BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – A public hearing set for Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. will allow the public to chime in on a city council proposal that would alter the city charter to give the city council, rather than the city manager control over the hiring and firing of department heads.

“City Department Heads, such as the position of chief of police and fire chief are important public positions in the administration of the local government of the city of Ogdensburg,” the resolution says. “The individuals who fill these positions, with the exception of the city attorney are presently appointed, suspended or removed from their administration position by the city manager under the present Ogdensburg City Charter.”

The resolution says that such authority should be given only to elected officials instead.

The resolution to hold the public hearing on the proposed charter changed passed in a 4-2 vote. Mayor Jeffrey Skelly, Deputy Mayor John Rishe and councilors Bill Dillabough and Steve Fisher supported the bill.

Councilors Michael Powers and Dan Skamperle opposed. Nichole Kennedy was not present.

Skamperle said he did not believed elected officials should not be making the determinations. He said a city manager oversees day-to-day operations and is more knowledgeable about the issues related to personnel.

“I think we are completely unqualified to know what’s going on,” he said.

He also feared politics were at the core of the proposal.

Councilor Powers agreed. He said the move was a power grab and questioned the legality of the move.

Rishe said that he still believes recommendations would be made by the city manager regarding hiring and firing, but the council would make the final decisions.

The charter in its current form bars the council from directing the city manager on who to hire or fire.