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Erie council postpones town benchmarking survey to 2026 in 5–2 vote
Summary
Council voted 5–2 to delay the town's regular benchmarking (national comparison) survey until 2026 to avoid overlap with a new, broader community survey the town is commissioning; Mayor Bertrand Bell was recorded as second and dissenting votes came from Councilmembers Baer and Pastor Ameli.
The Erie Town Council voted on May 6 to postpone the municipality’s regular benchmarking (every‑other‑year) national comparison survey until 2026, a move council members said will prevent confusion and overlap with a new, comprehensive community survey under development.
An unidentified council member moved to postpone the benchmarking survey; Mayor Bertrand Bell was recorded as the second. The motion carried 5–2. Councilmember Baer and Councilmember Pastor Ameli registered the two dissenting votes. The council majority said delaying the benchmarking instrument will allow staff and the new consultant to focus outreach and avoid asking residents overlapping questions in the same season.
Town staff told the council the new community survey is designed to be a broader, multimodal instrument intended to reach thousands of residents and to inform timing and sequencing of capital projects, such as public safety facilities and parks. Staff noted the budget cycle is already underway and that the new survey’s results will be used to inform 2026 decisions and future ballot timing. The council asked staff to circulate the draft questionnaire for review and to keep the community informed of the schedule.
