Dunkirk City Councilwoman Nancy Nichols butted heads with outgoing Mayor Wilfred Rosas one last time over a solar energy maker sent to city residents.

During a Common Council meeting, Nichols asked, “Is this a valid company?… There’s a second part to that. I feel our residents, instead of getting a letter in the mail with (the mayor) and mayor-elect’s (Kate Wdowiasz) signature, should have been notified” about the solar program.

The letter is indeed signed by Rosas and Wdowiasz, and has a city of Dunkirk letterhead. It states, “We are united in our commitment to making our city an energy-efficient community.” It touts the city’s conversion to LED streetlights — “Building on this success, we are excited to introduce the Dunkirk Community Solar Initiative, a new opportunity for residents to save on their electricity costs.”

The letter goes on that no solar panels will be installed on program entrants’ properties, there are no signup or cancellation fees, and enrollment is now open. It offers directions for enrolling online with PowerMarket, the solar program provider.

Rosas replied to Nichols at the meeting, “Community solar is not new. It’s happening all over, and New York state is a very big supporter.”

The mayor said he didn’t think sending out the letter for the program demanded a Common Council resolution of approval.

“Nobody’s telling people that’s the only company they can use for community solar,” he said. “We’re simply providing information, letting them know that community solar is available and people can save 10% on their electricity bills. It costs nothing to get involved, and we are providing information for our residents to get involved… and save money.”

Nichols repeated that she thought residents, and city councilors, should have known such a letter was going out. She claimed to have received 17 calls about the letter the previous day, but couldn’t answer many questions because she had not received the letter herself yet. Nichols said she received the letter after the calls.

Rosas retorted, “If I were you, if you plan on being a council member and representing the city, this is probably something you should look into.”

He added, “I do not offer any apologies. In fact, I think that this is a good program for our city and for all of the community, not just city residents.”

Later in the council meeting, Nichols referred to a “very challenging four years” with Mayor Rosas. She said she is looking forward to working with Mayor-Elect Wdowiasz.