Mayor John Rishe News Today

OGDENSBURG — A 2022 budget proposal, amended to hire two additional police officers, was voted down Monday night by the Ogdensburg City Council by a 4-3 margin with Mayor Jeffrey

OGDENSBURG — A resolution brought to the floor at Monday night’s Ogdensburg City Council meeting calling for an investigation against City Manager Stephen P. Jellie’s Facebook behavior was tabled, resulting

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 - 9:08 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – A resolution that would have allowed the city manager to execute a lease with the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority failed to pass Monday. Ogdensburg City Councilors Dan Skamperle, Michael Powers and Nichole Kennedy voted against the leasing the property citing a lack of information regarding the total cost and concerns over spending. Deputy Mayor John Rishe urged his fellow councilors...

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 5:02 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority will provide a counter proposal to the city’s plan to reopen the former city beach. Following a candid but courteous exchange between city and OBPA officials, OBPA Chairman Vernon ‘Sam’ Burns said the authority would discuss their concerns regarding the lease agreement in executive session. Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly opened the presentation sharing c...

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 9:15 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – A debate over Ogdensburg Public Library Board of Trustees appointments got heated Monday after the mayor took no action on the matter despite requests from the public. Several members of the public called on Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly to appoint candidates recommended by the Ogdensburg Library Board of Trustees to fill three seats on their board. “The appointments to the library board ...

Sunday, April 4, 2021 - 5:05 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Despite some debate over ensuring the need for adequate public review and assurances it would not replace the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, Ogdensburg City Council agreed to accept a draft Community Development Plan. Deputy Mayor John Rishe with some help from fellow councilors drafted a 30-page plan. Despite frequent disagreements between factions of the city council, the plan pa...

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - 5:31 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg tabled a wastewater treatment center change order that would have increased costs by $5 million and would have allowed the city to accept waste from other haulers to generate revenue. Several project alternates were left out of the original project scope due to costs that exceeded engineering plans. The city borrowed enough money to cover the alternate projects, which als...

Saturday, January 16, 2021 - 7:13 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Manager Stephen Jellie said he expects to have an update on the state mandated police reforms at the Jan. 25 meeting. Other communities are much further along in the process. St. Lawrence County, for instance, has already completed the process for the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Mayor John Rishe sought an update Jan. 11 as state mandated deadlines are quickly approachin...

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - 1:31 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Manager Stephen Jellie has reopened the Lockwood arena after discussions with the Ogdensburg school superintendent. Two letters were read aloud during the Monday, Jan. 11 City Council meeting asking officials to reconsider its decision to delay the reopening of the city’s ice arena until January 16. The pleas did not fall upon deaf ears. The letters said the activi...