County approves short-term Office for Aging lease in Dunkirk despite steep rent increase

The Chautauqua County Audit & Control Committee on Jan. 16 authorized a short-term lease that lets the county’s Office for Aging continue operations at the City of Dunkirk senior center while it completes interior renovations at a planned new location.

County staff told the committee the new short-term agreement carries a materially higher monthly rate than the county’s longtime occupancy payment. Committee members repeatedly pressed staff for context after one legislator characterized the change as “a big jump” — county witnesses said the previous contracted rate had expired more than 20 years ago and that the City of Dunkirk presented the county with a new short-term offer. The monthly arrangement can be terminated with 60 days’ notice, and staff said they expect to move to the new facility once interior ADA improvements — including demolition of a cinder-block bathroom and installation of an ADA-compliant restroom — are complete.

Why it matters Sustaining the Office for Aging’s space maintains congregate and clerical services for senior residents while the new site is renovated. Committee members signaled concern about the size of the rent increase and sought assurance that the county will occupy the Dunkirk site only as long as necessary. County staff said they expect the new facility to be ready within a few months and promised to report timing as construction estimates are finalized.

What was discussed Dana Corwin, interim director of the Office for Aging Services, described the request as a short-term lease to extend occupancy until the new site is ready. A county legislator asked for the details of the change: the committee was told the prior rate had been roughly $3,000 per year under an expired agreement and that the new arrangement would bring annual rent closer to $10,000 — figures discussed verbally in the meeting. Corwin and finance staff emphasized the arrangement’s short-term nature and the county’s ability to terminate on 60 days’ notice. Committee members asked for firm timing and were told final construction figures would be available the following Monday and staff hoped to complete the move “in a couple months”.

Formal action The committee voted to authorize the short-term lease by voice vote. Staff listed the county department responsible for execution as Human Services/Office for Aging and said they will return a relocation timeline to the committee once construction estimates are confirmed.