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VanDenVouver kicks Rosas out of meeting

Councilman-at-large Paul VanDenVouver asked Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas to leave the Dunkirk Common Council meeting Tuesday evening following two arguments.

The first disagreement took place between First Ward Councilman Don Williams and Rosas when “Williams was addressing City Attorney Richard Morrisroe about a paralegal position. According to Williams the position may have not been put through Council prior to it being filled as per charter language.

“The position was approved by Council through the budget appropriations,” Morrisroe said.

“How else is everything authorized by Council,” Williams added. “How are we paying somebody to be a paralegal in that office and it hasn’t even passed a resolution?”

“Council never approved that position, Council doesn’t know how much that person is being paid, Council doesn’t know any benefit that’s going on with that, you did that all, we didn’t see any of it. I’d like to know where the resolution is and of there isn’t a resolution we’ll gladly make one and put that in there.”

“I just want to remind the councilman, I’m not sure why he’s bringing stuff up that he was a part of. The budget was approved with this person in there for two years in a row while he voted yes for those budgets,” Rosas interjected. “So for him to claim now that he was unaware is ludicrous.”

“Authorization is a resolution and a resolution is what we should be doing,” Williams stated.

Rosas fired back with VanDenVouver frantically calling for him to halt his comments.

“Excuse me this is a council meeting mayor, do not do that again or I’ll ask you to leave,” VanDenVouver said.

“That’s okay if you don’t want me to be a part of it I’ll leave!” Rosas exclaimed.

“See you later, bye,” VanDenVouver quickly responded.

The meeting stayed civil for about 15 more minutes before another disagreement erupted between Rosas and Fourth Ward Councilwoman Nancy Nichols involving Festivals Chairman Hector Rosas.

“Several people have seen Hector mowing his lawn. He’s been out of work since March, with festivals cancelled currently, these people would like to know why he’s not put to work in other areas such as the gate on Lucas Avenue so it’s open in a timely fashion,” Nichols asked. “He put in for two hours of overtime, how can this be justified?”

“I just had a discussion today with the local union president. As of today we have decided that we are going to be putting some of the folks that have been working from home to work in other areas,” Rosas responded. “As far as singling out Hector Rosas, I think that’s wrong. If it’s in the city’s best interest that he get put to work than we’ll put him to work wherever the city’s needs are.”

Nichols responded that it didn’t answer her question regarding the overtime She cited that with all the festivals cancelled, what has he been doing, and why can’t he man the gate at Lucas Avenue so people could drop off their recyclables and brush?

“We have a union contract that we follow and if he’s doing something outside of his normal business hours, than he’s allowed to cash in for overtime,” Rosas responded.

The two disagreed back and forth with Rosas saying that he understands that Nichol’s “doesn’t like [his] brother, and that’s okay. The bottom line is that [they] have a contract to follow.”

Nichols stated that she didn’t want to see any more people pulled from DPW when there are others that can do it. Rosas responded that those are the positions made by the department head.

“Push the blame on someone else,” Nichols stated.

“No the blame lies where it belongs,” Rosas added. “If you don’t want to believe the truth don’t believe it, I’m telling you the truth.”

“I think what she’s trying to get to is that we’re getting our overtime report and we’re wondering why Hector would have two hours overtime, when he could adjust his schedule to not hound city taxpayers for overtime when he’s not showing up for work,” VanDenVouver responded. “We’re getting phone calls, there’s no reason, especially when all the festivals are cancelled this year.”

VanDenVouver than said that “this is a council meeting, I don’t care if you’re out of order, if you’re the mayor, counsel, a department head or citizen, I will ask you to leave, so you will not interrupt me ever again.”

The Mayor shouted that VanDenVouver lied to the public, by saying all the festivals were cancelled and the two went back and forth a bit on that with Rosas saying that VanDenVouver should tell the truth.

“You don’t like him (Hector), you have a personal vendetta,” Rosas said.

“I don’t have a problem, I do have a problem with people stealing from the tax payers’ money,” VanDenVouver went on. “It’s my job to be the watchdog of the city of Dunkirk.”

“Well you’re not doing a very good job,” Rosas responded.

The subject changed to the hiring of Rosas’ cousin Raymond Rosas for the city clerk’s office, which started another round of disagreements in regards to the other applicants. Soon after marriage license issues being pushed to the town of Dunkirk came up and that question was directed at Morrisroe. Rosas jumped in by saying “why don’t we ask the city clerk? He’s a part of this meeting.”

“I didn’t ask you!” VanDenVouver interjected.

They squabbled a little again and then VanDenVouver asked Rosas to leave.

“You can sign off the meeting, I’m done with you today,” VanDenVouver stated.

The mayor left the screen, than soon after signed off.

“This council is trying to do the best that we can,” VanDenVouver finished. “We’re making moves that are not going to be popular and I said that January 1. We had to fire some people and there’re more people we need to fire. We need to take the trash to the curb and that’s exactly what we’re doing, whether you like it or not.”

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