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Ordinance of the County of Allegheny authorizing the transfer of custody of certain County photographs 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
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Whereas, on April 21, 2015, County Council passed a bill which became Ordinance No. 13-15-OR; and
Whereas, Ordinance No. 13-15-OR authorized the transfer of custody of: (1) official minutes of meetings of the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners from January 23, 1868 through December 27, 1999 and (2) document books of the Allegheny County Institution District from 1940 through 1977 to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, doing business as the Senator John Heinz History Center, hereinafter the “HHC,” to allow for the maintenance and preservation of these County records 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; and
Whereas, the County is in possession of approximately 32,000 photographs, many of which were taken during the period from the 1920s to the 1960s, which are in danger of deterioration due to lack of proper accommodations needed to maintain and preserve them; and
Whereas, the HHC is willing to serve as a custodian of these photographs, to maintain and preserve these photographs at no cost to the County under preservation guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists and to provide public access to these photographs 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 of the above-described County photographs 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 photographs 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 as set forth in their entirety herein.
SECTION 2. Authorization of the Transfer of Custody of the County Photographs 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 photographs as listed on the document attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” hereinafter “the County Photographs,” to the HHC in order to allow the HHC to maintain and preserve the County Photographs at no cost to the County under preservation guidelines established by the Society of American Archivists and to provide public access to the County Photographs at the HHC.
B. The transfer of custody of the County Photographs 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 Photographs. Ownership of the County Photographs shall remain at all times with the County.
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.
SECTION 5. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall enter into effect immediately.