There’s no end in sight for the moratorium on purchase of Dunkirk’s “paper streets.”

Second Ward Councilmember Abby Yerico asked city officials about the moratorium at the most recent Common Council meeting.

“I’ve got plenty of people that are interested in purchasing those paper streets,” she said, seeking more information from City Attorney Elliot Raimondo and City Assessor Erica Munson.

Raimondo deferred to Munson. She said, “The moratorium is still in effect, it has not been lifted at this point. We are receiving those calls in our office as well. Working together with departments, we will get through this and notify the public once it has been lifted. But this is in best the interest of all city residents, handling it so that there are no hiccups once the moratorium has been lifted.

“Paper streets” are city-owned parcels intended to carry roadways. The roads are sometimes on old maps, but were never actually built, and the parcels remain vacant.”

Squabbling between adjacent property owners over the parcels led to city officials stopping all sales in 2023 so they could tweak the rules.

However, that effort faces a challenge from turnover in the legal department. Raimondo just took over the city attorney’s office Jan. 1, replacing Michael Bobseine, who was in the position for less than a year.

There is no city paralegal at this time. The previous one, Kate Wdowiasz, is now the mayor, and the position hasn’t been filled.