By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Despite initial protests from several city councilors, Ogdensburg will now release more information to the public prior to city council meetings.

Following a heated debate Monday, the city council agreed to let City Manager Sarah Purdy issue separate public and private updates prior to city council meetings.

The policy change followed requests from the Ogdensburg Journal aimed at better informing the public of information presented at city council meetings.

Purdy proposed the city post public updates for the city council on the website on Friday’s prior to city council meeting.

Purdy said any private information, such as business interests, lawsuits and other information shielded from the public would be provided in separate, exclusive updates to the council.

The decision to share more information with the public was supported strongly by City Councilor Brian Mitchell and Deputy Mayor Michael Morley, but was criticized by councilors Jennifer Stevenson, Timothy Davis, Daniel Skamperle and David Price.

Mitchell said releasing the information would give the public a better idea of what would be voted on at meetings and highlight how much work Ogdensburg city staff puts into preparing for them.

He said much of their work goes unnoticed and there is no reason much of what is included in city council updates should be withheld from the public.

Councilor Skamperle however, criticized local media saying the outlets could not be trusted with information.

“The newspaper doesn’t care who they hurt,” Skamperle said, citing the release of names of city manager candidates in the recent search to replace John Pinkerton.

Skamperle said information released from the city should come in the form of press releases to ensure that it is presented the way the city wants it presented. He accused the press of manipulating and twisting information.

Stevenson supported withholding information from the public, because the public has trusted the council to make decisions regarding information and how it is used.

“I agree with Dan,” Stevenson said.

Councilors David Price and Timothy Davis also supported the call to restrict public access to additional information regarding upcoming meetings.

Deputy Mayor Morley supported Purdy’s decision to release information that is considered public knowledge, prior to city council meetings. He said this practice was common prior to the electronic age. He said the non-private information was commonly shared with media outlets, but that died out when updates began coming electronically.

Skamperle pointed out that media and members of the public may submit freedom of information requests for such information, but Morley said the public should not have to submit requests for information that should be public anyway.

Ogdensburg Journal reporter Larry Robinson, who recently submitted requests for councilor updates, was recognized by Deputy Mayor Morley and granted the opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Robinson said he supported Purdy’s plan and pointed out that what he was after was transparency on information that should not be kept from the public.

Stevenson was quick to silence Robinson, citing a need for “decorum.”

After a heated debate, Purdy requested the board allow her to continue with her plan to release additional information that was not sensitive to public prior to the meetings.

Under her plan, the city council will receive updates Thursday. Once reviewed by the council the updates will be posted on the city council website.

Information regarding non-public information will be handled in a separate email.

Although the majority of councilors opposed Purdy’s plan, consensus was given to try her proposal.