Residents press Erie council on procurement failures and demand transparency

A sustained thread through public comment was not solely the merits of the mineral-rights sale but how the town hired its consultant and negotiated key terms. Several speakers said the Alameda Minerals contract was awarded without a competitive procurement process and questioned the consultant's prior ties to an industry operator now bidding on the town’s minerals.

Don Colosino urged the council to declare both the consultant contract and the mineral-rights sale null and void, arguing that undisclosed conversations and omitted competitive bids "gives me the impression that you have something to hide." (Don Colosino). Tiffany Pritchett and others described repeated executive sessions and asked why more qualified local experts were not solicited in a public RFP process.

Town staff and the mayor acknowledged an internal procurement lapse; the acting town manager told the dais that independent auditors have been notified and that the lapse is being handled internally. The town attorney said she was not aware of any laws that had been broken as of the meeting, but councilors and speakers said an audit and improved transparency are needed before any final action.