The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from August 19, 2026

An ordinance appropriating the sum of $280,000 to fund expenditures associated with the City of Erie Police Department Shot-Spotter Subscription to improve law enforcement response time to areas where shots were fired passed 5-1 with Titus voting no. Horton spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying: “I'm not looking at this personally as a permanent fixture in our tool belt, but I think it deserves some merit to consider and see how it goes.”

I attended the City Council meeting on August 19 at 6:30 p.m. Councilman Troop was absent. A public hearing was held at 7 p.m. to present the plan to build a light manufacturing facility on the former Hammermill Paper Company site. The company, Nine Ships, already maintains three businesses in Erie County including Modular Engineering, Corporate Glass, and M-E Construction. One of the consulting engineers Ashley Porter said they will maintain as many of the mature trees on the site as possible and supplement with more natural buffers. Councilwoman Flores asked about potential water runoff from the site. "The water used at this facility is just for house usage, there is no processed water or wash water for parts," Porter said. He also addressed contamination concerns from the previous operations at the site: "This is one of the areas of the property that didn't have soil contamination." 

Following the public hearing, constituents spoke about the Shot-Spotter ordinance on the agenda and police conduct. Cyndi Treiber shared the story of Jeremiah Russell, a 21-year-old incarcerated person? in Erie County Prison. Treiber alleged that Russell has faced  abuse in prison, including being tased and immobilized for long periods of time. "When one third of the (local?) population has a criminal record, can we really afford to be having these kinds of conversations?" Treiber and Michelle Dovishaw created an organization called the Justice Recovery Project, which aims to empower and educate the community on systemic injustices and to advocate for justice reform. Dr. Clayton Bradshaw-Mittal spoke about the Shot-Spotter subscription ordinance. "There's no impact on the root causes of gun violence nor on occurrence of gun violence," said Bradshaw-Mittal. A study from the Chicago Inspector General's office also found that some CPD members interacted and perceived individuals differently in areas with a higher frequency of Shot-Spotter alerts. Erie High teacher Andrani Foster Samuel spoke about an incident allegedly involving police and a young man who was searched and put in a holding cell. "I'm just really hurt by what happened to him because he's a good kid and his family deserves justice. His mom deserves justice. He deserves justice. He did not deserve to be treated the way he was treated." Mayor Devlin encouraged Samuel to get in touch with her office to file a complaint. 

The council addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance amending the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance to designate the former Forman Block property as Historic Structures passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance to designate the William and Mary Spencer House property located at 519 W. Sixth Street as a Historic Structure and to amend the zoning map passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating the sum of $435,000 from the Liquid Fuels fund for Supplies and Consumables for the 2026-2027 Winter Season passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating the sum of $280,000 to fund expenditures associated with the City of Erie Police Department Shot-Spotter Subscription to improve law enforcement response time to areas where shots were fired passed 5-1 with Titus voting no. Horton spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying: "I'm not looking at this personally as a permanent fixture in our tool belt, but I think it deserves some merit to consider and see how it goes." 
• An ordinance appropriating $10,000 from a Community Partnership Grant administered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) had its first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $25,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant had its first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $25,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from the FFY2025 Certified Local Government Grant had its first reading. 
• Two resolutions that city officials are authorized and directed to enter into an Easement Agreement with J & M Group, Inc., 1013 State Street, Erie, PA 16501 for outdoor dining easements passed unanimously.