Everybody who attended Allegheny County Council's public hearing on community benefits agreements yesterday implored council to adopt a plan that forces developers in the county to consult with community leaders.

"Community benefits agreements must be established to allow citizens to negotiate directly with developers," said Tim Stevens of the Black Political Empowerment Project.

He was one of 23 speakers who addressed council during the hearing, which was called by county Councilman William Robinson, D-Hill District, concerning legislation he has proposed to create a countywide community benefits agreement.

"This never changes," George Moses of the Hill District Consensus Group told council. In the 1960s, he said, "Hill District leaders were asking for more involvement in the development of the community, and now, here we are again."

But for Lisa Graves Marcucci, a community benefits agreement is also about accountability and transparency in government and government-backed economic development.

"We the people want checks and balances," she said. "It's not just about money. Industry wants to remove transparency, but citizens must be included in the process so that checks and balances remain intact."

Mr. Robinson's legislation would create a plan that binds developers who receive county monies in their projects to a community benefits agreement.