The city of Dunkirk has a full ballot on Election Day, with a move to abolish the city treasurer position joining votes on elected seats.

The Common Council voted earlier this year to put the question on the ballot for city voters. The treasurer’s duties would get taken over by other city departments, mainly the Fiscal Affairs Office, if the position is ended.

City Attorney Elliot Raimondo told the OBSERVER that the position “would cease to exist” Jan. 1 if the vote is “yes.”

The treasurer position is still on the ballot – but with blank spaces, because no one is officially running. Longtime Treasurer Mark Woods is bowing out.

“If the voters of the city vote ‘no’ (on abolishing it) then the position will continue to be in the Dunkirk charter,” Raimondo said. “Dunkirk is one of the only municipalities in New York to have an independent treasurer who is not subject to council/mayoral control and accountability.”

Raimondo added, “With that said, the Common Council and executive branch are currently working on a restructure of the whole fiscal department. This is due to the fact that multiple audits have listed various problems with the current structure of Dunkirk’s financial offices.

“Going forward, even if the treasurer position continues to exist, it will be much more limited in job duties and fiscal responsibilities so that certain fiscal affairs may be managed by other city workers who will be vetted by the council and civil service in a newly formed comptroller/treasurer office.”

All five Common Council seats and the assessor’s position are also on the ballot.

There are just two contested races, however. Democratic nominee Frank Torain will face off against the Republicans’ Colby Garza for the Second Ward seat currently held by Abby Zatorski. In the Fourth Ward, Michael Civiletto is challenging Republican incumbent Nancy Nichols for the Democrats.

Incumbent City Assessor Erica Munson, a Republican, is running unopposed. Councilman-at-Large Nick Weiser and First Ward Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak, both Democrats, are also unopposed for re-election. In the Third Ward, Democrat Gary Frederickson is the only person running to take over James Stoyle’s seat.