Court Opinion

ID: 4417373
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-07-17 14:51:24.281135+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:27.103213
License: Public Domain

[J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                       2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                             WESTERN DISTRICT

PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT AND              :   No. 57 WAP 2017
LODGING ASSOCIATION, STORMS              :
RESTAURANT AND CATERING, LLC             :   Appeal from the Order of the
D/B/A STORMS RESTAURANT,                 :   Commonwealth Court entered May
LAWRENCEVILLE BREWERY, INC.,             :   17, 2017 at No. 79 CD 2016, affirming
D/B/A THE CHURCH BREW WORKS,             :   the Order of the Court of Common
1215 INCORPORATED, D/B/A RITA’S          :   Pleas of Allegheny County entered
ITALIAN ICE, DIRT DOCTORS                :   December 21, 2015 at No. GD 15-
CLEANING SERVICE, LLC, AND               :   16442
MODERN CAFE INC.                         :
                                         :
                                         :   ARGUED: October 23, 2018
            v.                           :
                                         :
                                         :
CITY OF PITTSBURGH                       :
                                         :
                                         :
             v.                          :
                                         :
                                         :
SERVICE EMPLOYEES                        :
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 32BJ           :
                                         :
                                         :
APPEAL OF: SERVICE EMPLOYEES             :
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 32BJ           :
                                         :

PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT AND              :   No. 58 WAP 2017
LODGING ASSOCIATION, STORMS              :
RESTAURANT AND CATERING, LLC             :   Appeal from the Order of the
D/B/A STORMS RESTAURANT,                 :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
LAWRENCEVILLE BREWERY, INC.,             :   2017 at No. 101 CD 2016, affirming the
D/B/A THE CHURCH BREW WORKS,             :   Order of the Court of Common Pleas of
1215 INCORPORATED, D/B/A RITA’S          :   Allegheny County entered December
ITALIAN ICE, DIRT DOCTORS                :   21, 2015 at No. GD 15-16442
CLEANING SERVICE, LLC, AND               :
MODERN CAFE INC.                         :
                                         :   ARGUED: October 23, 2018
            v.                           :
                                         :
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, COUNSEL OF           :
THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, AND              :
WILLIAM PEDUTO, AND SERVICE              :
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION            :
LOCAL 32 BJ                              :
                                         :
                                         :
APPEAL OF: SERVICE EMPLOYEES             :
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 32BJ           :
                                         :

BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS             :   No. 59 WAP 2017
ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH                :
                                         :   Appeal from the Order of the
                                         :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
           v.                            :   2017 at No. 100 CD 2016, affirming the
                                         :   Order of the Court of Common Pleas of
                                         :   Allegheny County entered December
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, COUNCIL OF           :   17, 2015 at No. GD 15-13329
THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, AND              :
WILLIAM PEDUTO, AND SERVICE              :   ARGUED: October 23, 2018
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION            :
LOCAL 32 BJ                              :
                                         :
                                         :
APPEAL OF: SERVICE EMPLOYEES             :
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 32BJ           :

                                         :   No. 60 WAP 2017
BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS             :
ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH                :   Appeal from the Order of the
                                         :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
                                         :   2017 at No. 102 CD 2016, affirming
           v.                            :   the Order of the Court of Common
                                         :   Pleas of Allegheny County entered
                                         :   December 17, 2015 at No. GD 15-
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, COUNCIL OF           :   13329
THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, AND              :
WILLIAM PEDUTO, AND SERVICE              :   ARGUED: October 23, 2018
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION            :
LOCAL 32 BJ                              :
                                         :
                                         :

[J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                       2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                       -2
APPEAL OF: SERVICE EMPLOYEES             :
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 32BJ           :
                                         :

BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS             :
ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH                :   No. 61 WAP 2017
                                         :
                                         :   Appeal from the Order of the
          v.                             :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
                                         :   2017 at No. 100 CD 2016, affirming
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, COUNCIL OF           :   the Order of the Court of Common
THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND               :   Pleas of Allegheny County entered
WILLIAM PEDUTO, AND SERVICE              :   December 17, 2015 at No. GD 15-
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION            :   13329
LOCAL 32BJ                               :
                                         :   ARGUED: October 23, 2018
APPEAL OF: CITY OF PITTSBURGH,           :
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF                   :
PITTSBURGH, AND WILLIAM PEDUTO           :
                                         :

BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS             :   No. 62 WAP 2017
ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH                :
                                         :   Appeal from the Order of the
                                         :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
          v.                             :   2017 at No. 102 CD 2016, affirming
                                         :   the Order of the Court of Common
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, COUNCIL OF           :   Pleas of Allegheny County entered
THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND               :   December 17, 2015 at No. GD 15-
WILLIAM PEDUTO, AND SERVICE              :   13329
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION            :
LOCAL 32BJ                               :   ARGUED: October 23. 2018
                                         :
APPEAL OF: CITY OF PITTSBURGH,           :
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF                   :
PITTSBURGH, AND WILLIAM PEDUTO           :
                                         :

PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT AND              :   No. 63 WAP 2017
LODGING ASSOCIATION, STORMS              :
RESTAURANT AND CATERING, LLC             :   Appeal from the Order of the
D/B/A STORMS RESTAURANT,                 :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
LAWRENCEVILLE BREWERY, INC.,             :   2017 at No. 79 CD 2016, affirming the
D/B/A THE CHURCH BREW WORKS,             :   Order of the Court of Common Pleas
1215 INCORPORATED, D/B/A RITA’S          :   of Allegheny County entered

[J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                       2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                       -3
ITALIAN ICE, DIRT DOCTORS                : December 21, 2015 at No. GD 15-
CLEANING SERVICE, LLC, AND               : 16442
MODERN CAFE INC.                         :
                                         : ARGUED: October 23. 2018
                                         :
            v.                           :
                                         :
                                         :
CITY OF PITTSBURGH                       :
                                         :
                                         :
            v.                           :
                                         :
                                         :
SERVICE EMPLOYEES                        :
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 32BJ           :
                                         :
APPEAL OF: CITY OF PITTSBURGH,           :
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF                   :
PITTSBURGH, AND WILLIAM PEDUTO           :
                                         :

PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT AND              :   64 WAP 2017
LODGING ASSOCIATION, STORMS              :
RESTAURANT AND CATERING, LLC             :   Appeal from the Order of the
D/B/A STORMS RESTAURANT,                 :   Commonwealth Court entered May 17,
LAWRENCEVILLE BREWERY, INC.,             :   2017 at No. 101 CD 2016, affirming
D/B/A THE CHURCH BREW WORKS,             :   the Order of the Court of Common
1215 INCORPORATED, D/B/A RITA’S          :   Pleas of Allegheny County entered
ITALIAN ICE, DIRT DOCTORS                :   December 21, 2015 at No. GD 15-
CLEANING SERVICE, LLC, AND               :   16442
MODERN CAFE INC.                         :
                                         :   ARGUED: October 23, 2018
                                         :
            v.                           :
                                         :
                                         :
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, COUNCIL OF           :
THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, AND              :
WILLIAM PEDUTO, AND SERVICE              :
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION            :
LOCAL 32BJ                               :
                                         :
                                         :
                                         :

[J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                       2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                       -4
 APPEAL OF: CITY OF PITTSBURGH,                :
 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF                        :
 PITTSBURGH, AND WILLIAM PEDUTO                :

                      CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION

JUSTICE DOUGHERTY                                  DECIDED: JULY 17, 2019
       I agree with and fully support the Majority’s discussion of the historical and legal

background of the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law (the Home Rule Law), as

well as the Majority’s legal analysis and interpretation regarding the powers and

limitations granted to home rule municipalities. I further support the Majority’s evaluation

of the Business Exclusion limitation placed on home rule municipalities at 53 Pa.C.S.

§2962(f). More specifically, I agree with the Majority’s determination that the City of

Pittsburgh (City) did not exceed its authority in enacting the Paid Sick Days Act (PSDA)

because the PSDA has a “direct nexus with public health,” and falls, in part, “within . . .

the City’s traditional police powers” authorizing it to overcome the Business Exclusion.

Majority Op. at 34. However, I cannot agree with the Majority’s disparate treatment of the

City’s Safe and Secure Buildings Act (SSBA). I would find, under the analysis performed

by the Majority in interpreting the PSDA, the SSBA similarly has the requisite statutory

authority to overcome the Business Exclusion. Accordingly, I join parts I, II, III, IV.A and

IV.B, but must respectfully dissent from parts IV.C and V of the Majority Opinion.

       As a threshold matter, I note we must exercise great care in discerning limits on

the power of home rule municipalities to enact ordinances. The General Assembly

specifically granted home rule municipalities expansive authority by providing:

               A municipality which has adopted a home rule charter may
               exercise any powers and perform any function not denied by
               the Constitution of Pennsylvania, by statute or by its home rule
               charter. All grants of municipal power to municipalities governed

 [J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                        2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                        -5
                by a home rule charter under this subchapter, whether in the
                form of specific enumeration or general terms, shall be liberally
                construed in favor of the municipality.
53 Pa.C.S. §2961. Additionally, “pursuant to the constitutional and statutory provisions

authorizing home rule, a home rule municipality’s exercise of power is presumed to be

valid absent a specific constitutional or statutory limitation, and ambiguities are to be

resolved in favor of the municipality.” In re Petition to Recall Reese, 665 A.2d 1162, 1164

(Pa. 1995); see also Devlin v. City of Philadelphia, 862 A.2d 1234, 1242 (Pa. 2004), citing

PA. CONST. art. IX, §2. We must also acknowledge the decision to become a home rule

municipality is accomplished “by the affirmative vote of the electors of the City” and

“[w]here [a home rule charter] is adopted by a constitutionally empowered electorate, it

affords an example of pure democracy — the sovereign people legislating directly and

not by representatives in respect of the organization and administration of their local

government.” In re Addison, 122 A.2d 272, 275-76 (Pa. 1956).

       Keeping the above principles in mind, this Court’s responsibility in interpreting

ordinances passed by a home rule municipality is to protect the ability of an electorate —

that constitutionally chose to be governed under the Home Rule Law — to govern itself

by liberally construing home rule municipal powers in favor of the municipality.

Accordingly, I agree with the Majority that an overly strict definition of express authority in

this context would improperly “hamstring home-rule municipalities from exercising their

home-rule authority in any way that burdens businesses[.]” Majority Op. at 34. An

interpretation requiring specific, express authority is contrary to the intent of the General

Assembly to give home rule municipalities greater power than if they had opted for other

forms of government. As recognized by Justice Todd in her dissent in Bldg. Owners &

Managers Ass’n of Pittsburgh v. City of Pittsburgh, 985 A.2d 711 (Pa. 2009), a strict

application of the Business Exclusion resulting in a “zero-regulation interpretation” would

 [J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                        2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                        -6
mean Home Rule municipalities have less power than non-home rule municipalities, and

would be unable to engage in any meaningful governance.                  Id. at 716 (Todd, J.,

dissenting). In light of the above, I therefore agree the PSDA bears a clear nexus with

public health concerns, and is thus supported by applicable statutory authority — i.e., the

City’s traditional police powers and the Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955

(DPCL), 35 P.S. §§521.1-521.21 — sufficient to overcome the Business Exclusion.

        Based on these same principles, however, I must depart from the Majority’s

conclusion regarding the SSBA. In my respectful view, the Majority’s determination that

the SSBA does not overcome the Business Exclusion is the result of an imbalanced and

inconsistent analysis, which I cannot endorse. While the Majority embraces a liberal

construction of the City’s home rule municipality powers in interpreting the DPCL and

resolves all ambiguities in favor of local regulation, thus finding the requisite authority for

the PSDA to overcome the Business Exclusion, Majority Op. at 26, the Majority fails to

engage in an equally liberal construction when analyzing the City’s proffered authority for

the SSBA.1 Rather, the Majority strictly interprets that statutory authority, and concludes

1 The City asserts its power to enact the SSBA can be found in: (1) the Emergency
Management Services Code at 35 Pa.C.S. §§7501-7504; (2) the Second Class City Code
at 53 P.S. §25081, §23145, §23158 and §25092; (3) and the Home Rule Law at 53
Pa.C.S. §2962(c)(4). City’s Brief at 24-32. More specifically the City notes the SSBA is
authorized by the Emergency Management Code, which obligates the City to prepare for
effective responses to disasters for the safety of the public. Id. at 25-28. In addition, the
City notes the SSBA is enabled by its police powers to secure the general health and
maintain the welfare of the City as provided by the Second Class City Code. Id. at 29-
30, citing 53 P.S. §25081 (providing inspection authority to “decrease and prevent fire,
the spread of fire, and fire waste, loss of life from fire, and loss of life or damage to property
from unsafe or improper construction or design of buildings”); 53 P.S. §23145 (City has
authority to “make regulations to secure the general health of the inhabitants, and to
remove and prevent nuisances”); 53 P.S. §23158 (“To make all such ordinances, by-laws,
rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of this
Commonwealth, as may be expedient or necessary . . . for the . . . maintenance of the
peace, good government and welfare of the city, and its trade, commerce and

    [J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                           2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                           -7
it does not expressly allow the SSBA to overcome the Business Exclusion. See Majority

Op. at 37-43.

       The Majority justifies its disparate treatment of the PSDA and SSBA as an effort

to find a “middle ground” between interpreting the word “express” too stringently or too

broadly. Id. at 43. I am unable, however, to reconcile what, in my view, is an incongruous

analysis of the two ordinances.      In fact, the City submits arguably more applicable

authority to support the SSBA, which the Majority dismisses in an abbreviated discussion.

The Majority’s unbalanced treatment is clear from a comparison of its truncated SSBA

analysis with its lengthy interpretation of the DPCL to find authority for the PSDA. The

Majority’s attempt at compromise is admirable but problematic, and will undoubtedly

result in continuing disparate application and subjective judicial interpretation.

       In my respectful opinion, judicial review should only be concerned with determining

if the particular ordinance that imposes requirements on businesses is authorized by

existing statutory authority. Further, the analysis must always be conducted by liberally

construing any ambiguities in the enabling legislation in favor of the home rule

municipality’s constitutional right to control its municipal affairs at the local level, and

ensure it maintains broader powers of self-government than non-home rule municipalities.

See Hartman v. City of Allentown, 880 A.2d 737, 742 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2005).

       Under a uniform application, I would hold both the SSBA and the PSDA are

supported by the requisite statutory authority to overcome the Business Exclusion. I

would thus reverse the Commonwealth Court’s entry of judgment on the pleadings.

manufactures”). Lastly, the City asserts authority for the SSBA can be found in Section
2962(c)(4) of the Home Rule Law which provides a home rule municipality retains “the
power . . . to enact and enforce ordinances relating to building codes or any other safety,
sanitation or health regulation pertaining thereto.” Id. at 31, quoting 53 Pa.C.S.
§2962(c)(4).

 [J-72A-2018, J-72B-2018, J-72C-2018, J-72D-2018, J-72E-2018, J-72F-2018, J-72G-
                        2018, J-72H-2018] [MO: Wecht, J.]
                                        -8