| Pittston Home Rule Charter |
|
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania local governments operate under prescribed forms of government set by various state laws, and those local governments have only specified powers, duties and taxation authority. For example, Pittston has been operating as a "city" form of government since December 10, 1894, and the current state law that specifies how cities of Pittston's size are governed and operated is set forth in a Pennsylvania state law called the Third Class City Code. Another state law, called the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Act, however, allows municipal voters to elect a commission that can propose a Home Rule Charter for the local government to operate under. Under a Home Rule Charter, the voters can approve a different form of government for the city, as well as specifying powers and duties that may be more customized to the locality than the broader specifications contained in the Third Class City Code.
Pittston voters elected a Home Rule Study Commission in 2011, who drafted a Proposed Home Rule Charter for the voters of the City of Pittston to consider in the November 2012 election. In the November 2012 election, city voters approved the Home Rule Charter, to take effect January 2, 2013. The City Council ratified the Home Rule Charter as Ordinance #1 of 2013. Under the Home Rule Charter, the city continues to be governed by a 5 member City Council comprised of the Mayor and 4 councilmembers elected at-large. The executive powers of the mayor are more clearly defined in the new city charter. Additionally, there is an elected City Treasurer/Tax Collector and the elected position of City Controller. An appointed professional city administrator is responsible for day to day operations.
Click on the link below for the full text of the Home Rule Charter now in effect:
Pittston City Charter
On November 6, 1894 voters of the Borough of Pittston voted to seek city status. On December 10, 1894 then Pennsylvania Governor Robert E. Pattison issued a Third Class
 City Charter for the City of Pittston. The text of the City Charter for the City of Pittston may be viewed by clicking on the link below:(left: image of Governor Robert E. Pattison who signed Pittston's city charter)
|
