clarification on the matter, but could not immediately get an answer as the city adjourned into executive session to discuss legal matters.