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Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas says the recent eight-page report compiled by attorney Dan Gard regarding the removal of a tree in 2019 is part of a "vindictive and mean-spirited agenda" by Common Council.
In a statement released to the OBSERVER on Friday, Rosas outlines not only issues with the report brought forward by Councilman At-Large Paul VanDenVouver. He also takes issue with how council has worked with his administration since day one.
During Tuesday's meeting, VanDenVouver released the report that alleges there was work done in 2019 by city Department of Public Works employees over three days in August on private property. Gard's recommendation in the report of the "large, unjustifiable and unconstitutional gift of municipal resources to a private individual" was to refer this matter to the appropriate enforcement agencies, recommending both the state comptroller's office as well as the FBI's Public Corruption Division.
VanDenVouver said the probe was done in response to council allegedly receiving reports from city residents about the happenings on Aug. 5, 6 and 15, 2019, at 10 Finch St. in the city. VanDenVouver, during the meeting, said the work included 100 hours of manpower and four pieces of city equipment in the project that was estimated to cost taxpayers between $6,000 and $8,000.
Here is the full statement provided by Rosas to the newspaper: "The residents of the city of Dunkirk deserve the truth. They deserve the facts, and they deserve to know the length to which Councilmen Paul VanDenVouver and Don Williams will go to push their vindictive and mean-spirited agenda.
"Since they started working together after being sworn into office in 2020, they have brought nothing but chaos and gridlock to this city. They immediately removed two key members of our staff without working one day with them! They continue to do all they possibly can to discredit and disparage our current well-qualified city attorney. They have stonewalled my attempts to fill the currently vacant Director of Planning and Development position. They have also wreaked havoc among the remaining cabinet members and most of our city employees! Their actions continue to hurt the city in so many ways including our ability to recruit well qualified employees for all positions.
"The most recent incident, however, in which these two malicious individuals have taken on as their efforts to discredit me personally is not only unjustified, lacking in facts, but is also costing our taxpayers thousands of dollars!
"Here are the facts. In January, a city resident submitted a letter to the editor in our local newspaper stating his dissatisfaction with the current actions of our council members. Councilmen VanDenVouver and Williams took exception to those comments and immediately began the retaliation. That same day several email and text messages were sent inquiring about the purchase of a paper street by this homeowner. They even went so far as to question the hiring of our current city plumber who is related to the homeowner through marriage. At the following council meeting Councilman VanDenVouver stated the council was looking into the sale of city property on Finch Street. The property in question was purchased in 2019 as what is commonly known as a "paper street" and approved by council.
"The work that was completed on the then city property was done correctly as directed by our DPW director who has also assured me this work needed to get done. This work was done in accordance with the normal city public works department responsibilities and in accordance with the predetermined schedule and staff availability. There was no impropriety!
"As for the scheduling of routine actions by the DPW, neither the DPW director nor I am involved. Our DPW Streets supervisor schedules these tasks to his staff. The only reason for the mayor or DPW director to become involved would be when there are other circumstances involved. While the DPW director and myself sometimes visit the work sites of our crews, we don't go out to supervise them regularly. This tree removal and drainage system work was no exception.
"I pride myself in my integrity. Every action and decision that I have taken and/or made during my tenure as mayor has been done with the city's best interest in mind. For these two councilmen to sink to the lowest level of human indecency for the sole purpose of digging up dirt, to continue to discredit me and members of my cabinet is unconscionable, and they need to be stopped! They have moved money into a separate line item for their sole use to hire an outside attorney to represent them in this witch hunt. This attorney put together an eight-page document that was not only void of facts but was misleading! Neither I nor the DPW director have interfered with the scheduling of the tree removal or installation of drainage pipes.
"Councilmen VanDenVouver and Williams must be stopped from continuing their character assassination and vindictive behaviors. The city of Dunkirk does not run itself the residents deserve their tax dollars to be paid to city employees, not outside attorneys or for responding to these meritless claims.
"During my time as mayor I have worked every day in the best interest of our city. I have put the city first, and often before my family. This is my city and yours. We need to spend our time moving it forward. The most recent claim and addressing it publicly to include names of private citizens, has placed the city in a potential liable situation. Thank you for allowing me to set the record straight."