BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Tension between the city and the fire department continues to build as two Ogdensburg firefighters are facing section 75 hearings, according to City Manager Steven Jellie.

Section 75 of New York State Civil Service Law allows for removal and other disciplinary proceedings, which could lead to the removal of employees or fines.

The firefighters facing the hearings include Jarred Wells, who was recently charged for driving while intoxicated while off duty, and Brian Kirby, who was charged with harassment following an alleged incident at city hall in which he was accused of shoving into the city manager. Both men have not yet faced the charges in court to determine whether they are guilty.

Kirby has been suspended without pay.

Jellie said Wells was not formerly suspended because he was already off work due to injury.

Jellie would not specify if the hearings were related to those incidents.

Ogdensburg Firefighters Union President Jason Bouchard says the actions by the city manager are aimed at reducing the department’s staffing numbers.

“Brian Kirby has been suspended. Jarred Wells has not been placed on leave. There's not much else to say as these are in the hands of the legal system other than the proposed disciplinary action would make Mr. Jellie's job to reduce the fire department easier by prematurely dismissing two excellent firefighters before their due process,” he said.

The incident is the latest in an ongoing feud between the city manager, who also serves as the fire chief, and the fire department.

The city has proposed cutting 10 positions from the fire department as the city manager says the current contract between the city and union is unsustainable.

The city is looking for ways to save money to expand the gap between the tax levy and the constitutional tax limit, as the state comptroller’s has categorized the city as being at high risk for the past several years.

A recommendation from the state financial restructuring board suggested the city should work to reduce the number of firefighters down to 19, and has offered some financial assistance to achieve that target.

The majority council of Mayor Jeffrey Skelly, City Manager John Rishe and councilors Bill Dillabough and Steven Fisher campaigned on a premise to cut taxes by 25 percent. The tentative budget would reduce the tax levy by 6.5 percent, but work is being done now to reduce the 2021 budget by as much as 15 percent.

In response, the fire department has criticized the city manager for valuing finances over public safety. Former members of city council and members of the public at nearly every meeting have echoed that sentiment since the city originally proposed cutting police and fire positions. Since taking office, the majority council members also eliminated the recreation department and are proposing to eliminate the comptroller position.

The union recently held a unanimous “no-confidence” vote regarding Jellie's leadership as fire chief, and has filed formal complaints regarding his actions.

Some members of the union have also criticized the manager for not moving to the city as is required by the city charter and for not attending major fire calls.

Bouchard has alleged that the city manager has a history of being a union buster and has refused requests from the city to renegotiate the existing contract, and he says the city isn’t interested in genuine discussions.

Jellie contends that he’d like to reach a deal that eliminates jobs through attrition and potential retirement buyouts, but says to do so, the union must negotiate.