Our Candidates
The Democratic Party Candidates this Nov 3rd Election.
GOVERNOR
Lt. GOVERNOR
CONGRESS
STATE REP.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY BALLOT QUESTION
PENN HILLS BALLOT QUESTION
On the Penn Hills Ballot Question we recommend a vote “YES”
The Penn Hills Home Rules Charter has a gap: it doesn’t have clear wording for appointing a temporary “Acting” manager when the Manager's position becomes vacant. Mayor Pauline Calabrese sued the municipality earlier this year and another mayor had sued in 2004 for the same issue. Voting ‘YES’ would close the gap and help avoid unnecessary lawsuits that cost taxpayer money.
You can read the mayor’s lawsuit here:
Why is this Charter amendment needed?
The Home Rule Charter isn’t clear enough. It only covers a Manager who is on vacation or short-term leave, in which case the Manager appoints a temporary replacement. That gap became fully apparent earlier this year when the Manager left. In his final week, fully aware that he was leaving, the outgoing Manager appointed his own replacement as temporary manager. Someone who is leaving permanently should not get to pick their successor. When the Manager departed, Council wanted to appoint a long-term acting manager by majority vote while a permanent replacement was found. Mayor Pauline Calabrese wanted to keep the outgoing Manager's pick. With no clear Charter guidance, Council moved forward, and the Mayor filed an injunction in court, which led to taxpayer dollars being spent unnecessarily. If this question passes, it fills that gap and gives future administrations a clear structure to follow when the Manager's position is vacant.
A “YES” vote keeps the Manager's ability to appoint a temporary replacement during vacations or short-term leave. It also gives Council, by majority vote, the authority to appoint an Acting Manager when the Manager is absent for more than 30 days or the position becomes vacant. Allowing council to vote is the Democratic way. An outgoing employee shouldn’t be able to choose their own replacement, with our elected officials having no say.
All 4 councilmembers have endorsed a YES vote on this. You can read councilmember Alan Waldron’s Facebook post about it on his page: