The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from April 8, 2025

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on April 8 at 6 p.m.

I attended the County Council meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. The room had many constituents that emphasized taking the county budget audit to the Pennsylvania Auditor General in light of an Erie Times News article highlighting a report from the County Controller's Office, revealing that Davis made changes to the 2025 budget without council approval. Comments expressed frustration at the Davis administration, some inspiring applause from the room. Candidate for County Executive Perry Wood echoed these concerns. "I just want to say thank you to the people that came here today and stuck up for this issue and reminded you that the power of the purse string lies with you," Wood said. "It's your responsibility to make sure that an entity like the Auditor General's Office looks into this." Following public comments, the council discussed the following ordinances and resolutions. 

• An ordinance for the supplemental appropriation of $160,736 from the DCED Existing Owner Occupied Housing Grant and the creation of an existing owner occupied housing bureau was passed unanimously.
• An ordinance for the approval of a waiver of the bid requirements under the purchasing and sales procedures of the administrative code and approval of a sole vendor contract between Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. and the County of Erie failed with a 4-3 vote. Vice Chairman Rock Copeland, Council Member André Horton, Chairman Terry Scutella, and Council Member Chris Drexel voted no. 
• An ordinance for a supplemental $77,330 to the 2025 library fund budget for state aid-district deferred revenue had its first reading and was not voted on.
• An ordinance for the 2025 appointed official salary ordinance for a part time assistant public defender had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• A resolution authorizing the exoneration of outstanding property tax, penalties, interest, and fees for tax year 2023 for an Erie County parcel was passed unanimously. 
• The possible appointment of Karen Tobin to the Erie County Board of Health was passed unanimously.