Dunkirk reviews its budget

DUNKIRK — The city has begun its budget process for 2021.

At its meeting Monday, Dunkirk City Council got its first look at the proposed 2021 expenditures.

Council members also talked about possible solutions to a high water charge for an area resident, with discussions becoming heated.

During the latter half of Tuesday’s meeting, council members pored over the budget for each department, asking questions of Mayor Jack Robbins and clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott and making corrections.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Robbins said he attempted to keep the budget as lean as possible. Many line item increases were because of a 2% salary raise approved earlier this year, along with a 2% increase in the funds allotted for utilities.

One increase — an additional $15,000 for the clerk’s office to raise a part-time employee to full-time — prompted discussion. While the office had previously been able to function with two full-time employees (including Elliott) and one part-time employee, Elliott noted that the work was now piling up.

“We’re swamped. We’re not keeping up,” Elliott said. “We don’t have time to get things done.”

The part-time employee in question has already been raised to full-time status for this year, Elliott said, because of extra funds in her budget.

Council member Jesse Bivens questioned the need for increasing the employee to full-time, with other council members noting the added costs of benefits for the employee.

Ultimately, council decided to table discussion of the proposed budget, along with a decision about the clerk’s office employee, until its August meeting, in order to give Elliott time to make necessary changes and gather more information.

Also discussed at length Monday were solutions for a resident who owes more than $6,000 in water charges.

Catherine Ridgway was charged $6,071.99 for March and April of this year, much higher than her normal water charges. Representatives for Ridgway told council that three plumbers have inspected the house and found no evidence of a leak. They asked that council replace the meter to see if it malfunctioned.

Council members, however, were resistant to replacing the water meter because of the costs to the city, insisting there was a leak somewhere on the property. The discussion at times became contentious.

Bivens at one point made a motion that Ridgway be charged the full amount, but it died for lack of a second. Ultimately, council tabled a decision while Ridgway’s representatives search for a plumber willing to dig up and examine the water line between the meter and the house.

In other business, council members Tom Johnson, Lisa Street, Kevin Hamilton, Bryan Jessup and Bivens:

•Approved an ordinance that will allow residents the ability to have payment plans for overdue utility charges because a declared state of emergency. The city is not currently charging late fees or turning off utilities because of non-payment, but that moratorium will end Aug. 15. Residents will be able to petition council to be placed on a payment plan for any overdue charges.

•Approved a new three-year contract with Best Way Disposal to provide trash pickup in the city. For 2021, the monthly trash fee per household will be $11.41, which is the same amount charged this year. The fee will increase to $11.69 per household per month in 2022 and $11.99 per month in 2023. It was the only bid the city received for trash services.

•Approved tax abatement forms for Ardagh and SDP Manufacturing. Ardagh was given tax abatements in 2008 for a $27 million investment and in 2011 for $42 million in investment, estimating the company would increase to 390 employees with $20 million paid in wages. Currently, the company employees 398 people and pays $27 million in wages. SDP Manufacturing was given an abatement in 2017 for a $450,000 investment. It added an employee and currently pays $1.7 million in wages.

•Heard a complaint from resident Mona Wenger about Lowe’s Heating & Cooling, which operates out of a pole barn in a residential area on High Street. Wenger, who lives nearby, noted traffic to and from the barn is disrupting the area, and was concerned about the safety of children living nearby. Robbins told Wagner he would confer with the zoning advisory board about the matter.

•Voted to keep its 2021 fire contracts the same as 2020. The contracts will remain $16,039.09 for Knox Township, $3,200 for Jackson Township, $5,500 for Richland Township and $2,400 for Niles Township.

•Voted to reduce the police overtime budget by $26,560. Also approved the following appropriations that were inadvertently left off of the 2020 budget: $12,100 for the park budget, $1,800 to the police remodeling fund, $2,500 for the police equipment fund, $20,000 to motor vehicle highway for equipment and machinery, and $8,000 in cigarette tax.

•Heard from Robbins the city will be looking into ordinances about loud fireworks after complaints from residents.

•Approved the following purchases for Dunkirk City Pool: $1,689.46 for 12 new pool lounge chairs from Recreation Supply Co. and $117.60 for other expenses.

•Heard there will be a food giveaway from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 3 at Dunkirk Community Center.

•Approved a resolution recognizing the council has binding review over the budget of Dunkirk Public Library.