Council postpones vote on local law transferring trade licensing duties after public hearing

The Dunkirk Common Council closed a public hearing on Local Law No. 5-20-26 — a proposed amendment to the city charter and code that would assign administrative responsibility for electrical and plumbing licensing and board administration to the Department of Building and Zoning — and then voted to postpone formal consideration until the council's Aug. 18, 2026 meeting.

At the hearing, Vonda Zolatsi, a building inspector and code enforcement officer in the Housing Building and Zoning office, said the change would move ‘‘strictly administrative and clerical work’’—applications, minutes and recordkeeping—to her department while inspections themselves would remain separate. She told the council a contractual grievance over the reassignment is ongoing and asked members to ‘‘vote no or postpone action on local law number 5 20 26 today."

Union and resident speakers echoed concerns. Emily Delenberg, a laboratory director at the city's water treatment plant and a union representative, said transferring duties risks overloading already certified staff and undermining public safety, urging councilmembers not to vote yes because, she said, they did not have "all of the facts." Nancy Nichols reminded the council that a resolution six years earlier directed licensing and permits to be done through the clerk's office and urged the council to review that policy before changing course.

Council members moved and seconded a motion to postpone consideration; the motion carried. The presiding officer noted New York Home Rule Law Section 20, which normally requires seven days between a hearing and passage of a local law absent an emergency. The item will return to the agenda on Aug. 18, 2026 for further consideration.