Pittsburgh City Council considers covid sick leave resolution, historical designations

Pittsburgh City Council on Monday introduced a resolution granting paid covid-19 sick leave to city workers. The legislation aims to supplement a federal policy that is set to expire Dec. 1.

“Due to failed federal action, workers should not have to choose between their family’s health during a worldwide pandemic and their ability to pay their bills,” Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said. “In Pittsburgh, we’re used to stepping up when Washington fails, and will do so again to protect our people from covid-19.”

Covid-19 sick leave will be handled separately from existing paid sick leave requirements, which took effect this year. Employees of businesses with 50 or more workers can receive up to 112 hours of paid sick leave due to covid-19. The pandemic sick leave will stay in place until after the city’s covid-19 Declaration of Emergency is lifted.

Council passed several other pieces of legislation Monday morning, with little discussion.

Among the resolutions passed was one allowing the mayor and chief equity officer to enter into a nearly $40,000 agreement with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a nonprofit focused on equity for women and girls. The AAUW will conduct a training program intended to educate women in Pittsburgh on the gender pay gap and how to advocate for fair salary and benefits.

Another resolution authorized the same parties to work with Nth Party, a tech firm, to collect data related to a pay equity initiative designed to reduce the gender pay gap in the city.

Two structures were approved by council to receive designation as a historical structure — the Gallagher-Kieffer House and the Herron Hill Pumping Station, both in North Oakland — while a third was sent back to standing committee for further discussion. That was the St. John Vianney Church in Allentown, which was closed in 2016 by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. A temporary restraining order issued by the diocese on Monday morning barred the Council from voting on the church.

“I, for one, am tired of seeing their nominations come in front of us,” Councilman Anthony Coghill said Monday of the HRC. “Not because I’m not for historic preservation. But they’re laden with controversy and a threat of lawsuits. … The commission needs to straighten these things out before it gets on our desk.”

Coghill said he would be abstaining from future votes regarding historical designations.

The council reminded city residents that additional budget hearings will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. — some public commenters during Monday’s meeting expressed concern that too much of the city’s budget was slated for the police department.

“This budget says that ‘our priority above all else is ignoring the voices of our community,’ ” said Matt Rubin, a Troy Hill resident.

Correction: The earlier version of this story said that council passed a resolution granting paid covid-19 sick leave to city workers. Instead, council introduced such a resolution.