Allegheny County Council - File #: 1760-04

• File #: 1760-04
• Version: 2
• Name: An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania directing that a referendum question amending Article III of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, pursuant to the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law and Second Class County Cha
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Approved
• File created: 11/16/2004
• In control: Special Committee on Government Reform
• Final action: 12/6/2004
• Title: An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania directing that a referendum question amending Article III of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, pursuant to the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law and Second Class County Charter Law, be placed on the May 17, 2005 Municipal Primary ballot; and, further amending Article 201 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, contingent upon the passage of the referendum question.
• Sponsors: Joan Cleary

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/15/2004	2	Chief Executive	Signed by Chief Executive
12/6/2004	1	County Council	Passed for Chief Executive Signature	Pass
12/1/2004	1	Special Committee on Government Reform	Released from the Committee
11/16/2004	1	County Council	Referred

TITLE
An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania directing that a referendum question amending Article III of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter, pursuant to the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law and Second Class County Charter Law, be placed on the May 17, 2005 Municipal Primary ballot; and, further amending Article 201 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, contingent upon the passage of the referendum question.

BODY
WHEREAS, the citizens of Allegheny County adopted a Home Rule Charter, effective January 1, 2000, which provided for, among other things, a new form of County government as required by the Second Class County Charter Law consisting of an elected chief executive, an elected county council and the Independently Elected County Officials known as “the Row Officers”; and

WHEREAS, the Charter prohibited any amendments that would alter this new form of county government for five (5) years; and

WHEREAS, it has been judicially determined that the five (5) year restriction on altering the structure of Allegheny County government expires on January 1, 2005; and

WHEREAS, the Allegheny County Council and Chief Executive desire to submit a proposed ballot question to the citizens of Allegheny County which, if passed, would reduce the number of Allegheny County Independently Elected Officials; and

WHEREAS, the approval of a ballot question reducing the Independently Elected Offices in Allegheny County also would necessitate certain amendments to the Administrative Code including, without limitation, providing for the qualifications and additional regulations applicable to the new position of Medical Examiner, that would promote the independence of that office to the greatest extent possible, and for the assignment of the duties and responsibilities of the abolished Row Offices; and

WHEREAS, the proposed ballot question and the accompanying amendments to the Administrative Code, if passed, w...