Erie council approves modified Grants to Communities awards for 2025, backs Biscuit Day and college‑planning funding

Erie — At its Feb. 18, 2025 special meeting, the Erie Town Council voted 4–3 to approve a modified distribution of the Grants to Communities funding for 2025, adopting staff recommendations with council amendments.

Staff told the council the program budget for 2025 was authorized at $80,000 (an increase over the prior year). Applicants requested just under $106,000; a five‑director review team recommended awards totaling $79,920. During the meeting councilors raised two recurring implementation issues: (1) several applicants failed to submit the new year‑end reporting required this cycle and (2) some applicants serve a broader geographic area than Erie.

Council debate centered on whether to enforce reporting requirements strictly in the program’s first year or to forgive first‑time reporting lapses for signature community events. Several council members argued that local community events — notably Biscuit Day, an Old Town fundraiser tied to the Wise Museum — are central to town identity and warrant full funding despite the missed report. Staff reported that funds originally allocated for Biscuit Day were instead directed to painting projects at the Wise Museum when Biscuit Day was canceled last year.

Council member Mortelaro moved to approve the resolution with amendments to fully fund Biscuit Day and Collegiate Crossing’s college‑planning program and to offset the increase by reducing the award to Better Neighbors. The motion was seconded and, after further discussion, passed on a roll‑call vote: O'Connor Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Bell Yes; Mayor Moore Yes; Bair No; Mortelaro Yes; Hoback No; Paris Lamelli No (vote 4–3).

Staff confirmed the allocations after the vote: increase Collegiate Crossing to $5,000 (a $2,500 increase from the staff recommendation), increase Biscuit Day (the Historical Society request) to $4,000, and reduce Better Neighbors by the offsetting amount so each Better Neighbors line became $5,250 in the adopted schedule. Staff said they will notify recipients and process awards; councilors asked staff to return with a study session to consider a more objective set of grant categories and reporting checks for 2026.

The amended resolution passed that night; the council then moved into executive session to discuss the municipal judge contract.