Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald nominated a veteran businessman with ties to coal mining and the Shenango coke plant to sit on the Finance and Development Commission.

Mark Aloe, who owns Aloe Brothers LLC with his brother, said his 40-year record in protecting the environment speaks for itself.

“I have always put the environment ahead of any business gain,” Aloe wrote to the Tribune-Review while traveling internationally for business.

Aloe, 67, of Shadyside said he has done his best to preserve the environment and does not think business development and environmental protection are mutually exclusive.

Aloe is one of five Fitzgerald nominees to boards and commissions that will go before county council's Appointment Review Committee on Thursday for approval. Because Aloe is traveling, the committee likely won't consider his nomination at the meeting.

Aloe Brothers owns the former Mayview Hospital site and fought the South Fayette Zoning Board for the right to mine coal under the site. The company eventually dropped its appeal of the zoning board's decision barring coal mining. The township and Aloe Brothers are in court over the township wanting to take part of the Mayview site through eminent domain for a park expansion.

A former project manager for the site's redevelopment is suing the company for money he claims is owed to him. Aloe declined to comment on the lawsuits.

Aloe was the chairman and CEO for Shenango from 1986 to 1998 and special project director for the Neville Island coke plant from 2005 to 2009. DTE Energy, a Michigan-based company, bought Shenango in 2008 and is under a consent agreement with Allegheny County to reduce pollution and upgrade the plant.

Fitzgerald, who served with Aloe on the Regional Industrial Development Corporation board, said nothing in his past and current business dealings concerned him.

“Because of his level of experience and having served with on the RIDC board, I think he will bring value,” Fitzgerald said. “He won't be doing any development with those types of organizations. This will strictly be hospitals and education.”

The Finance and Development Commission handles pass-through financing for expansion and development at colleges, universities, hospitals, nonprofits, manufacturing firms and developers. Fitzgerald said he has a “zero-tolerance” policy on board members using their position for personal gain.

Aloe donated $10,000 to Fitzgerald's campaign committee in 2013, a year after he took office. He donated $2,000 to former County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty's campaign against Fitzgerald in 2011. Fitzgerald said he does not grant appointments to boards and commissions based on campaign contributions.

Fitzgerald nominated Bill Price, 38, of South Fayette, a financial attorney with Clark Hill, and Nicola Henry-Taylor, 42, of Ross who runs a private practice focusing on family and criminal law, to the Human Relations Commission. He nominated Dennis Floyd Jones, 59, of South Fayette, executive director of Youth Enrichment Services, and Maria Silva, 52, of Ross, senior supervisor at Allegheny Family Network, to the Juvenile Detention Board of Advisors.

The four expect to attend the Appointment Review Committee meeting. The committee must approve the nominations before they are sent to the full council for a final vote.

Aaron Aupperlee is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7986 or aaupperlee@tribweb.com.

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