The Dunkirk Common Council has turned down a request by the local Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation to put out mobile information carts on city property.

The 3-2 vote this week to not allow the carts came after the council tabled the request at its previous meeting. Council members Martin Bamonto and Natalie Luczkowiak voted in favor of the carts, but lost to the “no’s” of David Damico, Nancy Nichols and James Stoyle.

In a letter received by the city Aug. 10, the congregation tried to clear up what it felt were misconceptions about the carts.

“Some of our friends start early in the morning between 7 a.m. (to noon) daily … furthermore, some may work during the afternoon between the hours of 1 to 3 p.m., and during evening hours at 6 p.m. at the above locations, but again weather permitting and according to the member’s circumstances,” the letter states.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses were known for their house-to-house outreach efforts before the COVID-19 pandemic. They now focus on getting their message out with the mobile carts, in response to social distancing concerns.

They wanted to set up under the Central Avenue viaduct “and would also like to do so in the future near local parks and the Pier grounds,” according to the congregation’s original letter.

However, according to some city officials at Tuesday’s meeting, they did not clearly define times and dates for putting out the carts.

“There’s still no dates on it,” Nichols noted. “If they want to do it, isn’t it protocol that they would give some dates so everybody’s on board on when they’re going to be there?”

“I would interpret that as they don’t want to be hemmed in by dates, that they want to have carte blanche,” City Attorney Richard Morrisroe said.

City Clerk Edwin Ramos said he told a Jehovah’s Witnesses representative the council would likely want specific times and dates for putting out the carts.

Luczkowiak said the carts “were small and non-invasive … they don’t approach, they wait until a person comes to them.”

Bamonto suggested the city allow the carts, but immediately ask the congregation for specific dates and times.