Skelly, O’burg mayor, calls accusations a lie

OGDENSBURG, N.Y. (WWNY) - After another failed attempt to hold a city council meeting over the internet Monday night, something happened involving Mayor Mike Skelly and city staff members.

Just what, isn’t clear - and in a statement to 7 News late Tuesday night, Skelly denied he did anything wrong and called suggestions “completely untrue" that he went to city hall “in some sort of a rage.”

Tensions are high in Ogdensburg already, as a faction of the city council led by Skelly has proposed cuts in personnel and layoffs. City officials are trying to close a projected $900,000 budget gap.

A police report from Monday night showed police were called to city hall by city clerk Cathy Jock, who a little earlier in the evening had shut down the council meeting because more than a thousand people were trying to log in.

Skelly’s name is listed on the police report, as is City Manager Sarah Purdy.

The report provides no other details, but council member Dan Skamperle recounted for 7 News Tuesday what he was told.

“I actually got a call at about 7:45 from the City Manager. She was very upset. Apparently Mayor Skelly, after the close of the meeting, went to City Hall. It appeared as though he was pounding on the doors, trying to get in.

"The City Manager told me she was scared for her life. People inside City Hall were scared. They didn’t know what to do. The police were called.

"Apparently the Mayor and the city Police Chief had an altercation. It’s my understanding he was using vulgarities towards the police chief. And, the Mayor was finally escorted to his truck by some police officers.

“And, the City Manager and employees were also escorted home by the police for their safety,” Skamperle said.

Several attempts to reach Skelly Tuesday were unsuccessful, but late Tuesday night, Skelly sent a lengthy, written statement to 7 News. (The full text follows this story.)

In his statement, Skelly says "Channel 7 ran a story on Tuesday and did not include me. They interviewed Ogdensburg councilors Dan Skamperle and Mike Powers both public union guys who said that I had gone to City Hall in some sort of rage.

“That is completely untrue,” Skelly said in his statement.

“From what I understand the behavior was pretty astounding and quite frankly disrespectful, and it severely needs to be looked at and reviewed," said another city council member, Mike Powers.

Purdy said she is not in a position to say anything, because she fears retaliation, though she did not say by who.

A second police report Tuesday morning shows police were again called to city hall, and Skelly’s name is again listed. This police report has a little more information; it reads police responded to a “report of an unknown problem” and “patrols responded and facilitated mayor in accessing his office.”

In his statement, Skelly explains what happens this way:

"After the City Clerk refused to let us have a public meeting on Monday I drove to City Hall, to talk to her. We have been friends in the past and she is an excellent employee of city government. But upon arriving, I was told by Ogdensburg Police Chief Andrew Kennedy that I could not go into City Hall.

"I could see several officers already inside. Chief Kennedy said I was not allowed inside. He told me he did not like my politics and we exchanged words, but never any vulgarities. Following the exchange I went home.

"The following day on Tuesday I made several attempts by phone to reach the City Manager Sarah Purdy and the City Clerk Cathy Jock. They did not return those attempts. So I drove to City Hall, again and this time once again encountering several Ogdensburg City Police Officers.

"I was initially refused access, but after getting inside was met by City Manager Purdy and Comptroller Tim Johnson. Ms. Purdy had police offers on the scene and began to cry and told officers she was afraid and felt intimidated. At no time did I say or do anything that was disrespectful or confrontational. The police escorted me to my office and kept an officer outside.

"The officers asked to talk to Ms. Purdy but she said she would only do so if the city Comptroller Tim Johnson was by her side.

“I conducted my business from my mayor’s office in City Hall and went home.”

What happens now?

Powers said meetings should be held in-person, rather than over the internet. But city council member John Rishe, an ally of Skelly, got an opinion from the state’s Committee on Open Government which concluded the internet meetings are likely ok, because the city is making a “reasonable effort” to accommodate the public.

And Powers also thinks things have gone so far, the city can’t solve its problems on its own.

“I think what needs to happen now is we need a third party to come in here and right this ship," he said.

Powers said he has reached out to the state Attorney General’s office, but has not heard back.

For his part, Skelly says “The games being played by the city manager and police are an obvious attempt to stop the majority of city council in Ogdensburg from making cuts in order to streamline government and save taxpayer dollars. We are calling for temporary reductions. But we are met by a police state mentality.”

The full statement of Ogdensburg mayor Mike Skelly

MAYOR SAYS ALLEGATIONS ARE A LIE

To the Editor, and Citizens of Ogdensburg and St. Lawrence County:

The allegations portrayed in a WWNY report on May 12 regarding me and my actions involving Ogdensburg City Hall employees are an absolute lie.

Channel 7 ran a story on Tuesday and did not include me. They interviewed Ogdensburg councilors Dan Skamperle and Mike Powers both public union guys who said that I had gone to City Hall in some sort of rage.

That is completely untrue.

THE FACTS: After the City Clerk refused to let us have a public meeting on Monday I drove to City Hall, to talk to her. We have been friends in the past and she is an excellent employee of city government. But upon arriving, I was told by Ogdensburg Police Chief Andrew Kennedy that I could not go into City Hall.

I could see several officers already inside. Chief Kennedy said I was not allowed inside. He told me he did not like my politics and we exchanged words, but never any vulgarities. Following the exchange I went home.

The following day on Tuesday I made several attempts by phone to reach the City Manager Sarah Purdy and the City Clerk Cathy Jock. They did not return those attempts. So I drove to City Hall, again and this time once again encountering several Ogdensburg City Police Officers.

I was initially refused access, but after getting inside was met by City Manager Purdy and Comptroller Tim Johnson. Ms. Purdy had police offers on the scene and began to cry and told officers she was afraid and felt intimidated. At no time did I say or do anything that was disrespectful or confrontational. The police escorted me to my office and kept an officer outside.

The officers asked to talk to Ms. Purdy but she said she would only do so if the city Comptroller Tim Johnson was by her side.

I conducted my business from my mayor’s office in City Hall and went home.

The games being played by the city manager and police are an obvious attempt to stop the majority of city council in Ogdensburg from making cuts in order to streamline government and save taxpayer dollars. We are calling for temporary reductions. But we are met by a police state mentality.

We are asking to reduce the 30 member Ogdensburg Police Department by four positions, the recreation department by two administrative positions and the code enforcement office by one position. Layoffs because we are struggling and will struggle financially for the upcoming future because of the economic shut down due to the virus.

We also had economic problems in the city before that.

I will not stand for being slandered by the police and city officials over allegations that are untrue. Everyone in Ogdensburg knows me as a hardworking local business owner. To be portrayed by the local deep state politicians as some kind of angry threatening person is unfair, unjust and a blatant lie.

Ogdensburg City Hall and the police department should be ashamed for creating this false narrative. Skamperle and Powers are also a disgrace.

Mike Skelly

Ogdensburg City Mayor

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