Accusations, personal attacks, even claims of drunken outbursts and physical altercations. There's no question the Ogdensburg City Council Majority and supporters of the city's fire department are at complete odds.

"I don't know if this will ever work out. You know, we hope so," Mayor Mike Skelly said.

"A lot of good comes out of conflict and I will always say that, but it needs to be professional, professionally conducted conflict," Ogdensburg Fire Union President Jason Bouchard added.

Both sides seem agree on both of those statements, and that what has happened is not being taken personal. People's livelihoods are on the line here. However, Mayor Skelly says none of it will change his mind when it comes to what he says is a need to cut back.

"Other councils conceded to that, but it's different this time," he said.

Of course, the union believes the city isn't fighting fair either, it's just more silent. He believes the city has no intentions of good faith negotiations, already planning to breach a six year contract before year one is over, and the union has gone as far as to hire an economist to breakdown the numbers the city is using to call for these cuts.

"We want to have our own guy look at it just for the fact that we want to know for sure," Bouchard said.

However, the city manager, who crafted the budget plan and these cuts, says he is ready to have real conversations.

"At some point, we've got to sit down and figure out what we're going to do to move forward because continuing to battle isn't going to fix anything," City Manager Stephen Jellie said.

"We all want what is best for Ogdensburg, but we have our side and that's protecting the public," Bouchard added.

The union says if the numbers it sees tells the same story as the city's, it will rethink its stance. But as of right now, with no idea about that or the fact stimulus money could come from the COVID-19 crisis, there's no need to do that.