Dunkirk council reviews its new duties

Dunkirk City Council’s first meeting under new leadership was shorter than usual after a shift in responsibilities for its members.

Monday’s meeting came in at under half an hour as council members learned how their roles will change.

Mayor Jack Robbins, who took office Jan. 1, switched the structure of the city’s government from previous administrations. He appointed a board of works and safety to oversee the city’s departments, which used to be council’s job.

“They will run full day-to-day operations of every department except the park,” Robbins said. “The park board will run the park.”

Council members will focus on bigger-picture issues instead.

“What they’re going to control is the ordinances, the resolutions and the budgets,” Robbins said. “The ordinances, every one of them needs to be redone … we’re going to be re-writing them, so it’s going to get off to a slow start but we’re going to have plenty to do.”

He told council to be prepared to start discussing the 2021 budget at the next meeting Feb. 10. In the past, this process began at the end of summer, giving council limited time to discuss the budget before a Nov. 1 filing deadline.

“I’d like to have the budget done so we can talk about our salary raises by June,” Robbins said.

Council member Brian Jessup questioned if switching from meeting twice a month to once a month will have an impact on paying the city’s bills.

Clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott responded that it shouldn’t be an issue, as most bills have a 45-day turnaround.

If needed, Robbins said, council can schedule a special meeting during the month.

In other business, council members Jesse Bivens, Lisa Street, Tom Johnson and Jessup, along with newly elected member Kevin Hamilton:

•Signed a contract for 2020 with Dunkirk Fire Department volunteers for $25,000.

•Sponsored a banner to hang on the wall of West Jay Community Center for $200, a yearly tradition.

•Approved a leak adjustment of $322.15 for Jared Walradth and a payment plan for Cheyenne Mantooth.

•Re-elected Bivens as council president.

•Heard a request from Kenneth Hinshaw to determine ownership of an alley by his property in the east 400 block of High Street. He told council he is paying taxes on a portion of the alley, but Jay County Courthouse has no record of the city vacating it. Robbins told Hinshaw he will look into the matter.

•Approved the appointment of Christy Curts and Dorothy Mays to the Board of Directors of the West Jay Community Center.