Harborcreek supervisors to seek Erie County reopening
Jim Martin @etnmartin
The resolution claims that there are no specific criteria for moving from the so-called yellow phase to green.
Supervisors in Harborcreek Township were expected to vote Wednesday evening on a resolution urging the immediate reopening of Erie County.
The resolution, to be taken up at the board of supervisors' 6 p.m. meeting, urges Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper to lobby Gov. Tom Wolf to reopen businesses in Erie County, including Harborcreek Township.
The resolution claims there are no specific criteria for moving from the so-called yellow phase to green, which would allow restaurants and hair salons to reopen.
According to the resolution:
• "Many residents ... are struggling to support their families, and many businesses now face the strong possibility of permanent closure."
• "Erie County residents currently have a .0004% chance of contracting the COVID-19 virus, including a .024% mortality rate for those that have contracted the virus and a .000007 mortality rate for all of Erie County."
Summit Township adopted a similar resolution on Monday.
Dahlkemper said Wednesday it is not her decision to move the county into the green phase and allow all businesses to open.
"It's not up to the county. The order is from the state, the governor," Dahlkemper said. "We are following the guidelines ... and waiting for the governor."
Township Supervisor Dean Pepicello stressed that the resolution calls on the governor to reopen Erie County and for the county executive to lobby on behalf of that move.
Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNMartin.