The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from February 10, 2026

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on Feb. 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Constituents filled the council chambers during the County Council meeting on Feb. 10, some sitting on the floor or standing against the wall. Many came to support the ordinance that would terminate the contract between Erie County Prison and ICE to house federal immigrant detainees, which had its first reading at this meeting. Some constituents represented organizations – the Benedictines for Peace, the Erie Democratic Socialists chapter, and Greater Calvary Full Gospel Baptist church.  Some constituents argued that the city should not have to depend on revenue from housing detainees. "We are also troubled by the framing of immigration detention as a source of revenue. From a faith perspective, liberty must never be treated as a commodity," Valerie Perkins, a member of the clergy at Greater Calvary Full Gospel Baptist church, said. Executive Director of the Multicultural Community Resource Center Katie Kretz expressed concern for New Americans and refugees who could potentially be affected by Operation PARRIS, an initiative used to detain refugees in Minnesota, and suggested that council table the ordinance. "Operation PAARIS has changed the entire landscape. Lawfully admitted refugees, many of them still awaiting their green cards, are being detained, sometimes without judicial warrants, and are being moved far away from their families, their attorneys, and their communities," Kretz said. "Ending the contract does not stop detention, it's going to move it." Constituent Heidi Shadeck mentioned that a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on detaining refugees in Minnesota until the court rules on a preliminary injunction on Feb. 19. Shadeck continued, questioning whether the current contract Erie County Prison has with DHS kept any detainees' due process rights protected.  "This is an impossible choice. I wonder if attempting to protect one exposed group – refugees, who have not been harmed yet by this contract, but may be under Operation PAARIS – justifies the existing, ongoing, and documented harms to other vulnerable groups," said Shadeck. The meeting went on to address the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance for the 2026 General Fund Budget revised revenue and expenditures of $15,513 for change in the Public Defender Position passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 General Fund Budget revised revenue and expenditures of $31,888 for 2026 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance - First Assistant Public Defender passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the Third 2026 General Fund Budget appropriating $41,618 to eliminate the position of Assistant Public Defender and create the position of Trial Chief Deputy passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 General Fund Budget revised revenue and expenditures of $17,768 and waiver of the Human Resources Code for change of position from full time to part time in the County Executive Department passed 5-2 with Bayle and Schauerman voting no. Bayle expressed issues with the change from a full time position to part time with the same pay, as well as potential conflict of interest, as the employee hired to the position worked on previous election campaigns. Wertz disagreed and argued that it was common for campaign employees to continue working for the elected official. "If you have concerns a year from now about the effectiveness of a person in a role, that's an excellent time to raise it, but otherwise these are positions that are open to the public and often folks on campaign staff do become part of the professional staff," Wertz said. 
• An ordinance to amend Article II, Section 7 of the Administrative Code of Erie County, the Erie County Public Library had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance appropriating $249,990 for participation in the Erie 250 Community Grant Program from the First 2026 Gaming Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on.
• An ordinance terminating the services of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol (ICE) under the Intergovernmental Service Agreement with the United States Marshals Service, Office of Detention Services had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance appropriating $47,141 from the fourth 2026 General Fund Budget for elimination of the Internet and Social Media position and the creation of the Community Engagement Officer position in the Department of Administration; and waiver of Section 9 of the Human Resources Code relating to salary of the new hire had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• A resolution for the approval of the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant application and the Cooperation Agreement among the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Erie and the County of Erie passed unanimously.
• A resolution for the approval of the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant application and the Cooperation Agreement among the Erie County General Authority, Julia House, and the County of Erie passed 6-1 with Drexel voting no. 
• A resolution approving the annual budget of the Erie Area Council of Governments for 2026 passed unanimously. 
• A resolution approving the financial statements and independent auditor's report of the Erie Area Council of Governments for 2024 and 2023 passed unanimously. 
• A resolution approving the 2026 solicitor contract for the Office of Erie County Sheriff passed unanimously.