MASSENA -- The Massena Memorial Hospital Board of Managers at their March 4 meeting recognized three board members who have been ousted over the last two months.

The board passed resolutions honoring former chairs Sue Bellor and Carol Fenton and former vice chair Dave MacLennan.

All three were fired by Town Supervisor Steve O'Shaughnessy. He fired Bellor after she had been chair for four days and criticized him in public.

She criticized O’Shaughnessy over his appointment of Dr. Michael Maresca of St. Lawrence Radiology to the Board of Managers. Maresca is also Canton-Potsdam Hospital's chief of medicine. Bellor attended the Jan. 2 Town Council meeting and said the appointment is a conflict of interest because St. Lawrence Radiology has a contract to provide service MMH. She also said she believes O’Shaughnessy’s preference that the hospital affiliate with St. Lawrence Health System is a mistake.

Fenton succeeded Bellor as chair and was fired by O'Shaughnessy after less than two weeks. MacLennan was fired at the same time.

Fenton had also criticized O'Shaughnessy in public, but prior to her short term as chair.

During a Jan. 16 Town Council meeting, Fenton said she felt she was speaking "at my own peril, because the last Massena Memorial Hospital Board of Managers person who stood at this podium was summarily removed."

"I fail to see why you are so interested in who we affiliate with if the main purpose is your responsibility to make sure we are not in any financial constraints," Fenton said at the meeting. "If you have no money in the deal, what is your problem? I challenge you all to ask that question."

She was questioning why O'Shaughnessy wants them to consider an affiliation with St. Lawrence Health System when the board had already decided to pursue affiliation with Claxton-Hepburn/Crouse.

Bellor, along with MMH cardiac and imaging services director Bob Elsner, have announced bids for two Town Council seats that will be up for election in November.