Allegheny County Council Meeting: Proclamations, Appointments, and Macy SPC Vote - April 24, 2024

The Allegheny County Council convened on April 24, 2024, with all 15 members present and Council President Katina presiding. The meeting opened with an apology from Councilmember Macy for a March 5, 2024 statement that he said harmed some people. The agenda included seven proclamations, extensive public comment, a series of county board and authority appointments, two second-reading votes, and new business on property reassessment.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• National Therapy Animal Day (April 30, 2024) — Proclamation sponsored by Councilmember Katina and all members. Ms. Hanson, a licensed counselor and small-business owner serving older adults, people with disabilities, and children with special needs, spoke about her plans to train a therapy dog for her clients.

• 2024 Pennsylvania Big Brother of the Year — Jared Latchaw — Sponsored by Councilmembers DeMarco and Bonarotti. Latchaw and his 'little brother' Jamari, matched for six years through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pennsylvania, both spoke about the impact of the mentorship.

• 2024 Pennsylvania Big Sister of the Year — Lindsay Literini — Sponsored by Councilmembers DeMarco and Fatulis. Literini, a former Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member, and her 'little sister' Sarah, matched for eight years, spoke; Sarah credited Literini with helping her get to college. Council also remembered the late former Councilman Tom Baker, a longtime BBBS mentor.

• Women's Law Project — 50th Anniversary — Sponsored by Councilmember Katina and all councilmembers. A representative noted the organization's founding in 1974 and its 2024 court victory overturning a 1985 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that had upheld a Medicaid ban on abortion, reinvigorating the state Equal Rights Amendment.

• Boom Concepts — 10th Anniversary — Sponsored by Councilmember Hallam and all councilmembers. The Garfield-based creative hub for Black, brown, queer, and femme artists has curated more than 50 exhibitions, paid out over $216,000 in artist fees, and produced over 200 events. Founders DS Kinsel and J. Thomas Agnew thanked the Council.

• Additional proclamations — Declared April 28, 2024 as Workers' Memorial Day; April 2024 as Arab American Heritage Month; and April 2024 as Autism Acceptance Month.

Public Comments on Appointments & Reassessment

• Opposition to Councilmember Robert Macy's SPC reappointment — Multiple speakers opposed Macy's appointment to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC). Ms. Azuni, a Muslim resident, said she had faced a defamation campaign since Macy's March 5 'Islamophobic comments' and reported threatening letters received by area mosques. Ali Assad of the South Hills criticized the Council's failure to pass a ceasefire resolution, spoke of his Palestinian grandmother's legacy, and warned, 'We're either gonna move you with our talk or we'll remove you.' Another speaker cited a petition with over 200 signatures; Corey Roma of Crafton Borough presented a petition signed by over 240 constituents and organizations including Casa San Jose and Sunrise Movement Pittsburgh (speakers cited both 200 and 240 figures). Brian Knuckles of Wilkinsburg argued for a 'progressive vision' for transportation, called the Council's response to public participation disappointing, and said 'decorum' had been treated as more important than democracy. Other speakers cited Macy's record, including a 2012 DUI, transphobic remarks, and a comment about whether unhoused people were 'grateful enough' to deserve shelter; several called his apology 'too little, too late.'

• Reassessment advocacy — A speaker from Scott Township (listed as Mike Stall) spoke in favor of the chief assessor legislation, calling reassessment 'ugly' and 'like a military operation,' and urged Council to vote yes so the next chief assessor has professional credentials and countywide reassessment experience.

• Friends of South Park — Carolyn Savagas, a retired financial advisor and South Park volunteer, opposed the reappointment of Sharon Adams to the Friends of South Park, describing conflicts with county park staff and fellow volunteers, and urged Council to consider two new nominees instead.

Consent Calendar & Minutes

• Minutes of the March 19, 2024 regular Council meeting were approved by voice vote.

Appointments & Key Votes

• Sharon Adams, Friends of the Park for South Park — Councilmember Griffin said he would vote no, citing reports that Adams directed county employees and had terse relationships with board members. Roll call: Ayes 2 (Fatulis, Palmery), Noes 13. Motion failed.

• Daniel Connolly, Airport Authority — Approved by voice vote.

• Darren Kelly, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (reappointment) — Approved by voice vote.

• Paul Klein, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (reappointment) — Councilmember Kowski urged rejection, saying suburban ratepayers were left without a voice on the board. Roll call: Ayes 13, Noes 1 (Betkowski), Abstention 1 (Klein). Motion passed.

• Diamante Walker, Redevelopment Authority — Approved by voice vote.

• Dusty Elias Kirk and Monica Malik, Regional Asset District Board — Approved by voice votes.

• Jesse Durennet, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission — Approved by voice vote.

• Robert Macy, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (reappointment) — The Committee on Appointment Review negatively recommended Macy. In debate, Councilmembers Fatulis and DeMarco argued for forgiveness, second chances, and Macy's record; DeMarco noted the crowd outburst that interrupted Macy's March 5 remarks. Councilmember Philiagi called County Executive Sarah Innamorato the 'fresh face' behind the nomination and urged tolerance and mercy. Councilmembers Grisbeck, Hallum, and Klein opposed, with Hallum citing a pattern of transphobic, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks, and Klein calling the apology 'transactional in nature.' A point of order clarified that voting for oneself is not illegal but may violate the County Ethics Code; Macy changed his vote to an abstention, and Walton also abstained. Roll call: Ayes 5 (Bonarotti, DeMarco, Filiagi, Fatulis, Palmery), Noes 8 (Betkowski, Grisbeck, Hallum, Klein, Nakaretti Chapkas, Palmasina, Pritzio, Katina), Abstentions 2 (Macy, Walton). Motion failed.

• Jamila DuCard, Regional Asset District; Dora Walmsley, Redevelopment Authority; Diamante Walker and Kyle Chittilopoli, multiple development authorities; Michael A. Gable, Professional Services Review Committee — All approved by voice votes.

• Jennifer M. Liptak, Retirement Board (reappointment) — Roll call: Ayes 13, Noes 2 (Hallum, Katina). Motion passed.

Discussion Items & Second Readings

• Bill 12915-24 (Chief Assessment Officer continuity) — Amends Administrative Code Article 209 to establish a mechanism for continuity in the Chief Assessment Officer position. The Committee on Assessment Practices met April 18, 2024, and moved the bill with a neutral recommendation; Councilmember Filiagi noted no amendments were introduced. Roll call: Ayes 14, Noes 1 (Walton). Bill passed.

• Resolution 12999-24 (Grants and special accounts budget amendment, Submission 02-24) — The Budget and Finance Committee met April 18, 2024, and affirmatively recommended the resolution. Roll call: 15-0. Passed.

Liaison Reports

• Councilmember DeMarco reported on the April 23, 2024 primary election: turnout was 32% among Democrats and just under 27% among Republicans; all mail-in and absentee ballots submitted before election day were processed; 6,870 poll workers served. Councilmember Fatulis described mail-in ballots arriving late for his family; DeMarco noted state law deadlines (registration 14 days prior, mail ballot requests 7 days prior). Councilmember Walton raised concerns that in 2020 no mail-in ballot drop-off sites were located in African American communities; DeMarco reported six drop-off sites operated over two weekends (four days total) with fewer than 2,800 ballots returned, versus about 28,000 in 2020, noting the pandemic context.

New Business

• Ordinance 13027-24 (periodic countywide reassessments) — Sponsored by Councilmember Hallam; referred to the Committee on Assessment Practices.

• Motion 13028-24 (public hearing on property reassessment) — Sponsored by Councilmember Katina, authorizing a public hearing on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse, to gather expert testimony on a possible court-ordered countywide reassessment. Roll call: 15-0. Motion passed.

Key Outcomes

• Councilmember Robert Macy's reappointment to the SPC was rejected (5-8-2); his earlier apology did not change the outcome.
• Sharon Adams's appointment to Friends of South Park was rejected (2-13).
• All other presented appointments were approved, including Paul Klein (13-1-1) and Jennifer Liptak (13-2).
• Bill 12915-24 and Resolution 12999-24 passed on second reading.
• A public hearing on a possible countywide reassessment was scheduled for May 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.