Sciorra Demands Public Hearing

Suspended Ogdensburg City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra responded to the City Council's resolution to fire him by calling for a public hearing and attacking the process used to pass the resolution.

Mr. Sciorra delivered a written response to the council's actions to the city clerk's office on Friday. Council members on Dec. 19 passed a resolution to start the process to fire Mr. Sciorra.

Mr. Sciorra's statement calls into question the process by which the council voted to fire him, but does not specify what about it he finds objectionable.

"I hereby reserve all my rights to contest the procedure followed by the Council to bring this resolution at the session of the City Council held on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. and to contest any consequences of this above mentioned session as per my employment," he said in the statement.

Mr. Sciorra said Monday he is discussing the procedural objections with his attorney and would not elaborate.

Mr. Sciorra's attorney, Gilles R. Abitbol of Syracuse, said the procedural issue was being considered, but would not comment further.

In addition to requesting a public hearing, Mr. Sciorra's statement places the burden of proof on the city to show cause for his firing.

"At this hearing I will expect the city to show by substantial and persuasive evidence of my alleged willful misconduct, my alleged habitual neglect and my alleged incompetence for each of the six counts asserted in the Council's alleged termination for cause," the statement said.

Mr. Sciorra's contract requires the council show "substantial, persuasive evidence" that he is guilty of the charges brought against him in the preliminary resolution. If the council cannot show any evidence, it may still choose to terminate Mr. Sciorra without cause. The resolution claimed Mr. Sciorra is guilty of willful misconduct, habitual neglect of duty and incompetence after a family was allowed to live for three years without paying rent or taxes in a city-owned property that was renovated as part of Ogdensburg's housing program.

If Mr. Sciorra is terminated without cause, the terms of his contract entitle him to six months of salary and benefits from the time he is terminated. His annual salary is $99,748.

According to a time line set by Ogdensburg's city charter, the City Council must schedule Mr. Sciorra's hearing no earlier than 15 days and no later than 30 days from the time he requests it, which places the date between Jan. 7 and Jan. 22.