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Mayor Dobias says treasurer arrest exposed long-running financial problems, urges regional oversight
Summary
Mayor Dobias told the Common Council that a city treasurer’s arrest followed a state and county investigation that uncovered mishandled funds and long-standing control weaknesses; he described immediate steps taken and urged a regional oversight approach rather than a state fiscal control board.
Mayor Dobias told the Common Council that the city treasurer was arrested following a state and county investigation and said his administration has uncovered “troubling patterns” and mishandled funds stretching back years.
“This arrest is not political. It is accountability,” Mayor Dobias said, adding that staff had restricted access to accounts, increased controls and notified the proper authorities after finding irregularities.
The mayor said the school district’s review validated discrepancies the city had identified and that the administration is rebuilding internal systems and modernizing outdated policies. He urged state and county lawmakers to consider a regional control board to avoid placing additional burdens on city taxpayers and to support merged services across Northern Chautauqua County.
The council chair, who also chairs the finance committee, reiterated the council’s focus on fiscal oversight and noted the prior referendum to abolish the elected treasurer position as part of ongoing reform efforts. The finance committee will meet Friday, Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. to continue work under the Dunkirk Fiscal Recovery Act.
