Regarding the article “Wilkinsburg annexation failure reflects merger hurdles for Pa.’s 2,560 municipalities” (May 10, TribLive): Annexation, merger and consolidation are not interchangeable terms. Annexation is dead, only consolidation and merger remain.
PA Statute Title 53, Part II, Chapter 7, Subchapter C on Consolidation and Merger, defines consolidation as “The combination of two or more municipalities which results in the termination of the existence of each of the municipalities to be consolidated and the creation of a new municipality which assumes jurisdiction over all of the municipalities which have been terminated.”
Merger is defined as “The combination of two or more municipalities which results in the termination of the existence of all but one of the municipalities to be merged with the surviving municipality absorbing and assuming jurisdiction over the municipalities which have been terminated.”
Municipality is defined as “Every county other than a county of the first class, every city other than a city of the first or second class, and every borough, incorporated town, township and home rule municipality other than a home rule municipality which would otherwise be a city of the first or second class.” Class is based on population size.
Pittsburgh, a second-class city, is excluded from consolidations and mergers.
Renee Haynes-Johnson
Wilkinsburg