BY JIMMY LAWTON

North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg’s proposed fire department budget is expected to be presented at a workshop on November 30, but it’s unclear if the fire department union membership will be present.

An ongoing feud between City Manager Stephen Jellie, who also serves as the fire chief, and the firefighters continues to burden the city.

Jellie citing a need for negotiations has proposed reducing the department by ten members to 18 full-time positions in the 2021 budget. Jellie says that the existing contract is not sustainable and says we would like to negotiate an alternative deal with the firefighter’s union that would offer retirement incentives. He has repeatedly urged the union to open negotiations.

However, the union negotiated a contract with the city last year that traded health insurance benefits and three jobs for a lengthy contract that included raises, which were somewhat offset through cost avoidance.

Union members and supporters have been resistant to return to the table in-part due to a lack of trust.

Ogdensburg Professional Firefighters Union President Jason Bouchard has questioned how they can trust anything coming from the majority of council or city manager when they are already threatening to break an existing contract.

In a recent email Bouchard called on Jellie to release the plan for “for overall staffing and minimum daily staff in the fire department.”

Currently the department’s contract includes a minimum staffing level of five firefighters on duty and requires 24 positions. Although the department has 27 members three jobs are to be cut through attrition as part of the deal ratified last year.

“You need to give us that and inform the public of the same,” he said in an email to the city manager. “We can only presume your plan will violate our collective bargaining agreement, and we’ve been more than clear about where we stand on such a move. Our overall staffing will drop from 27 to 24 members, in time, and our minimum daily staffing is 5 members, as per our contract, Please forward your “staffing” plan to us and to the media so all can see it,” Bouchard wrote in the email.

In response Jellie said he has been clear about his intent to reduce staffing, though he did not address the daily staffing issue raised by Bouchard. He has however stated publicly that the clause is not something the city can afford to honor and has budget money for attorneys to specifically address labor issues.

“At present, my plan for overall organizational staffing of the fire department for 2021 is well defined and published; 18 total full-time positions. I presented this staffing course of action to city council in the proposed 2021 Annual Budget without collaboration from Local 1799 as you refused each of 7 invitations to date,” he said in an emailed reply.

“We have provided you with all the financial information requested and still, from your email below, it appears you have no interest or desire to negotiate a plan with the City of Ogdensburg that will assist with ensuring the survival of the city, and begin work toward the revival of the city. In the best interest of the city and your members, I sincerely hope you will reconsider,” he said.

Jellie asked Bouchard to attend the upcoming budget workshop as well.

“Also, you did not respond to the invitation to address the City Council on 30 November, during the budget workshop for the fire department. I will again extend the invitation and ask that you notify me by Friday, 27 November, of your intent to attend. If I do not hear from you by that date, I will remove you from the agenda. Public attendance and participation is not permitted for these work sessions, but I would like you to have an opportunity to address city council,” he wrote.

The public can view the meeting, which will be live streamed at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1454998441577955341

Don’t Miss a Story!

Keep up with local government & schools, police & fire news, help wanted ads, upcoming events, obituaries, letters from viewers, news of your friends & neighbors, & much more!
Subscribe today for just $1.44 per week
 Thank you.