The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from March 24, 2026

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting on March 24, 2026.

I attended the County Council meeting on March 24 at 6 p.m. There were no public comments. County Executive Christina Vogel explained that the plan to end the contract with ICE at the Erie County Prison has been implemented and the remaining ICE detainees have been relocated. The meeting addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• A resolution for the approval of Tentative Lease Agreement with Troyer Growers Inc. and Erie County for lease of four parcels, also known as County Farmland passed unanimously. 
• The supplemental appropriation of $40,943 from the first 2026 Public Health Fund Budget for additional opioid settlement funds received from the Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• The supplemental appropriation of $127,811 from the First 2026 Library Fund Budget for additional local, district, and county coordination, including state aid funds and creation of new line items was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• The supplemental appropriation of $71,897 from the Second 2026 Library Fund Budget for deferred revenue from 2025-2026 State Aid-District Fiscal Budget was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• The supplemental appropriation of $1,000 from the Third 2026 Library Fund Budget for donation from VisitErie had its first reading and was not voted on.
• The 2026 General Fund Budget revised expenditures of $8,227 had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• The 2026 appointed official salary for the Director of Human Resources had its first reading and was not voted on.
• The 2026 General Fund Budget revised expenditures of $6,678 for reorganization of the Human Resources Department and reclassification of three positions had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• The 2026 General Fund Budget revised expenditures of $2,094 and waiver of the Human Resources Code for change in starting salary for a full-time Civil Rights Investigator in the Human Relations Commission was moved to a second reading and passed 6-1 with Bayle voting no. 
•  The 2026 appointed official salary for a part-time Assistant Public Defender was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• The 2026 General Fund Budget revised expenditures of $40,788 for salary increases and approval of a one-year MOU/Agreement between the lieutenants and the county had its first reading and was not voted on.
• The 2026 General Fund Budget revised expenditures of $18,849 for salary increases to the Prison Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• A resolution approving the agreement of June 17, 2023 and amendment between the county and Palmetto Postings, Inc. passed 6-1 with Copeland voting no. 
• A resolution approving an application to the Municipal Assistance Program with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Erie County Land Use Plan passed unanimously. 
• A resolution approving the two-year Courthouse Café Agreement between the county and Krystal Robinson of Taste and See was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously. 
• The possible appointment of Cynthia Dropcho to the Erie County Children and Youth Advisory Board passed unanimously.
• The possible appointment of Kylie Morris, DO to the Erie County Human Relations Commission passed unanimously. 
• The possible appointment of Chelcie Alcorn to the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority passed unanimously. 
• The possible waiver of the Administrative Code Article II Section 5 A 1 (e) and appointment of Mapu Boayue to the Erie County Planning Commission passed unanimously.