title
Motion expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County, supporting Senate Bill 370, sponsored by Senator Jane Clare Orie, amending Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes pertaining to municipal authorities, providing for changes to the procedure for method of incorporation, for limitations and prohibitions on the governing body, and for the money of authorities; and further, calling upon Members of the General Assembly to consider and pass Senate Bill 370 to improve the accountability of Authorities to the municipalities which are served.
body
WHEREAS, ensuring the accountability of municipal authorities to the general public and increasing the amount of public input in the operation of those authorities is necessary and appropriate because of the impact of financial decisions made that impact upon the general public; and
WHEREAS, recent reviews and investigations into existing County and City authorities have exhibited a lack of accountability and have also called into question the ability of authorities to operated unchecked and oversight-free; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 370 proposed by Senator Orie will require that a resolution of intent to create an authority be adopted by the majority of the governing body(ies); and further, would place the question of creating said authority on the ballot for a vote by the electorate; and
WHEREAS, the articles of incorporation filed when authorities are created would include the term of existence of that authority and its debt limitations, making said information part of the public record and providing real limitation on the purpose and responsibilities of the authority; and
WHEREAS, all projects and bonds of the authority would be subject to competitive bidding ensuring a fair, open process in which all individuals, organizations, and companies can participate; and all authorities would be subject to open records and open meetings laws in furtherance of the goal of public parti...
Click here for full text