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Council approves slate of housing advisory appointments; two members abstain
Summary
Allegheny County Council voted to confirm a slate of appointments primarily to the Housing Advisory Committee and one appointment to the Conservation District; two council members recorded abstentions on at least one appointment.
Allegheny County Council on Jan. 14, 2025 approved a package of appointments — mostly to the Housing Advisory Committee — and one appointment to the Allegheny County Conservation District.
The clerk read a group of nominations sponsored by the chief executive with terms effective through Jan. 14, 2028, including appointments listed in items 13322-24 through 13334-24. Council member Nacharetti Chappkus moved to confirm the slate after the Committee on Appointment Review reported an affirmative recommendation; the motion was seconded and adopted. The record shows abstentions by Councilman DeMarco and Ms. Nacharetti Chappkus on at least one item.
Appointments confirmed (as read into the record): county councilwoman Michelle Nacharetti Chabkes (13322-24); Dr. Noble Massaro (13323-24); Bob Damewood (13324-24); Dwight Bodorf (13325-24); Megan Hammond (13326-24); Sofia Bermeo (13327-24); Sonia Tillman (13328-24); John Katz (13329-24); David Onifer (13330-24); Charlize Smith (13331-24); Jaller Rucker (13332-24); Devin Getz (13333-24); Gail Schwartz (13334-24). The single different appointment read at second reading was Emily Rostkowitz as a public director of the Allegheny County Conservation District for a term through Dec. 31, 2027 (13341-24). Earlier in the meeting the clerk also read two additional appointments: Lindsey Ritter with Friends of the Park for Boyce Park (13369-25) and Grant Gitland to the Allegheny County Housing Authority (13370-25).
Why it matters: The Housing Advisory Committee and Conservation District advise county policy on housing and conservation matters; filling vacancies restores the committees' ability to meet and review related matters.
Details and context: The Committee on Appointment Review met on Jan. 7, 2025 and recommended the nominations for final confirmation. Council member Nacharetti Chappkus explicitly noted the committee's affirmative recommendation when moving the slate. The motion was seconded and the clerk recorded the vote as carried with abstentions noted for Councilman DeMarco and Ms. Nacharetti Chappkus on the record.
Next steps: Appointees will serve the terms stated in the nomination items read into the record; committees may convene with their new members for orientations and to resume business.
