BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Manager Stephen Jellie will stay on at the post through the of the year.

Jellie had originally planned to resign in June, but has decided to push back the time frame based on requests from some city council members and because of concerns regarding the city’s fiscal situation.

“Taking into consideration all the challenges facing the City of Ogdensburg during the year 2022, my family and I have decided that I will remain in the position of City Manager through the end of the year. I will submit my written resignation, with the new effective date, to the Mayor and City Council prior to the next City Council meeting on 23 May 2022,” he said in a prepared statement.

Jellie has been a controversial figure since he was hired in 2019 without the traditional search and lengthy interview process typically involved in such hiring.

He’s received great praise from Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey Skelly as well as Deputy Mayor Steve Fisher.

He’s also received significant criticism from Councilors Michael Powers, Dan Skamperle and Nichole Kennedy as well as members of the community.

During his time as city manager Ogdensburg has seen drastic reductions in its police and fire department.

The city has also outsourced comptroller services and is entangled in lawsuits with the fire union and St. Lawrence County.

The city has also begun collecting its own sales tax and requested the county take over a variety of services.

Taxes have dropped significantly in the wake of staff reductions since during his time as manager.

Jellie , however, says that the cuts will do little for the long-term health of the city.

“The City of Ogdensburg continues to face the very real threat of financial collapse if proactive concepts and decisions are not embraced immediately, there is no additional time for deliberation or debate. City Council has failed to heed the warnings and act affirmatively on the recommendations of my predecessor and myself, instead opting to continue the status quo that is enabling the city’s expenses to increase at a rate far greater than revenue is increasing,” Jellie said in a prepared statement.

Jellie said that despite significant staff reductions in 2021 and 2022, the City is likely facing a deficit of over $1 million going into to fiscal year 2023 that will require additional personnel cuts, increases in property taxes or use of the recently stabilized fund balance to continue a balanced budget; none of these courses of action are good for the city.

In a contentious meeting May 10 he showed clips of his predecessor Sarah Purdy issuing similar warnings in years prior.

Jellie said that during his time as manager he has fulfilled the will of the majority council.

“I am committed to continuing the very precise goals and objectives that were given to me by members of the Majority City Council that are designed solely to do what is right and best for the entire city. For far too long previous city councils have catered to the unaffordable entitlements of a few, the out of touch demands of the unions and the constant attacks of the special interest while overlooking the needs of the entire community,” he said.

“Mayor Jeffrey Skelly, Deputy Mayor Steven Fisher and Councilor William Dillabough remain committed to changing the culture of mismanagement and the out of control thirst to raise property taxes that gripped the residents of this city for decades; I will continue to do all I can to support them."