Allegheny County Council Meeting – September 24, 2024: Proclamations, Appointments, and Resolution Honoring Christian Hall

The Allegheny County Council convened on September 24, 2024, with 15 members present. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. Council adopted several proclamations, including honors for retiring Parks Director Andrew Beckley and recognition of National Service Dog Month. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public testimony and council debate on a resolution honoring the life of Christian Hall and urging the Pennsylvania State Senate to pass House Bills 1305 and 2533 to fund and promote the 988 mental health crisis line. The resolution passed 14–1 after an amendment was adopted. Council also approved multiple appointments, budget transfers, and ordinances.

Proclamations

• Certificate 1316-24: A proclamation recognizing Andrew Beckley for his 21 years of service as Director of Allegheny County Parks. Council members John Palmery and Nicholas Futolis spoke at length about Beckley’s accomplishments, including the transition of parks from public works management, formation of the Park Ranger Division, landscape architecture division, and major projects such as the North Park lake restoration ($20 million project, 50% federal funding), the Hartwood Acres permanent event facility, and improvements at South Park. Beckley received a proclamation and a fishing shirt from Councilman Palmery.
• Bill 13220-24: A proclamation declaring September 2024 as National Service Dog Month, sponsored by Councilmembers Filati and DeMarco. Representatives from Canine Companions were present with dogs Vasco and Obats. The proclamation noted that 64 million adults and children in the U.S. have disabilities but only 16,000 service dogs are available. Canine Companions provides dogs free of charge and has graduated over 7,000 teams since 1975.
• Additional proclamations (13221-24 through 13223-24) recognized Jared and Jason Dahlgren Moots, Francine Hazard, and the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, all sponsored by Councilmember Macy.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Resolution 13232-24 (Honoring Christian Hall): Eleven speakers testified in favor, including Robert Chung, Robert Hellwig, Corey Roma, Madison Hallman, Phoebe Balassious, Laura Perkins, Irene Tandock, Sake Kikuchi, Amina Arshad, and Christian Hall’s parents, Faye Hall. Speakers described personal experiences with mental health crises, the need for culturally competent services, and the danger of police response to mental health emergencies. They urged council to pass the resolution and state legislature to fund 988.
  • Faye Hall, Christian’s mother, stated that her son called 911 during a mental health crisis and was killed by state police on December 30, 2020. She noted that less than six weeks from the meeting would have been his 23rd birthday.
  • Robert Hellwig cited that 58 million American adults (more than one in five) live with mental illness and that 988 needs dedicated funding.
  • Irene Tandock shared her own suicide attempt and noted that she did not call 911 because of fear; Christian Hall was brave to call but was killed.
  • Amina Arshad highlighted language and cultural barriers for immigrant families.
• On Health Department Permit Fees: Lisa Graves Marcucci spoke in strong support of increased fees for Title V air permits, citing that the EPA recently rejected permits for U.S. Steel Clairton and Edgar Thompson plants due to inadequate staffing and expertise. She stated that the Air Advisory Committee has lacked a quorum for most of 2024.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Motions to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of August 20, 2024, and August 27, 2024, were passed by voice vote without opposition.

Appointments

• CYF Advisory Board: Council approved 16 appointments to the Children, Youth and Families Advisory Board (13179-24 through 13194-24) by voice vote. The appointees include Dr. Helen Cahalane, Monica Ruiz, Dr. Erica L. Givner, Dr. Michelle Clayton, Hazel Azar D. Carpenter Saunders, W. Aaron Mickins, Aubrey Plesh, Dr. Lysia L. Lentz, Reverend Paul Abernathy, Detective Joseph E. Ricash, Dr. Terry Collin Dilmore, Zoe Bennell, April W. Kuyakowski, Shannon M. Anglero, Melinda Angelis, and Judge Kate Lovelace. Terms effective through September 24, 2027.
• Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council: 11 appointments (13195-24 through 13205-24) were approved on a roll call vote, with the exception of 13202-24 (Chris Rosselot), which was voted separately. All but Rosselot passed by voice vote; Rosselot passed 14–1 (Councilman Walton opposed).

Discussion Items & Votes

• 13158-24: Resolution ratifying certain year-end transfers pursuant to Section 805.03 of the Administrative Code. Passed unanimously (15–0) on roll call.
• 13215-24: Resolution amending the grants and special accounts budget for 2024 (Submission 05-24). Passed unanimously (15–0).
• 13151-24: Ordinance providing for distribution of fire safety information by the Allegheny County Health Department to restaurant owners during regular inspections. Councilman Fatulis, sponsor, noted the risk of spontaneous combustion from laundry and that the measure is educational. Passed 14–1 (Councilman Walton opposed, citing that fire safety is not the Health Department’s role).
• 13157-24: Ordinance ratifying revisions to Article 6 of the Health Department rules and regulations concerning housing and community environments. Passed unanimously (15–0).
• Introduction of New Ordinances: The following were introduced and referred to committees: 13226-24 (condemnation for bridge replacement in Forward Township), 13227-24 (condemnation for Greensburg Pike Penn Avenue Extension in Wilkins Township), 13228-24 (asbestos abatement amendments to Health Department rules), 13229-24 (ratifying air quality permit fee increases), 13230-24 (LERTA program for Clairton), 13231-24 (LERTA program for Brentwood). No votes were taken.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 13232-24 (Honoring Christian Hall): After extensive public testimony, council member Bethany Hallam introduced the resolution urging the Pennsylvania State Senate to pass House Bills 1305 and 2533 (dedicated funding for 988 and public awareness). An amendment (Hallum 1) was offered to adjust language; council voted 14–1 to waive the 48-hour rule and adopted the amendment 14–1 (Councilman Walton opposed). The final amended resolution passed 14–1 (Walton opposed). Multiple council members spoke in support, citing personal experiences with mental health crises, the need for culturally competent services, and the tragedy of Christian Hall’s death. Councilman Walton expressed opposition, stating he would prefer honoring all who lost their battle with mental health rather than a named individual and objected to some language he found divisive, but ultimately voted yes after the amendment.
• Appointments: All CYF Advisory Board appointments approved unanimously. Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council appointments approved with one dissenting vote on Chris Rosselot (14–1).
• Public Comment on General Items: Daryl Rapp, a former Swissvale Borough council member with a PhD in engineering, requested to serve on an advisory committee for the county’s Climate Action Plan, emphasizing the need for broad stakeholder input.