The Legislative Branch of Allegheny County Government shall consist of a fifteen-member Council which shall be known as the "Allegheny County Council" or "County Council." The County Council shall have exclusive legislative power and shall exercise all its legislative powers and shall perform such functions and duties as are provided for in Article IV of the Charter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter Arts. III and IV.
The Executive Branch of Allegheny County Government shall consist of an elected Chief Executive and an Administrative Service of the County which shall be organized under an appointed County Manager who shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Administrative Service.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter Arts. III and V.
[Amended 12-6-2004 by Ord. No. 38-04, approved 5-17-2005]
A. 
The following independent county offices shall be operated by County officials:
(1) 
County Controller.
(2) 
District Attorney.
(3) 
Sheriff.
(4) 
Treasurer.
B. 
Abolition and consolidation of certain independently elected County offices.
(1) 
The elected Offices of the Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, and Register of Wills are abolished effective the first business day of January 2008, and are replaced with the appointed office of Director of Court Records, who shall be selected pursuant to Article VI, § 1.6-602(c), of the Home Rule Charter. The Director of Court Records shall perform all of the duties and functions currently vested in the Offices of Clerk of Courts, Jury Commissioners (2), Prothonotary, and Register of Wills by applicable law as of the date that the office of Director of Clerk Records becomes effective, provided that such duties and functions are not inconsistent with the Home Rule Charter.
(2) 
The Office of Jury Commissioner is abolished effective the first business day of January 2006. The duties and functions of the Office of Jury Commissioner shall be performed by the Director of Court Records; provided, however, that the functions and duties of the Office of Jury Commissioner shall be administered by the County Manager or his designees from the first business day of January 2006 until such time as the Director of Court Records is selected as provided in Subsection B(1) above.
(3) 
The elected Office of the Recorder of Deeds is abolished effective the first business day of January 2008, and is replaced with the appointed office of Real Estate Manager, who shall be selected pursuant to Article VI, § 1.6-602(c), of the Home Rule Charter. The duties and functions of the Real Estate Manager shall be all of those currently vested in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds by applicable law as of the date that the office of Real Estate Manager becomes effective, provided that such duties and functions are not inconsistent with the Home Rule Charter.
The Judicial Branch of Allegheny County Government shall consist of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and all other minor courts and offices which are presently a part of the 5th District of the Unified Judicial System of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Added 12-6-2004 by Ord. No. 38-04, approved 5-17-2005]
A. 
The Office of County Coroner is abolished effective the first business day of January 2006.
B. 
The Chief Executive shall appoint a Medical Examiner, who shall serve a fixed term of five years, commencing on the first business day of January 2006.
C. 
The Medical Examiner shall:
(1) 
Hold either a Medical Doctor degree or a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from an accredited institution;
(2) 
Possess a valid license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
(3) 
Be board certified, or board eligible, by the American Board of Pathology in forensic pathology; and
(4) 
Have had at least five years of experience as a practicing pathologist.
D. 
The Medical Examiner, after expiration of his or her term, may be reappointed.
E. 
The Medical Examiner may be removed for cause by the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas after having been provided with a copy of the charges against him or her for at least 10 days and full hearing by the Court.
F. 
If a vacancy shall occur by reason of death, disqualification, resignation, or removal, the Chief Executive shall appoint a successor to fill the remainder of the Medical Examiner's unexpired term.
G. 
The Medical Examiner shall have all of the powers, functions, and duties previously vested in the elected office of Coroner as set forth in 16 Pa. Stat. §§ 4232-48 and 4250, including without limitation the power of inquest and the power of subpoena, as of the date that the office of Medical Examiner becomes effective.
[Amended 11-21-2006 by Ord. No. 35-06]