Erie City Land Bank approves 2026 work plan, fills chair, and clears several property sales

The Erie City Land Bank on Monday approved a proposed 2026 work plan, voted to appoint Summer Nichols as chair, authorized the sale of three rehabilitation properties and two side-yard vacant lots, and passed a resolution requesting tax abatement from the Erie School District for multiple land-bank-owned parcels.

Board members voted to approve the 2026 work plan so staff could submit it to the Erie County Land Bank for its October consideration. The plan lists $195,000 in administrative/staffing costs that staff said reflects shared staff time across redevelopment authority employees; board members requested a detailed breakdown of what percentage of each employee’s time is allocated to the land bank before final county approval.

The finance report and check detail prompted questions about two reimbursements to the redevelopment authority (listed as “RACE” in the packet). Staff explained an $18,031.34 reimbursement covered authority-paid expenses on behalf of the land bank (staff time, software, copier lease). A separate $33,000 payment was described as the final acquisition payment for 1012–1014 West Nineteenth Street; staff said that amount was paid by the redevelopment authority in error and later reimbursed by the land bank.

On property sales, the board voted to accept staff recommendations for development proposals and authorize contracts at the recommended prices. Approved sales included: 908 East 20th Street to Juganek Williams for $20,500; 2216 German Street to Angela Meyer for $20,500; and 1316 Buffalo Road to Tayshaun Teran for $25,050 (the Buffalo Road award recorded one abstention on the vote; the abstaining member cited a conflict of interest). The board also approved two vacant-lot conveyances to adjacent homeowners: 1206 Wayne Street and 636 West Nineteenth Street, each for $500.

Board members asked staff to confirm that realtor commissions and closing-related fees are captured under the appropriate budget lines; staff said some sales-related costs are paid at closing and suggested legal/administrative or a contingency/miscellaneous line could cover them. The packet showed a year-to-date net income of $224,737.26 (driven largely by the sale of 2321 Cameron Road), a checking-balance figure of $283,358.82, and $16,000 held in escrow.

The board also approved a resolution forwarding a request to the Erie School District to abate real-estate taxes, penalties, interest and fees on a list of land-bank-owned parcels to allow several pending sales to close. The board chair asked that the resolution and its property list accompany the request when staff presents it to district officials.

Nominations and officer changes were also acted on. Summer Nichols, identified at the meeting as representing the local school district, was nominated and approved as chair. The board agreed to a short-term secretarial arrangement and left one mayoral appointment slot open to be filled by the mayor when available.

Actions recorded at the meeting were voice votes in favor on motions to approve the consent agenda, minutes and the items above. Several motions passed by affirmative “Aye” voice vote; only the Buffalo Road sale included an abstention recorded on the public transcript because of a declared conflict.

The board adjourned following the action items.