The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from August 25, 2026

Council approved and amended an ordinance allowing the public to use their mobile devices when attending public County Council meetings in order to facilitate public access and recording rights consistent with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. The ordinance passed 4-3 with Schauerman, Bayle, and Drexel voting no.

I attended the County Council meeting on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. During public comments, constituents discussed the ordinance that allows the public to use mobile devices during County Council meetings. "I can appreciate you all taking a look at the Sunshine Act to make sure that we are actually following what we are supposed to be following," Constituent Deonte Cooley said. Constituent Cole Schenley echoed this, saying he believes most people use their phones to read their speeches during public comments or to access information easily. 

The council addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance appropriating $503,957 from 2026 General Fund Budget for Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Justice Reinvestment Initiative Grant in Adult Probation passed 5-2 with Copeland and Drexel voting no. 
• An ordinance amending the Erie County Land and Subdivision Ordinance was tabled unanimously. 
• An ordinance approving the temporary unlocking of mobile devices for individuals attending public meetings of Erie County Council in order to facilitate public access and recording rights consistent with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act was amended unanimously and passed 4-3 with Schauerman, Bayle, and Drexel voting no. "The way we have been doing things is definitely not against the sunshine laws," Schauerman said, though the ordinance passed over her objection.
• An ordinance revising expenditures of $6,512 from the 2026 General Fund Budget for change in grade for a position in the Erie County Prison was amended to read: "revising expenditures of $6,512 from the 2026 General Fund Budget and approval for change in grade for a position in the Erie County Prison." The ordinance passed unanimously as amended. 
• An ordinance appropriating $120,907 from the 2026 Capital Projects Fund for the creation of a new line item for the Paving Project at the Health Department was unanimously moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance revising expenditures of $517,632 from the 2026 Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities Fund Budget for the creation of new line items for State Cost Centers had its first reading. 
• An ordinance approving a transfer between departments in the amount of $171,925 for telephone upgrades had its first reading. 
• An ordinance approving the waiver of bid requirements under the Purchasing Code and approval of a sole vendor contract between Velocity Network and Erie County was unanimously moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending Article III, Section 1E of the Administrative Code (Purchasing Code) of Erie County had its first reading. 
• An ordinance approving the amendments to the Erie County Human Resource Code had its first reading.
• A resolution authorizing the County of Erie to enter into a contract with the City of Erie for Community Development Block Grant Funding in the amount of $65,000 had its first reading. 
• A resolution approving the 2027-2029 Erie County Operational and Capital Plan passed unanimously. 
• The appointment of Carrie Ennis to the NW PA Job Connect Board passed unanimously.