John Whittaker
Pictured are some police officers and municipal leaders in Chautauqua County giving their support to Sheriff James Quattrone and his efforts to address on Executive Order 203 â Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.
Editor’s Note: Today, the OBSERVER continues its look back at the top stories of 2020 and the way they will shape the coming year. Today, 20 for 2020 looks at the municipal matters that were among the most-read stories in the newspaper this year.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office is working on its New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative plan due to the state by April 1.
A rift between the Dunkirk Common Council and Mayor Wilfred Rosas has just become larger.
On Wednesday morning, Councilman-at-large Paul VanDenVouver told the OBSERVER he is banning Rosas from attending all of the Common Council meetings in 2021.
“Willie is banned from every council meeting for the year 2021,” VanDenVouver said. “I just made the decision.”
City attorney Richard Morrisroe was asked if the move was legal and told the OBSERVER that it is a “very gray area.”
“This council is testing the charter like it’s never been tested before,” Morrisroe said. “The mayor may not be allowed in in a professional capacity, but as a private, registered voting citizen he has First Amendment rights to be there. There’s nothing in the charter or the meeting rules other than that the councilman-at-large runs the meetings and that the mayor has a right to call special meetings of the council if needed. Other than that, there’s nothing pertaining to them.”