Ignorance is not a defense for Dunkirk’s Common Council members who decided to meet on short notice last weekend to discuss a $26 million budget. Instead, it appears that those council leaders who are driving the bus — specifically Dave Damico, James Stoyle and Nancy Nichols — are bad planners.

Back in early October, Mayor Wilfred Rosas presented his budget that did not include a tax increase. Since then, the Republican council members have been dilly dallying on how to move forward. The budget meeting that was held on Dec. 3 is one example of how three members are attempting to dictate what is happening — usually behind closed doors.

According to Natalie Luczkowiak, First Ward representative, she received a sheet of paper with suggested modifications at that meeting. “I mean, what we discussed at (the Dec. 3) meeting, according to my magnifying glass, is not on here,” she said, apparently holding up a budget document. “But there are 12 changes here that I can count. Were these decisions made with more than two council members at a meeting? … I have heard others not on the council or administration were involved, and if that’s the case, I need to see what disciplinary actions need to be taken. I better not ever see it.”

Making matters worse was council did not publicly announce the Dec. 3 meeting, which goes to transparency issues. Since 2020, when a Republican council was first seated, there has been much innuendo about a lack of transparency by Rosas. It seems those complaining also are guilty when it comes to making decisions that involve public monies.

As far as we’re concerned, the Dec. 3 meeting illegally took place. “I knew I was under a (meeting notification time) limit; I believed it was a 24-hour window,” Damico said. “I reached out to the entire council.”

Too bad he did not attempt to inform anyone else.