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An ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, Article 311, entitled “Official Actions of County Council,” through the creation of a new §5-311.10, entitled “Appointments,” in order to establish term limits for individuals whose nominations for appointment to County entities are approved by Council.
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Whereas, County Council from time to time approves nominations for appointment to various boards, authorities, and commissions within Allegheny County made by its own members or the Chief Executive; and
Whereas, two of the foundational values justifying the change to home rule, as described in the preamble to the County's Home Rule Charter in relation to the Council members themselves are diversity and inclusiveness: "[a] home rule government with a legislative County Council with Members elected by district and at large will represent the diversity of our County's citizens and provide better access to County government;" and
Whereas, although Council is cognizant that experience among appointees is valuable in the context of authority, board and commission operations, Council is also mindful that repeated appointment of the same individual(s) to the same positions also often results in a lack of new ideas, and also functions to limit participation in those entities to an extremely small sample of the County’s 1.2 million residents; and
Whereas, it is accordingly the judgment of Council that allowing the same individuals to be appointed to the same positions over extended periods of time is both undesirable and contrary to the desire of the voters of the County as expressed through their enactment of the County's Charter, particularly insofar as such stagnation greatly limits or eliminates diversity, participation, efficiency, vision and creativity in functions relevant to County government; and
Whereas, it is accordingly the desire of Council to apply term limitations to these appointments;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of the Preamble.
The provisions set forth in the preamble to this Ordinance are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
SECTION 2. Amendment of the Code.
The Administrative Code of Allegheny County, Article 311, entitled “Official Actions of County Council,” is hereby amended and supplemented through the creation of a new §5-311.10, entitled “Appointments,” and comprised as follows:
§5-311.10. Appointments.
A. No individual shall be nominated for appointment to the same position with any board, authority, commission, or other entity more than four times, unless such individual’s service beyond four appointments is required by applicable law or regulation. All nominations shall clearly delineate the number of terms served for all re-appointments prior to placement on Council’s agenda for introduction or other consideration, and shall not be accepted for introduction in the event that the provisions of this Section bar such nomination.
B. Allegheny County Council shall not vote to approve any individual’s nomination for appointment to the same position with any board, authority, commission, or other entity more than four times, unless such individual’s service beyond four appointments is required by applicable law or regulation.
C. In the event that federal, Commonwealth, or County law establish shorter maximum durations of service than provided for in Subsection A for specific appointees, such shorter time limitation shall apply for the specified appointee(s).
SECTION 3. Effective Date.
The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective January 1, 2027.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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.