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.
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.
[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:
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]