The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from October 21, 2026
Summary of public comments and ordinances
The City Council meeting began at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 21. Multiple constituents addressed the verdict in the trial of Kevin Seelinger, the state parole agent charged in the fatal shooting of Marchello Woodard, who was acquitted of all charges. Julie Hirt expressed concern that law enforcement officers were showing support for Seelinger while in uniform. "I work for a state agency, I am not permitted to wear my work uniform outside of my job," she said. "The optics are that the police are supporting Kevin Seelinger, which is fine, but you need to do it off duty. Some of them appeared to be on the clock, which is totally unacceptable."
Sister Anne McCarthy of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie also spoke on this. "I appreciated the mayor's call for system change and I want to support that. I also want to say how surprised I was to see uniformed Erie police officers sitting behind the defendant at that trial, clearly visible to the jury," she said. McCarthy also asked the city to consider creating a citizen review board that evaluates allegations of misconduct by law enforcement. "We need a legitimate citizen review board. We've been dancing around this issue for 20 years."
Following public comments, City Council moved into executive session to discuss legal matters and resumed the public meeting at 7:20 p.m. The council then addressed the following ordinances:
- An ordinance amending and supplementing the Codified Ordinances of the City of Erie, namely Rooming House Licensing, to add, amend and/or update the language regarding annual fees and/or late fees passed unanimously.
- An ordinance appropriating $176,397 for Immobilization and Towing Vehicles through a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Department of Community and Economic Development passed unanimously.
- An ordinance appropriating $52,080.35 to provide for purchases of LED lighting upgrades passed unanimously.
- An ordinance amending and supplementing the Codified Ordinances of the City of Erie, namely, Child-Care Facilities Licensing, to add, amend and/or update the language regarding annual fees and/or late fees passed unanimously.
- An ordinance appropriating $500,000 from the Multimodal Transportation Fund to provide for the construction phase of the State Street multimodal improvements had its first reading.
- An ordinance appropriating $50,000 for the Police Drug and Vice Program had its first reading.
- An ordinance appropriating $100,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, made available through the Main Street Matters Program, had its first reading. This funding will be utilized to undertake ways and means of promoting and encouraging the development of business, industry, and commerce.
- An ordinance appropriating $6,350 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from the FFY2024 Certified Local Government Grant had its first reading.
