The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from July 21, 2026

County Executive Vogel announced in her report that Mayor Devlin, Bishop John Crosby, Warden Holman, and herself met to discuss Sparks and police conduct. “We are trying to work through some of the issues happening in the community.'

The County Council meeting began at 6 p.m. on July 21. Councilwoman Schauerman was absent. During public comments, Cyndi Treiber condemned the excessive use of force against those arrested in Erie County and subpar medical care after arrests. Constituent Jen Paulson added to Treiber's statements, discussing a $1.1 million settlement between Erie County and an inmate who was allegedly beaten by corrections officers. "That settlement was paid through the county's insurance carrier, but insurance costs are still costs taxpayers absorb through premiums, and no dollar figure captures the harm done to that man," Paulson said. Malcolm Pulliam tied this treatment back to Keven Sparks, a man who was arrested after he was struck with the police vehicle, tased, and punched repeatedly, as well as the death of Marchello Woodard at the hands of his parole officer last year. "I'm willing to meet with anybody to create a policy to create change because we can't keep going through this same cycle of what we went through," Pullium said. 

County Executive Vogel announced in her report that Mayor Devlin, Bishop John Crosby, Warden Holman, and herself met to discuss Sparks and police conduct. "We are trying to work through some of the issues happening in the community," Vogel said. 

The council addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance appropriating $2,000 from the 2026 Library Fund Budget for revenue received from UPMC passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $4,550 from the 2025 General Fund Budget for the creation of a new revenue line item in the Human Resource Department for rental revenue from the café passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $15,363 from the General Fund Budget for the creation of new lines in the County Solicitor Department for temporary staff passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $67,568 from the General Fund Budget for additional expenses in the County Executive Department passed 5-1 with Bayle voting no. 
• An ordinance appropriating $1,000,000 from the 2026 Gaming Fund Budget for transfer to the Revolving Loan Fund passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $1,442,530 from the Revolving Loan Fund Budget passed unanimously.
• An ordinance appropriating $189,218 from the General Fund Budget for additional workers and unemployment compensation expenses in all departments passed unanimously.
• An ordinance approving the Refunding Project of The Erie County Convention Center Authority passed unanimously.
• An ordinance approving the salary for an appointed Part-Time Assistant Public Defender  passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance revising expenditures of $1,669 from the 2026 Library Fund Budget for the elimination of one Library Clerk position and the creation of one Library Assistant position passed 5-1 with Copeland voting no. 
• An ordinance revising expenditures of $4,434 from the 2026 General Fund Budget for a position change in the County Executive Department from part-time to full-time passed 5-1 with Bayle voting no. 
• An ordinance appropriating $240,536 from the 2026 Children and Youth Services Fund Budget for the creation of a new revenue line for Crisis Rapid Response Grant Reporting was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $503,957 from 2026 General Fund Budget for PCCD Justice Reinvestment Initiative Grant in Adult Probation had its first reading and was not voted on.
• Three ordinances under the General Fund Budget revising $119,300 for the creation of new expense lines in the District Attorney's Grant Departments, appropriating $160,000 for the creation of bureau and budget line items for the 2024-2027 Operation Stone Garden Grant, and appropriating $170,000 for the creation of bureau and budget line item for the 2025-2028 Operation Stone Garden Grant were all moved to a second read and passed unanimously under one vote. 
• An ordinance amending the Erie County Land & Subdivision Ordinance had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the waiver of bid requirements under the purchasing code and sole three-year vendor contract between Planful Incorporated and Erie County Finance Department was moved to a second reading and passed 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 had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• 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 had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the salary for an appointed Part-Time Assistant Public Defender was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• A resolution that Erie County General Authority not to exceed $2 million Tax-Exempt Time Note for the Julia Hospice and Palliative Care Project passed 5-1 with Drexel voting no.
• A resolution approving the exoneration of outstanding taxes, interest and penalties on property acquired by Harborcreek Township passed unanimously.
• The possible appointment of Margaret Lee Baskette to the Erie County Housing Authority passed unanimously.