Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz said her focus is on the city budget, not a tree program.

Dunkirk Assessor Erica Munson said Tuesday that either Mayor Kate Wdowiasz should resign or the Common Council ought to conduct a no-confidence vote in her leadership.

Munson spoke during the public comments portion of Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, introducing herself as the city assessor. “I’m here this evening to formally express my concerns regarding the current state of our workplace environment, particularly in relation to employee treatment and the leadership dynamics under our current mayor,” she said.

“It has come to my attention that there are several pressing issues that require immediate attention to foster a healthier and more productive work atmosphere,” Munson continued. For example, city employees’ morale “has significantly declined. City employees have expressed feelings of discontentment and disillusionment due to (a) prevailing toxic work environment.”

Munson then got personal. The Republican city assessor basically accused the Democratic first-term mayor of being a vindictive, ill-prepared leader.

“I must address the leadership style exhibited by the mayor, which has raised concerns among staff,” Munson said. “There appears to be a lack of professionalism and essential leadership skills necessary to guide our team. In fact, the fear of retaliation exists throughout the walls, halls, and streets of the city of Dunkirk.”

Erica Munson

Wdowiasz replied briefly during her mayor’s report a few minutes later.

“I’m sorry that there’s confusion about what’s going on around City Hall,” said the mayor, who is now in her second year in office. “We are trying the best to do what we can with the limited resources that we currently have, and making our dollars stretch a lot further, especially in this financial crisis.”