Ordinance of the County of Allegheny authorizing the transfer of custody of certain County records to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania to allow for their maintenance and preservation at no cost to the County under preservation guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists and for public access to these records at the Senator John Heinz History Center
WHEREAS, the County has volumes of records pertaining to the official conduct and operations of County government; and
WHEREAS, these County records have physically deteriorated over many years due to lack of proper accommodations needed to maintain and preserve them; and
WHEREAS, the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, doing business as the Senator John Heinz History Center, hereinafter the "HHC," operates as an educational institution and museum that engages and inspires a large and diverse audience with links to the past, understanding in the present and guidance in the future by preserving regional history through the conservation and maintenance of archives and artifact collections; and
WHEREAS, the HHC is willing to serve as a custodian of certain records of the County in order to maintain and preserve these records at no cost to the County under preservation guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists and to provide public access to these records at the HHC; and
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 2, Subsection k of the County's Home Rule Charter requires that the Allegheny County Council approve an ordinance authorizing the use of County personal property; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County Council is of the considered opinion that the transfer of custody to certain County records to the HHC in order to allow for their maintenance and preservation at no cost to the County under preservation guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists and for public access to these records at the HHC is in the best interest of the County.
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. "County Records" Defined.
For purposes of this Ordinance, the term "County Records" shall include:
A. Historical records involving 160 document books of the official minutes of the County Commissioners from January 23, 1868 to December 27, 1999 as listed on the document incorporated by reference in its entirety herein and attached hereto as Appendix 1.
B. Historical document books of the Allegheny County Institution District from 1940 to 1977 as listed on the document incorporated by reference in its entirety herein and attached hereto as Appendix 2.
Section 3. Authorization of the Transfer of Custody of the County Records to the HCC.
A. Acting pursuant to Article IV, Section 2, Subsection k of the County's Home Rule Charter, Allegheny County Council hereby authorizes the transfer of custody of the County Records to the HHC in order to allow the HHC to maintain and preserve the County Records at no cost to the County under preservation guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists and to provide public access to the County records at the HHC.
B. The transfer of custody of the County Records to the HHC shall be made under such terms and conditions as the County Manager and such other appropriate County officers and officials deem necessary and prudent in order to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance.
C. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed or interpreted in any way as granting HHC any ownership interest whatsoever in the County Records. Ownership of the County Records shall remain at all times with the County.
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.
Section 6. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall enter into effect immediately.