Duquesne Council OK's Full-Time Position For Mayor

By Cami DiBattista
The Tube City Almanac
July 28, 2018
Posted in: Duquesne News

Beginning with the next municipal election, the position of Duquesne’s mayor will be a full-time salaried position.

A motion was unanimously passed during Tuesday’s city council meeting authorizing the drafting of an ordinance that will increase the salary of mayor to $65,000 under the guidelines of the Third-Class City Code.

Currently --- including for Mayor Nickole Nesby --- the position is part-time and pays $3,000 annually.

“If the great city of Duquesne wants a full-time mayor, they need to pay for a full-time mayor,” said Pastor Peter Roy of the Terrace Church of the Nazarene, who told council he supports the decision. “If they want a part-time mayor, they’ll pay for that. This city is on the move and the move is up. You can’t expect someone to give 65 to 70 hours per week and not expect to be compensated for it.”

Nesby agreed, saying there is "no way" that $3,000 is sufficient for the work that is done for the municipality.

(Editor's note: Among local communities, McKeesport has a full-time mayor, while West Mifflin, Penn Hills, Monroeville and Clairton have part-time mayors.)

In other business, council passed a motion to utilize 105 Grant Ave. as the new summer learn and earn program garden site. The site will coincide with the victory garden program started earlier this summer at the First Presbyterian Church.

Volunteers have been growing produce for the community at the garden, which is free of charge to anyone who needs it.

Nesby hopes to mirror a similar program that Homewood initiated for its at-risk youth. Ideas for the program include food and nutrition education and a program that will allow youth to borrow money and work it off by participating in the victory garden.

“We thought it would be a nice site to have our youth develop,” Nesby said. “We have high hopes for the program.”

Several residents expressed a dissatisfaction with the conditions of roads, as well as concerns about the number of blighted properties in the area.

Nesby said blighted properties are being prioritized on a list and will be demolished as funds become available.

Council voted 3-0 passed to request payment of $74,000 from the Duquesne Redevelopment Authority for the maintenance of city roads.

Other residents approached council about local properties with overgrown lawns and unkempt yards.

City officials said residents who live near an unmaintained property should report it at the municipal building. The city’s street workers will address and determine when the properties can be maintained, they said.

Cami DiBattista is a freelance writer. She may be reached at cad316@gmail.com. Editor Jason Togyer contributed to this story.

Originally published July 28, 2018.

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