Current Jamestown City Council President and Ward 2 Representative, Tony Dolce, is running unopposed in this year’s city council elections. Submitted photo

The City Council’s longest-tenured member will extend his career another two years with no opponent on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election.

Tony Dolce, R-Ward 2 and council president, has had multiple years of experience helping both the Jamestown community and other members of the City Council, and his work is set to continue as he runs unopposed in this year’s council elections. Dolce has been a long time council member with various leadership roles, including serving as council president for the last six years, and as the previous chair of the council’s finance committee.

“I enjoy serving the community and really enjoy working with the public,” Dolce said. “I have been around long enough and believe that I am in the position of being a leader and a mentor for the other council people. I have the ability to answer their questions as well as being available to help the mayor and her administration..”

Dolce is a lifelong resident of Jamestown, graduating from Jamestown High School and also teaching there for over 35 years as a government and economics teacher. Dolce has been active in multiple other places in the community, including his church; Holy Apostles Parish, and multiple boards and commissions such as the YMCA board, the Lakeview Cemetery board and Board of Public Utilities Board of Directors. Dolce also serves on the Jamestown Local Development Corporation, and JURA. He is an active runner in the community, helping to raise money for causes and charities over the years. He currently is an assistant coach of the Jamestown High School Cross Country Team.

When it comes to issues in the city, such as some of the degrading neighborhoods, Dolce said both housing and the condition of city neighborhoods have been a top priority of concern for a number of years for both residents and the council.

“It’s a huge challenge,” Dolce said. “We have an aging housing stock in our community, coupled with levels of poverty, rental properties and absentee landlords. I have been in many neighborhoods and I believe one of the top issues in Jamestown is to clean up the neighborhoods. We, as a city council, are being as aggressive as possible with demolitions of homes that are beyond repair. We are also setting a strict precedent with our housing laws and codes to bring the dilapidated homes that are owned by residents and/or landlords up to code.”

Dolce noted that the council has passed legislation to give the Department of Development, allowing the council the ability to go into neighborhoods and be more effective at identifying housing issues. After demolition, Dolce said the council will continue to work on options to change zoning laws to create smaller units and homes on these empty lots which will give people the opportunity for affordable, newer and better housing options in those neighborhoods.

“The condition of housing in our neighborhoods is very difficult and frustrating because of the laws that we have to follow,” Dolce said. “The city doesn’t own the majority of these properties. However, the city has to take care of them, and in the long run, it takes time and a great deal of money to either help fix the properties up or remove them.”

With the recent release of the city’s preliminary budget, currently looking at a 7.5% tax increase, Dolce said each year the budget is always a difficult process, adding that over the years departments have been consolidated. Cuts are made where departments can continue to manage services. Right now, Dolce said, it is a difficult combination of increasing health care costs, stop loss insurance, and the continuing of salaries and benefits rising as well.

“Just like the homeowners’, our budgets go up as well,” Dolce said. “At this point, the mayor’s budget comes back into our hands, the council will exercise its due diligence to go through each department and see where we can possibly make some cost savings while lowering the proposed tax increase.”

Dolce noted the council has until Dec. 1 to vote on a budget, with a concern about the use of too much of the city’s fund balance. He said they need to be careful with how much of the fund balance gets used, while also balancing with how much taxpayers can reasonably afford. Dolce said he believes the city council has managed to do a credible job with balancing those needs and have been able to continue to provide essential services to the community, at the same time passing and bringing forth responsible budgets.

Looking at safety concerns, Dolce said the city council has placed an emphasis on working with law enforcement to address crime in the city. Crime is statistically related to the economy, poverty, and mental health and drug abuse. The city will continue to work on addressing all of these issues in conjunction with the county and state government. The city is working with our local shelters and are supporting the creation of additional places where people in need can access needed services.

“The city council is doing the best that we can to address all issues in our neighborhoods,” Dolce said. “Council members are committed to continue to address these issues.”

Dolce also noted the ongoing challenge to recruit and retain police officers in the city.

Dolce said it has been a privilege to serve Jamestown for so many years and that he will continue to serve the residents of the city of Jamestown.

“I have always worked in a bipartisan fashion with all members of council,” Dolce said. “I believe my experience through my years on the city council is extremely valuable to the other members, as well as the city administration. I look forward to serving the community for another term.”