BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council held its first virtual meeting Monday where they extended Don McCarthy’s active fire chief designation.

A resolution read by the city manager called to extend the designation, which was set to run out April 17, until July 17.

Purdy said a test required to be taken by a potential fire chief had been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. She said the designation needed to be extended until that test could be taken, at which point a provisional fire chief could be appointed.

However, councilor Steven Fisher proposed the extension go until April 30 instead. He said he wanted to discuss the issue in executive session at the next city council meeting.

His amendment to the resolution passed but not without opposition.

Councilors Michael Powers, Dan Skamperle and Nichole Kenndedy all opposed shortening the extension of the active fire chief designation.

Council Michael Powers, who was still recovering from COVID-19, questioned the legality of discussing the matter in executive session, which was shrugged off by Fisher, who said discussing the matter fit within the accepted reasons for executive session.

While open meetings law does allow the municipalities to have closed door meetings to discuss the employment history of particular individuals, it does not serve as a blanket to cover all personnel matters.

Fisher said his concern revolved around the fact that an individual has an upcoming test and that language had been used such as “if he passes.”

The amended resolution passed and the council is expected to revisit the issue April 27.

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