Wells Enterprises

According to the WARN notice filed with the New York State Department of Labor, the ice cream and frozen dessert company cited “economic reasons” for why it’s letting go 319 employees from the Dunkirk facility by December 31.

According to the Buffalo News, the Dunkirk plant had about 750 employees as of January 2021 and planned to hire 70 new employees after receiving a $750,000 grant from National Grid to support an $87 million expansion project. Wells Enterprises now says it plans to scale back operations to five production lines beginning in 2023.

A company spokesperson told the Buffalo News that it will provide affected workers transitional benefits to assist them with finding new jobs. The plant’s employees are represented by the Teamsters Local 264 union.

Health Department officials said because water levels have been depleted, all non-essential water use must be discontinued immediately including that used for manufacturing and other industrial purposes until further notice.

All water customers who still have water service must boil their water before using. The boil water order and water conservation order is expected to be in effect through the next several days.

The audit released by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli‘s office said after a review of 30 accounts, approximately $39,700 in additional penalties should have been charged. The audit also said if City officials had implemented shut-off procedures in accordance with the Code, the City could have collected more than $577,000 on delinquent accounts and realized an additional $31,200 in service resumption fees.

The State Comptroller’s office recommended the city of Dunkirk relevy 1,266 accounts totaling $432,064 dollars, ensure that all delinquent accounts as of January 31st are included on the relevy, and assess penalties according to the Code.

The audit report said the Treasurer generally disagreed with the findings but indicated he would take corrective action. The Council agreed with the findings and indicated it would take corrective action.

The study concluded that, overall, the redevelopment strategy for the NRG Power Plant would have the greatest benefits if it allowed the community to access workforce development opportunities, generated tax revenue, included a clean energy component, supported public access to the waterfront, and aided in comprehensive economic development for the region.

The study also includes recommendations of immediate next steps that the City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County should advance in order to better understand site/building constraints and future opportunities, to position the site for funding to facilitate redevelopment. These include: continuing to collaborate with NRG Energy; pursuing a Build-Ready Program Application through NYSERDA; conducting additional environmental investigations; investigating interconnection costs; completing energy modeling; collaborating with the NYS Climate Justice Working Group; and performing site marketing and promotion.

The NRG Power Plant operated from the 1950s until 2015. It was officially mothballed in 2016, with the decommissioning process beginning in 2020. The NRG Power Plant was an economic engine in the City of Dunkirk, contributing to approximately 40 percent of the City’s tax base and providing close to 150 well-paying jobs at its peak.

The study was funded by a $60,000 Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant with local matching funds from the City of Dunkirk, the County IDA, and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

(Image from WIVB)

(MEDIA RELEASE FROM U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE)

BUFFALO – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced Wednesday former City of Dunkirk Mayor Richard L. Frey, 85, of Dunkirk, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud his mayoral campaign and his supporters by stealing campaign contributions for his personal benefit. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Fabian and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant was the City of Dunkirk mayor from January 2002 until January 2012. During that time, Frey had substantial personal debt.

From January 2003, to June 2012, the defendant devised and executed a scheme to defraud the co-owners of a hospitality company that owned a hotel in Dunkirk and the owner of a food production company in Dunkirk by inducing them to make contributions to his mayoral and other political campaigns. After receiving checks from these individuals, Frey, rather than depositing the funds into a campaign or official account, simply spent them for his own personal benefit. The contributions totaled $54,361.30. In addition, Frey failed to report or disclose the contributions on his campaign disclosure reports, which is required of local candidates for public office.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brad Geary.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2017, at 1 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

DUNKIRK – The clean-up continues Thursday in Dunkirk after the collapse of a downtown building Wednesday afternoon.

Witnesses say a portion of the Coburn Block Building at 123 Central Ave. collapsed around 1 p.m. Wednesday. As a result of the collapse, portions of the brick building spilled out into the street, with some bricks ending up as the other side. No injuries were reported but the street was closed by Dunkirk Public Safety officials as they worked to make sure rest of the building was secure.

An investigation continues as to what may have caused the collapse of the building, which is believed to have been built in the early 1900s.