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Ogdensburg hires city manager without conducting search, interviews; says no to public referendum

Posted 9/28/20

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG -- Without conducting a search, advertising the position or performing any interviews, Ogdensburg City Council voted 4-3 to name Interim City …

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Ogdensburg hires city manager without conducting search, interviews; says no to public referendum

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Without conducting a search, advertising the position or performing any interviews, Ogdensburg City Council voted 4-3 to name Interim City Manager Stephen Jellie as the new city manager at a salary of $120,000 per year.

The decision came after many members of the public and three city councilors protested the move, not because of direct concern about Jellie himself, but at the unprecedented method of filling the city’s top position.

The meeting was disorderly, with two people escorted out by police officers at the request of the mayor. A member of the city police force who was off duty was also directed to leave as was City Councilor Dan Skamperle.

Voting in favor of the hire were Mayor Jeffrey Skelly, Deputy Mayor John Rishe and councilors Steve Fisher and Bill Dillabough.

Opposed were councilors Michael Powers, Nichole Kennedy and Dan Skamperle.

Kennedy raised concerns that the city could be in legal trouble by not allowing minorities to apply.

Roughly 50 people were barred from entering due to a lack of space at the city council meeting due to social distancing restrictions.

The city also voted along the same lines to modify a charter to disallow a referendum after a petition to hold one was turned over to the city just two weeks prior. Rishe said this was done at the direction of the city attorney as well as another attorney.

A resolution to honor a petition to hold a referendum regarding a city charter changer that transferred the power to hire and fire department heads from the city manager to the city council was voted down along the same lines as well.

More detailed stories will be published tomorrow on NorthCountryNow.com