Dunkirk resident Thomas Taylor said at a Common Council meeting that the city shouldn’t abolish its treasurer position.

The Dunkirk Common Council has set a public hearing on a referendum to eliminate the city treasurer position.

The hearing, a legal formality required by state law, is set for April 16 at 5:30 p.m. before the council’s next scheduled meeting. The hearing has to be held before the council can pass the law putting the end of the treasurer’s position before the public for a November referendum.

The city Treasurer’s Office is currently under investigation over alleged recordkeeping improprieties. Mayor Kate Wdowiasz said at Tuesday’s council meeting she had no new updates on the investigation.

Treasurer Mark Woods got some support from a member of the public during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Thomas Taylor criticized the idea of eliminating the treasurer position. “I’ve done a little research today…and all I can ascertain from it is, if you’re going to take a layer of protection, that’s dangerous,” he said.

“The bottom line of the whole thing is, I’ve had people say, ‘Well, you can win by only one vote,'” he continued. “Still, that’s the democratic way of doing things.”

Taylor said he has known Woods for years and called him “probably one of the most honest people I’ve ever met, and non-judgmental.”

Taylor wondered if the council would attempt to abolish more elected positions, such as the city assessor. He said Woods should be “applauded…not because I’m biased, but maybe I am.” The city’s challenging financial situation is not due to Woods, it’s blamed on department heads and overspending, Taylor concluded.

Councilman James Stoyle later noted to Taylor that “there has to be a referendum and you folks have to decide whether the treasurer stays or goes.”