Council holds assessment officer bill for review

Also votes down cease-fire resolution

Allegheny on Tuesday tweaking County referred of the Council legislation the responsibilities county’s chief assessment officer to a committee for further review, and voted against a resolution urging the federal government to push for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas War.

Council members agreed to refer the chief assessment officer bill to the council’s Special Committee on Assessment Practices. Its lead sponsor is Council President Patrick Catena.

Mr. Catena held the bill from a council meeting last month, and said during a break during Tuesday’s meeting that there were still “technical aspects” that needed to be fixed.

needed Councilwoman Filiaggi, He added to the confer that chair Suzanne he of with still the committee. he believes council He added should that have more oversight on the position, but also that there are aspects of county code that aren’t enforced in practice or are outdated, which the bill needs to address.

Mr. Catena’s bill, as currently drafted, changes the process for how the chief assessment officer, a key position in handling property assessments countywide, is appointed. Currently, the person is appointed by the county manager with the unanimous consent of the Property

Assessment Oversight

Board. That board no longer exists, he said Tuesday.

The bill states that position would now be appointed by a majority vote of County Council members. The legislation also requires the officer to provide quarterly reports on the Office of Property

Assessments, including information related to “assessment roll correction, assessment roll certification, calculations and data gathering relating to the common level ratio and other statistical factors relevant to the assessment system, new property assessments” and other relevant information.

The bulk of Tuesday’s meeting, spanning well over five hours, was spent by county residents testifying whether council should support a cease-fire resolution in the Israel-Hamas war. Council members voted 9-3 to oppose the resolution, with two members abstaining.

Bethany Hallam, Dan

Grzybek and Anita Prizio, all co-sponsors of the resolution, voted in support.

Council members Jack

Betkowski, Sam DeMarco,

Suzanne Filiaggi, Nicholas

Futules, Patrick Catena,

Paul Klein, Bob Macey,

John Palmiere and Robert

Palmosina voted no. Council members David Bonarati and Michelle Naccarati- Chapkis abstained. DeWitt Walton was absent.

Specifically, the resolution called on President Joe Biden’s administration to:

• “Immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation and a cease-fire to urgently end the current violence.”

• “Immediately call for and facilitate a release of all hostages held in Palestine and Israel.”

• “Promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance, at the scale needed, into Gaza.”

A total of 279 people signed up to speak, but dozens did not show or needed to leave before their turn came. According to a rough count, about 137 county residents spoke in support of the resolution, and 70 spoke against it.

Supporters said that not taking action would amount to the council supporting Israel continuing to conduct a genocide in Gaza.

They noted how the council supported a resolution in October condemning the attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, but had delayed acting on calling for a cease- fire for several months while Israel has continued to bomb Gaza.

Those who spoke against the resolution said that it wouldn’t do anything to end the violence, and that it would further spark division and antisemitism in the Pittsburgh region. They also said it would be a signal that the council supports Hamas, a terrorist group does not support a permanent cease-fire.

As some council members were explaining their votes, the audience started criticizing them for opposing the resolution. A few people were kicked out of the meeting after repeated warnings from Mr. Catena to calm down.

After the meeting was adjourned, it took some time for attendees to exit, as a majority in support of the resolution chanted “Cease- fire now!” and “Free Palestine!” The room was cleared without further incident.

A total of 279 people signed up to speak, but dozens did not show or needed to leave before their turn came. According to a rough count, about 137 county residents spoke in support of the (ceasefire) resolution, and 70 spoke against it.