Dunkirk’s closure of the Lucas Avenue brush dropoff has led to plenty of illegal dumping, said two neighbors at a Common Council meeting this week.

Shirley Phillips and Ann Janik live next to each other on Beach Road. Phillips spoke first, complaining that Brocton, Cassadaga and Fredonia all take clippings but Dunkirk no longer does.

She said, “Revitalize Dunkirk has been working hard to make Dunkirk a more attractive place to live. By taking Lucas Avenue away from us, it is making the work much more difficult. There is no way we can keep our yards looking pristine with only two pickups a year. We are not in favor of sharing this area with landscapers or contractors. I’m afraid some people will find vacant lots, dead end streets, just to dump their refuse.”

Phillips concluded, “As a city resident: We paid our increased taxes, and yet we lost services that mean a lot to many of us.”

Janik said, “It’s unrealistic to think residents can do without either a monthly brush pickup, or a place like the one we used to have on Lucas.”

She said it “doesn’t make sense” that Dunkirk has had its last scheduled brush pickup of the year, with the combination of Lake Erie storms and the many older trees in the city. Fall is also “safest and best time for trimming” brush, Janik stated.

She claimed some residents are hauling their branches to the beach and burning them. Others tossed them into an unofficial compost pile near Crooked Brook “which stunk all summer long,” while a third group simply stuffs them in garbage bags for trash pickup.

“There is literally no inexpensive, legal way for residents to dispose of brush in our city,” Janik concluded.

Councilman James Stoyle asked about the Lucas Avenue brush dropoff site, “Is there any chance in the future we are going to restore this?

Department of Public Works chief Randy Woodbury responded, “I would like to, but as the resident said, it’s an expense, whether it be our expense or their expense. We got into a little bit of trouble with the DEC for having a brush pile, we wouldn’t be able to recreate it where it is. It needs to be monitored or it gets out of hand.”

Woodbury said he would be “totally in favor” of keeping contractors out of such a site. The previous Lucas Avenue dropoff program was plagued with illegal use by contractors and other non-city residents.

“It would be nice if there was a regional dump spot at the (Chautauqua County-administered) transfer station on Webster Road,” Woodbury said. “That would solve the problem for everyone that’s been mentioned. So that’s what I’m pushing for– but if we open (Lucas Avenue) back up again, there’s going to be additional expense. Right now, we’re not budgeted for that.”

Woodbury said that an unscheduled brush pickup would be triggered by a storm event, responding to Janik’s comments.