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The Watertown City Council took sudden action last night in essentially firing City Manager Mary Corriveau. Corriveau's contract was set to expire April 30, and the council voted on a last minute resolution to not renew the contract at that time. Watertown City Councilman Jeff Smith was among those who voted yes on the resolution. He said there were several reasons for the dismissal, but would not go into specifics, calling it a "personnel manner". Smith said the decision had to be made last night because the council is required to give the manager 90 days notice. Otherwise, she would be paid a large severance package. Smith says there are plans on this point on how to go about hiring a new manager. The final vote was 3-2 in favor of dismissing Corriveau. Voting in favor were Smith, Councilman Joe Butler Jr., and Councilwoman Roxanne Burns. Voting against the resolution were Mayor Jeff Graham and Councilwoman Teresa Macaluso.

10:15 AM

It was not a good night for city managers in the North Country. The Ogdensburg City Council Tuesday night voted to fire it's manager, Art Sciorra. The move is not a surprise since Sciorra has been under fire for months since it was learned that a family lived in a city owned home for several years rent and tax free. Sciorra has been blamed by some city officials for the blunder, although Sciorra maintains he should not take full blame. After threatening to sue the city, the council last night voted to give him a severance package. In return Sciorra will drop the suit.

10:14 AM

Governor Cuomo has unveiled his budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Cuomo's 132-point-five-billion dollar budget for 2012-2013 lowers overall spending slightly while closing a three-point-five-billion dollar budget gap. Education is a top priority to Cuomo, and schools will receive a four percent increase in state aid, up to over 20-billion dollars overall. Many local school districts saw their aid increase no where near that number. The increase in aid is also tied to schools developing a new teacher-evaluation system plan by January of 2013, with the governor saying bluntly "no evaluation, no money, period."

10:13 AM

Governor Cuomo's proposed budget changes the pension system in New York, a move that is likely to be fought by some unions. Under the governor's plan, a new pension tier called Tier Six would be created for new employees that would require them to make increased contributions to their pension. In addition, new employees would have the option to sign up for a defined contribution plan similar to a 401(k), and the retirement age would be increased from 62 to 65. The PEF and CSEA unions have already come out against Tier Six, calling it "misguided" and "an assault on the middle class and a cheap shot at public employees."

10:12 AM

The governor's budget package did yield some good news for most local schools. A majority saw a boost in school aid, although not as much as education officials had hoped. The Watertown City School District will see a $373,000 boost in aid from the current budget. Indian River and Carthage received the largest boosts in aid. Indian River will get an additional $1.9 million while Carthage will see $1.07 million. Sackets Harbor will get less aid, down $191,000 from the current budget.

10:11 AM

Some people should probably stick to using public transportation. That's likely the way police agencies feel about a Syracuse man who's just received his 29th traffic ticket. Twenty-seven-year-old John Piraino was pulled over by Oswego County Sheriff's deputies this week after he was spotted passing cars on the crest of a hill in a no-passing zone. Piranio, who's now charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, was driving with a suspended license the result of previous convictions.

10:10 AM

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