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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending Article 1203, Government Review Commission, of the Administrative Code by clarifying the procedure by which the five appointees of the County Council to the Commission are nominated and selected.
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WHEREAS, §5-1203.01 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County establishes a Government Review Commission in 2005 and every 10 years thereafter to study the Charter and County government for evaluation of the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the County Government and Charter for the purpose of recommending amendments to the Charter;
WHEREAS, a Government Review Commission was selected and convened in 2005 according to the established procedure and provided for nomination of members through the Democratic and Republican caucus; and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Code and Charter prescribes that this February, 2015, a second Government Review Commission should be established; and
WHEREAS, §5-1203.03 of the code currently states that “Council shall select and appoint five voters of the County to serve on the Review Commission”; and
WHEREAS, the code section for appointment lacks clarity regarding the procedure for involvement in the appointment process by each the 15 Members of Council; and
WHEREAS, a strict adherence to the language of the code as written renders it impossible to ensure for minority party participation and individual member participation in the process of selecting appointees; and
WHEREAS, Article III, Section 5 of Allegheny County’s Charter provides for participation from multiple parties, not only the majority party; and
WHEREAS, §5-1203.02 calls for the appointees to represent the diversity within the County as to race, age, gender, geographic region and party affiliation; and
WHEREAS, it is accordingly the judgment of Council that it is both desirable and necessary to ensure diversity in political affiliation, gender and geographic region so as to truly represent all citizens of the County on a commission that is charged with a duty so consequential as proposing changes to our form of government.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.
§ 5-1203.03 of the Administrative Code is amended as follows:
Section 2.
§ 5-1203.03. Appointment of members.
A. At a regularly scheduled meeting of Council in February of 2005, and every 10 years thereafter, the Council shall select and appoint nominate five voters of the County for appointment to serve on the Review Commission. Each Member of Council shall be authorized to nominate no more than one voter for appointment, and all nominations shall be evaluated by a standing committee of the whole prior to a final vote on any nomination(s) made by any Member of Council. No more than five nominations may be approved by the full Council, and no more than three nominations made by Council Members of the majority party may be approved by the full Council.
Section 3.
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.
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 5.
This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon approval by Council.