Allegheny Co. leaders praise progress from shift to charter

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On a recent Monday afternoon in his office at the county courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh, Mr. Finnerty, a Democrat, was returning phone calls from residents seeking aid after a rash of storms tore through the area. Before that, Mr. Finnerty had met with the county's controller on an economic development issue.

"It's becoming quite the hobby," he said.

Mr. Finnerty holds one of the 15 council seats provided for in the Allegheny County charter - enacted in 2000 to "provide checks and balances," "protect the rights" guaranteed to the people, "represent the diversity" of the county's residents, and provide them with "better access" to county government.

In 1998, voters approved a switch from a three-commissioner county government to a home-rule charter with an executive-council format, similar to, but not as extensive as, one set of changes being debated in Lucas County.

Ben Konop, the Lucas County commissioner who hopes to organize a citizens petition drive to place a charter on the Nov. 2 ballot, has proposed the abolishment of the three commissioners and most row officers in Lucas County, replacing them with a county executive and an 11-member district council.

Many of the arguments for reform that Mr. Konop has presented - the more direct representation of county residents, an improved system of checks and balances, and job creation - are cited specifically in the Allegheny charter's preamble.

Several of the goals outlined in Allegheny County's charter were intended to be met through the presence of a large, active, and representative council. As the relatively new government in western Pennsylvania has evolved, those who serve in it can see that progress has been made.

"It's never going to be perfect … but it's a good form of government," Mr. Finnerty said.

Mr. Finnerty is one of 13 councilmen elected by district. Allegheny County also elects two at-large councilmen, and each of the 15 members is considered part time with county salaries limited to $9,000 a year.

Council's duties, according to the charter, include passing the annual budget, making laws, and levying taxes.

On a broader scale, council provides a system of checks and balances on the county executive that do not exist in a commissioner structure. A clear divide exists between the legislative and executive branches in Allegheny County government, whereas in Lucas County the commissioners propose, adopt, and enforce county policies.

"They do have power of the purse string," Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said of council's ability to amend the budget he submits.

While Mr. Onorato serves as a check on council with his veto power, council can override his vetoes with a two-thirds majority. But issues don't usually escalate to a level where a veto is invoked.

"Since I've been here, it has not been a confrontational relationship," said Councilman Jim Burn, a Democrat representing the northeast portion of the county.

On the first and third Tuesdays of the month, council meets in its official capacity to carry out many of the duties outlined in the charter. But council members' work spans far beyond council chambers.

About 1.2 million people live in Allegheny County, which covers 745 square miles and includes 130 cities, townships, and boroughs.

That's 130 communities' worth of potholes, flooding problems, and unsolved crime. Not all of those issues are the county's responsibility to solve, but the presence of county district councilmen gives residents another avenue to pursue when their local governments don't respond.

During a recent interview in his council office, Councilman Bill Robinson, a Democrat, said, "After I make a few phone calls, I can go home. But that doesn't stop someone from calling, which they will. Or someone seeing me in the community, saying they need something."

Council President Rich Fitzgerald, who represents much of southeast Pittsburgh and owns an engineering business, said he generally gets most of his legislative duties done in the evenings.

Mr. Finnerty, the retired teacher who spends most of his day doing the public's business, said the number of councilmen who are out working in their districts gives residents more of a voice than they've ever had in county government.

"You have a better chance of running into one of 16 people, counting the county executive, than you do of running into three, especially when we're divided into 13 districts," he said.

There is roughly one councilman per 100,000 people in Allegheny County.

And for the county's African-Americans, there is more representation than ever.

Although Allegheny County never had a black commissioner, it has two African-American councilmen - a trend that has held for a decade.

"That has happened in the 10th District because it was designed to happen," said Mr. Robinson, one of the county's two African-American councilmen. "Most people who live in the 10th District look like me. I'd say my district is well over 75 percent people of color."

Pittsburgh was chosen last year to be host of the G-20 Summit, a testament to the region's improving economy.

In a recent news release, Mr. Onorato, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania governor, boasts of the "Pittsburgh region" creating 16,000 jobs in April alone. The area also has been recognized by Forbes magazine and Moody's Investors Service for its livability and commercial real estate market.

"County government has been given the lion's share of credit for that happening," said Mr. Fitzgerald, the council president.

Mr. Fitzgerald credits much of the county's economic growth to Mr. Onorato, who as the executive acts as the county's chief representative and negotiator on business deals and development. But council also contributes through its standing economic development subcommittee and seats on other regional bodies that carry out development functions.

Mr. Fitzgerald, a Democrat, said council has succeeded in green-lighting appropriate development projects, expediting permit processes, and holding property taxes steady to help spur economic development.

"It's a whole climate," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "We have created a climate in which business investment can flourish."

It's been 10 years since Allegheny County enacted sweeping changes, and council members say some kinks still exist.

Some councilmen prefer reducing the size of council, promoting remaining members to full-time status, and awarding them with higher salaries and paid staff. Others would like to see some power taken away from the county executive.

But the basics of the executive-council structure - a separation of powers, direct representation of residents, and a more focused economic development effort - have evolved as predicted by the county charter.

"Even though it's been 10 years, it's still in the bigger scheme of things in its infancy," Councilman Burn said. "People in Allegheny County are still continuing to work with us and realize that we're as viable a branch of government as any of the others."

Mr. Onorato said he's convinced the voters would not go back to the three-commissioner system.

"For all the growing pains, it's a much better form of government," he said. "They've seen the results of it. They like the new form of government. It actually works. It works very well."

Contact Sarah Mervosh at:

smervosh@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.

40.43834 -79.99746

'It's never going to be perfect … but it's a good form of government,' says Allegheny County Councilman Michael Finnerty, a retired teacher. Mr. Finnerty holds one of 15 seats established by the county charter. MICHEL SAURET Enlarge

PITTSBURGH - Michael Finnerty spent 30 years working as a high school teacher in suburban Pittsburgh. Now, as a county councilman in Pennsylvania's Allegheny County, he's as busy as ever, logging upward of 40 hours a week working to improve his district.