City Building and Zoning Head, Employees Speak Out Against Local Law

Dunkirk city lawmakers will consider a measure that would reassign the duties of electrical and plumbing licensing from the City Clerk's Office to the Building and Zoning Department. The local law, which was introduced during Monday's Common Council meeting, is not sitting well with the city's Housing, Building and Zoning Officer. Alan Gustafson is asking the council to postpone consideration of that measure due to concern over the department's workload...

Alan Gustafson: more burden placed on staff

Two employees within that department also spoke out during the public comment period. One of them was Wanda Zawadski...

Wanda Zawadski: has it been fully evaluated

Tatiana Gonzalez joined Gustafson and Zawadski in opposing the local law. 

Councilman at Large Nick Weiser, who spoke with WDOE News after the meeting, says the council is not rushing into this because it would involve changes to the City Code and Charter. He added that those additional licensing duties have been carried out by the Building and Zoning Department since the beginning of the year...

Nick Weiser: directive from the Mayor's Office

A public hearing on the local law has been scheduled for the council's first meeting in August.

Photos by Greg Larson