Hubbard takes reins

DUNKIRK — New Mayor Sam Hubbard took over the reins of leadership Monday, chairing his first council session and making council member assignments and re-appointing city department heads.

Once again emphasizing that he planned to make few initial changes at the beginning of his administration, Hubbard said that he felt the city departments were performing well.

Hubbard said that he had set up regular office hours at city hall during his first week in office. Also Hubbard said that he had been visiting the various city departments and talking with city employees. The mayor’s office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

He also said he plans on emphasizing preventative maintenance for all city equipment during his administration. However, following his initial inspections, Hubbard said he felt this was already being done.

“Quite frankly, I found all the departments to be in good shape,” Hubbard said. One four-year-old street department truck still looks brand new, he said.

Announcing the council member assignments, Hubbard said he was basically continuing with the status quo.

New council member James Doughty will supervise the parks and recreation operations. Otherwise, council assignments will remain the same.

Those include Dan Watson, street department; Larry Smith, wastewater treatment plant; Connie Whetsel, water department; and Craig Faulkner, fire department.

The police department will continue to be supervised by the mayor.

Department head appointments include Arnold Clevenger, police chief; Steve Fields, fire chief and zoning administrator; Dace Mumbower, water department supervisor; Greg Buckner, wastewater treatment plant supervisor; and Elisha “Lash” Harvey, street department superintendent.

Members of the various city advisory boards and committees will also remain basically the same, Hubbard said.

Doughty will take over former city council member Jean Esslinger’s seat on the Dunkirk Board of Safety. Also Brenda Brumfield will be replacing Doughty as a citizen member of the city park board.

Hubbard also re-appointed William Hinkle as city attorney, a post which he has held for many years. “It’s always a pleasure to serve as city attorney for Dunkirk,” Hinkle said.

Following the appointments, Hubbard asked for nominations for the post of council president. Faulkner nominated Watson to continue serving in that position. Whetsel seconded the motion to elect Watson, who was not present at Monday’s meeting, and the motion was approved unanimously.

“(Watson) has been doing a good job,” Smith said.

In other business Monday night, council members:

•Heard a report from Hubbard that he intends to make cleaning up the town one of his top priorities. The mayor said he plans to have junk cars removed, pieces of property cleaned up, and “get everything the city owns in tip-top shape.”

•Agreed to extend the present cable TV franchise agreement with Insight Communications for another six months. Hinkle said that a new agreement will be worked out in the meantime.

•Noted that a new council agenda format had been developed by Hubbard. The time for public comments and audience participation will be toward the end of the meeting, according to this new format.[[In-content Ad]]