OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford

Dunkirk has delayed hiring its new police and fire chiefs.

The Common Council refused to vote Tuesday on resolutions confirming Nicholas Bartre as fire chief and Christopher Witkowski as police chief. For both chiefs, Councilperson Nancy Nichols motioned to send the resolutions concerning their employment to the council’s Personnel Committee “for further review and clarification.” No further explanation was offered.

The council voted, 4-1, in each case to confirm Nichols’ request. Councilperson James Stoyle was opposed.

The votes came a little while after Councilperson-at-large Nick Weiser asked for an executive session, apparently to discuss the Barter and Witkowski resolutions. The candidates were asked to join council and Mayor Kate Wdowiasz in a closed-to-the-public meeting within the meeting. They retreated to the mayor’s conference room.