The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from October 7, 2025

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on October 7 at 6:00 p.m.

I attended the County Council meeting on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. A resolution regarding the death of Marchello Woodard was set to be voted on during the meeting. Some constituents addressed this matter. Constituent Deonte Cooley argued that the resolution split up the democratic and republican members of council and encouraged the council members to come to the community as individuals. In his report, Andre Horton addressed this: "However the vote goes, we've tried to work with our colleagues," Horton said. "Read the resolution and see if there's anything you don't like in there, because I think it's a doggone good resolution." Constituent Heidi Shadeck also addressed the mounting concerns about the treatment of immigrants nationally, citing how the national guard has been deployed in major cities. She also raised concern about Erie county's contract with the Department of Homeland Security to house ICE detainees. "This is not an agency that I think we should be in contract with in Erie county," Shadeck said. The following ordinances and resolutions were discussed: 

• An ordinance appropriating $601,724 from the Planning Fund Budget for Act 13 Greenways Grant Distribution continued to be tabled.
• An ordinance appropriating $1,273,322 from the Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities Fund Budget for additional revenue for 2025 passed unanimously. 
• A resolution for the appointment of a firm to perform a comprehensive single audit for Erie County and related funds for the remainder of the 2025 year passed unanimously. 
• A resolution amending Resolution Number 12, 2012, previously amended by Resolution Number 26, 2015 was unanimously taken off the table. Council voted to remove it from the agenda with Bayle voting no. 
• A resolution for the approval of extension agreement for five-year lease renewal with Metro Center, Inc. for the Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for a 2025 General Fund Budget Waiver of county purchasing code for a three-year contract for Westlaw subscription for judges library had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• A resolution for County Council to approve of the 2025 CCAP electors passed unanimously. 

A Resolution of Council regarding the death of Marchello Woodard passed 5-2 with Bayle and Schauerman voting no. Schauerman explained that her vote did not diminish her empathy for the friends and family of Woodard, but had difficulty voting yes due to the recommendation made by County Council Solicitor Tom Talarico to refrain from making a resolution on the matter. In the resolution, council acknowledges the pain that Woodard's death has caused his family, friends and community. They also recommend actions such as funding for body cameras and reviewing and updating deescalation tactics.