BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- They say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, but some Ogdensburg city councilors are questioning if their colleagues understand the old adage.

City Councilor Michael Powers was officially censured in a 4-3 vote at a special meeting Thursday that did not allow for public comment.

In an interview leading up to the meeting, Powers said he was fine with the censure but questioned why the same standard wasn’t applied to other councilors.

“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.”

The resolution. which passed 4-3 with Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly, Deputy Mayor John Rishe, Councilor Steve Fisher and Councilor Bill Dillabough voting in favor, accused Powers of intimidation and bullying.

“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.”

Councilor Dan Skamperle took issue with the censure. He believed two other councilors should face similar admonishment, if such action was to be taken against Powers.

He referenced a Feb. 26 Facebook post in which Councilor Fisher said the library director had “gotten a little bitchy,” and referenced the use foul language by Dillabough.

Skamperle called for an amendment to add the other two councilors to the censure list, but failed to get the necessary votes.

He referred to the situation as a double standard.

Powers reiterated that he had no problem being censured but said the same rules should apply to all members of the council.

When questioned about the censure resolution in a brief interview Tuesday, the mayor said he believed Power’s overall actions, not just the used of foul language, warranted the censure.