An ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing Article 401 of Division 1 of the Code of Allegheny County
entitled "Administrative Code," through the creation of a new Section 5-401.13, entitled "Reporting and Disclosure" in order to establish a disclosure requirement for
potential conflicts of interests related to County contracts.
Whereas, the Accountability, Conduct and Ethics Code of Allegheny County, contained within Article 1013 of the Administrative Code, sets forth guidelines for the
accountability, conduct and ethics of Allegheny County; and
Whereas, Aricle V, Section 2(i) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County specifically empowers the Chief Executive to "[n]egotiate, award and sign, or cause to be negotiatied, awarded and signed on behalf of the County, all contracts, agreeements and other insturments, except as provided in Article IV, Section 2(j) and (k); and
Whereas, nothing contained within the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County, Administrative Code of Allegheny County, or Allegheny County Code of Ordinances prhohibits the Chief Executive from having ownership or other interests in various businesses or other entities that may ultimately have the ability to propose or enter contractual relationships with the County; and
Whereas, such business interests are not always disclosed or fully known; indeed, at the March 24, 2015 regular meeting of Allegheny County Council, the current Chief Executive indicated that he did not know what entities his own company sells products to when questioned abouth how he ensures that conflicts do not arise as a result of his business interests; and
Whereas, it is the judgment of Council that the existing language of the Administative Code should be strengthened in order to require the Chief Executive to maintain an awareness of his or her business interests that will allow them to determine whether they may have a conflict of interest relating to a particu...
Click here for full text