Erie County Council fails to override veto of measure to rescind Gannon lease at public library

After six months of citizen protests against Gannon University and its leasing of space inside the county's main public library for a new water research center, Erie County Council on Thursday put its foot down.

Their verdict: The lease will continue.

Council, which had rescinded the lease in a March 26 vote, only to face a veto from Erie County Executive Brenton Davis a day later, attempted to override that veto during a special meeting Thursday at the Erie County Courthouse.

The override failed in a 4-3 vote, falling short of a necessary five-vote supermajority.

Republican councilmembers Ellen Schauerman and Charlie Bayle, along with Democrat Jim Winarski, voted against the override. Democrats Terry Scutella, Andre Horton, Chris Drexel and Rock Copeland voted in favor of it.

The vote brings to a close ― at least at the county government level ― a months-long drama surrounding a controversial lease agreement between Gannon and the county.

The lease, which was championed by Davis and approved by council in October, allows Gannon to construct and operate a 3,280-square-foot Great Lakes research and education center on the eastern wing of the Blasco Memorial Library.

Davis and Gannon officials say the center ― a part of the school's $24 million water quality initiative known as Project NePTWNE ― will serve as a research lab as well as an interactive learning space and ecotourism attraction at the bayfront.

The lease, however, has been condemned by several residents who argue that it allows a private, religiously affiliated university to deprive space from the county’s main public library.

Residents, forming protest groups, acquired more than 6,000 signatures in support of their cause and frequently attended council meetings where they warned of potential adverse effects of the center on the library, from environmental contamination to lack of parking.

They also criticized the Davis administration for making a “sweetheart deal” with Gannon, for fast-tracking, with little public engagement, the 25-year lease. The lease has Gannon paying $7 a square foot for 3,280 square feet of space on waterfront property.

This is a developing story. Go to GoErie.com for updates.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Council fails to override veto of Gannon lease repeal