Never before has a canceled Dunkirk Common Council meeting caused such a commotion. About five hours before the scheduled event Tuesday, the city sent out a notice announcing no gathering will take place.

Frustrations on social media from the story posted by the OBSERVER seemed over the top. Whether the issue has to do with the quitting of the dog-control officer or a lack of morale inside City Hall, there really is nothing the council can do.

Their hands are tied. Dunkirk — a $30 million entity — is barely getting by due to its very public fiscal crisis.

In some instances, the community is blaming the mayor. Unfortunately for her, that comes with the territory for anyone who is leading and facing tough decisions. In this case, she was even being blamed by some for the meeting being canceled.

For the record, the meeting comes under full authority of the council members. That is why it is called a Common Council meeting.

No matter how you slice it, there was not going to be enough in attendance for a quorum. It would have been more convenient to know this long before Tuesday, but that is the day when the news surfaced.

Speaking of council, we know its hands are tied. This goes back to the city’s financial troubles. At the moment, they barely have the power to do anything other than show up — and they could not do that this week.

Most members have also gone on record that they are against a control board, which would have the ability to make real decisions and changes. If three council members are absent on a day they know they have to show up, why are they worried about a control board?

Dunkirk, which is dealing with an underfunded budget, is facing another fiscal doomsday that is likely to show up in the fall. How is this council responding to this bleak future? It canceled a meeting.