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Legislature backs investigation into Dunkirk finances | News, Sports, Jobs
Dunkirk attorney Elliot Raimondo said the city supports the state Attorney General’s Office’s investigation into Dunkirk’s finances. PJ photo by Gregory Bacon
The Chautauqua County Legislature is calling for an investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office into what caused Dunkirk’s tax problems.
On Wednesday, the legislature voted 14-2 in favor of the request, with three lawmakers 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 updating our audits as we speak. We should be done with 2022 at the end of the month and we are willing to work with the county and state to ensure that Dunkirk’s fiscal finances are well managed,” he said.
His comments seemed to exasperate Bankoski, as he swiveled in his chair and dropped his glasses on the table.
Later in the meeting, before the vote, Bankoski requested a five-minute recess for Democrats to meet with Raimondo.
The resolution notes that Dunkirk has a $16 million deficit and that the City of Dunkirk Fiscal Recovery Act has been passed by the state.
The final line of the resolution states: “Chautauqua County requests the Office of the New York State Attorney General to investigate the budget process and audit the financial documents applicable to the City of Dunkirk for the years 2014 through 2024.”
The resolution was requested by County Executive P.J. Wendel and Legislator Dan Pavlock, R-Ellington.
After the caucus, Bankoski requested that the resolution be shelved due to “conflicting information.” The resolution failed, with only lawmakers Bankoski, Parker, Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, and Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia voting in favor.
During floor debate, Parker criticized the resolution, calling it a “wish list,” saying it’s something the county “wants” to happen but can’t demand. “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 to just call or send a letter to the AG asking for an investigation,” she said.
Parker added that she is not trying to ignore or avoid a Dunkirk investigation, but said that is something the state should decide. “This … is an overreach by the county and is meaningless,” she said.
Parker said if the state comptroller wants to conduct an investigation due to something improper, her office will do so. She noted that both the Northern Chautauqua County Water District and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency have come under fire from the comptroller recently for various issues.
Some lawmakers defended the need for the investigation.
“I would like to help (Dunkirk), but before I do that, I want to know how the city got to where it is and what is being done to fix it,” said Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan.
Pavlock agreed. “I just want to make sure that the taxpayers who live in the city of Dunkirk are being considered, in the sense that this fall, some new tax bills are going to come out that are not going to be very favorable to them,” he said.
Both Scudder and Larson, who voted to shelve 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 addressed the full legislature and said the city is working closely with the state Comptroller’s Office and others to review its financial documents and identify any issues. “I believe there was no illegal activity, but rather a lack of knowledge of best practices for managing money,” she said.
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