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Allegheny County Council

New life for the “de facto defunct” ethics commission.

Written by Amy Whipple

The county’s Code of Ethics is getting an overhaul for the first time in almost 20 years.

The code prohibits hiring by nepotism or patronage. It also does not allow employees, elected or unelected officials, or members of county agencies to use a county position for personal gain. It also requires disclosure of campaign financials and conflicts of interest. 

The overhaul primarily adds extensive detail to the existing codes and the ethics commission’s investigatory process. In one of its few removals, those covered by the code no longer must “dedicate themselves to the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public relationships.”

One problem remained, however, after the government reform committee gave its okay on the revision.

“Our ethics commission—and some of our other watchdog commissions—have been de facto defunct for a while now,” said Council Member Alex Rose of the South Side Slopes. He proposed an amendment to allow the commissioners to act on publicly identified issues that haven’t been directly reported.

Previously, the five-person commission, a fact-finding advisory body, could only act on submitted complaints.

Not everyone agreed with Rose’s assessment. Council Member Nicholas Futules of Oakmont said, “[The commission] functions under complaints—legitimate complaints—that somebody has violated some ethics law. I’ve been there, okay? I know they function.”

Council sent the amended code to the county executive for her signature.

Connections to this story

Elected officials:
Nicholas Futules
Topics:
Government & Accountability
Governments:
Allegheny County Council
Sources:
Ordinance 13813-26 — repealing the existing provisions of Article 1013 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, entitled “Political…

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