With a split vote of the Erie Town Council on Tuesday night, a potential deal with oil and gas operator SM Energy to hand over underground, town-owned mineral rights within the drilling area for the company’s planned Draco Pad project has failed.
The vote was 3-3, with Erie Mayor Andrew Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Bell and Councilmember John Mortellaro voting in favor of the agreement.
Councilmembers Emily Baer, Brian O’Connor and Anil Pesaramelli voted against, while Councilmember Dan Hoback was absent from Tuesday night’s meeting for what he described as a family obligation…