Wells appointed new fire chief

DUNKIRK - Residents woke up today with a new fire chief in charge of the city department.

Mayor Ron Hunt appointed assistant chief Farrel Wells to be the new chief at Monday night's city council meeting, leading a member of the council to criticize the mayor after the meeting.

Steve Fields, Dunkirk's fire chief for the past 20 years, will continue as assistant chief, Hunt said.

"At this time I feel we need a change at the fire department," Hunt announced Monday night as the council meeting was nearing its conclusion. "I'm promoting Farrel Wells to be chief."

Wells was in the audience, but Fields was not, as the mayor later said he had not yet notified Fields about the decision.

Several audience members, as well as councilman Tom Johnson, said they wanted to hear why the move was made.

"I've got reasons," Hunt said, declining to detail those reasons. He then quickly brought down his gavel, announcing: "This meeting is adjourned."

A more detailed statement may be released at a later time, Hunt said immediately after the meeting.

"I'm in shock; absolute shock," commented Dunkirk council president Craig Faulkner, who serves as the council representative for the fire department.

After Monday's meeting, Faulkner said he personally talked to Fields, telling him the news for the first time.

Faulkner continued, "I had no warning whatsoever. That's how the mayor is. He doesn't communicate with any of the council members. It's a waste of my time to talk to him."

In other action at Monday night's meeting, council members:

•Approved second and final reading of Dunkirk's 2010 budget which totals $1.8 million.

The budget calls for $831,000 to be raised through property taxes and provides no pay raises for city elected officials or employees. City clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler described the budget as very tight, keeping departmental expenditures basically at the current level.

•Heard a report from council member Judy Garr that the city's application for state revolving loan funds to make water system improvements was moving forward. Plans call for major improvements for the water plant and replacement of old, deteriorating water mains in several sections of the city, she said.

"Things are falling in line," Garr said, adding that Jay County community developer Ami Huffman is working on preparing a state grant application for the project, too.

•Scheduled a special meeting for employees and elected officials to review city personnel policies and procedures for 3 p.m. Monday in the city council chambers. Johnson suggested the meeting.

•Heard a report from Johnson about the extent of vandalism this summer at Dunkirk City Park. He said the restroom facilities at the park will be kept locked for the fall and winter months unless the shelter house is being used for a special occasion.

•Noted that city water department employees will be flushing hydrants throughout the community during the week of Oct. 12-16. City officials advised residents not to do laundry during the times when hydrants are being flushed in their neighborhoods.

•Listened to a report from councilman Eric Bowler about repairs and improvements needed at the city dog pound. Bowler said in his opinion it was inhumane not to make the repairs. Mayor Hunt instructed Bowler to get some more prices on the needed improvements, possibly having city employees do the work themselves.

•Continued discussions about adopting an ordinance allowing golf carts to be driven on city streets. Exceptions, mentioned at Monday's meeting, included Highland Avenue, Haskel Road, Main Street and West Pleasant Street. City attorney William Hinkle was instructed to prepare a proposed ordinance for further review.

•Heard from animal control officer Dan Foster Jr. that he thinks the city should start enforcing dog tag rules more strictly. However, councilman Bowler said, "With today's economy, I don't feel we should slam people for not having dog tags." The discussion was eventually tabled.[[In-content Ad]]