The Reader Beat: County Council Notes February 11, 2025

The following are our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.

Local Government Correspondent Alana Sabol was present at the County Council meeting on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. The meeting was sparsely attended by the public. The discussion centered around the following ordinances and resolutions. 

• An ordinance to approve the salaries for elected officials from 2026 to 2029 was passed 7-0. 
• The first reading of an ordinance to approve the salary for a part time assistant public defender was not voted on. 
• The first reading of a resolution authorizing an application to the Pennsylvania Municipal Assistance Program was carried on a 4-3 vote. Chairman Terry Scutella, Vice Chairman Rock Copeland, and Councilman Chris Drexel voted no. 
• The first reading of a resolution directing the council's solicitor to file suit to enforce the 2025 annual budget and enjoin the administration's illegal tax collection efforts was tabled with a vote of 6-1. Councilman Chris Drexel voted no. 
• The possible appointment of Lawerence Brown to the Erie County Housing Authority by County Executive Brenton Davis failed 3-4. Chairman Terry Scutella, Vice Chairman Rock Copeland, Councilman Chris Drexel and Councilman André Horton voted no. 
• The possible appointment of Gregory Gnacinski to the Erie County Human Relations Commission by Councilwoman Ellen Schauerman was passed 7-0. 
• The possible appointment of Wayne Patterson to the Erie County Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission by Councilman André Horton was passed 7-0. 
• The possible sale of a parcel from the repository for unsold property Pennsylvania Ave. 45x67 was passed 7-0. 

Public comments included discussing the value of public involvement, signing petitions, and a critique of County Executive Brenton Davis's budget handling by Former Councilwoman Mary Rennie. "The budget, in particular, that he presented was unsupportable." Rennie said.