The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from September 10, 2025

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on September 10 at 6:00 p.m.

I attended the County Council meeting on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. Jim Winarski was absent. Some public comments addressed concerns about the Greenways Grant and when that money would be received. Mayor of Girard Peter Burton said that the borough applied for the grant one year ago for a $250,000 park project. "Is that something that's going to be back on the table soon, or are we going to have to find other sources to finish the project?" Other speakers continued the call for justice for Marchello Woodard. Constituent Chanel Caljean said that it took the DA weeks to make a statement and leadership has not stepped up to lead the community through the tragic event. "Prosecutors should release timely, factual updates to protect both the investigation and public trust. Yet here we are, silence rolled on until pressure mounted," Caljean said. During the reports of county officials, Andre Horton addressed the comments, saying that he has, "spoken to everyone except for Governor Josh Shapiro," about the investigation and concerns from the community. Horton also stated that he would support providing juvenile and adult probation officers with cameras. "I would suggest that the County Executive work with this body. I would ask if he would inject [a section for body cameras] into the budget before he hands it to us, he has the ability to do that. If he puts something in for body cameras, rest assured I will fight for four or five votes to get my colleagues to approve it and I don't believe it would be a hard fight," Horton said. "The least we can do is put a camera on people that wear a gun." The meeting went on to discuss the following ordinances, resolutions, and possible sales: 

• The possible sale of a parcel at Hilton St., Harborcreek Township from the Repository for Unsold Property was untabled with a unanimous vote and was then passed unanimously by council. 
• An ordinance appropriating $150,000 from the 2025 General Fund Budget and creating a line item for East County EMS for purchase of an ambulance was moved to a second reading with a unanimous vote. The council then voted on the ordinance but it failed to pass with a vote of 2-4. Copeland, Horton, Drexel, and Scutella voted no and explained the reason for their vote. Copeland claimed that it doesn't make sense to take the money from the General Fund since the money was already approved and is still in grant funding. "East County EMS applied for a transformational grant, were approved for that grant, but are not being paid from that grant fund. Instead [the Davis administration] is asking for your property tax dollars to pay for it," Copeland said. Drexel stated that council has still not received a balanced budget and therefore don't know how much money is actually available in the General Fund. Bayle disagreed, stating that the money in the grant fund is earmarked for scholarships for EMTs. "We talk about providing services, all of those other services don't mean anything if we don't provide the most basic, which is life saving services," Bayle said. Copeland responded, saying Bayle was, "privy to some information that has been given to none of the other council members," and encouraged Davis to demonstrate what has been said by Bayle. 
• An ordinance appropriating $601,724 2025 from the Planning Fund Budget for Act 13 Greenways Grant Distribution had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• A resolution addressing the consequences of missed commonwealth budget deadlines passed unanimously. 
• A resolution for County Council's Approval of the 2025 CCAP Electors passed unanimously. 
• The possible sale of a parcel at Camphausen Ave. in the City of Erie from the Repository for Unsold Property passed unanimously. 
• The possible sale of a parcel at Shea Alley in the City of Corry from the Repository for Unsold Property passed unanimously.