Randy J. Woodbury
Dunkirk’s Department of Public Works director says there was “no wrong doing” by any city official or workers regarding the 2019 removal of a tree from a plot of land that is now privately owned.
In a commentary piece published on Page A4 today, Randy J. Woodbury says he stands by his staff and again noted omissions from the report done for council members by attorney Dan Gard. “That the special counsel report did not disclose all of the deeds and easements and dates, with surveyed boundaries, remains a disappointing surprise, although the special counsel did explain he was a hired advocate for council against our mayor,” Woodbury writes.
jward@observertoday.com
A mild winter turned sour on Tuesday night when a lake effect snow band came in and dumped upward of 13 inches on the city of Dunkirk and the surrounding area.
“It was lake effect snow at its worst and the band stayed right over Dunkirk,” Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury told the OBSERVER. “As quickly as we plowed, we’d turn around and look and it looked like we never even started. It didn’t stop until about four in the morning and because we had to do everything all over again we issued the travel advisory.”
John Whittaker
Pictured are some police officers and municipal leaders in Chautauqua County giving their support to Sheriff James Quattrone and his efforts to address on Executive Order 203 â Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.
Editor’s Note: Today, the OBSERVER continues its look back at the top stories of 2020 and the way they will shape the coming year. Today, 20 for 2020 looks at the municipal matters that were among the most-read stories in the newspaper this year.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office is working on its New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative plan due to the state by April 1.
A rift between the Dunkirk Common Council and Mayor Wilfred Rosas has just become larger.
On Wednesday morning, Councilman-at-large Paul VanDenVouver told the OBSERVER he is banning Rosas from attending all of the Common Council meetings in 2021.
“Willie is banned from every council meeting for the year 2021,” VanDenVouver said. “I just made the decision.”
City attorney Richard Morrisroe was asked if the move was legal and told the OBSERVER that it is a “very gray area.”
“This council is testing the charter like it’s never been tested before,” Morrisroe said. “The mayor may not be allowed in in a professional capacity, but as a private, registered voting citizen he has First Amendment rights to be there. There’s nothing in the charter or the meeting rules other than that the councilman-at-large runs the meetings and that the mayor has a right to call special meetings of the council if needed. Other than that, there’s nothing pertaining to them.”
jward@observertoday.com
Councilman-at-large Paul VanDenVouver ordered Mayor Wilfred Rosas leave Tuesdayâs council meeting because Rosas spoke without being called upon.
Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas was thrown out of the Common Council meeting for the second time since July on Tuesday. It began when Fiscal Affairs Officer Marsha Beach was questioned by the council about comments made Monday on the radio.
“You mentioned that garbage and refuse was $1,180,000-plus and in our budget we’re only budgeting $506,807,” First Ward Councilman Don Williams Jr. started. “I’m just trying to figure out where that other number came from when we didn’t hear that at the budget meetings.”