Councilperson-at-large Nick Weiser highlighted discussions on maximizing Dunkirk’s revenue at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting.

Dunkirk’s city departments were asked to cut overtime. Now, they have no choice.

The Common Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday demanding a “halt to non-emergency overtime for city employees, effective immediately.”

Mayor Kate Wdowiasz, her administration and the council have asked departments to forgo overtime most of this year, after the scope of the city’s financial problems became obvious. Tuesday’s resolution marks the first formal order to do so.

Councilperson-at-large Nick Weiser said, “We continue to work closely with the state Comptroller’s office as part of the fiscal recovery act to ensure our financial practices are in alignment and up to standard. Their guidance has been and will be invaluable as we work to stabilize and strengthen the city’s finances.”

Weiser continued, “I’d also like to highlight the productive discussions we’ve been having on how to maximize the city’s revenue. We’re exploring creative solutions to the challenges we face, whether that’s improving our financial systems or shifting how we handle fines, fees and other sources of revenue. These efforts are all about securing a strong financial future for our city.

Weiser was the only city official that spoke about Dunkirk’s budget crunch at Tuesday’s meeting. He chairs the council’s Finance Committee, which he said will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in the City Hall mayor’s conference room.