Allegheny County Council passes 2 emergency bills, places additional jail releases on hold

Allegheny County Council members held a regularly scheduled meeting by teleconference Tuesday, voting on emergency ordinances and taking public comment remotely in an effort to reduce social interactions during the covid-19 outbreak.

Council President Pat Catena, D-Carnegie, and District 12 council member Robert Palmosina, D-Banksville, both attended the meeting in person in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse.

At least five county staff members also attended in-person.

The other 13 council members all successfully attended via teleconference.

Council voted unanimously to pass two bills — one to extend county real estate tax filing deadlines, the other authorizing County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s emergency declaration related to covid-19 in Allegheny County. Fitzgerald signed an emergency declaration March 12 and Tuesday’s action formalizes the action.

Several county agencies and offices, including the treasurer’s office, courts and the jail, have been operating under special policies since then.

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner urged council to also consider whether some county workers were being asked to unnecessarily report to work.

“If our government were a private business, we would be subject to fines or jail time due to this behavior,” Wagner said. “Government must lead and be an example in this crisis. … Although Gov. Wolf’s order provides for a blanket exemption for public administration, that in no way justifies the requirement that all employees report to work.”

County Manager William D. McKain said changes have been implemented for many county operations, and county administration will continue to review operations plans as they relate to the county’s workforce.

“Particularly during times of emergency, residents rely even more on the services offered and performed by county employees,” McKain said in part. “The county also has a part to play in helping to slow the spread of the disease.”

McKain also encouraged residents to use online services to conduct county business when possible instead of visiting offices in person.

Council decided to not change the rules on releasing certain Allegheny County Jail inmates that are aimed at reducing risk of the spread of the coronavirus in jail, at least for now.

As of Thursday, 189 inmates had been identified by court staff to be eligible for release. Those releases were not limited to inmates with health problems, but they were being prioritized, county officials said.

Hallam, along with bill co-sponsors Olivia Bennett, D-Northview Heights, and Paul Klein, D-Point Breeze, as well as Anita Prizio, D-O’Hara, and Paul Zavarella, D-Plum, wanted to hold a vote to change the rules. But none the other 10 council members agreed to hold that vote. The public safety committee, chaired by Bennett, will discuss the changes further.

The next public safety committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 26. All members will be calling into the meeting, and only 10 members of the public will be permitted to attend in person.

A meeting of the committee for appointment review is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25 at 4 p.m.