Council hears reentry program transition to county, asks for data and procurement records

Council received a detailed briefing on the reentry program and the proposed reprogramming of CDBG funds to support a county‑run reentry case management position.

Deborah Smith told the council that the reentry dollars cited are HUD CDBG funds and that the county submitted the reprogramming request because the YMCA withdrew its application. Smith said reprogrammed funds and a 30‑day comment period will be publicly noticed, and she confirmed the reprogramming list will be presented to council on July 1. "There is actually a new allocation each year... the city is an entitlement city where we receive funding from HUD," she said.

Representatives from Erie County Reentry described program structure and voluntary participation. Bob Hess, introduced as the program manager, said the program is voluntary, has memorandum‑of‑understanding arrangements with parole to coordinate services (with signed releases of information), and emphasized the program’s aim to reduce recidivism by connecting people to services before release. Former program manager Sheila Sillman described earlier results the program tracked with a data partner, including a historical drop in recidivism from roughly 48–50% to single digits under prior measurement (figures later rose as data collection changed). Sillman said the program will continue under the county and staff would return with more details.

Multiple public commenters and speakers asked for documentation of who requested the funding move, whether a request for proposals or other procurement process occurred and whether federal CDBG procurement rules were followed; one commenter suggested using Right‑to‑Know requests if records were not provided. The administration said the county completed an application and that the city would handle the reprogramming process and public notice in June/July, and promised to provide the county application and other supporting materials to council before formal approval.