Compromise reached on names on Web site

A compromise reached Thursday night by Allegheny County Council will allow any property owner to have his or her name removed from the county's property reassessment Web site.

After months of debate over the competing rights of privacy and access to public records, Council voted to allow property owners to have their names taken off the site that gives detailed information about the more than 500,000 parcels of property in Allegheny County.

The plan approved yesterday would keep names on the Web site unless the property owner applies to have his or her name removed. The county can charge an administrative fee of up to $20 a year for this service.

The bill's sponsor, Democratic Councilman Rick Schwartz of Plum, said the opt-out plan provides a measure of safety for people who might be harassed by people who find their personal information on the Internet, while still allowing the public a right to see information about properties.

Republican Councilman Tom Shumaker of Pine said the opt-out program damaged the quality of information available to county residents who use the Web site to research the fairness of the 2000 countywide property reassessment.

The measure was approved 10-4 and now will go to Roddey for his signature. Roddey vetoed an earlier measure to remove the name search function of the Web site. County Manager Bob Webb, however, participated in discussions that hammered out the compromise plan approved yesterday, leading many to expect the executive's approval.