Normally, people lobby their governments on issues. The city of Dunkirk has flipped that around for its Election Day referendum to abolish the treasurer position.

City Hall issued a rather unusual press release Wednesday describing the referendum for Dunkirk residents, using language that advocates a “yes” vote on abolishing the elected treasurer.

“The duties of the treasurer and the Treasurer’s Office would transfer to the Fiscal Affairs Office and the Clerk’s Office, providing better insight and accountability to the Common Council, the Mayor’s Office, County Civil Service and transparency to the public,” according to City Hall’s release.

The release lays out what would happen, at least according to Mayor Kate Wdowiasz, with “yes” or “no” decisions on abolishing the treasurer.

A “yes” vote would lead to the treasurer position getting chopped from the city charter. “The Clerk’s Office will now handle all previous Treasurer fiscal and physical monetary transactions, whereas this change will be added to the City of Dunkirk Charter.”

Also, “an appointed comptroller position will be added to the City of Dunkirk Charter. The position will oversee or manage the finances. The city will now be allowed to require professional qualifications for the comptroller, ensuring the person managing the finances has the correct expertise and can be held to higher standards strengthening transparency of the financial structure of the city.”

The release goes on that the comptroller would “handle the management and have increased responsibilities over the previous treasurer position. The position will be accountable and report to both the mayor and Common Council, making it easier for residents to know who is responsible for financial decisions. Leadership can take action when the standards are not met, increasing accountability and adding a layer of protection. Financial decisions will be reviewed and debated in public meetings, strengthening the checks and balances of the finances.”

Finally, “The city of Dunkirk’s fiscal recovery will be facilitated with the restructuring of the entire Fiscal Department to that of one modeled after a professional comptroller’s office, allowing for professional fiscal oversight, planning, and compliance required by the state laws and aid.”

The language on the future after a “no” vote is much less positive.

“Financial dealing will be handled the same as they have been, until changed. The city cannot require professional qualifications for the treasurer position, as it is an elected position. There are no guarantees the elected person for this position will have the correct expertise for the position.

“The treasurer position will remain an independent elected official who is only accountable to the voters, not requiring any transparency and graying the lines concerning the checks and balances of the finances within the city itself.

“The physical monetary transactions will continue to reside with the treasurer position. If the treasurer position… remain(s), the Common Council and executive branch could severely limit its job duties and move fiscal responsibilities to other, appointed city workers in a restructured department.”