Flap over parking divides council

DUNKIRK — City officials looking to have reserved parking at the Dunkirk City Building will have to wait until council reconvenes in 2019. 

Ordinance 2018-9, which passed 4-1 Dec. 10, would reserve two spots on the north side of Commerce Street, east of Main Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday for city officials. 

Council president Jesse Bivens, who voted against the designated spots, said he’s heard a lot of complaints about the ordinance since it was presented.

“My vote is still gojng to be no because why do we want to take anything away from the citizens of Dunkirk in the way of saving two spots? Most of the time, office help will be here first anyway and have the first spots to choose from in the morning. So, I don’t think that should be a problem,” Bivens said. 

“I heard something about to get money safer to the location. You can park right in front of the door,” Bivens continued. 

“So, you want me to park in front of the door and take away from my customers?” city clerk Tina Elliott answered. 

Elliott said the parking spots wouldn’t be exclusive to those who work in the City Building, rather they would be available to any city official including, but not limited to, the mayor, council members and other elected officials. 

However, Elliott said she would use the spot to transport money, citing times where she has had to walk farther than a block with the building’s funds. 

“Carrying that kind of money is kind of scary in this town,” Elliott said. 

Council member Jack Robbins said he was for the city official parking and didn’t see the labeled spots as taking away from citizens. 

Member Bryan Jessup said he saw both sides and the building will inevitably have a parking problem. 

Both Jessup and Tom Johnson said they’ve heard complaints about the ordinance. 

Ultimately, Robbins proposed to table the ordinance until council’s Jan. 14 meeting to hear from absent council member Lisa Street.

Also Monday, council approved Ordinance 2018-10, which allows the city clerk to obtain and maintain a credit card on behalf of the city for supplies and services. The clerk is responsible for the card and who has access to it. 

In other business, council: 

•Appointed Melissa Mumbower to the West Jay Community Center board. 

•Learned the Dunkirk Police Department responded to 149 complaints, made four criminal arrests and assisted area departments 17 times in November. 

•Was told the Park Board held elections, with Oma Scruggs serving as president, Tom Brosher as vice president and Ron Fuller as secretary.

•OK’d various purchases including a $175.60-purchase from Progressive Office Products for printer ink, four fire-fighting cylinders for $2,831.36, four tires for one of the fire department’s oldest trucks for $2,162.26 and a $600-first-responder-training-course for Desiree Brown — Dunkirk’s newest volunteer firefighter. 

•Learned from Robbins that all 11 blighted properties were razed.  

•Approved claims totaling $222,582.16.