Highly Debated Allegheny County Bill Vetoed By Executive

A heavily debated legislation passed in the Allegheny County Council last week has been vetoed by a county executive.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald vetoed Bill No. 11481-20 (Paid Sick Days Act), which was passed by County Council during its March 9 meeting, according to an Allegheny County news release.

Fitzgerald objected to the process by which the legislation was passed and argued the need to ensure that the law is followed to provide true protection for employees in a letter addressing the veto.

“This issue is too important to our community, and particularly to those workers who would have protection in the form of paid sick leave, for it to be done the wrong way,” the Fitzgerald letter reads via the Allegheny County news release. “It’s simply not fair to give employees in our county false hope that they’re protected when the process followed by Council jeopardizes that…. If we want to protect our residents, families, community and public health, we must do this in the right way to ensure that it withstands any legal challenge.”

The bill requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave to employees passed by a 10-4 margin, WPXI reported last week.

The vote was hotly contested among members of the Allegheny County Council, with Councilman Nick Futules arguing legislation requiring businesses to pay employees sick leave must instead be passed by the county health board.

“We have a legal opinion that states that County Council does not have the authority to regulate business regulations,” Futules told WPXI. “I’ve been in business for 45 years. I know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re talking about councilmembers that have never owned a business and they don’t know.”

However, Councilwoman Bethany Hallam argues the council does have the authority to approve the ordinance, which she said is similar to legislation the city passed ultimately upheld in court.

“If you’re not in favor of paid sick leave for all of the workers in Allegheny County in the midst of a global pandemic, you’re never going to be in favor of it. And what you are saying is you’re putting your own selfish interest over the health and well being of the residents of our county,” Hallam told WPXI.

Futules also believes, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it's not the write time to pass such a legislation.

The legislation initially applied to all Allegheny County businesses regardless of size, but an amendment now limits it to impact businesses with exceeding 25 employees.

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