Wilkinsburg voters will be asked to vote next month on whether to approve creation of a government study commission to help determine the future of the borough and which may present an alternative to a proposed merger with the city of Pittsburgh. 

The Nov. 8 ballot will have a referendum on the commission as well as the names of candidates who want to be part of it.

In the past year, there have been many discussions about whether or not Pittsburgh should annex Wilkinsburg. In February, Pittsburgh City Council rejected annexation efforts in a 7-2 vote, but it said it would continue to study the question.

A commission could, if approved, study alternatives such as Wilkinsburg becoming a home rule municipality, which would allow the flexibility to change the form of government and adjust tax laws.

There will also be seven individuals on the ballot, who will fill the commission positions, if they receive at least one vote: Jacquet Kehm, Janet Harris, Beverly McCoy, Keywanda Ballar-Battle, Paul O’Hanlon, Kim Kaplan and Ruth Kittner.

There are only seven commission positions and seven individuals who qualified to be on the commission, so voters will not have any options on who will be on the commission, besides the write-in section on the ballot.

The commission would study the various options Wilkinsburg can take, survey voter opinions on the change and make a recommendation, which would then have to be approved by the voters in a future election.

On Tuesday, prospective members of the commission held a press conference to publicize the effort.

“The commission will focus on researching Wilkinsburg's existing form of government and considering other government models and structures,” Ms. Kaplan said. “Information may come from interviewing officials, attending workshops or courses, visiting other communities and studying literature. This process will also examine alternative approaches to meet the emerging needs of Wilkinsburg.”

The Nov. 8 ballot will only be asking voters if a study can be conducted; it does not mean that the study’s recommendations have to be implemented. If voters do not agree with the study’s findings or recommendations they can vote against any proposed changes in future elections.

Ms. Kittner said she thinks the study will help determine the underlying issues in the borough.

“I see our neighbors struggling with things the borough should be able to fix, but it cannot,” Ms. Kittner said.

Ms. Ballard-Battle said she believes the proposed commission study will allow voters to make more informed decisions about Wilkinsburg’s future.

‘I think this is valuable and necessary at this time in our history,” Ms. Ballard-Battle said. “I do not believe annexation is the only option to produce a once-again successful, viable, thriving borough and I believe a borough government study will allow for commissioners to properly disseminate information to voters.”

First Published: October 11, 2022, 10:32 p.m.