Tension on Erie County personnel agenda over housing authority reappointment; councilors question executive influence
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Summary
A personnel committee meeting included a contentious discussion over the possible reappointment of Lawrence Brown to the Erie County Housing Authority. Several council members said this was the third time the appointment had reached the agenda and raised concerns about perceived county executive interference in independent authorities.
At the Erie County personnel committee meeting, members debated several appointments and a mediation settlement resolution. The most contentious item was the possible reappointment of Lawrence Brown to the Erie County Housing Authority for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2029; several council members said the matter had been brought to the body multiple times and urged striking it from the agenda.
Council members expressed differing views about the housing authority reappointment. One council member said the repeated agenda appearance signaled a larger problem: what they described as the county executive’s attempts to influence independent authorities. That speaker said the county executive had previously sought to replace members of multiple county-affiliated authorities and that such practices risk politicizing boards intended to function independently.
Other council members pushed back that the council should consider the nominee on his merits and that if residents support a candidate the council should hear from them. Several members asked whether the nominee had a disqualifying record; speakers said they had not seen such a record and noted local residents had voiced support for the nominee.
The personnel agenda also included: a resolution (labeled Resolution 2025) to approve a mediation settlement agreement (details not specified in the transcript), the possible appointment of Carlos Mora Rangel to the Erie County Human Relations Commission Advisory Board (term to expire 12/31/2028), and a possible reappointment of Jack Lee to the Erie County Land Bank (term to expire 12/31/2029). The transcript did not record final roll-call votes for these items.
Several council members recommended direct conversations between council leadership, the nominee and the county executive to resolve questions before bringing the appointment back to the floor. One speaker suggested the executive should present nominees personally rather than using intermediaries to advocate for appointments.
No final vote results were recorded in the provided transcript for the Lawrence Brown nomination; members said they would consider striking or holding the item per further discussion.