BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg City Council will hold a special meeting May 13 at 6 p.m. at city hall to pass resolution to censure City Councilor Michael Powers and to consider a lease agreement with the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority.

“Ogdensburg City Council members are expected to carry out their duties in a respectful manner when conducting public business, the resolution says. “City Councilor Michael Powers has on more than one occasion used vulgar and inappropriate language during city council meetings.”

The resolution references an April 12 meeting when Powers “used the F-word and directed vulgarity at City Manager Stephen Jellie during public session.”

The resolution says the use of such “intimidating, foul-mouthed and bullying language are out of line with the ‘rules of basic human conduct’ as referred to in Ogdensburg City Administrative Regulation AR-23.”

The resolution aims to place Powers on notice for his language that such conduct shall not be “condoned or tolerated during future public meetings or other official gatherings.”

Additionally the council aims to consider a resolution that would allow the city manager to execute a lease agreement with the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority for the purpose of a city beach.

Powers said the censure at a special meeting was a ‘cowardly’ way to handle an admonishment.

“I already acknowledged my wrong doing. I’m human. I’m passionate about what is right and I will always be passionate about what is right. I had a slip of the tongue which I acknowledged immediately and apologized twice that same night in open session to the public,” Powers said. “I am fine for being censured for a mistake, but I think that standard should apply to all members of the council, not just those in the minority.”

A similar resolution failed to pass Monday as it required a super-majority vote as it was not included on the city agenda and was a resolution brought from the floor.

Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly says he expects the resolution will pass at the special meeting.