Erie City Council Meeting - June 5, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting date as Wednesday, June 3, 2026, but the provided metadata specifies June 5, 2026. This summary uses the metadata date per instruction, but the discrepancy is noted.

The City Council held a caucus and regular meeting on June 5, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM. The caucus featured a presentation from the Port Authority on the master plan refresh for the former Erie Coke site, along with updates on a security contract and parking authority scheduling. The regular meeting included a presentation from the Erie County Re-entry Services and Support Alliance (ECRSSA) regarding its transition to county control, extensive public comment on the re-entry program and other community issues, and passage of several ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the May 20, 2026 City Council meeting were approved unanimously.
• Bills for Payment: Bills for payment on June 5 and 12, 2026 were approved by a 7-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Elizabeth Stanton (Harbor Creek): Commended Council President Titus for statesperson-like leadership, emphasizing plain talk and moral integrity.
• Julia Jacobs (East Side resident): Criticized Mayor Devlin’s non-verbal behavior during public comment, arguing it demonstrated disrespect and lack of accountability. She called for genuine engagement with vulnerable populations and an apology, stating “an apology without changed behavior is manipulation.”
• Apartment Association representative: Expressed support for the mayor’s communication efforts, noting a meeting on August 9 and a recent association meeting, and looked forward to collaboration.
• Michelle Dovishaw (Erie): Strongly opposed the transition of the ECRSSA to county probation, claiming the program was effective and that the advisory board acted without community input. She alleged intimidation and called for rescinding the decision.
• Gary (last name not given): Urged council to consider investing in Roger Young Park as a sports and recreation complex instead of the market house project, noting the East Side’s need for amenities.
• Jennifer Kennedy (Erie): Defended the ECRSSA, arguing it successfully reduced recidivism and provided community-based support. She urged council to demand transparency and not fund the new program until all facts are known.
• John Coker (Erie): Described his family’s loss of a fully paid-off home at 321 East Sixth Street due to a tax sale, despite paying the owed amount. He highlighted the difficulty of navigating the system while caring for a dying grandfather, and asked for awareness.
• Deontay Cooley (Erie): Questioned the lack of voices from actual re-entry program participants. He advocated for East Side investment in community centers, parks (e.g., Roger Young, McKinley Park), and business districts, criticizing council for not prioritizing Black communities.
• Mary Beulet (Erie Together): Provided context on the re-entry strategy development, stating the program had lost fidelity to the original model (e.g., not addressing education, housing, mental health). She supported the transition to the county for stability and data collection.
• Mimi O’Connor (Erie): Expressed support for the ECRSSA, emphasizing its success in reducing recidivism and strengthening families. She urged deeper understanding before making changes.
• Speaker (name not given, queer community advocate): Criticized the lack of professional demeanor by some city employees and questioned the location of re-entry services (near probation/high security). She noted that same-day closures often involved giving bus passes to non-county residents, inflating success rates. She asked council not to fund the program until more answers are provided.
• Lisa (last name not given): Raised concerns about the lack of competitive bidding for the re-entry program transition and noted that records were requested but would take 30 days to obtain. She questioned the timing of the budget request.
• Amy Isert (Erie resident): Thanked council for the opportunity for a study session and expressed willingness to answer hard questions. She noted that communication has broken down among stakeholders.
• Ebony Frith (Erie Community Correction Center): Supported the program’s return to fidelity, noting that under the YMCA, services declined (e.g., only bus passes). She argued that the new location (not at the YMCA) is appropriate for safety, and that holistic case management is needed beyond just job placement.
• Michael Haas (East Side): contrasted the West Bayfront and East Side, calling for equitable investment. He criticized council for expecting disadvantaged populations to provide data, and observed council members on phones during the meeting, which broke trust.
• Alan Brown (Northeast): Shared his personal story of 47 years incarceration and urged council to treat returning citizens with dignity. He argued that the re-entry program placed people in sustainable jobs at major Erie industries, and that the decision to move it under probation was harmful.
• Brother D. Darrell Craig Sr.: Challenged narratives that the program was ineffective, stating he had been involved since inception. He said the program was hurting his son and others, and that community members who represent the East Side were not being heard.
• Cindy Triber (Edinboro): Defended her advocacy, stating she had documentation of program issues. She argued that the program should not be under probation, and that intimidation tactics were used to silence critics. She called for a town hall meeting.

Discussion Items

• Port Authority Master Plan Refresh: The Port Authority presented a vision for the former Erie Coke site, acquired in 2024. The plan includes environmental remediation, community input, and potential development scenarios. Key statistics: 185 years of industrial activity, $115 million annual economic impact from fishing/boating, 1,000-1,800 construction jobs, 1,000 permanent jobs, $128 million annual GDP, $13.2 million in combined fiscal revenues. Up to 79 acres of green space (more than double Frontier Park). The plan is a framework for cleanup and redevelopment over decades. Council expressed support and praised community engagement.
• Security Contract Update: The city’s lobby security contract ended May 31. Instead of a three-year contract (costing hundreds of thousands), the city extended month-to-month with the current company at $2,250 per week (~$9,750/month, under the $13,000 cap requiring council approval). Council asked for three months to develop a cheaper plan.
• Parking Authority Study Session: The parking authority’s executive director and board chair did not attend the previous study session. Council gave a deadline of June 5 (Friday) for a new date. Council President Titus will attend the parking authority’s June 9 meeting.
• ECRSSA Transition: The re-entry program, formerly housed at the YMCA, transitioned to Erie County Adult Probation Department effective May 8, 2026. Presenters Bob Hess and Sheila Sillman cited lack of fidelity to the model (no data collection, no pre-entry services, low referral rates from jails, clients opened and closed same day). The county now runs the program with separate staff, not probation officers. New staff (3 caseworkers, 1 client advocate) have re-established partnerships. Council scheduled a study session for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Final Passage of Ordinances:
  • Ordinance 30-2026 (stop signs at three intersections): Passed 7-0.
  • Ordinance 31-2026 (water authority bond guarantee, $2,784,063 for galvanized service line replacement): Passed 7-0.
  • Ordinance 32-2026 (water authority bond guarantee, $8 million for West 12th Street facility and distribution system): Passed 7-0.
• First Reading of Ordinances:
  • Ordinance 16612 (HUD emergency solutions, $254,061): Adopted first reading 7-0.
  • Ordinance 16613 (HUD HOME program, $797,014.86): Adopted first reading 7-0.
  • Ordinance 16614 (CDBG projects, $2,914,512): Adopted first reading 7-0.
  • Ordinance 16615 (Historic designation of former Erie Labor Temple): Adopted first reading 7-0.
  • Ordinance 16616 (Historic designation of Erie Maennerchor Club): Adopted first reading 7-0.
  • Ordinance 16617 (Historic designation of South Erie Iron Works Building): Adopted first reading 7-0.
• New Business: Resolution for the Arc Terrace project sewer extension was moved forward (approved by consent).
• Executive Session: Council held a closed session on real estate and personnel matters.
• Next Steps:
  • Study session on parks to be held Thursday, June 11.
  • Special meeting on Tuesday, June 9 regarding the market house revote.
  • Parking authority study session rescheduled pending response.
  • Mayor directed immediate repairs to basketball court at Roger Young Park and requested proposals for converting softball fields to soccer fields.
  • Council scheduled a study session on the ECRSSA program to allow deeper discussion.