Several claim notices are focal points for Dunkirk Common Council this week.

The first is one for Gregory Lee Gallaway against the city, the county, several police agencies and the county jail. Gallaway, who was dealing with a narcotics problem, died while incarcerated at the Chautauqua County Jail on April 11, a day after he turned himself in. Allegedly, Gallaway was involved with the Dunkirk City Drug Court and turned himself in after realizing he was going to fail an upcoming drug test. An outside investigation by the Gallaway family’s personal lawyer revealed he may have had a serious medical issue prior to his committal to jail.

Another claim is from an Orchard Park woman, who had been visiting the city on July 5. According to her claim, Laurie Koepnick and an infant, Hannah Grandy were entering the Dunkirk Beach by way of the stairs at Lakeshore Road and North Main Street when Grandy allegedly fell due to the lack of a railing as well as moss and seaweed buildup Koepnick claimed were on the steps. The claim states that Grandy struck the back of her head, neck, back and right arm on the concrete stairs and has since purportedly suffered serious, significant and permanent injuries to those areas. The claim is against the city, the city’s parks department, the county and their parks department.

In addition to these claims is one from Deborah Farnham for water damages from a city drain to her basement and yard during a rainstorm in early July and another from Dr. Celia Lloyd for damage to the dental vacuum pump at her office allegedly due to a water leak in the basement.

Other things the city will be discussing are the tightening of access to the DPW barns, which remained tabled at the last council meeting. There is also a proposed change to local law allotting building permits, which are currently six months, to be granted extensions of three months twice, due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather.

Lastly, there is a resolution for approval of the Dunkirk Housing Authority (DHA) employees compensation stating that DHA negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with the United Steel Workers of America.

Dunkirk Common Council will meet today at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.