Ogdensburg council asks attorney to draft ordinance creating standing committees and formal liaison roles

Councilman Ciasullo proposed drafting an ordinance to formalize liaison roles into two-person standing committees to clarify duties, timelines and expectations for interacting with department heads.

Councilman Ciasullo said the move was intended to remove confusion about responsibilities and increase transparency. Councilman DeMeo cautioned that codifying certain mayoral designees or assigning fixed executive powers could raise concerns under the Faulkner Act; he distinguished administrative ‘liaison’ duties from formal commission roles. Borough Attorney Robert McBriar said the council can establish committees by ordinance, specifying charges, officer selection and terms, and that drafting such an ordinance is within the municipal attorney retainer.

McBriar suggested council members first compile suggested committee charges and send them to Clerk Robin Hough and the attorney. Mayor George Hutnick and several council members expressed agreement that McBriar and Hough should draft an ordinance for the council’s review. The council did not vote on a final ordinance at the Feb. 10 meeting but recorded a consensus to proceed with drafting and return the proposed ordinance for a formal vote at a later meeting.