The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from November 6, 2025

During the County Council meeting on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., constituents shared their thoughts about the upcoming budget. Constituent Freda Tepher discussed the possibility of funding Second Harvest Food Bank and asked council to make sure any funding was done legally. Constituent Malcolm Pullium referenced possible funding for body cameras. "I am hoping and praying that you guys put that to action," Pullium said, then referencing Marchello Woodard's death by a parole officer. "This situation probably would be a closed case deal if those two gentlemen had on body cams." In his report, Andre Horton reflected on his past 12 years in County Council as he will serve in City Council following his election win. "Representation matters and to be celebrated for being the first and only person of color to ever be elected to any county position in the 225 years of the county is both humbling and sad at the same time," said Horton. The meeting addressed the following ordinances: 

• An ordinance appropriating $601,724 from the Planning Fund Budget for Act 13 Greenways Grant Distribution continued to be tabled.
• An ordinance appropriating $75,000 for release and transfer of Restricted Act 152 Demolition Funds to 2025 Planning Fund passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $75,000 from Act 152 Demolition Funds for professional fees passed unanimously.
• A 2025 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance for a full-time assistant public defender passed unanimously.
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Erie County Community College budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Debt Service Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Employee Fringe Benefit Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Health Choices Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Mental Health / Intellectual Disabilities Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Children and Youth Services Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on, 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Planning and Community Development Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Domestic Relations Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Library Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Public Health Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Public Safety Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Gaming Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on.
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Liquid Fuels Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Pleasant Ridge Manor Operating Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Pleasant Ridge Manor Depreciation Reserve Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 General Fund Budget had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2026 Real Estate Tax Levy had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance approving the 2025 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance - Full-Time Assistant Public Defender was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously.
• An ordinance approving the 2025 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance - Full-Time Assistant Public Defender was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously.
• An ordinance approving of the returning Assistant District Attorney salary was moved to a second reading and passed unanimously.
•  A resolution approving the tax exoneration of multiple parcels owned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie passed unanimously. 
• A resolution for the approval of $4,000 transfer of funds from Public Defender Budget to multiple General Fund Budgets passed unanimously. Copeland provided clarity on this resolution and the next three resolutions, saying: "From time to time in our various budgets you have unspent money, that doesn't necessarily mean you didn't invest in those services or you weren't delivering those services. A lot of times you can't fill every job so you have money left over in a lot of different budgets." 
• A resolution for the approval of $9,000 transfer of funds from Assessment Budget to Coroner Budget passed unanimously. 
• A resolution for the approval of $95,000 transfer of funds from Public Defender Budget to County Solicitor Budget passed unanimously. 
• A resolution for the approval of transfers within the Human Services Budget exceeding ten percent passed unanimously.