As has been well documented for more than two years, the city of Dunkirk is facing real troubles. Finances are in shambles. Morale, of course, is at all time lows in City Hall.

How is the Common Council responding to the big problems through the first five months of the year? It does not.

Instead, it takes on another meaningless issue. It creates a resolution — that it approved — that would not allow the public to be served with paperwork during a council meeting.

“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.

Council’s action comes after 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.

Glad the council has solved an important problem — that has never happened before. It is time they start addressing the important stuff, such as how to reduce $30 million in annual expenses to stay out of the red.