Allegheny County Council has voted to limit how many times a person can be nominated to the same county-appointed board, commission and similar bodies in an effort to “curb stagnation,” create fresh ideas, expand opportunity for other residents and increase diversity and inclusion.
The measure passed 12-3 on Tuesday.
The measure creates a four-term limit. It applies only to boards in which every board member is either appointed or approved by county council.
It will go into effect next year.
“It’ll allow for that natural turnover, so you always have a certain amount of experience from the board, and you’re also replacing those longer tenured folks with people that can bring fresh knowledge and fresh perspectives,” Councilman Dan Grzybek had said July 2 at Committee on Government Reform meeting.
The measure was sponsored by council members Grzybek (D-Bethel Park), Suzanne Filiaggi (R-Franklin Park), and at-large member Bethany Hallam, a Democrat.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, DeWitt Walton (D-Hill District), called the term limits “a continuation of council’s destroying government as it operates as it functions.”
Grzybek responded saying the legislation was created in an effort to have government work better.
“I think that when we look at our government, and I think many of us would agree that currently it’s probably not working the best it possibly could,” Grzybek said.
Walton was not the only council member to voice his opposition to establishing term limits.
On Monday, Councilman Nick Futules, who has voted against the legislation since it was in committee, said he believed establishing term limits was not necessary because council could always vote against any reappointments.
Futules, D-Verona, also said that many of the county’s boards, commissions and authorities have held their positions for numerous years, which has resulted in experienced members. He said he was concerned about finding people with as much expertise who are willing to volunteer.
“These people volunteer and they don’t get paid,” Futules said.
County Council Chief Clerk Jared Barker said that all appointed positions have term lengths between two and six years depending on the governing body, but there is an exception to the term limits if another federal, state, or county law requires that person to continue serving.
Grzybek said term limits are only applied to boards, authorities and commissions entirely approved by council as to not put county appointees at a disadvantage for leadership positions. Many of the county’s governing bodies have members who are also appointed by other groups, such as the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
“Obviously, as people spend more time on boards and commissions, they’re more likely to be the chair, the vice chair — have more influence on that board,” Grzybek said.