Title
Communication from Mayor Ed Gainey, submitting Executive Order 2022-01, dated November 23, 2022.
Body
WHEREAS the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is a Municipal Authority under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and
WHEREAS the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority provide for the selection of members of the Board of Directors of the Authority by the governing bodies of the City of Pittsburgh, and
WHEREAS Section 219 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Pittsburgh provides that “the mayor shall appoint all members of authorities subject to the approval of Council…” and
WHEREAS appointment by the Mayor and confirmation by Council provides vital democratic accountability to the members of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority board of directors, and
WHEREAS regulation of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has been proven to provide legal and financial oversight over Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority operations and protection to its customers that is sufficient to eliminate the need for other special considerations, and
WHEREAS Executive Order 2018-01 established a Board of Nominators to lead the selection of Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority board members that is inconsistent with Section 219 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Pittsburgh and is no longer necessary as a special consideration, and
WHEREAS all other sections of Executive Order 2018-01 have now been rendered moot by the disbanding of the Blue Ribbon Panel and the execution of a cooperation agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ed Gainey, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Home Rule Charter of the City of Pittsburgh, the laws of the City of Pittsburgh, and the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby rescind Executive order 2018-01.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until amended or rescinded by further Executive Action.