Take the politics out of Dunkirk Common Council and what should you have? A body that is working in the best interest of its residents.

That is not what happened earlier this month with the resolution regarding the seagull removal proposal. Instead, city residents got a Republican power trip. All three would not allow for a contract for another seagull reduction effort around the Save-A-Lot plaza on Fourth Street.

Hope that makes the three council members feel important.

Unfortunately, the decision by Abby Yerico, James Stoyle and Nancy Nichols also was dismissive to the main business — and taxpayer — at the plaza. Save-A-Lot plaza owner Tom Hagner spoke in support of the proposal put forth by Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak, a Democrat.

“We struggled with the seagulls for about the past five years…however, last year the city participated in a program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remove the eggs and that has been very effective, in terms of the adult seagulls left early and the fledglings never hatched, so it reduced the population by a factor of about four,” he said. “It will also discourage them from coming back.”

Again, this was not about assisting a business and community partner. It was all about throwing around some weight.

This could have been handled already. Instead, residents — and a business — got a political charade.

Council, in that decision, is not working for the people. Instead, they’re abusing the little power they have been granted by the residents.

Small minds like this will not even begin to fix the big problems facing the city.