By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Legislature is expected to approve a local law Thursday that will provide great autonomy for Erie Community College.
Wednesday, the county executive and ECC's president signed an agreement that will offer the college more independence in areas of payroll, personnel and purchasing.
County Legislature Chairman Charles Swanick promises approval of this plan when lawmakers meet.
"We've had many discussions about this in the Legislature," Swanick said. "We concur that it's time for ECC to start again on a new mission, a new challenge, a new mission and most importantly a new opportunity.
"We'll be a partner with ECC, but it will truly be a more efficient and a more improved operation under the autonomy agreement."
ECC President William Mariani says the agreement is a milestone for the college.
Swanick says the legislature is expected to approve a more than $600,000 study to examine three proposals for ECC. One is to consolidate the schools into one, downtown campus.