Erie County Council approves supplemental appropriations, audit contract and multiple appointments; Philip English confirmed 6-1

The Erie County Council approved a set of ordinances, a resolution, and several appointments at its Jan. 28, 2025 meeting, including a supplemental appropriation described for cold-case DNA work, a county audit agreement and multiple advisory-board appointments.

Why it matters: The council acted on budgetary and administrative measures that enable county operations (audit and personnel funding) and filled seats on advisory panels and authorities that advise or steer local economic and public-health programs.

The council took these actions in a single meeting. Major outcomes included:

• Ordinance No. 1, 2025 — "2025 general fund budget supplemental appropriation" (prosecuting cold cases using a DNA grant; creation of new line items). Motion moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded as yes by Mister Horton, Missus Schauerman, Mister Winarski, Mister Bale, Mister Copeland, Mister Drexel and Chairman Scatella. Outcome: approved. (Dollar amount not specified in the transcript.)

• Ordinance No. 2, 2025 — Approval of a waiver of bid requirements (motion referenced full-time assistant public defender). Motion moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded as yes by Missus Showerman, Mister Winarski, Mister Bale, Mister Copeland, Mister Drexel, Mister Horton and Chairman Scatella. Outcome: approved.

• Ordinance No. 6, 2025 — Waiver of bid requirements under the administrative code and approval of the county audit agreement with Zelenkovski Axlerod LLC for the year ending Dec. 31, 2024. Motion moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded as yes by Mister Bale, Mister Copeland, Mister Drexel, Mister Horton, Missus Schauerman, Mister Winarski and Chairman Scatella. Outcome: approved.

• Ordinance No. 7, 2025 — First read: elected official salary ordinance for 2026–2029. This was presented as a first reading (no final vote recorded at this meeting).

• Resolution No. 1, 2025 — Approval of an amendment to Resolution No. 25, 2024. Motion moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded as yes by Mister Copeland, Mister Drexel, Mister Horton, Missus Schauerman, Mister Winarski, Mister Bale and Chairman Scatella. Outcome: approved.

• Appointments: The council approved a slate of appointments and one parcel sale referral. Recorded outcomes included: – Anthony Simmons — possible appointment to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission (term to Dec. 31, 2027). Vote: unanimous yes recorded (members voting yes included Mister Drexel, Mister Horton, Missus Schauerman, Mister Winarski, Mister Bale, Mister Copeland and Chairman Scatella). Outcome: approved. – Laurie Robson — possible appointment to the Erie County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board (term to Dec. 31, 2027). Vote: unanimous yes recorded. Outcome: approved. – Kristi Nocic — possible appointment to the Erie County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board (term to Dec. 31, 2027). Vote: unanimous yes recorded. Outcome: approved. – Philip (Phil) English — possible appointment to the Erie County Redevelopment Authority (term to Dec. 31, 2029). Vote: recorded as yes by Mister Winarski, Mister Bale, Mister Copeland, Mister Horton, Missus Showerman and Chairman Scatella; Mister Drexel voted no. Outcome: approved, 6–1. – Possible sale of a parcel from the repository: Motion moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded as yes by the council members called (votes recorded in the transcript included Mister Copeland, Mister Drexel, Mister Horton, Missus Schauerman, Mister Winarski and Chairman Scatella). Outcome: approved.

Procedure and next steps: The finance and personnel committee meetings were announced for Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025; the next regular meeting of county council was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Votes at a glance: The transcript shows roll-call votes on the ordinances, resolution and appointments listed above. Where the transcript did not clearly capture numeric dollar amounts or complete motion language (for example, the supplemental appropriation amount was garbled in the record), the article indicates that detail is not specified in the transcript.

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