The group, Keep Our Library Public, has filed a lawsuit in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas asking the court to declare the lease agreement between Gannon University and Erie County, that will see part of Gannon's Project NePTWNE operate in the Blasco Library, invalid.

Erie County Solicitor Bill Speros explained what the allegations are.

"One, that the lease itself is a violation of The Donated or Dedicated Property Act in Pennsylvania and two, that the County administration and the County Executive have violated their fiduciary duties by entering in the lease," Speros said.

That lease is something that Erie County Council Chairman Terry Scutella, who supports the group, said still does not add up.

"$7 dollars a square-foot just does not make sense that we would give that away to Gannon," Scutella said.

But Speros said all the correct processes when proposing an ordinance were followed correctly.

"That ordinance was approved by County Council twice, once when they enacted the original ordinance authorizing the lease and again when they did not override the County Executive's veto of the second ordinance. which proposed to rescind the lease, so at this point that lease is a binding document for both parties," Speros said.

Speros said the County has filed preliminary objections saying that it is not clear as to why Keep Our Library Public only sued Erie County and the County Executive.

He said there are two other parties with a vested interest in the outcome of the case.

"One being Gannon University because they are a party to that lease, they have a leasehold interest in the library now, and County Council, which approved the lease via passing an ordinance, so those two parties should this go to litigation, which it appears it will, should have their say in court as well because they have an interest in the court's decision," Speros said.

President of Keep Our Library Public, Gretchen Blough, told Erie News Now:

"We will not be issuing a statement until we have had a chance to consult with our attorneys."