County Executive Sara Innamorato announced 10 appointees to five local boards Friday in what will be her biggest move to staff her new administration since she assumed office in January.
The individuals, if approved by a county council vote, will serve on the boards of the Allegheny Regional Asset District, the county Airport Authority, the county Redevelopment Authority, the county Sanitary Authority and the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission.
It is her second slate of board appointments, a key responsibility for the chief executive.
In a prepared statement, Ms. Innamorato said the slate will “bring diverse expertise and perspectives to our County’s vital boards and authorities.”
The former executive director of the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority, Diamonte Walker, was chosen for the board of The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County. The RAAC is responsible for managing economic growth in the region, focusing on real estate and repurposing vacant properties.
The RAAC requested $30 million in state aid last month to bolster their efforts to convert struggling Downtown office buildings into housing.
For the board of the Allegheny Regional Asset District, Ms. Innamorato named Monica Malik, the current area manager of Western Pennsylvania for Citizens Bank, and Jamilah Ducar, who leads University of Pittsburgh’s community affairs, and reappointed Dusty Kirk, a partner at the Pittsburgh branch of the international law firm Reed Smith. The Regional Asset District is responsible for using taxpayer money to invest in public facilities, including libraries, parks, sports and civic facilities, and public transit. It also provides funding directly to the county to support local government operations.
Ms. Innamorato named Dan Connolly, an attorney with a background in government consulting, to the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which is responsible for operating Pittsburgh International Airport. Mr. Connolly’s father, Robert Connolly, was one of 132 people who died in the Sept. 1994 USAir Flight 427 crash in Hopewell Township, Beaver County, in what is still known as the deadliest aviation accident in Pennsylvania’s history.
The Connolly family played a key role in lobbying for the federal Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act that passed two years later. The act codified into law the steps the National Transportation Safety Board must take to support the families of passengers involved in aircraft incidents.
Ms. Innamorato reappointed two current county council representatives. Paul Klein, a Democrat who has represented council district 11 since 2015, will continue to serve on the board of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. Bob Macey, a Democrat who represents district 9 and chairs the county council Public Works Committee, will continue to serve on the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission.
Ms. Innamorato also reappointed Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council President Darrin Kelly to the Alcosan board.
Jesse DiRenna and Chris Sandvig will join Mr. Macey on the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission, a congregation of 10 counties charged with collaborating on transportation and economic development projects in the region. Mr. DiRenna is president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 66. Mr. Sandvig led efforts to reform transportation legislation and funding at the state level as part of both Goburg and Mobilify.
In her first slate of appointments, Ms. Innamorato picked three citizens for the county’s Jail Oversight Board. The County Council will convene at 5 p.m. next Tuesday to either vote on the appointments or refer them to the council’s appointment review committee.
View the full article at post-gazette.com.