OGDENSBURG – Former Yates County Administrator Sarah Purdy will be the new Ogdensburg city manager starting Dec. 6.

Following an extensive nationwide recruitment process that attracted more than 30 candidates, Mayor William D. Nelson announced the selection on Tuesday.

Purdy recently worked as administrator of Yates County. Among her accomplishments were supervising a Brownfield remedial investigation and EPA clean-up of a former boat-building facility encompassing 14.8 acres on the shoreline of Keuka Lake, Nelson said.

She also implemented a five-year capital planning process coordinated with annual budget development, according to the mayor.

“On behalf of the City Council, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Purdy as our next city manager. Sarah brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of local government to our city, and we are pleased that she will be joining our team. Sarah has many accomplishments with projects similar to what we have in process, and we look forward to her experience and leadership in bringing these projects to fruition. Her accomplishments as County Administrator will be an asset to our community. I am confident Ms. Purdy will love our beautiful City as much as we do, so please join me in giving her a warm welcome to Ogdensburg," Nelson said.

Purdy served on the board of directors of the New York State Association of Counties from 2003 to 2010 and served as president of the association from 2008 to 2009. She is also a member of the Penn Yan Lions Club, and holds a master of public administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelor of arts in English and classics from Smith College, Nelson said.

“I am delighted to be joining the team working for the City of Ogdensburg, and look forward to continuing the good work of my predecessor, John Pinkerton. Everyone I have met so far has been very welcoming. Ogdensburg is an exciting city with lots to offer, and I'm thrilled to have been chosen as the next city manager,” Purdy said in a prepared statement.

City Council approved her contract Nov. 16.