The city’s Common Council authorized the easements at its meeting this week. The lines are going “within the city of Dunkirk Main Street right-of-way between Newton Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad,” according to the resolution passed by council.

Easements are required to install the lines; Wells “will prepare survey maps and deed descriptions for these communication line installations and will keep all items well marked to guard against damage, but will indemnify the city and others for any damage that may occur during road or utility repair.”

In other Common Council business:

— The Department of Public Works was authorized to buy a new yard loader for handling road salt and other streets maintenance material. The vehicle will be purchased for $157,901 on a state contract with unused Consolidated Highway Program (CHIPS) money.

Councilwoman Nancy Nichols was in holiday mode at her final regularly scheduled council meeting, with a Christmas tree sweater and a Grinch pen.

— DPW was authorized to provide 50 cubic yards of asphalt milling for Revitalize Dunkirk’s new trail at Point Gratiot.

— Two last-minute “walk-on” resolutions, which did not appear on the agenda and were not read out, addressed fire department issues. One resolution backed the purchase of new turnout gear, the other established a new reserve fund for the acquisition of equipment.

— It was the last regularly scheduled council meeting for Second Ward representative Abigail Zatorski, Third Ward Councilman James Stoyle, and the Fourth Ward’s Nancy Nichols. Stoyle and Zatorski did not seek re-election in November while Nichols was defeated by Michael Civiletto.

One could say Stoyle went out on top: he ran the meeting from the judge’s bench in the council chambers that double as a courtroom. Councilman-at-large Nick Weiser, who normally runs the council meetings, was “stuck in some airport somewhere,” as Stoyle put it.

“Jidge” also offered one last bit of his trademark salty humor, referring to the councilman-at-large as “Budweiser.”

Zatorski had no parting comments. Nichols stated that it had been a pleasure working for Dunkirk, and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Stoyle’s final comment was simply, “God bless.”