BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly is putting forward a resolution to censure Ogdensburg City Council John Rishe for allegedly making demeaning comments toward staff and fellow council members.

“Ogdensburg City Council members are expected to carry out their duties in a respectful manner when conducting public business,” the resolution says. “Councilor John Rishe has on more than one occasion made demeaning and disrespectful statements towards staff members during dicy council meetings.”

The resolution points to a Jan. 9 meeting where Skelly alleges that Rishe made a statement implying Interim City Manager and Director of Planning Andrea Smith “failed to reform her duties as expected with respect to a Comprehensive Development Plan” that Rishe developed.

“Statements and conduct of this nature are not in line with “rules of basic human conduct’ as referred to in Administrative Regulations AR-23 which states ‘staff members themselves are entitled to the same courteous treatment expected by the public’,” the resolution says.

Skelly did not wish to provide further comment on the resolution stating that the discussion on the matter would be held at the council meeting.

Rishe would not be the first council censured in recent years. In 2021 Councilor Michael Powers was censured in a split vote. That resolution stated that “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.”

Powers publicly apologized for his conduct prior to and after the resolution passed. At the time Powers said that he had no problem being censured but said the same rules should apply to all members of the council.

Councilor Dan Skamperle supported Powers stating that two other councilors should face similar admonishment, if such action was to be taken against Powers.

He referenced a Facebook post in which Councilor Fisher said the library director had “gotten a little bitchy,” and referenced the use of foul language by Dillabough.

Neither Fisher or Dillabough were censured for their alleged actions.