ALLEGHENY COUNTY
GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS, FACILITIES AND SERVICES
PRESENTED BY
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF GREATER PITTSBURGH

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS


INTRODUCTION

I. ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S HISTORY………………………………….......................1
Who Owns the “Forks of the Ohio”? Economic Development: Commercial, Industrial;
Political History: Origins of County Government, Derivation of County Powers


II. JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION………………………………………........................6
State Courts; Court of Common Pleas; Minor Courts; Judicial Officials: Qualifications and
Prohibitions, Elections; Juries; Court Related Boards and Facilities: Board of Viewers,
Juvenile Detention Home, Jail, Behavior Clinic, Law Library


III. ROW OFFICERS……………………………………………………….....................11
District Attorney; sheriff; Prothonotary; Register of Wills; Coroner; Commission
for the Selection of Jurors; Recorder of Deeds; Controller; Treasurer;
Clerk of Courts; Public Defender


IV. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT…………........................16
Qualifications, Election, Vacancies, Duties; Public Participation


V. EXECUTIVE BRANCH…………………………………………….............................18
Chief Executive, Qualifications, Election, Vacancy, Duties; Law Department;
County Manager, Duties; Administrative Services: Property Assessment Oversight Board,
Office of Property Assessments, Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review;
Board of Elections, Registration, Elections, Four Year Election Cycle, Absentee Voting;
Retirement Board


FISCAL AFFAIRS………….……………………………………………...................25
Budget and Finance; Debt; Flow of Funds; Purchasing and Supplies;
Procurement of Professional Services

PERSONNEL………..……………………………………………………..................27
The Personnel Board; Code of Accountability, Conduct and Ethics; Police; Emergency
Management; Veterans’ Affairs, Solders and Sailors Memorial Hall, Museum Trust, Inc.

HUMAN SERVICES………..……………………………………………...................29
Department of Human Services; Department of Health, Board of Health,
Environmental Quality, Medical Services; Kane Hospitals

PUBLIC WORKS………..………………………………………………....................35
Administrative Division, Engineering and Construction Division, Roads Maintenance Division,
Facilities and Fleet Management Division, Parks Division, Special Events Division

PARKS……………………………….……………………………………..................36
Park descriptions, Activities, Advisory Commission, Park Councils, Fund raising

ECONOMIC POLICY……………….……………………………………..................37
Goals, Development, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, League of Municipalities

AUTHORITIES………..………………………………………………….....................39
Port Authority; Airport Authority; Sports and Exhibition Authority; Sanitary Authority;
Redevelopment Authority; Authority for the Improvement of Municipalities;
Allegheny County Finance and Development Commission; Housing Authority

MISCELLANEOUS………………………………………………………....................44
Community College; Penn State Cooperative Extension; Conservation District


APPENDICES…………………………………………………..………..............................46

A. Municipal Government in Allegheny County: Cities, Boroughs; Townships;
Municipal Authorities and Special Districts; Intergovernmental Cooperation

B. Municipal Information Table Classification; School Districts, Population, Area, Telephone

C. Public Education in Allegheny County

D. Political Parties

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………..…..............................58