Court Opinion

ID: 4168910
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-17 13:22:27.576442+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:42.846728
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Building Owners and Managers         :
Association of Pittsburgh            : No. 100 C.D. 2016
                                     : Argued: November 16, 2016
                   v.                :
                                     :
City of Pittsburgh, Council 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         :
Association of Pittsburgh            : No. 102 C.D. 2016
                                     : Argued: November 16, 2016
                   v.                :
                                     :
City of Pittsburgh, Council of the   :
City of Pittsburgh, and William      :
Peduto, and Service Employees        :
International Union Local 32 BJ      :
                                     :
Appeal of: City of Pittsburgh,       :
Council of the City of Pittsburgh,   :
and William Peduto                   :

BEFORE:      HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
             HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
             HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
             HONORABLE P. KEVIN BROBSON, Judge
             HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
             HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
             HONORABLE JOSEPH M. COSGROVE, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE WOJCIK                                    FILED: May 17, 2017
                 The City of Pittsburgh, its Council, its Mayor (collectively, City) and
the Service Employees International Union Local 32 BJ (SEIU) appeal the order of
the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (trial court)1 granting the Building
Owners and Managers Association of Pittsburgh’s (BOMA) motion for judgment
on the pleadings and declaring that Sections 410.4(A), (B), and (C)(2) of the City’s
Safe and Secure Building Act (Ordinance)2 are invalid and unenforceable. We
affirm.
                 In August 2015, BOMA filed a complaint against the City for
equitable and declaratory relief challenging the Ordinance as ultra vires in
violation of Section 2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law
(Home Rule Charter Law)3 and SEIU intervened. All parties filed a motion for
judgment on the pleadings. In ruling on the motions, the trial court noted the

       1
           The appeals were consolidated by this Court’s order of February 29, 2016.

       2
         Sections 410.4(A), (B), and (C)(2) of the Ordinance require “Security Officers” and
“Building Service Employees” who work in commercial office buildings, retail buildings of at
least 100,000 square feet, museums and cultural institutions of at least 100,000 square feet, and
properties owned, managed, or occupied by the City to receive training by a school certified by
the City’s Fire Bureau to identify, prevent, and respond to emergency situations and for a
“Covered Owner” to certify compliance therewith. See Trial Court 12/17/15 Opinion at 3-7;
Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 6a-7a.

       3
           53 Pa. C.S. §2962(f). Section 2962(f) states:

                 (f) Regulation of business and employment.—A municipality
                 which adopts a home rule charter shall not determine duties,
                 responsibilities or requirements placed upon businesses,
                 occupations and employers, including the duty to withhold, remit
                 or report taxes or penalties levied or imposed upon them or upon
                 persons in their employment, except as expressly provided by
                 statutes which are applicable in every part of this Commonwealth
                 or which are applicable to all municipalities or to a class or classes
                 of municipalities.

                                                   2
holding in the Supreme Court’s opinion in Building Owners and Managers
Association of Pittsburgh v. City of Pittsburgh, 985 A.2d 711 (Pa. 2009) (BOMA)
that the City exceeded its authority and violated the Home Rule Charter Law when
the City enacted “The Protection of Displaced Contract Workers Ordinance”
(Displaced Workers Ordinance) requiring employers with new service contracts to
retain the employees of the former contractor for 180 days. Herein, the trial court
concluded:

               Sections 410.4(A), (B), and (C)(2) of the [Ordinance]
               place affirmative duties on businesses, occupations and
               employers in violation of the [Home Rule Charter Law].
               Penalties for non-compliance exist and include a fine and
               “preventing the occupancy of a Covered Property.” See
               Section 410.7(B). I am bound by the Supreme Court’s
               ruling in [BOMA]. For these reasons, [BOMA]’s motion
               for judgment on the pleadings is granted.[4]

Trial Court 12/17/15 Opinion at 10. The City and SEIU then filed the instant
consolidated appeals.5
               The City first argues that: (1) the Ordinance enjoys a presumption of
validity; (2) the Pennsylvania Constitution provides the City a broad grant of
authority; (3) the Home Rule Charter Law requires that the City’s authority be
liberally construed in favor of the City; and (4) the City’s charter contains a broad
statement of authority. However, the City’s assertions in this regard are followed

       4
          A motion for judgment on the pleadings should be granted when the pleadings
demonstrate that no genuine issue of fact exists, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. Swartz v. Swartz, 689 A.2d 302, 303 (Pa. Super. 1997).

       5
         Because this matter involves purely a question of law, our scope of review is plenary
and the standard of review is de novo. Shields v. Council of Borough of Braddock, 111 A.3d
1265, 1268 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015).

                                                3
by little analysis and do not address Section 2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter
Law, upon which the trial court based its decision.
             As noted above, Section 2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter Law
states, in relevant part, that “[a] municipality which adopts a home rule charter
shall not determine duties, responsibilities or requirements placed upon businesses,
occupations and employers . . . except as expressly provided by statutes which are
applicable in every part of this Commonwealth or which are applicable to all
municipalities or to a class or classes of municipalities.” 53 Pa. C.S. §2962(f).
             In Smaller Manufacturers Council v. Council of City of Pittsburgh,
485 A.2d 73 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1984), we considered a City ordinance that required
plant owners and operators to notify the Bureau of Business Security of any plans
to close, relocate, or reduce operations if such actions would affect more than 15%
of their employees. We held that the ordinance was invalid under former Section
302(d) of the Home Rule Charter Law,6 a substantially similar prior version of
Section 2962(f), because it regulated the duties, responsibilities, and requirements
of the businesses. We further held in Smaller that, based on the clear language of

      6
       Act of April 13, 1972, P.L. 184, formerly 53 P.S. §1-302(d), repealed by the Act of
December 19, 1996, P.L. 1158, 53 Pa. C.S. §2962(f), which stated:

             No municipality which adopts a home rule charter shall at any time
             thereunder determine the duties, responsibilities or requirements
             placed upon businesses, occupations and employers, including the
             duty to withhold, remit or report taxes or penalties levied or
             imposed upon them or upon persons in their employment, except
             as expressly provided by the acts of the General Assembly which
             are applicable in every part of the Commonwealth or which are
             applicable to all municipalities or to a class or classes of
             municipalities. (Emphasis added.)

                                             4
Section 302(d), the ordinance was prohibited unless the City was expressly
authorized to enact such an ordinance by the legislature.
             Thereafter, in BOMA, our Supreme Court considered whether the City
exceeded its authority as a home rule municipality when it enacted the Displaced
Workers Ordinance. In its analysis, the Supreme Court cited Smaller and affirmed
this Court’s holding that the ordinance at issue in BOMA also was invalid. In
doing so, the court noted that the ordinance in BOMA was “far more invasive [than
the reporting requirement in Smaller] because it forces contractors to retain certain
employees for approximately half a year.” 985 A.2d at 714-15. Additionally, the
court rejected the argument that preemption is the only limitation on the City’s
authority to regulate business.
             In this case, the Ordinance imposes numerous affirmative duties upon
employers. Sections 410.4(A), (B), and (C)(2) affirmatively require “Security
Officers” and “Building Service Employees” who work in commercial office
buildings, retail buildings of at least 100,000 square feet, museums and cultural
institutions of at least 100,000 square feet, to receive training by a school certified
by the City’s Fire Bureau to identify, prevent, and respond to emergency situations,
and for a “Covered Owner” to certify compliance therewith. R.R. at 6a-7a. In
light of the express limitations in Section 2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter Law
and following the decisions in BOMA and Smaller, we must conclude that the City
was without authority to enact the Ordinance.
             The City and SEIU maintain that the limitations on municipal
authority in Section 2962(f) are inapplicable here because the exception clause in
Section 2962(f) applies as express authority granted to the City by the relevant

                                          5
provisions of the Second Class City Code7 and/or the Emergency Management
Services Code.8 We disagree.9
                The City and SEIU assert that the Second Class City Code specifically
authorizes the City to: “make regulations to secure the general health of the
inhabitants, and to remove and prevent nuisances;” “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;” and
“provide for the preparation and distribution by the Department of Public Safety of
rules and regulations to minimize the danger of fire and lessen fire waste.” 53 P.S.
§§23145, 25081, 25092.            However, as noted above, the exception in Section
2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter Law only applies to authority “as expressly
provided by statutes . . . .” 53 Pa. C.S. §2962(f). The foregoing provisions do not
expressly grant the City the specific authority to impose the aforementioned
affirmative duties upon private employers. The provisions of Chapter 62 of the
Second Class City Code,10 relating to the regulation of business and occupations,
also do not expressly provide the City the power to impose such affirmative duties
upon private employers. Therefore, the Second Class City Code does not compel

       7
         See Article XIX, Section 3, Clause XXXIII of the Act of March 7, 1901, P.L. 20, 53
P.S. §23145; Section 1(a), (l) of the Act of May13, 1915, P.L. 297, 53 P.S. §§25081, 25092.

       8
           See 35 Pa. C.S. §§7501(a), 7503.

       9
         Because the provisions of Section 2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter Law are applicable
in this case, we reject the City’s and SEIU’s assertion that the Supreme Court’s opinion in
BOMA is not controlling and SEIU’s reliance on Section 2601 of the Home Rule Charter Law.

       10
         Act of March 31, 1927, P.L. 95, 53 P.S. §§25251-25257; Act of June 10, 1881, P.L.
109, 53 P.S. §§25271-25273; Act of May 21, 1921, P.L. 1053, as amended, 53 P.S. §§25291-
25296; Act of April 4, 1905, P.L. 102, as amended, 53 P.S. §§25311-25325.

                                              6
application of the exception in Section 2962(f) of the Home Rule Charter Law
because it does not confer upon the City the authority to enact Sections 410.4(A),
(B), and (C)(2) of the Ordinance.
                 The City and SEIU also argue that the City has authority under
Sections 7501(a) and 7503 of the Emergency Management Services Code to enact
Sections 410.4(A), (B), and (C)(2) of the Ordinance.11 However, the Emergency

       11
            35 Pa. C.S. §§7501(a); 7503. Section 7501(a) states, in relevant part:

                 Each political subdivision . . . is directed and authorized to
                 establish a local emergency management organization in
                 accordance with the plan and program of the Pennsylvania
                 Emergency Management Agency. Each local organization shall
                 have responsibility for emergency management, response and
                 recovery within the territorial limits of the political subdivision
                 within which it is organized . . . .

35 Pa. C.S. §7501(a).

       In turn, Section 7503 states:

                        Each political subdivision shall, either individually or
                 pursuant to the provisions of the [General Local Government
                 Code, 53 Pa. C.S. §§2301-2317], adopt an Intergovernmental
                 Cooperation agreement with other political subdivisions to:

                 (1) Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency
                 management plan for the prevention and minimization of injury
                 and damage caused by disaster, prompt and effective response to
                 disaster and disaster emergency relief and recovery in consonance
                 with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Plan.

                 (2) Establish, equip and staff an emergency operations center,
                 consolidated with warning and communication systems to support
                 government operations in emergencies and provide other essential
                 facilities and equipment for agencies and activities assigned
                 emergency functions.

(Footnote continued on next page…)
                                                  7
Management Services Code does not expressly empower the City to enact these
Ordinance provisions because it does not apply to the regulation and training of
“Security Officers” or “Building Service Employees” of private employers.
Rather, Sections 7501 and 7503 merely authorize the City to establish its own

(continued…)

              (3) Provide individual and organizational training programs to
              insure prompt, efficient and effective disaster emergency services.

              (4) Organize, prepare and coordinate all locally available
              manpower, materials, supplies, equipment, facilities and services
              necessary for disaster emergency readiness, response and recovery.

              (5) Adopt and implement precautionary measures to mitigate the
              anticipated effects of disaster.

              (6) Execute and enforce such rules and orders as the agency shall
              adopt and promulgate under the authority of this part.

              (7) Cooperate and coordinate with any public and private agency
              or entity in achieving any purpose of this part.

              (8) Have available for inspection at its emergency operations
              center all emergency management plans, rules and orders of the
              Governor and the agency.

              (9) Provide prompt and accurate information regarding local
              disaster emergencies to appropriate Commonwealth and local
              officials and agencies and the general public.

              (10) Participate in all tests, drills and exercises, including remedial
              drills and exercises, scheduled by the agency or by the Federal
              Government.

              (11) Participate in the program of integrated flood warning systems
              under section 7313(6) (relating to powers and duties).

35 Pa. C.S. §7503.

                                                8
“local emergency management organization” and to enter into intergovernmental
cooperation agreements with other government entities with respect to emergency
management, response and recovery. At most, Section 7503(7) authorizes the City
to “[c]ooperate and coordinate” with private employers and does not empower the
City to compel the regulation and training of their private employees.
            Finally, SEIU argues that the Ordinance is a health regulation
authorized by Section 2962(c)(4) of the Home Rule Charter Law, which allows the
City “to enact and enforce ordinances related to building codes or any other safety,
sanitation or health regulation pertaining thereto.”      53 Pa. C.S. §2962(c)(4)
(emphasis added). Section 2962(c)(4) states:

            (c) Prohibited Powers- A municipality shall not:

            (4) Enact or promulgate any ordinance or regulation
            with respect to definitions, sanitation, health, standards
            of identity or labeling pertaining to the manufacture,
            processing, storage, distribution and sale of any foods,
            goods, or services subject to any Commonwealth statutes
            and regulations unless the municipal ordinance or
            regulation is uniform in all respects with the
            Commonwealth statutes and regulations thereunder. This
            paragraph does not affect the power of any municipality
            to enact and enforce ordinances relating to building
            codes or any other safety, sanitation or health
            regulations pertaining thereto.
53 Pa. C.S. §2962(c)(4) (emphasis added). However, in making this argument,
SEIU relies on words taken out of context; significantly, it does not explain how
the Ordinance “pertains to” building codes.
            Accordingly, the trial court’s order is affirmed.

                                      MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge

                                         9
          IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Building Owners and Managers            :
Association of Pittsburgh               : No. 100 C.D. 2016
                                        :
                   v.                   :
                                        :
City of Pittsburgh, Council 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            :
Association of Pittsburgh               : No. 102 C.D. 2016
                                        :
                   v.                   :
                                        :
City of Pittsburgh, Council of the      :
City of Pittsburgh, and William         :
Peduto, and Service Employees           :
International Union Local 32 BJ         :
                                        :
Appeal of: City of Pittsburgh,          :
Council of the City of Pittsburgh,      :
and William Peduto                      :

                                     ORDER

             AND NOW, this 17th day of May, 2017, the order of the Allegheny
County Court of Common Pleas dated December 17, 2015, at No. GD 15-13329 is
AFFIRMED.

                                      __________________________________
                                      MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
         IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Building Owners and Managers            :
Association of Pittsburgh               :
                                        :
              v.                        :
                                        :
City of Pittsburgh, Council of the      :
City of Pittsburgh, and William Peduto, :
and Service Employees International     :
Union Local 32 BJ                       :
                                        :
Appeal of: Service Employees            :   No. 100 C.D. 2016
International Union Local 32 BJ         :   Submitted: November 16, 2016

Building Owners and Managers            :
Association of Pittsburgh               :
                                        :
              v.                        :
                                        :
City of Pittsburgh, Council of the      :
City of Pittsburgh, and William Peduto, :
and Service Employees International     :
Union Local 32 BJ                       :
                                        :
Appeal of: City of Pittsburgh,          :
Council of the City of Pittsburgh,      :   No. 102 C.D. 2016
and William Peduto                      :   Submitted: November 16, 2016

BEFORE:     HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
            HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
            HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
            HONORABLE P. KEVIN BROBSON, Judge
            HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
            HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK Judge
            HONORABLE JOSEPH M. COSGROVE, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

DISSENTING OPINION
BY JUDGE COSGROVE                           FILED: May 17, 2017
            As my dissent in Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association v.
City of Pittsburgh, (Pa. Cmwlth., Nos. 79 C.D. 2016 and 101 C.D. 2016, filed May
17, 2017) addresses my concerns with the present majority opinion, it is
incorporated herein.

                                    ___________________________
                                    JOSEPH M. COSGROVE, Judge