Dunkirk clerk alone in pay raise for 2006 (10/24/06)

DUNKIRK - Continuing with their drive to hold the line on spending, council members here voted unanimously Monday against granting any pay increases to elected officials next year with the exception of the city clerk-treasurer.

"I can't see any reason to raise the salaries of elected officials in view of our financial situation," Mayor Sam Hubbard said.

However, councilman James Doughty suggested that the salary of clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler should be an exception. He recommended that she receive a 2.5 percent pay increase like the rest of the full-time city employees.

Her current annual salary is $30,036.

Doughty's motion to that effect was approved unanimously by the council members.

Officials who won't be getting a raise next year include the mayor, council members and the city court judge.

In other business at Monday's meeting, council members:

•Heard a report that vandalism has been on the increase at Dunkirk City Park.

Tom Johnson, councilman in charge of the parks department, said there had been several incidents of vandalism over the weekend including the theft of three letters, all Ks, from one of the Dunkirk City Park signs along Highland Avenue.

He added that other recent acts of vandalism have included the theft of various city signs, including stop signs, as well as political candidate signs in town.

Dunkirk street department superintendent Howard Fisher added that the theft of stop signs was especially dangerous since it could result in a serious auto accident.

"When you try to make a park nice and people don't care, it makes your blood boil," Johnson said. He added that this marked the third time that letters have been stolen from park's brick welcome sign.

Mayor Hubbard said that several Jay County Jail inmates, who have been doing community service work to improve the city parks, have told city officials that they are disgusted with this sort of vandalism.

•Noted that the city was still taking bids in an attempt to sell a 1992 three-quarter-ton, four-wheel-drive, eight-cylinder pickup truck which the city park department no longer needs. Johnson said that the truck needs work to get it running again, but it has a good engine. He set a minimum bid figure of $300, and said that bids may be submitted in sealed envelopes at the city clerk-treasurer's office anytime prior to the next city council session at 7 p.m. Nov. 13.

•Approved the appointment of Abby Whetsel to the Dunkirk Park Board. She will replace Brenda Brumfield on the board, effective this month. The park board's next meeting is set for 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, in city hall.

•Held a public hearing and approved vacating an unimproved section of street and alley on the east side of Broad Street, near Moore Avenue, where a new house is being built by John and Holly Faulkner.

•Set a similar hearing for 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in city hall to consider a request from Mark A. Church to vacate an unimproved section of Hoover Street between Ohio and North Streets in the mobile home court area there.

•Heard complaints about pit bull dogs running loose in the area of Main Street and Shadyside Avenue. Faulkner said that a local mail carrier sprayed one of the dogs with pepper spray. Hubbard said that he would have the animal control officer and police department check into the matter.

•Noted that with the winter snow-plowing season coming up, residents are asked to relocate their portable basketball goals away from the sides of the city streets when they are not in use.

•Complained that they were not satisfied with some recent paving work by Ray Oaks Paving, Dunkirk, at various locations in the community. City officials said that they were not sure if the work had been finished, but payment had already been made. Doughty and Fisher were instructed to contact the paving firm to see if some improvements could be made. Total cost for the various paving projects amounted to about $4,000.

•Noted that city water hydrants would be flushed next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Residents were cautioned persons to not do laundry during those times.[[In-content Ad]]