The town of Dunkirk approved a motion to override the 2 percent tax cap at its monthly board meeting. Prior to passing the local law, a public hearing was held which saw no public comment.
"The local law would permit you to permit a budget for 2013 in excess of your tax levy as per the formula," Town Attorney Jeffrey Passafaro said. "It's not to say you are going to be over, or under ... but it does provide a safe harbor in case the calculations of the formula are incorrect or in error or Albany has given you misinformation."
Passafaro said the "penalty is too severe" for the town if they were to go over the 2 percent tax cap. This local law, which has to be adopted annually, is just a precaution to protect the town. The local law was passed unanimously by board members. The board also went over the preliminary budget which was presented at a workshop meeting on Oct. 2.
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photo by Samantha McDonnell
The Dunkirk Town Board passed a local law to override the 2 percent tax cap at its monthly board meeting. Pictured from left are: Councilmen Juan Pagan, Mark Kutner and Robert Penharlow.
"After a little bit more review and talking, the only issue we were going to take care of ... we're going to increase the code enforcement officer's gas allotment per month," Supervisor Richard Purol said.
The gas allotment will be increased to $150 per month for Ryan Mourer, code enforcement officer. Also during the meeting, the town board passed a resolution to hold four public hearings at its next meeting to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
During this board meeting, the board will hold a public hearing for hiring an alternate zoning board member at 6 p.m., West Town Fire contract at 6:15 p.m., East Town Fire contract at 6:30 p.m. and the preliminary budget at 6:45 p.m.
The town discussed having an alternate member added on to the zoning board. The board can have up to two alternates and will have to go through the same training as those on the Zoning Board.
The alternate will only be used if a member is absent from the board. The alternate will stay until the conclusion of cases he or she hears while serving as the alternate even if the original member should return, according to Passafaro. In the case of two alternate members, each will take rotating turns serving on the board to fill vacancies.
Comments on this article may be sent to smcdonnell@observertoday.com.
