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Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission votes to send first warning to absent commissioner
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Summary
The commission voted to send a first formal warning to Commissioner Shante for missed meetings and discussed enforcing existing bylaw attendance rules while soliciting applicants to fill vacant executive roles, including a community engagement coordinator.
The Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission voted April 21 to send a formal warning to Commissioner Shante for failing to meet attendance expectations outlined in the commission bylaws. Co-chair Julian McClain moved the measure and a commissioner seconded; the chair announced the motion passed.
The vote followed a months-long conversation about enforcement of attendance rules. Commissioners said the bylaws already provide a process but noted the commission has not consistently implemented it. "Part of the monthly executive committee meeting should be to review attendance and where folks are not complying," a commissioner said during the meeting. Members discussed documenting absences, issuing warnings and, if necessary, recommending removal to the mayor's office under the established process.
At the meeting the commission also addressed vacancies on its executive committee. Julian McClain nominated Donnie Donovan for the community outreach/engagement coordinator role; Donovan accepted the nomination. Commissioners agreed to solicit further self-nominations by email and to hold secret-ballot elections or use the vacancy process at the next meeting, as spelled out in their bylaws.
Commissioners said that filling the seats tied to designated expertise — notably housing and aging-population representation — is a priority. The mayor's office was reported to have candidates under consideration for some vacancies; council confirmation was described as the usual next step.
The commission directed staff to circulate role descriptions for co-chair, secretary, treasurer and outreach coordinator and to document attendance records to support any future enforcement steps. The action on Shante will be recorded in the meeting minutes and follow the written notification steps required by the bylaws.
