Motion to pull term-limits referendum from committee fails; bill remains in review

A motion to pull a bill that would place a term-limit referendum on the November ballot failed on a 5-10 vote, leaving Bill 13470 in committee.

Councilman Grisbeck moved to pull the ordinance from committee so the referendum could appear on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot; Councilman Fotoulis (chair of the committee) and others argued the committee process had not completed hearings and vetting. Grisbeck said time was of the essence because this session was the last day to pull the bill and have the referendum appear on the November ballot. The motion to pull received five ayes and ten nos and failed, recorded in the roll call as "Aye is 5. No is 10. The motion fails." The bill therefore remained in committee.

During the public-comment period before that vote, residents spoke in favor of the term-limit resolution. Corey Grama, a Crafton Borough resident, urged council to pull the resolution and allow voters to decide. Kellyanne Frketic also spoke in support, saying low turnout in her District 9 suggested the need to give residents a stronger reason to vote. The public comments were recorded as part of the meeting’s public-comment period and did not result in immediate action.

The ordinance title on the floor directs a referendum question to amend Article 3, Section 5(b) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County and further amends administrative code articles contingent on passage of the referendum. The bill is listed as bill number 13470-25 and remains referred to committee; council members noted committee chairs control committee agendas and that further vetting and hearings are the normal course for such measures.

No additional public hearings or committee dates were announced on the record for the matter.