Overtime questions heat up meeting outdoors
Council president defends spending
DUNKIRK — One Council member’s questions about overtime triggered a heated discussion Tuesday during a cold and windy outdoor meeting of the Dunkirk Common Council.
City Council members met outdoors at the Boardwalk near the city pier as the first in a series of four meetings being held outside of the chambers. Rain dampened the meeting, and brisk winds kept the crowd to but a few city employees.
What triggered the heat was Councilwoman Rose Floramo calling into question overtime expenses by city departments.
Council President James Muscato noted that the Fire and Police departments are well below the budgeted amount of overtime so far this year and that the Fire Department has used only about a third of the $93,000 budgeted for overtime.
Police Chief David Ortolano defended the use of overtime and said that his department is also under budget for this year. The chief also noted officers handled one of the largest crowds ever during the recent July 4 fireworks celebration. He said officers remained on duty, directing traffic until nearly midnight, after the 10 p. m. celebration. He said there were relatively few incidents reported and all were minor.
Mayor Richard Frey complimented the work of all city departments in preparing the city for the celebration.
Floramo also questioned an expense of $41,000 for emergency repairs at the water filtration plant.
City Public Works Superintendent Tony Gugino said the repairs were necessary before the county and state health departments mandated an order for repairs. He said about $17 million in funding is being sought to upgrade the water system for the city. No grants have been awarded as yet.
The city paid for the emergency repairs by using funding from the community development block grant program. Funds were allocated from the Streetscape project, the Great Lakes FX fund, the water meter fund and the 2009 Brain Gain program. Floramo voted against transferring the funding to pay the bill. The measure was approved, 4-1.
All Council members supported a motion to hold a public hearing on the proposed transfer of several city lots to the Dunkirk Local Development Corp. for economic development.
The nonprofit agency is expected to use the sites to promote new businesses and encourage community improvement in neighborhoods by cleaning up the lots or developing new taxpaying enterprises.
The hearing will be held at 5:50 p. m. July 21. The hearing will precede the next regular meeting, at the New York Street Playground in the city’s 2nd Ward.
First Ward Councilman A. J. Dolce reported that eight stray cats were trapped last week as part of the city’s efforts to clear out the unwanted cats. He said there will be one more trapping this summer.
Floramo noted that she has received several reports about stray cats and that an increased effort to remove them is needed.
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