The Dunkirk Common Council has banned the service of legal papers while it is meeting, in response to an incident where a woman about to speak was handed lawsuit documents.

“The service of legal papers upon individuals during the course of a public meeting may create a chilling effect on public participation and disrupt the orderly conduct of council business,” according to the resolution unanimously passed by the council.

City-contracted attorney Elliot Raimondo served Jennifer Sasso at the public speaker’s podium with a lawsuit during an April meeting. Sasso, a former city dog control officer, was sued by Mayor Kate Wdowiasz for alleged defamation and theft. Sasso stayed at the podium and made various criticisms of City Hall’s governance of the dog shelter.

Council’s resolution states that “this prohibition shall not apply where such service (at a meeting) is expressly authorized by a court order or judicial directive.”

The purpose of the measure “is intended solely to preserve the integrity, accessibility, and orderly conduct of public meetings and shall not otherwise limit lawful service of process outside the time and location of such meetings.”