Allegheny County Council honors outgoing members

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald joined Allegheny Council at their final meeting of the year Tuesday to offer his quarterly address and to send off outgoing members of council.

Council President and At-Large Representative John DeFazio, a Democrat from Shaler who served on council since the legislative body was created in 2000, was among those honored.

“John always gave a voice to allow people to bring things forward,” said Fitzgerald, who served with DeFazio on council.

Fitzgerald described DeFazio as a bipartisan leader and teacher who fostered unity among council members.

“It was truly a labor of love and a labor of sacrifice,” Fitzgerald said.

State Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, also served with DeFazio as one of the founding members of council. He joined Fitzgerald in honoring DeFazio, as well as former council member Charles Martoni, a Democrat from Swissvale who died in office in May.

“I don’t think I ever served with two finer gentlemen than Chuck Martoni and John DeFazio,” Fontana said, describing both DeFazio and Martoni as fair legislators who would always listen.

Council also recognized outgoing members Sue Means, R-Bethel Park, and Denise Ranalli Russell, D-Brighton Heights, for their service.

At-large Councilman Sam DeMarco, R-North Fayette, praised Means — who is “no pushover,” he said — for her persistence and diligent commitment to looking out for constituents.

“She’s been an incredible role model for myself and the other Republicans to follow,” he said.

Council Vice President Nicholas Futules, D-Oakmont, thanked Ranalli Russell for her service on council and commitment to representing Pittsburgh’s North Side residents.

DeFazio, Martoni, Means and Ranalli Russell were recognized by council with proclamations.

Ranalli Russell will be replaced by Olivia Bennett, D-Northview Heights. Bethany Hallam, D-Ross, will take over DeFazio’s at-large seat while Tom Duerr, D-Bethel Park, will replace Means in District 5.

In a brief quarterly address, Fitzgerald thanked county council for approving the $1 billion 2020 budget, without a tax increase, earlier this month.

He also recognized the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for its work on a new business incubator in Beechview, highlighted repairs to a memorial honoring fallen police officers in North Park and commended a bipartisan effort to secure a nearly $19 million federal grant to expand cargo facilities at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Looking ahead to the new year, Fitzgerald said he is hoping to move forward on the Allegheny County Children’s Fund, which would support programs for children throughout the county, including early childhood education.

“We definitely want to make sure our kids are ready for school, and Pre-K is a big part of that,” Fitzgerald said.

Residents rejected a referendum that would have raised taxes to pay for the fund in November 2018.

Fitzgerald also congratulated Jason B. Ditzenberger, who was named county chief information officer and director of the county’s new department of information technology. Ditzenberger previously served as deputy chief information officer and has been a county employee since 2005.

Michael A. Kosco will take Ditzenberger’s place as deputy chief information officer.