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Ogdensburg city councilors to host hearing on by-laws requiring board approval for appointments to committees, commissions

Posted 10/29/14

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG -- City councilors have agreed to hold several public hearings Nov. 10 regarding changes to the by-laws that will require board approval for appointments to city committees …

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Ogdensburg city councilors to host hearing on by-laws requiring board approval for appointments to committees, commissions

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- City councilors have agreed to hold several public hearings Nov. 10 regarding changes to the by-laws that will require board approval for appointments to city committees and commissions.

Under the current law, the mayor may make appointments to various committees and commissions without approval of the council.

The resolutions were introduced Monday by Mayor William Nelson, but the idea was brought up by councilor William Hosmer at a previous meeting, when the board discussed creating a committee to oversee a proposed adaptive reuse district.

Hosmer said the boards, commissions and committees that oversee various city projects and programs are selected by the mayor and not accountable to taxpayers and residents.

Hosmer said that Mayor Nelson has always sought board approval for board appointments, but wanted assurance that future mayors would be required to seek board approval.

Hosmer called for a change in the city charter to ensure this would be done.

The board unanimously voted to hold public hearing regarding the proposed changes to various city bylaws.

The proposal expands the power to appoint to require a quorum rather than leaving the power with the mayor.

The change will affect the planning board, zoning board, charter review commission, recreation commission, arts council, historical preservation commission, the executive compensation committee, complete streets task force and various other city control boards.

The public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at city hall.