I attended the City Council meeting on September 16 at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Devlin recognized the Department of Public Works for their hard work and commitment to the community following the extreme weather event that occurred Sept. 2 and 3 which uprooted hundreds of mature trees, damaged property, and blocked roadways. “Throughout this response and cleanup, Public Works employees demonstrated compassion, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to serving the Erie community,” Devlin said. Councilman Andre Horton also recognized the leadership of Mayor Devlin following the severe storm: “We’ve seen a spirit of unity, we’ve seen the residents stay calm. It’s a true testament to your leadership and you should be applauded as well.”
Council President Titus added two debris-removal contracts to the agenda, and council approved both unanimously. Constituents came to speak about sewer issues they faced after the severe storm, noting that their homes were flooded with raw sewage. “My wife and I have lived in the same house for four or five years now, and the sewer has backed up three times in that period – directly caused by rainwater going into the sanitary line,” Quinn Thompson said. Other neighbors spoke up, saying they had to get large dumpsters to throw away ruined belongings. “We are all very desperate,” Elizabeth Thompson said. Mayor Devlin said she will meet with Public Works to plan a meeting with the affected residents. Constituent Patrice Imler told council that six skilled laborers who were helping with storm recovery were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sept. 10. ICE did not respond to a request for comment by press time. “They took the people who were here to help us,” she said…