Confusion surrounds the issue of insurance buyouts for city of Dunkirk employees.

Several city workers attended the Common Council Finance Committee meeting last week to find out what is happening, and basically got no answers.

The Common Council is considering a local law that would stop benefits from rolling over from one year to the next, and ban cashing out upon retirement or resignation. Mayor Kate Wdowiasz has also worked behind the scenes to place limits on buyouts.

The issue came up Friday when City Assessor Erica Munson criticized other city officials for allegedly creating a toxic, politicized atmosphere amid Dunkirk’s deep financial troubles. Munson brought up the insurance issue, stating that it is part of the duty of city officials, in taking care of all residents, to care for their employees.

Munson and Wdowiasz have a history of discord, with Munson unsuccessfully pushing the mayor to resign or get censured by council last year. The two went at it verbally for a bit, Wdowiasz firing off that “I don’t like that toxicity you bring to City Hall.”

Frank Torain, new to the council, expressed offense that Munson would lump him in with officials who have created a bad atmosphere and are playing politics. Torain said he only cares about what’s best for the people of the city, “and for anybody to assume that it is otherwise is way off-key.” Munson apologized to him.

Wdowiasz said she is seeking a single buyout on the city’s insurance contract. “It’s not feasible to have everybody expecting that contracts that were made a long time ago are able to be upheld,” she said.

Councilman at large Nick Weiser said there is no line in the city’s 2026 budget specific to insurance buyouts. He said all fringe benefits were funded using advice from the Office of the State Comptroller.

Weiser said the council has not taken any formal action on buyouts yet, though the local law is currently getting considered. A public hearing on that local law is set to open the council’s next meeting Feb. 24.

Any actions taken in buyouts by the city government “were actions taken elsewhere,” he said.

One Department of Public Works employee expressed concern about his insurance, wondering if he could or should take a buyout. No one had any answers for him.

“Unions need to come back to the table, and have a conversation,” Wdowiasz said.