City of Erie Weekly News Wrap-up

The Erie Fire Department made history Wednesday morning after officially promoting Seenah Mischel as its first female lieutenant. Lieutenant Mischel, who became Erie’s first Black female firefighter in 2010, is originally from Buffalo, New Yorkand has served in the armed forces in Iraq and Jordan. The City of Erie also debuted a new firetruck on Wednesday for Engine Company 13. The 2020 Pierce pumper was purchased through state funding and grants, including $300,000 secured by State Representatives Bob Merski and Pat Harkins. 

The Erie International Airport celebrated its first service to Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport by United Airlines on Thursday. United now offers one roundtrip flight a day to Washington and plans to add a second daily flight beginning January 7. 

Erie residents are sharing in the celebration of groundbreaking technology to combat the rise of COVID-19 within the community. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was administered to 50 front line workers at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital on Thursday. AHN plans to distribute 200 every day until all available doses have been administered. The Community Blood Bank (CBB) also received a new Alyx machine through funding provided by the Hamot Health Foundation and Highmark/AHN Saint Vincent. The Alyx machine allows donors to provide specific blood components that have proven vital in emergencies, surgeries, and premature infants. Alyx also collects COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) that is used as an early treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. 

The City of Erie did not receive an overall allocation of flexible CARES Act funding like the County did. The CARES Act through the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program funding is to prevent, prepare, and respond to the coronavirus. The funding that the city did receive includes supplemental Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding (CDBG and ESG) to be disbursed to agencies and small businesses for pandemic relief. The funding does not have an end-of-year spending deadline. 

Activities that have been funded through the city’s allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) CARES:

▪ Operational support for the shelters, including food, essential equipment, protection equipment supplies, and operational costs which includes direct staff.  

▪ Hotel/Motel expenses for homeless individuals at the Avalon Hotel ▪ Rental Assistance and utility assistance for Homeless Prevention for up to six (6) months for people who may be getting evicted from their rental housing. The maximum amount of monthly assistance for rental assistance is $750 and the maximum amount a person can receive for six (6) months $4500.  

Activities that have been funded through the city’s allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES:

▪ Personal Protective Equipment

▪ Food Baskets

▪ Meal Delivery 

▪ Cleaning supplies

▪ Mortgage assistance

▪ Rental assistance

▪ Utilities

▪ Enhancements to buildings to assist with COVID 19 Mitigation

▪ Direct support staff

▪ Economic Development for small business. 

▪ Essential Equipment

▪ Testing

The City of Erie has produced a new wall calendar for all city residents, featuring important dates, contact and service information, as well as the city’s 2021 recycling guide. Each month features photography of local landmarks submitted by local artists. Mayor Joe Schember announced that every Erie citizen will receive an official 2021 calendar mailed to their home.

The City of Erie is seeking dedicated, diverse, community-oriented people with the requisite skills and expertise to serve the residents of Erie in an inclusive and equitable manner on one of our 15 Authorities, Boards, or Commissions. All City of Erie Authority, Board, or Commission appointments are on a voluntary basis. Appointment terms vary for each organization.

There are 45 vacancies to be filled:
24 by the Mayor
21 by City Council

To be considered, all questions must be completed and a résumé must be attached. You can start the process, save your progress, and go back to complete it. We will be looking for thoughtful responses to why you want to serve on a particular authority and how you think your perspective and skill set will benefit the organization. Once complete, you will receive an email notification.

The deadline to apply is January 11, 2021 by 11:59 p.m.

https://go.citygro.ws/city-of-erie/authorities-boards-and-commissions

Wrap-up provided by Communications Specialist Maija Carol.

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