The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from January 27, 2026

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting on Jan. 27.

I attended the County Council meeting on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. Constituent Mimi O'Conner discussed addressing racism in Erie, "In small ways, in large ways, in every way the bottom line question is: what will we sign into law? Peace or pain?" The meeting addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance approving Harborcreek Township Ordinance 2010-201-8, an amendment of real estate tax relief and effective date extension passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the supplemental appropriation of $50,000 from the First 2026 General Fund Budget and creation of line items for the central booking fee passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for supplemental appropriation of $608,920 from the First 2026 General Fund Budget and creation of line items for State Food Purchase Plan Contract with Second Harvest Food Bank passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 County Council Solicitor Retainer passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 County Council Deputy Solicitor Retainer passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 General Fund Budget revised revenue and expenditures of $15,513 for change in the Public Defender Position had its first reading and was not voted on.
• 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 had its first reading and was not voted on.
• 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 had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• 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 had its first reading and was not voted on.
• A resolution approving the lease extension with Salem Investments Inc. for premises located at 824 East 6th Street, Erie, PA, 16503 passed unanimously. 
• A resolution in support for the Workers of IAMAW Local 1211 was unanimously struck from the agenda. 
• A resolution for the abatement of 2024 costs on a parcel at 1703 W 36th St. passed unanimously. 
• The possible sale of a parcel from the Repository for Unsold Property for Shea Alley in Corry passed unanimously.
• The possible reappointment of Marcie Morgan to the Erie County Children and Youth Advisory Board passed unanimously. 
• The possible reappointment of Mary Fischer to the Erie County Library Board passed unanimously.
• The possible reappointment of Thomas G. NeCastro to the Erie County Assessment Appeals Board passed unanimously. 
• The possible reappointment of Timothy Pelkowski to the Erie County Board of Health passed unanimously.
• The possible waiver of Administrative Code Article II Section 5 A(1)(o) and reappointment of Richard Ortoski, DO, FACOFP to the Erie County Board of Health passed unanimously. 
• The possible waiver of Administrative Code Article II Section 5 A(1)(o) and reappointment of Carla Picardo, MD, MPH. to the Erie County Board of Health passed unanimously. 
• Copeland, Bayle, and Schauerman were appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Administrative Code.
• Wertz, Winarski, and Drexel were appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Council Budgets, the Davis Administration Vetoes, and the Decisions of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.