Ogdensburg council appoints hearing officer in police disciplinary case, sets municipal judge salary

The Borough of Ogdensburg Mayor and Council on Jan. 22 unanimously approved a consent agenda that included the appointment of Brian J. Aloia, Esq., as independent hearing officer in the disciplinary matter involving Sgt. Joseph Sanfilippo and a resolution setting the municipal court judge's salary at $10,000 per year for a three-year term.

Mayor Rachel Slater read the meeting's required public-notice statement under the Open Public Meetings Act before the vote. The council approved Resolution 21-2018 to appoint Aloia at a per-diem rate of $1,000 and Resolution 22-2018 appointing the Hon. Glenn Gavan, J.M.C., as municipal court judge for the three-year term running Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2020 at $10,000 annually. Both resolutions passed by unanimous roll-call votes with councilmembers Astor, Gunderman, Hutnick, Nardini, Nasisi and Opilla recorded as voting yes.

Councilman Astor asked whether the $1,000 per-diem rate for the hearing officer should have been put out to bid and inquired which firm Mr. Aloia is associated with. Borough Attorney Richard Brigliadoro responded that the $1,000 figure is a flat rate and that his firm had designated Aloia to serve as the independent hearing officer. Brigliadoro also noted the appointment is contingent on there being a formal hearing.

Resolution 22-2018 formally names Glenn Gavan, J.M.C., as municipal court judge and sets the salary for each year of the three-year term, with no increases during the term. The resolutions were adopted as part of the consent agenda under motions moved by Councilman Hutnick and seconded by Councilman Opilla.

The council did not receive public comment on these measures during the meeting. The council later recessed into executive session for separate personnel and police-contract discussions and returned before adjourning at 7:41 p.m.