Dunkirk paving problem

DUNKIRK — Some hard choices need to be made in the next few weeks about which city streets to resurface this summer.
More streets need resurfacing than the city budget will allow, Eric Bowler, Dunkirk council member in charge of the street department, pointed out at Monday night’s council session.
Bowler said the city’s street paving fund stands at $39,622. He added that some additional money should be taken from the water department budget as some of the roadways damaged during water main repair work.
But it won’t be enough to complete repairs, he said.
Bowler cited the section of Commerce Street between Main and Meridian streets as particularly in need of repair. This includes the section of street in front of the Dunkirk Post Office and American Legion Post.
Bowler said Lincoln Avenue should also be included on the list of city streets in need of resurfacing.
Meanwhile other council members noted that Washington Street, leading up to the Verallia glass plant is another street in need of a lot of repair work.
Bowler said that if Commerce Street is chosen, the city might want to consider having an adjoining alley near the Dunkirk Scout Cabin resurfaced as well. He said the alley has been in need of repair for at least three years. However, other council members said the city should not be paving alleys when so many streets need repair work. Also cited as a problem was Broad Street.
“I think we should have a plan. We can’t do them all unfortunately,” councilman Chuck Rife said.
Finally after further discussion, Mayor Ron Hunt suggested tabling further discussion of the matter until the next council meeting on March 28 when city officials intend to have city street superintendent Howard Fisher present to answer questions and present more details.
In other business Monday night, city council members:
•Heard a report from councilman Tom Johnson that work is continuing to establish the necessary electrical service lines to allow the June 1-4 Glass Days Festival to be held downtown once again this year. “We’ve got that rolling along pretty good,” Johnson said.
•Approved an ordinance amending the city vacation policy regarding the need to schedule vacation days in advance. The new ordinance states that all vacations should be scheduled with a department supervisor prior to Oct. 1 or the vacation time will be forfeited for that calendar year. This is to prevent the possibility of several employees taking vacations at the end of the year and leaving their department short-handed.
•Approved a payment from the street department of $804 for rental of a Bobcat machine from Small Engine Warehouse, rural Dunkirk, to clear snow and ice from city sidewalks in February.[[In-content Ad]]