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Union appeals ruling that favored city

A union has filed an appeal of an arbitration decision that went against former city of Dunkirk employee Kim Robbins. Robbins was a legal secretary who was told on Jan. 6, 2025, that she was getting laid off. The American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees filed a grievance, claiming her layoff violated the provisions of her contract. However, an arbitrator ruled in January that Dunkirk didn’t violate the contract. The union’s appeal of that decision claims “the contract language is clear and unambiguous” in not allowing layoffs. Dunkirk argued the position ...

Ferguson Wants Route 60 Hotel Closed

Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson wants the shutdown of a Route 60 motel notorious for violent incidents. “I have called for the immediate closure and abandonment of the property on Route 60 formerly known as the Econo Lodge,” Ferguson declared during his mayoral report at a Board of Trustees meeting Monday. The Chautauqua County Department of Social Services houses homeless people at the motel, who are the majority of its tenants. Ferguson has long decried both the allegedly bad conditions of the property and the series of violent incidents that have taken place there, including an ...

Fire Damages Rose Apartments

FALCONER - Falconer firefighters made quick work of a fire at the Rose Apartments over the weekend - though traffic in the area was affected into the early afternoon. At 7:34 a.m. Saturday, the Falconer Fire Department was dispatched to 337 W. Main St., following reports of smoke in the ...

City Prepares Three STW Grants

The Department of Development is seeking City Council support to apply for Appalachian Regional Commission “Area Development Program” grants made available through Southern Tier West. At the most recent council work session, applying for these grants was discussed through a resolution. ...

Wdowiasz proposes dog shelter fees

The city dog shelter situation howled its way to the forefront of Monday’s Dunkirk Finance Committee meeting. Mayor Kate Wdowiasz started the session off with several proposals for the Common Council. First, she wants the city to implement an impound fee for dogs of between $25 and $35 per ...

Sherman Receives CREDC Grant

SHERMAN - Sherman Village Board members learned at their meeting this month that the village has received a $15,000 grant from the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation, which enables the launch of the Downtown Streetscape Conceptual Design Project. The Streetscape Design ...