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Ogdensburg has no fire chief; city manager working on solution

Posted 1/23/20

BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg has no fire chief. Ogdensburg Fire Chief Michael Farrell retired Monday, according to City Manager Sarah Purdy. At a recent meeting …

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Ogdensburg has no fire chief; city manager working on solution

Posted

BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg has no fire chief.

Ogdensburg Fire Chief Michael Farrell retired Monday, according to City Manager Sarah Purdy.

At a recent meeting the council said Farrell may be interested in coming back to serve as chief, however state and county regulations as well as the city’s hiring freeze have complicated the matter.

Purdy says she’s been working for a solution that meets the New York State Office of Fire Prevention Control requirements, state Civil Service Requirements, county Civil Service Requirements, and the language in the city’s recently enacted hiring freeze.

She says the state and city requirements prevent the city from bringing Farrell back in a part-time manner because that would constitute a new hire, and even though he was previously chief he does not meet the new Civil Service minimum qualification for the position of Fire Chief.

Purdy says she’s working to obtain a waiver from the state that would allow Farrell to bypass the requirements, but has found a temporary solution that will be brought forward at the City Council meeting Monday.

For now the city’s four assistant chief’s and the city manager are handling operations.

“There isn’t anything that says the position must be filled. Right now the four assistant chiefs are handling things and brining to my attention items that would go to the chief. The City Charter states that in the absence of a department head the City Manager is the department head but I do not meet the State requirements for the position. That is why I am bringing forward the temporary plan,” Purdy said.