Residents urge petition participation and criticize county executive during Erie County Council public comments

Speakers during the public-comment period at the Erie County Council meeting on Feb. 11, 2025 urged civic engagement and raised criticism of the county executive’s budget and personnel decisions.

Bridal Teffern, a resident of the city of Erie, reminded listeners that petition-signing begins Feb. 18 and runs through March 11 and encouraged residents to be sure they are registered to vote and registered in the party of the candidate whose petition they circulate or sign. Teffern emphasized the value of public involvement "from the national to the state to the county to the city," saying that elected officials hear constituents’ approval and concerns.

Mary Rennie, a resident of District 3 and a longtime county employee, criticized the county executive’s handling of the budget and county services. Rennie referenced the county’s Home Rule Charter and county codes, ordinances and resolutions as binding rules that protect taxpayers and county operations. She said several county services and facilities, including the library, have suffered and listed specific management concerns including withheld budget moneys, unofficial hiring freezes and positions left vacant. Rennie said she supports county council in defending its authority and called the executive’s presented budget "unsupportable," saying those aspects are documented in the public record.

Deb Cameron, Summit Township tax collector and president of the Erie County Tax Collectors, thanked the council on behalf of the county tax collectors for acknowledging the role of elected tax collectors and for consideration of a compensation increase.

The public-comment period also included one speaker who passed on their allotted time. Comments on petition deadlines, budget concerns and compensation for elected tax collectors were made during the scheduled public-comment period and were not recorded as council actions during the Feb. 11 meeting.