Sep 16, 2025
Mayor Kate Wdowiasz
Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz has vetoed a Common Council resolution to fund a cleaner for the Dunkirk Senior Center, calling her move “both fiscal necessity and legal obligation.”
Wdowiasz’s veto message was attached to the Common Council agenda for today’s meeting. The council is also scheduled to authorize the hiring of a dog control officer and award bids for street repaving.
The cleaner would cost $9,360 at a time when “the city of Dunkirk is currently experiencing a significant financial crisis,” Wdowiasz wrote. “In this environment, every new appropriation must be carefully scrutinized to ensure it is both necessary and consistent with existing legal obligations.”
Wdowiasz also cited the original agreement between the Senior Center’s organizing corporation and the city, dating back to 1993. “The corporation will supply the personnel for the operation of the center, specifically including the personnel necessary for maintenance, janitorial services, lawn maintenance, gardening and snow and ice removal,” the mayor quoted the agreement.
Wdowiasz put the quote in a bold italic font and attached a copy of the agreement, just in case anyone was unclear.
Despite the agreement, the city informally sent a cleaner to the Senior Center for many years. Wdowiasz ended that practice in January — citing the fiscal problems that led to multiple state bailout attempts, Comptroller’s Office employees sniffing around City Hall, and an approximately 84% property tax increase.
City officials have received persistent complaints about the lack of a janitor at the center ever since, and the council’s resolution attempted to address that.
A supermajority of four councilors could vote to override Wdowiasz’s veto. If council votes the same way it did on the resolution to fund the cleaner — 4-1, with only Councilwoman Abby Zatorski dissenting — it would be able to override.
In addition, a resolution to hire Jennifer Sasso of Dunkirk as the city’s new part-time dog control officer is also on today’s agenda.
Sasso would provide the services starting Sept. 23 at a monthly cost of $1,600. Her agreement with the city would “terminate on March 31, 2026, upon which the parties, if satisfied with the services provided, will negotiate a new contract.” Money for Sasso’s pay is budgeted in an animal control officer line item.
The city has not had an animal control officer since December 2023. Several attempts to fill the position were unsuccessful, and the situation led to complaints from residents and council members.
Councilwoman Nancy Nichols told the OBSERVER a couple weeks ago that Dunkirk would likely try to hire dog control officers moving forward, as animal control officers have more stringent requirements, which severely limits the pool of candidates for the city.
As for the paving, Millherst Construction of Clarence Center won the bidding and today’s council resolution authorizes Wdowiasz to hire the company for the job.
According to the resolution, “initial plans are to mill West Third Street from Robin Street east to Central Avenue, along with the adjacent parking areas south of the railroad berm with paving and striping to follow, and to mill and pave North Roberts Road.”
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