 
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
              
|
County Council delays vote on Foerster's replacement
Wednesday, February 02, 2000 By Jeffrey Cohan, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Allegheny County Council members last night did what many people do when forced to make a tough decision: They decided to sleep on it. In this case, for a week.
They scheduled a special meeting Tuesday to select a successor to Tom Foerster, whose Jan. 11 death left the District 13 council seat vacant.
Council members must choose from among 18 applicants. The field dropped from 19 to 18 when Patrick Cleary, a South Side ironworker, withdrew.
Most of the applicants made their case to the council in five-minute presentations last night. The extra week will give them a chance to submit written answers to a list of topical questions compiled by Councilman Mike Crossey, D-Mt. Lebanon.
His questions touched on matters such as the proposed privatization of the Kane nursing homes, gun control and the Regional Asset District tax.
"I would like to know before I vote where people stand on some issues," Crossey said.
Council members did make a few decisions last night.
They adopted a resolution supporting the idea of naming Pittsburgh International Airport's landside terminal after Foerster, who, as a longtime county commissioner, was instrumental in obtaining funding for the airport.
The airport authority plans to vote on the idea this month.
Also last night, the council voted 12-2 to ask Solicitor Terry McVerry whether the county has authority to form a countywide tax district for school funding.
Councilman James Simms, D-Hill District, raised the issue on behalf of the Wilkinsburg Democratic Committee, which is seeking creation of such a tax district to redistribute revenue from wealthy school districts to poorer ones.
Councilman Ron Francis, R-Ben Avon, voted against sending the issue to McVerry, saying it is obvious that the county lacks the authority to change the distribution of school funding. Councilwoman Jan Rea, R-McCandless, also voted no.
The council intends to vote Feb. 15 on a related proposal from Crossey, who wants council to go on record as supporting an increase in state funding for schools.
Meanwhile, council last night appointed Clerk of Courts George Matta to the county retirement board, a seven-member group that manages the employee pension fund.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
