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Residents urge labor-management process for city morale; council updates on vacant and "zombie" properties
Summary
A resident urged use of labor-management committees to address city worker morale; the mayor and staff reported on 'zombie' properties, noting several have changed owners and demolition funding is limited.
A member of the public urged the Dunkirk Common Council to use labor-management committees to address low morale among city workers, and council and staff discussed the city’s inventory of vacant and so-called "zombie" properties.
Gary Fredericks, of 750 Deer Street, told the council that placing all blame for worker morale on the mayor is unfair and suggested a labor-management committee involving the mayor’s administration and union representatives (he referenced Local 912). He said such committees had worked during his 33 years as a corrections officer and recommended the city use similar forums to work through employee concerns.
Mayor Dobies acknowledged change is difficult and said her goal is to stop "the hemorrhage of funds being spent inappropriately in the city" and to implement council amendments to the proposed budget to be more fiscally responsible. She said some employees will be unhappy about changes but framed the steps as fiscal corrections.
On vacant-property issues, staff member Wanda described "zombie properties" as homes where an owner has walked away and a servicer must be assigned; she told the council the city currently has 93 vacant properties and some slated for demolition but that funds are not available for all demolitions. The mayor and staff said some disputed properties had been sold to new owners and outside counsel decided not to continue litigation in certain cases; the judge’s action in a news article reflected that the outside law firm determined the case lacked merit and did not pursue it further.
Council members discussed that residential demolition grants are generally not available except through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs. No formal council action on labor-management structures or demolition funding was taken at the meeting.
