Leadership Transitions at EPD

Earlier last year, current Chief of Police Kim Stewart shared her intention to retire this summer. Since then, Town Administrator Malcolm Fleming and Chief Stewart have discussed potential candidates to be her successor. For several reasons, the search for a new Chief was focused within the staff already in the Erie Police Department. There is an excellent succession plan in place in the department, focused on building a strategic and community-focused team. Chief Stewart has been thoughtful and thorough in mentoring her Command Staff as part of intentional succession. With this in mind, the Town is pleased to announce the selection of Deputy Chief Lee Mathis to serve as Erie’s next Chief of Police. Chief Kim Stewart will retire on Aug. 30, 2023, and Lee Mathis will be formally sworn in the same day. 

Mathis’ law enforcement career spans 28 years and nearly 20 of those have been with the Town of Erie; he joined the Erie Department in 2005. He excels at supervising diverse law enforcement teams, managing complex budgets, and internal—and external—collaboration and communication. During his tenure with the Erie Police Department, he helped guide the department from 12 officers and two support staff to the current authorized strength of 46 officers and nine support staff. Mathis has also led community engagement and strategic planning efforts and was instrumental in creating the Professional Standards Review Panel, the Police Directives Task Force, and the Community Police Academy.  

Town Administrator Fleming shared, “I value Lee’s personable approach and long-term vision. His project management and people skills are excellent. I look forward to seeing Lee’s excellence shine even brighter in the future.”

The vacancy of Deputy Chief created by the appointment of Lee Mathis to Chief leads to another important selection. Congratulations to Commander Heather Carmosino, who Mathis promoted to take the Deputy Chief’s position when Mathis vacates that title. 

“Commander Carmosino has an excellent base of experience and all the skills needed to be successful as the Deputy Chief of our Department and I am honored to select her for this vital position,” said the current Deputy Chief Lee Mathis. Commander Carmosino will serve as the first-ever female Deputy Chief for Erie.

Enhanced Security at the Recycling Center

To maintain the integrity of Town operations and ensure adherence to the proper recycling guidelines, high-quality security cameras are now in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days per week at the Erie Recycling Center. These cameras will supplement Town staff's oversight capabilities and help prevent illegal dumping. The rules and guidelines at the Recycling Center are in place to protect the health and safety of users at the facility, and to ensure all loads of material are clean and recyclable.

Non-compliance with posted regulations, including any illegal dumping, is a prosecutable offense. We value and respect each member of our community, and we know most residents are as committed to maintaining the Recycling Center as a valuable resource for Erie. There are, however, regularly instances of individuals flagrantly disobeying the rules of the Recycling Center causing safety hazards and creating loads of waste that cannot be recycled.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can keep the Erie Recycling Center a safe and productive place to recycle responsibly, ensuring the community continues to contribute positively to the Town’s sustainability goals.

Treatment Plant to Educational Wetlands

Residents may have noticed the significant construction occurring behind the Recycling Center just north of Downtown Erie. This facility, previously a decommissioned wastewater treatment plant, has been undergoing thorough renovation over the past several months. Beginning in 2021, the Town completed community engagement and collected valuable suggestions through our Engage Erie platform, and now the area is taking on a new identity— the Erie Wetlands. 

This transformation embodies our community's strong commitment to sustainability and adds a new educational amenity about important water treatment processes. Staff is updating content on Engage Erie to offer a deeper look into the progress made so far, explain the reasons behind the extended duration of this project, and share a glimpse into the inspiring opportunities that lie ahead. Initially announced in 2021, the Town has devoted significant effort to this comprehensive transformation project. We're eager to share how these dedicated efforts are shaping our future. Be sure to visit the page and sign up to receive more information as the project continues.

Town of Erie is Hiring

As the Town continues to grow, we have several openings and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Keep checking the Town of Erie job board for Erie’s latest openings, which currently include:

• Police Commander
• Planner
• Sports Official