The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from June 3, 2025

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on June 3 at 6 p.m.

When I walked into the County Council meeting on June 3 at 6 p.m. I scanned the room for an available seat. The room was full of constituents, many there to speak or witness the decision on Ordinance 27, which would provide $433,620 for housing immigrant detainees in contract with ICE. Public comments took nearly an hour and the crowd clapped following each speaker. Many spoke on the value of immigrants in the Erie community and concerns about funding coming from ICE. Constituent Meredith Blake illustrated how undocumented immigrants contribute to Social Security, public infrastructure, and taxes, all while not reaping the benefits. "I wish for [County Executive Brenton Davis] and the council members following his ignorance to realize that a detainee sitting in a jail generating this county $99 a day is nothing compared to the value and contributions that they would provide this county if they were recognized with legal working status," Blake said. The meeting centered around the following ordinances. 

• An ordinance for the Fourth 2025 General Fund Budget supplemental appropriation of $125,228 for release of restricted fund balance of adult probation supervision fees passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance Eighth 2025 General Fund Budget supplemental appropriation of $433,620 of additional federal revenue for housing immigration detainees did not pass with a vote distribution of 2-5. Council members Terry Scutella, Rock Copeland, André Horton, Chris Drexel, and Jim Winarski voted no.  During the discussion before the vote, six council members gave their reasoning for their votes. Similar to the crowd of constituents in the room, council members expressed strong opinions on the ordinance. Council member Horton voted "hell no." Council member Bayle explained why his vote would be in favor of the ordinance. "If you want to take some responsibility, take some for the last four years," Bayle said. "Why didn't we address this issue as [immigrants] were coming into the country for the last four years?" Bayle's comments were met with disapproval from the crowd, which Scutella silenced by calling for order. 
• An ordinance for the approval of a waiver of the bid requirements under the purchasing and sales procedures of the administrative code and approval of a sole vendor contract between FirstMatch and County of Erie Juvenile Probation passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance Amending the Erie County Administrative Code to remove Erie County Care Management, Inc. and all references thereto from Article II, Section 5(B) of the Code, including removal of all provisions of Subsection (1)(a) of the Code; and repealing all inconsistent ordinances passed 5-2 with Council members Ellen Schauerman and Charlie Bayle voted no. 

The following ordinances were motioned to be moved from a first reading to a second reading by Vice Chairman Rock Copeland. The motion passed unanimously. 

• An ordinance appropriating $15,915 from the second 2025 Library Fund Budget for donation from the Erie Regional Library Foundation by the Esher Klugiewicz Library Fund was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $2,500 from the third 2025 Library Fund Budget for donations received from Riverview Intermediate Unit and UPMC passed unanimously.
• An ordinance appropriating $1,000 from the fourth 2025 Library Fund Budget for Additional Grant Funds from the PA Humanities Council passed unanimously. 
• Possible appointment of David Cannon to the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority passed unanimously. 
• Possible appointment of Paul Causgrove to the Erie County Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities (MH/ID) Board passed unanimously.
• Possible appointment of Sean C. Su, M.D. to the Erie County Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities (MH/ID) Board passed unanimously.