Ballot question likely on review board

City voters are likely to see a question on November’s ballot asking them if they approve expanding the powers of the Citizen Police Review Board.

Pittsburgh City Council members on Wednesday recommended an amended bill sponsored by Councilman Ricky Burgess to legislate a ballot referendum.

Pending final approval from members this coming Tuesday, voters could see the following question on Nov. 3, although Allegheny County will develop a “plain English” version:

“Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article Two, Executive, be amended and supplemented by amending the language and adding new language to Sections 229 and 230 and by adding a new section, Section 231, to expand the powers of the Independent Citizen Police Review Board to allow the Board to carry out its mandate to investigate police misconduct and improve policecommunity relations?”

In plain language, the legislation proposes to expand the review board’s powers by requiring officers to “fully” participate in investigations of police misconduct or else face termination, and by requiring the police chief and mayor to review the board’s findings before determining disciplinary action. The bill would require council approval in the event that the mayor wants to remove a board member, and would also put into place auditing provisions.

Mr. Burgess said he has the support of Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert and Beth Pittinger, executive director of the Citizen Police Review Board.

Mayor Bill Peduto “welcomes the amendments adopted today, and looks forward to reviewing the bill once it’s finally approved,” according to Timothy McNulty, mayoral spokesman.

In June, Mr. Peduto said that while he supports a strong board, state law that empowers police unions pre-empts the power of a review board to compel officers to participate in investigations.

Mr. Burgess’ office wants to send mailers to registered voters providing a summary of the proposed changes, but who will pay for the mailing — a question that arose during council’s committee meeting — is still undecided.

“We’re limited at what appears on the ballot to 75 words,” said Shawn Carter, special assistant to the councilman. “... Rev. Burgess wants to make sure that people know what they’re voting for.”

Last November, voters narrowly passed a ballot referendum to raise property taxes for the sake of funding city parks. The referendum, petitioned for by the nonprofit Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, set off bitter arguments in council, and the enabling legislation to manage the tax revenue remains stalled.

Mr. Burgess proposed the bill on June 23 following local and national protests that erupted after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. A violent clash between police and protesters on June 1 in East Liberty is currently under investigation by the Citizen Police Review Board.

On Tuesday, Mr. Burgess’ bill to create a city commission on racial equity passed unanimously.

But whether his proposal to strengthen the police review board is successful will be up to the voters.