An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the Accountability, Conduct and Ethics Code of Allegheny County ("the ACE Code"), set forth in Article 1013 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, in order to clarify the requirements of §5-1013.31, entitled "Summary report to Council and Chief Executive."
WHEREAS, Article 5 of the County Code of Ordinances consists of the County's Administrative Code, providing the details for the administration and operation of County Government consistent with the provisions of the County's Home Rule Charter; and
WHEREAS, Article 1013 of the County's Administrative Code sets forth the County's Accountability, Conduct and Ethics Code ("the ACE Code"), providing for standards of ethical conduct within County Government; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Article 1013, the Allegheny County Ethics Commission is empowered to investigate and dispose of complaints filed under the terms of the Ethics Code; and
WHEREAS, while §5-1013.31 requires that notice of the Commissions "conclusions and recommendations on all complaints" be provided to the Chief Executive and County Council, the section is not specific with regard to how this notice is to be provided and disseminated among the Council Members; and
WHEREAS, because other sections of the Ethics Code, most notably §5-1013.29, contemplate action by the full Council on certain dispositions issued by the Ethics Commission, it is the judgment of Council that a clear mechanism should be established through which all of the Commission's dispositions are provided to all sitting Members of Council, and through which records of those dispositions are retained within the Office of County Council.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Amendment of §5-1013.31.
The Administrative Code of Allegheny County, §5-1013.31, is hereby amended as follows:
§5-1013.31. Summary report to Council and Chief Executive.
The Commission shall report its conclusions and recommendations on all complaints to County Council and the Chief Executive. For the purposes of this Section, copies of all conclusions and recommendations on all complaints shall be provided by the Chairperson of the Commission or his or her designee within seven (7) days of issuance to the Chief Clerk, who shall then disseminate such copies to all seated Members of Council within three (3) business days of receipt. The Chief Clerk shall retain all documents received pursuant to the terms of this Section within the Office of County Council for no less than ten (10) years. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be required to provide Council with an annual report.
SECTION 2. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall enter into effect immediately.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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.
PRIMARY SPONSOR: COUNCIL MEMBER MEANS