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Ogdensburg City Manager Sarah Purdy says city's plan to cut city employees has no 'legal effect'

Posted 5/11/20

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country Now OGDENSBURG – A memo from Ogdensburg City Manager Sarah Purdy says a resolution passed by city council that lays off several employees has no legal effect. …

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Ogdensburg City Manager Sarah Purdy says city's plan to cut city employees has no 'legal effect'

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country Now

OGDENSBURG – A memo from Ogdensburg City Manager Sarah Purdy says a resolution passed by city council that lays off several employees has no legal effect.

“Because the directives in Bill #37 regarding layoffs have no legal effect, I will instead seek union negotiations to obtain cost-saving measures. I also will start the process of some staff reductions, but because I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with the impacted employees, I am not able to provide more details on this item at this time,” she said in the memo.

“The May 15 deadline will not be feasible as it is inconsistent with New York State Civil Service Law,” she said.

At the Wednesday meeting, dozens of people spoke against the resolution raising concerns of public safety, potential lawsuits and the welfare of the employees and citizens who will be impacted by the cuts. No one from the public called for support in passing the resolution.

Councilors Michael Powers, Nichole Kennedy and Dan Skamperle pleaded with council to have the resolution reviewed by an attorney, believing it violates the city charter.

However, Mayor Jeffrey Skelly, Deputy Mayor John Rishe and councilors Bill Dillabough and Steven Fisher voted to pass the resolution without legal review.

The amended resolution called for four layoffs in the city police force, two administrative positions in the parks and recreation department, and a layoff of one housing inspector.

The original proposal would have laid off the city assessor and four firefighters as well.

The proposal also calls for the recreation department to be absorbed by the public works department and a 40 percent reduction in police department overtime.

Additionally the proposal would leave the city manager position vacant for the remainder of 2020 and implements cuts to engineering consultants, city hall maintenance, central services contractual expenses, pumper truck payments, recreational capital construction, parks equipment and capital construction, fishing derby, landfill closure, no summer recreation camp and pool closure.

Finally the proposal would extend the hiring freeze through the end of the year.

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