Title
An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 220, entitled "Campaign Finance Reports and Statements," through the creation of a new §220-10 governing reporting of certain campaign contributions and gifts to the Chief Executive or Members of Council.
Body
WHEREAS, the Allegheny County C ode of Ordinances, Chapter 220, currently provides for the electronic filing of certain campaign finance reports; and
WHEREAS, the County's campaign finance reporting guidelines do not currently require the disclosure of any relationships between the County and entities or groups having business or other relationships with the County; and
WHEREAS, insofar as contributions made by such entities or individuals may be perceived by the public to influence decisions regarding the award of contracts, appointments to boards, committees, or other entities, and other decisions of the County, it is the judgment of Council that such contributions should be disclosed to the public; and
WHEREAS, it is accordingly the desire of Council to establish a formal guideline governing the reporting of such contributions;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Amendment of the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances
The Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 220, entitled "Campaign Finance Reports and Statements," is hereby amended through the creation of a new §220-10, comprised as follows:
§220-10. Disclosure of Contributions by Entities or Individuals Bearing Business or Other Relationships to the County.
A. All campaign contributions and gifts (including in kind gifts or any other nonmaterial or financial gifts with a value of $100 or more) from any vendor or other party receiving a contract or engaged to perform any services (including legal and other professional services), as well as any County appointee to any authority, agency, board or other commission, given to the Chief Executive or any member of County Council shall be reported to the County Manager no later than ninety (90) days after such contribution or gift is received by the Executive of Council Member. Such report shall be made in writing, and shall be signed by the Executive or Council Member(s).
B. For the purposes of this Section, campaign contributions and gifts shall be deemed reportable if made by the individual or entity bearing the relationship to the County, the individual(s) with executive authority and spouses of individuals or individuals with executive authority over such entities, family members (as defined in the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, §5-1013.03) of the individual or individual(s) with executive authority over such entities, business partners and co-owners, and any relevant political committee (as defined in this Chapter).
C. The information reported under the terms of this Section shall be compiled by the County Manager no later than January 1 of each calendar year and updated prior to the award of any County contract in excess of $10,000 or final approval of any appointment made by the Chief Executive or County Council. The County Manager is to publish the annual report and all updates thereto on the County's website.
SECTION 2. Severability
If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. Repealer
Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.