The sign near the Boardwalk in Dunkirk for the possible lease of the city marina.

Dunkirk Common Council members sought clarification from members of Mayor Kate Wdowiasz’s administration about the prominent “for sale” signs up near Dunkirk’s Boardwalk, which concern rights to run the Marina.

Council member Nancy Nichols said she’s heard a lot of concern that the Boardwalk is up for sale, due to the prominent placement of one of the signs — directly between the summer tourist attraction that rents space to local shops, and Lake Shore Drive’s intersection with Central Avenue.

Nichols suggested that the sign should be on the Marina’s actual property.

The second sign is just a few yards west down Lake Shore Drive, on an empty lot often used for parking in the summer. That’s also been considered part of the marina property. That parcel can be purchased — it’s not just offered for lease like the main part of the property, on Lake Erie behind the Boardwalk.

Vince DeJoy, city planning and development director, stressed that the Boardwalk parcel is not up for sale or lease.

The sign “was placed at that Boardwalk location for visibility more than anything else,” he said.

Nichols also wondered if the situation at the marina would hinder its quest for a piece of the $10 million in state Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) money.

“That can only be speculation. I don’t know, ” DeJoy said. “That’s why the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency got involved with their letter of intent to purchase the leasehold rights and purchase the property on the west side, from the current Chadwick Bay LLC.” The IDA subsequently took over and made changes to the DRI application.

Peter Smith, who acquired the rights to Chadwick Bay, LLC from Charles Pringle in the spring, initially made that application, and ran the marina in the summer. However, City Hall distanced itself from Smith after then-City Attorney Michael Bobseine stated the acquisition was done improperly, and Smith was arrested twice in an unrelated matter.

Earlier in Tuesday’s meeting, council member Natalie Luczkowiak asked Wdowiasz about the signs. “I’m going to defer to legal on this one,” the mayor responded.

New City Attorney Elliot Raimondo said, “When it comes to the signs, there is marketing specifically for the operation of the marina, not for the sale of the marina. We would like the public to know that.”

Raimondo added that Chadwick Bay, LLC currently runs the marina and will continue to until a lease buyer is approved.