Members of the Executive Committee began meeting in secret last year to discuss concerns about the security of their emails and whether county Executive Rich Fitzgerald's office had snooped on conversations and documents. Fitzgerald's office denied snooping. Allegheny County police and the Department of Computer Services investigated and found no evidence of a breach.
The committee voted 6-3 Wednesday during a closed-door session to use Jefferson Hills-based CAD Technologies to audit the security of council email if a member suspects a breach instead of building a separate server. The audit would cost $800 and must be approved by the full council.
Council members opposed to the separate server said it would be a waste of taxpayer money. Members in favor claimed it would bolster security and council's independence.
“Most of the council members felt it was a waste of taxpayer dollars,” council Vice President Nick Futules, D-Oakmont, chair of the Executive Committee. “I asked a question, ‘If it was your money, would you do it?' And most council members said, ‘No.' ”
Council members and their staff — the county's legislative branch — share an email server with Fitzgerald's office, the Controller's Office, the Treasurer's Office and other departments. The District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office have separate servers.
“County council missed its opportunity to assert itself as an independent branch of government,” said Councilwoman Barbara Danko, D-Regent Square. “I think council continues to view itself as a department of county government and not a separate branch.”
Voting for the audit were Council President John DeFazio, D-Shaler, and council members Michael Finnerty, D-Scott; Bob Macey, D-West Mifflin; Charles Martoni, D-Swissvale; Jim Ellenbogen, D-Banksville, and Futules. Danko, Councilwoman Sue Means, R-Bethel Park, and Councilman Ed Kress, R-Shaler, who all supported building a separate server, voted against the audit.
Futules said two IT companies, CAD Technologies and Robinson-based CMIT Solutions, proposed servers to council that ranged in price from $18,000 to $30,000. Council had approved $20,000 in this year's capital budget and about $18,000 in its operating budget to install and maintain a server. That money will go back into the general fund, Futules said.
©2015 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)
