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Citing Knox Street house controversy, Ogdensburg mayor calls on city manager to resign

Posted 9/29/11

OGDENSBURG – Mayor William Nelson is calling on City Manager Art Sciorra to resign. He cited city residents’ loss of “trust and confidence” in Sciorra over the controversy over the 819 Knox …

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Citing Knox Street house controversy, Ogdensburg mayor calls on city manager to resign

Posted

OGDENSBURG – Mayor William Nelson is calling on City Manager Art Sciorra to resign.

He cited city residents’ loss of “trust and confidence” in Sciorra over the controversy over the 819 Knox St. house in which a family lived rent- and tax-free.

Nelson said he was “disheartened” to learn that Sciorra was “aware of the situation more than 2 years ago and took no discernible action to rectify the situation.”

Nelson released the following statement late this afternoon:

Today, I call upon Art Sciorra to resign as Ogdensburg city manager.

As I talk to city residents this fall, they tell me over and over again how Mr. Sciorra has lost their trust and confidence because of the ongoing issue at 819 Knox St. I do not believe, based on those conversations, that Mr. Sciorra can earn back that trust.

I have started my own independent review of the e-mail exchanges between the city planner and his boss, the city manager. I was disheartened to read that Mr. Sciorra was aware of the situation more than 2 years ago and took no discernible action to rectify the situation.

Mr. Sciorra also did not inform City Council of the ongoing issue, which left us unable to make decisions that could have rectified the situation.

A city manager’s duty to his employer – the taxpayers – is to be honest, accountable and transparent at all times. I do not believe Mr. Sciorra can continue to meet that standard.

I urge my fellow City Council members to join me in calling for Mr. Sciorra to step down.