The Dunkirk Town Board met Nov. 7 where the discussion turned to overdue water bills passed on from the city of Dunkirk. Photo by Jo Ward

DUNKIRK — The town board was stunned to find out that it is responsible for collecting on unpaid water bills from the city of Dunkirk.

The bills in question pertain to residents within the west town. However, water had always been supplied by the city. Residents in the town paid the city, until now, with the transition of everything into the North Chautauqua County Water District.

“These are water bills that are in the rears and some of them are huge,” Town Supervisor Richard Purol stated at the regular town board meeting.

“It was first brought up when I went to the board meeting for the city of Dunkirk to get the meters on Willow Road hooked up. That’s when it was brought up that the city has to be made whole when you switch this stuff over,” Purol said. “And I said, ‘How much are we talking?’ And at that time they gave us a high number, and I said ‘In other words this is money that you guys haven’t collected, and didn’t do anything about shutting people off?’ (The city responded with) ‘Well we can’t shut them off.’ (To which I responded) ‘So you didn’t do anything about it? You just let it ride? So, shame on you for not collecting that money.'”

“The problem is you have a contract to buy water from the city,” Town Attorney Jeff Passafaro replied. “The district is going to be held responsible and you’re in the transition of the city to north county, this is one of the clean-up items so that north county starts fresh.”

What happens now is that after Oct. 1, residents received their final bills, and those who owed rears would have the amount listed. If those properties did not close the outstanding balances with the city, then the town has to levy the balances onto the property tax by sending them off to Mayville – which has to be done by next week.

“My concern is, why now?” Town Councilman Juan Pagan asked. “It just seems like such a shocker all of sudden for this interaction to happen at a point when we’re transitioning.”

“If we had been told, every year we could have been putting them in gradually,” Purol added. “It’ll be done with our new billing system, you don’t pay it’s going on the levy, but we also have a clause on how we can shut people off, and it’s going to be enforced.”

A resolution was passed 4-1 forwarding the delinquent water bills on to the tax levy to be collected when the town tax is, much to the council’s chagrin.

“When all the meters are put in on the east side (of town) the same thing is going to have to happen, Sheridan too,” Purol added. “Because they never shut anybody off and didn’t collect any of that money.”

Also at the November meeting it was discussed that the property on the corner of Bennett Road and Arrowhead Drive is to be the future location of Chautauqua Dentistry and that there will be a public hearing for the Hampton Hotel on Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. at the Dunkirk Town Hall.

Supervisor Purol also noted that after a lot of phone calls, the problem with water jamming up on Canadaway Creek has been resolved.

“It took a long time to get it done, but we got some help from County Emergency Services and Congressman Reed’s office and finally got CSX to do it. The creek is open, the problem in the town of Dunkirk at the tracks has been alleviated,” Purol said.

The next regular town board meeting is Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.