There's a right way for elected officials to conduct the public's business — and a wrong way, as seen in Pittsburgh City Council's hiring of a new city clerk without a public vote or discussion, which apparently violated Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act and a city ordinance.
Brenda F. Pree started work as city clerk, with a $94,432 salary, on Aug. 21. Council President Bruce Kraus said members likely would vote the next day on her hiring — yet maintained council followed the law. Other council members told the Trib the hiring decision was made in executive sessions prior to council's annual, late-July summer recess.
Melissa Melewsky, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association media law counsel, says there's “no question” that Ms. Pree's hiring is “not in compliance with the law.” It's telling, too, that Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith opposed Pree's hiring not on that basis but because she preferred to follow tradition and promote the deputy clerk after the prior clerk's retirement.
Also questionable is council's due diligence, as Pree was fired from a city clerk job in Mississippi and has a pending federal lawsuit alleging racial discrimination by a Mississippi county. But what Pittsburghers should question most is council's disregard for transparency and proper procedure, which diminishes its credibility — and whether more surprise actions, never discussed or voted on publicly, will surface.
