OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen City of Dunkirk Board Member Phil Leone, Board Member Jean Crane, Judge Christopher Penfold, Board Member Shari Miller, and City Supervisor town Priscilla Penfold recently gathered at Dunkirk Town Hall and Court to formally take the oath of office.
A little more than an hour after Priscilla Penfold watched a new town supervisor take the oath of office in Hanover, it was Penfold's turn to do the same in the town of Dunkirk.
Penfold was recently sworn in by her husband, Municipal Judge Christopher Penfold, alongside other members of the revamped Dunkirk City Council.
As the town's new leader, Penfold succeeds Juan Pagan, who finished out the remainder of his close friend Dick Purol's term as town supervisor. Purol died last February at the age of 69.
When Pagan took over from Purol, a place was created in his place on the city council. Two members of the public with experience in local government have expressed interest in the seat, former City Clerk Jean Crane and Planning Board President Shari Miller.
Crane was appointed to Pagan's seat after leaving it to fill the role of supervisor, and Crane and Miller decided to run for a spot on the board in the November election. They were each elected to a seat on the board, with Miller receiving 170 votes and Crane receiving 167 votes. Dr. G. Jay Bishop finished third with 149 votes. With Bishop's departure from the Council, as well as the retirement of longtime member Henry Walldorff, there is not a single Council member left in the same seat as a year ago.
While Crane and Miller were each elected to full terms as city council members last November, another seat was filled for a shorter term.
Phil Leone, a resident who has often shared his opinions at city council meetings in recent years, has decided to run for a vacant city council seat rather than for a full term. Leone ran unopposed for his seat, with 200 votes in his favor.
Leone, an attorney, cited the city's zoning laws and regulations as a key issue the new council will need to address. He also highlighted the infrastructure needs of the town hall and courthouse, as well as the needs of the city's water system.
Like Leone, Penfold ran unopposed in the November election. She was elected Municipal Supervisor with 230 votes.
After members of the new board were officially sworn in, Miller referenced a daily horoscope from a recent issue of the OBSERVER. He stated, “There is no status among the pieces of the puzzle. No individual piece is superior or missing; each is necessary to complete the picture.
Miller felt the statement fit his new role as a city council member. Miller said: “I would like to thank the residents of the City of Dunkirk for giving me the opportunity to be part of the puzzle. Together, we make the City of Dunkirk a better place.
However, the Dunkirk Town Board puzzle is not yet complete. As Pagan did before her, Penfold left her seat on the board to take over as town supervisor. The City Council is seeking letters of interest from residents who are interested in serving on the council for the upcoming year. City residents are encouraged to contact the Clerk's Office to express interest in this position. The city council will appoint its next member in the coming weeks.