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Wdowiasz, council continue battling

The relationship between Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz and the Common Council looks worse than ever.

Wdowiasz used her mayoral report time during Tuesday's council meeting as an attack on the group, accusing it of inaction and underfunding. Councilmen Frank Torain and Michael Civiletto defended the council -- with Civiletto irritating the mayor so much that she walked out of the meeting.

Wdowiasz began that she was addressing the council "because your continued inaction, your continued underfunding, and your continued refusal to take responsibility have now placed this City in a position that is no longer sustainable."

The mayor continued, "The city Clerk/Treasurer's Office is operating three employees short, yet because of your choices, that office is now responsible for not only for all accounts receivable -- water billing and water bill collection, correction of water billing errors, licensing‑related clerical work such as dog, marriage, hunting -- but now licensing that belongs in Building and Zoning. (This is) in addition to tax preparation, collection and correction caused by inaccurate tax rolls involving millions of dollars every year."

Wdowiasz went on to charge that council has "repeatedly chosen to publicly discuss and let other employees discuss the clerk's salary, creating an embarrassing and inappropriate spectacle. Discussing an employee's personal (information) in public while spinning a false narrative about workload is not leadership. It is harmful and unprofessional.

"Worse, employees are now refusing assigned tasks, contacting you for sympathy, and using union grievances as justification for not completing their work. This is insubordination, and your willingness to entertain it is setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the city's ability to function.

"And let's be clear: the grievances we are facing today were created by your decisions. You have shorted the budget year after year, and now you are surprised that services must be reduced, that departments cannot meet operational demands, and that the city is strained beyond capacity."

Wdowiasz said the city's September brush pickup is cancelled "because of your underfunding." She said the city brush pile will be open -- with proof of residency -- from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3, during the following hours: Monday through Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

She concluded by "asking you directly: What services do you intend to eliminate so the budget can finally be adequately funded? The public deserves an answer. Staff deserve an answer. And this city cannot continue operating under a budget that is structurally incapable of supporting the services residents rely on.

"The Clerk's Office has stepped up repeatedly. They have corrected inherited errors. They have modernized operations. They have protected taxpayers. But they cannot continue absorbing every responsibility that you refuse to address.

"It is time for you to act. And it is time for you to stop shifting the consequences of your inaction onto the employees who are trying to keep this city running."

Torain called Wdowiasz's comments "completely misleading." He pointed out that three members of the current council weren’t on it when the last budget was passed.

Torain also cited the city charter in stating that the mayor is responsible for day to day operations of city offices.

While Torain was clearly irritated by Wdowaisz's comments, Civiletto appeared almost furious.

"I’m going to reiterate what Mr. Torain said: I haven’t seen a budget yet. We’ve been going through stuff - this was the last council’s," Civiletto said. "Three out of five of us are brand new and we are being blamed for stuff that has happened in the past.

"Second, if you are understaffed in the Clerk's Department, that is because we got rid of a treasurer. That was the public that got rid of a treasurer. As far as I remember, you, mayor, were endorsing to get rid of that with no plan."

He said an "underfunded" budget "is not my fault." and added he has had no communication with Wdowiasz or her office.

Wdowiasz tried to interject and Civiletto raised his voice, "This is my time! That’s enough!"

"Enjoy your time," Wdowiasz said. "I was going to say, this has been discussed ad nauseam at Finance Committee meetings. Maybe council should start attending those meetings."

Wdowiasz got up to leave and had a tense exchange with Civiletto, with the councilman stating that he cannot leave work for the Finance Committee meetings and the mayor should call him if she wants a vote on something.

"The mayor is the executive branch... in charge of day to day going on in city hall," Civiletto went on. "The council is in charge of creating legislation, creating laws, the budget. But the budget hasn’t come up yet.

"If anyone is to blame for a toxic environment, as you can see, in the Clerk’s/Treasurer's Office, it is sure as heck not me (or the other council members)."

Civiletto snapped, "We are not here every day, we do not set the tone. I’ve had enough! I tried and tried and tried to be on her side. But this last bit of storming out and unprofessionalism is not going to be tolerated by me anymore. I’m done.

"I don’t know what I can do about it, but I’m not very happy," he added.