OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon
Dunkirk attorney Elliot Raimondo said the city supports the state Attorney General’s Office doing an investigation on Dunkirk’s finances.
The Chautauqua County Legislature is going on record wanting an investigation from the state Attorney General’s Office on what caused Dunkirk’s fiscal woes.
On Wednesday, the legislature voted 14-2 in favor of the request, with three legislators absent.
The two “no” votes came from Legislators Bob Bankoski and Susan Parker. The two Democratic legislators, along with Legislator Marcus Buchanan who was absent, represent the city of Dunkirk.
Before the vote, Dunkirk city attorney Elliot Raimondo spoke to the legislature and said the city was in favor of the resolution. “We are getting our audits up to date as we speak. We should be done with 2022 at the end of the month and we’re willing to work with the county and state to ensure the Dunkirk fiscal finances are well managed,” he said.
His comments seemed to exasperate Bankoski, as he spun in his chair and dropped his glasses on the table.
Later in the meeting, before the vote took place, Bankoski requested a five minute recess for the Democrats to caucus together with Raimondo.
The resolution notes Dunkirk has a $16 million deficit and that the City of Dunkirk Fiscal Recovery Act has been approved by the state.
In the final line of the resolution it states, “County of Chautauqua calls on the New York State Attorney General’s Office to investigate the budget process and audit the applicable financial documents for the City of Dunkirk for the years 2014 through 2024.”
The resolution was requested by County Executive PJ Wendel and Legislator Dan Pavlock, R-Ellington.
After the caucus, Bankoski requested the resolution be tabled due to “conflicting information.” That resolution failed, with only legislators Bankoski, Parker, Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, and Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia voting in favor.
During the debate on the floor, Parker criticized the resolution, calling it a “wish list,” saying it’s something the county “wishes” would happen but can’t require. “I called the Attorney General’s Office today and was told by the Attorney General’s Office that (for) the county legislature and the county executive, there is no provision for them just calling or sending a letter to the A.G. asking for an investigation,” she said.
Parker added that she is not trying to ignore or avoid an investigation of Dunkirk, but said that is something the state should decide. “This … is a county overreach and it has no meaning,” she said.
Parker said if the state comptroller wants to do an investigation due to something improper, his office will do that. She noted that both the Northern Chautauqua County Water District and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency have both been dinged by the comptroller’s office recently for various issues.
Some legislators defended the need for the investigation.
“I would like to help (Dunkirk) but before I do, I want to know how the city has gotten to the point where it has and what is being done to correct that situation,” Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, said.
Pavlock agreed. “I just want to make sure that the taxpayers living in the city of Dunkirk are being thought of, in the sense that this fall, some new tax bills are going to be going out and it’s not going to be too favorable for them,” he said.
Both Scudder and Larson, who voted to table the resolution, said they were voting in favor of the investigation because Dunkirk’s attorney expressed support for it.
After the vote, Dunkirk First Ward Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak spoke to the full legislature and said that the city is working closely with the state Comptroller’s Office and others to review their financial documents and identify any issues. “I believe there was not any illegal activity, but unawareness of best money management practices,” she said.