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Dunkirk Town residents urge action on short-term rentals

By Braden Carmen 4 min read

DUNKIRK -- Members of the public from the Town of Dunkirk showed up at the most recent Town Board meeting, as usual, to express their concerns regarding short-term rental properties.

"This may sound like the same movie, and the same song, and the same issue, but I think it's important to say it," Dunkirk Town resident Dave Maternowski said.

As familiar as the voices singing the same tune have become, the most recent meeting called for a bit more urgency than usual.

"I'm getting frustrated. I can't believe I'm here talking again," Maternowski said.

First to speak was Phil Leone, who claimed a short-term rental property owner in his neighborhood is not paying her dues for road maintenance. He then highlighted how another homeowner in the neighborhood is looking into making her home a short-term rental property.

"She knows there is a short-term rental three doors down, and she also knows that nothing has been done to stop it," Leone said. "... It's begun. They're out-of-towners, they're out-of-staters looking to make a quick buck, and these are the type of people we want in our neighborhoods? I don't think so."

Leone also highlighted the public outcry from those against short-term rental properties in contrast to those in favor of them.

"Where are all these people who are in favor of these short-term rentals? They're not here. This has been going on for two-and-a-half years and they are still not here," Leone said.

Sue Hazelton, Gary Hazelton, Jay Warren, and Dave Maternowski all spoke, as well, about their unrest surrounding the situation. All shared the sentiment Leone shared about the lack of support for short-term rentals in the town.

"It looks like (short-term rental owners) are not concerned with any kind of outcome. We permanent residents have put in the time and the work," Sue Hazelton said.

Before making his own statements, Gary Hazelton joked, "We started this two years ago and now I've got to wear glasses."

Gary Hazelton then highlighted how petitions against short-term rental properties spanned all across the town.

Warren later said, "I don't know if you've talked to some of the folks in Cassadaga about what this has done to their community, how it's torn things apart, how they have opposing forces … we don't really have that here. The only forces we have here are the people that are here, opposed to short-term rentals in R-1 districts. I don't see anyone here saying 'I want a short-term rental in my neighborhood!' I don't see them, they're not here. I think the 100 people that signed the petition I think is a pretty good voice of the people."

Maternowski later said, "If this holds up ... you've really slapped all of us in the face. We've been here for two-and-a-half years now and it's getting tiring. ... We would really like to see the language go in soon and get this done. Honestly, if it doesn't happen, I'll never understand how 99% of the residents in the neighborhood were overruled."

Town Supervisor Juan Pagan responded to public comments, "Let me just say, the town is working diligently to resolve this issue. We're all still working on it. Bear with us, please."

Later in the meeting, the board discussed whether to hold another workshop to continue to draft a law to regulate the matter.

Councilman Jay Bishop asked, "We're past the point of needing another workshop, everybody is comfortable?"

The board all agreed to proceed without another workshop. Attorney Jeff Passafaro will now comprise a law for the Town Board to review.

"There will be no action at this point on the short-term rentals, but rest assured that next month, we will have something on the docket," Pagan said.

Starting at /week.