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The OBSERVER’s View

Tumult keeps harming Fredonia reputation

After a sudden resignation by one trustee and another on medical leave, there has been a lack of activity regarding the Fredonia Village Board. Last week, the meeting was canceled — likely due to lack of a quorum. While the schedule is supposed to resume Monday with a workshop gathering, there is no question the internal and external turmoil of the village is impacting how things are getting done. Contentious meetings, that included a notorious scuffle, led to Jon Espersen saying enough was enough. Unrelated to that, Trustee Ben Brauchler appears to be on the mend. But the dynamic ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Positive developments with city positions

There is a bright spot to Dunkirk’s recent fiscal failures since 2024 that have begun to appear. It is simply this: those connected to the city, want to come back and help out. That was the case more than a month ago when the neighboring town by the same name. Jennifer Jakubowski resigned as deputy clerk there and is compelled to rebuild the struggling municipality.. “I have witnessed what it takes to run a municipality effectively, and the positive impact it has on the residents who are fortunate to call this town home,” Jakubowski said in her letter to the town, noting she ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Support flows for vote on Fredonia water

With 10 boil orders in the last 39 months, there are no doubts the village of Fredonia is notoriously known for its water. The situation, which has worsened in the last decade, has chased business out of the village, led to decreased enrollment at the State University of New York campus and frustrations for residents. Over the last three years, there has been an effort by the current administration to have the North County Water District as a supplier to the village. That would come at a cost while eliminating the revenues that come from the current village system. How to move forward? ...

The OBSERVER’s View: City market hitting its stride

A fairly new summer tradition gets started again on Wednesday. Dunkirk’s Farmers’ Market season begins Wednesday and lasts through Oct. 14. The event runs from 9 a.m.. to 2 p.m. — no matter what the weather — outside Dunkirk Senior Center at 45 Cliffstar Court under the agrarian pavilion complex. “We are so very grateful to Refresco for stepping up time and again to support the Dunkirk Market and I am proud to announce that they will once again be the Title Sponsor for our 2026 Dunkirk Farmers Market season!” said E.J. Hayes, city of Dunkirk Deputy Director of Planning & ...

The OBSERVER’s View: Delay on climate bill is positive energy

Debate in recent months over changes to the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act had us wondering if there was any common sense left in the halls of the state Capitol. In the wake of last week’s vote to push back some parts of the 2019 law, it’s good to see there’s at least a thimble full of common sense remaining in Albany. State lawmakers approved Several deadlines and benchmarks included in the 2019 CLCPA are being pushed back, including a 2024 deadline for regulations from the Department of Environmental Conservation that were the subject of a lawsuit by ...

Overspending city needs a watchdog

A comptroller, that is sorely needed in the city of Dunkirk, has riled up some so-called penny pinchers. This week, council approved the appointment of Tracy Smith-Dengler for the position. It did not come without drama. In voting against the hiring, Third Ward Councilman Gary Frederickson was concerned about the salary for the position. “It seemed that nobody in this building was able to give me what I thought should be a relatively simple answer to a question: How much are we going to pay this comptroller per year?” he asked. A search of salary sites online would give you an ...