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Record of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting - August 15, 2023: Proclamations, Public Hearing on Medical Debt, and Community Concerns

County Council — Tuesday, August 15, 2023
BodyAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, August 15, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

Liberty and justice for all the other little standing standing.

0:26

Please are silent for a reflection.

0:35

Thank you.

0:36

Roll call.

0:39

Ms.

0:40

Bennett.

0:42

Here.

0:43

Mr.

0:43

Bekowski.

0:44

Here.

0:45

Mr.

0:45

DeMarco.

0:48

Mr.

0:49

Dewar.

0:49

Here.

0:50

Ms.

0:50

Villiaggi.

0:51

Mr.

0:51

Catulas.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Ms.

0:53

Hallum.

0:53

Here.

0:54

Mr.

0:54

Klein.

0:54

Here.

0:55

Mr.

0:56

Macy.

0:57

Here.

0:58

Ms.

0:58

Nackeretti Chapkis.

1:02

Mr.

1:02

Palmery.

1:03

Here.

1:03

Mr.

1:03

Palmasina.

1:04

Here.

1:05

Ms.

1:05

Prizio.

1:06

Mr.

1:06

Walton.

1:07

Here.

1:07

President Katina.

1:10

We have 13 members present at the moment.

1:12

Thank you.

1:14

Proclamation of certificates.

1:16

One, two, seven, six, one-two-three.

1:19

A proclamation congratulating Alekia Dota Penene, winner of the statewide one water poster contest, sponsored by Councilmember Filadie.

1:37

Thank you, members of Council and uh people in the gallery.

1:41

Um, this proclamation celebrates the winner of the One Water Poster Contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.

1:51

The PACD and the Allegheny County Conservation District belong to a national network of conservation districts that have for 75 years had a unified goal of educating and engaging the public on the importance of clean water and a sustainable future.

2:10

The contest itself is designed to increase awareness of conservation topics among students in order to cultivate the next generation of wise stewards of our natural resources and allow those students the opportunity to express how water connects us all.

2:30

The winner whom we have here today with her poster will now advance to the National Association of Conservation Districts to compete and be recognized.

2:50

So we can take that.

2:51

I'm truly honored to confer this proclamation celebrating an Allegheny County student who attends Pine Richland Eden Hall Upper Elementary as the winner of the statewide one water poster contest in the fourth through sixth grade division.

3:09

I'm actually giddy and a bit smug as I stand here today, being the person to give you all the privilege of meeting the winner, Miss Alekia Dota Paneni.

3:21

Miss Dota Paneni is a rising fifth grader and is truly an exceptional young person.

3:26

I've met her, so spoken to her father, her mother couldn't be here today, but celebrates her as well.

3:33

Her accomplish accomplishments are already many.

3:37

In addition to winning the poster contest, with her vivid depiction of how water connects us all, Aleckia is an A student, a decorated tennis champion, a science competition winner, and violinist who performs at school and the Discovery Church.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Medical Debt Relief██████████████████████22%
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Environmental Protection███████████████████19%
Public Works██████████10%
Summary of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting - August 15, 2023

The Allegheny County Council met on August 15, 2023, with 13 members initially present (later 14 for a roll call vote). The meeting featured multiple proclamations honoring individuals and organizations, approval of prior meeting minutes, referral of appointments, introduction of a public hearing on medical debt, and public comments on ADA accessibility and healthcare costs.

Proclamations

  • Alekia Dota Penene (Pine Richland Eden Hall Upper Elementary student) was recognized for winning the statewide One Water Poster Contest, sponsored by Councilmember Filadie. Councilmember Palmasina offered a boat ride. Alekia spoke about water conservation and the importance of clean water.
  • Gateway Clipper Fleet celebrated its 65th anniversary, sponsored by Councilmembers Palmasina and Macy. Representatives highlighted the fleet's history, its role in river tourism, and its impact on the region.
  • Presley's Place at Pittsburgh International Airport recognized for its fourth anniversary, sponsored by Councilmember Katina.
  • Battle of Homestead recognized for its 131st anniversary, sponsored by Councilmembers Pritzio and Klein.
  • Castle Shannon Community Day celebrated the 2023 event, sponsored by Councilmember Palmery.
  • Western Pennsylvania Slovak Day recognized for its centennial, sponsored by Councilmember Macy.
  • Sean Trainer recognized on his retirement from the City of Pittsburgh, sponsored by Councilmember Palmasina.
  • Minerva Bakery recognized for its 100th anniversary, sponsored by Councilmember Macy.
  • John Vento honored on his 100th birthday, sponsored by Councilmembers Katina, Palmasina, Fatulis, and the County Treasurer.
  • Ethan Conley recognized for achieving Eagle Scout rank, sponsored by Councilmember Macy.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bernadette Mossy (resident of Mount Lebanon/Scott Township area) raised concerns about the lack of ADA-accessible curb cuts on Bower Hill Road in Scott Township. She stated that the road was resurfaced without updating corners as required by state law, and that Scott Township did not respond to her calls. She noted that the issue affects mothers with strollers and elderly individuals, and requested county assistance. Councilmember DeMarco offered to follow up with her.
  • Ed Griffar and George Wax Munski (United Electrical Workers regional director) spoke in support of the upcoming public hearing on medical debt. Griffar cited statistics: 100 million people with medical debt, 41% of adults affected, medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy, and 17% of adults with medical debt declare bankruptcy. He noted that 119,000 people in Allegheny County are on Medicaid and that 15 million people were recently cut from Medicaid nationally. They urged the council to use the hearing to raise awareness and push for healthcare reform.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing on Medical Debt (Bill 12776-23): Councilmember Pritzio presented a motion to hold a public hearing on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse to discuss medical debt. The motion was seconded and approved via roll call with 14 votes in favor; one member (President Katina) was noted as absent (despite being recorded as 'Yes' earlier in the roll).
  • Bill 12777-23 was withdrawn from the agenda.
  • Resolution on Jail Warden Search (Bill 12778-23): A motion expressing the sense of council regarding the search and hiring processes for a new Allegheny County jail warden, sponsored by Councilmember Katina, was referred to the Committee on Public Safety.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes of the regular meetings on May 23, June 6, June 20, and July 11, 2023, by voice vote.
  • Appointments referred to the Committee on Appointment Review: Michael Soley (Board of Property Assessments, Appeals and Review), Timothy Mowray (Accountability Conduct and Ethics Commission), G. Eric French (Allegheny County Conservation District Board), Jenna R. Kramer (Allegheny County Conservation District Board), and Holly A. Douglas (Minority Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Board).
  • Ordinance authorizing land reclamation group LLC to complete a stream restoration project at Pearson Run in Boyce Park referred to the Committee on Parks.
  • Public hearing on medical debt authorized for September 18, 2023 (14-0 vote, with one absent).
  • Bill 12777-23 withdrawn.
  • Resolution on jail warden search referred to Public Safety Committee.
  • Notifications and contracts for July 2023 were received and filed.
  • Meeting adjourned after public comments.

Meeting Transcript

Liberty and justice for all the other little standing standing. Please are silent for a reflection. Thank you. Roll call. Ms. Bennett. Here. Mr. Bekowski. Here. Mr. DeMarco. Mr. Dewar. Here. Ms. Villiaggi. Mr. Catulas. Here. Ms. Hallum. Here. Mr. Klein. Here. Mr. Macy. Here. Ms. Nackeretti Chapkis. Mr. Palmery. Here. Mr. Palmasina. Here. Ms. Prizio. Mr. Walton. Here. President Katina. We have 13 members present at the moment. Thank you. Proclamation of certificates. One, two, seven, six, one-two-three. A proclamation congratulating Alekia Dota Penene, winner of the statewide one water poster contest, sponsored by Councilmember Filadie. Thank you, members of Council and uh people in the gallery. Um, this proclamation celebrates the winner of the One Water Poster Contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.

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