BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg has a new deputy mayor.

City Councilor Stephen Fisher was nominated for the position by Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly on Jan. 10 and affirmed in a split vote.

Councilors Michael Powers, Nichole Kennedy and Dan Skamperle voted against the appointment.

Former Deputy Mayor John Rishe supported Fisher's appointment.

“I think he will do a good job and I support him,” Rishe said.

Skelly also offered praise for Fisher, who has supported a restructuring of city government and offices as well as major reductions to the city’s workforce in the interest of reducing costs.

Fisher is a local business owner and retired police officer who ran on a platform aimed at making the city more business friendly.

During his campaign he said the city needs to do a better job guiding businesses and residents before it can attract new businesses.

He also ran united with councilors Rishe, Bill Dillabough and Mayor Skelly.

Among his campaign promises was a 25 percent reduction in sales tax, in the first two years of his terms the city has reduced the tax levy by about 20 percent.

Fisher received some public backlash last year after using the term “bitchy” in reference to Ogdensburg Library Director Penny Kerfien.

A sexual harassment complaint against him was filed with the Division of Human Rights, however that agency as well as the United States Equal Opportunity Commission dismissed the allegations.