The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from January 5, 2025
Summary of public comments and election results
Erie County Council held a reorganization meeting on Jan. 5 to nominate the Chair and Vice Chair. The meeting began with public comments. Constituent Freda Tepfer encouraged council to resume the practice of electing a chairperson for one year instead of two or more. Democrat Terry Scutella has served for two terms. "It's good to start over with a new Chair," Tepfer said.
Scutella was nominated for a third term as Council Chair 4-3, with Rock Copeland, Chris Drexel, and Jim Wertz voting no. Copeland nominated Drexel for Vice Chair and the nomination passed unanimously.
Following the nominations, new council member Wertz thanked his colleagues for welcoming him. "I'm looking forward to the good work we can do with transparency, equity, and with openness and communication with the folks on the fifth floor," Wertz said.
Copeland spoke about rotating leadership within the council. "I want to make my colleagues aware that I would not accept any appointment to the Finance Chair. I don't believe it's appropriate for any level of leadership to serve three terms and I want to make that well known."
Scutella defended his position as a third term chairman. "We are playing by the rules. It's not in the Home Rule Charter that we can't elect the same leadership team for more than one, two, or three years. It's not in the administrative code. If somebody can point out that it's against federal law, or state law, or county law, then we'll do something different," Scutella said.
