Pittsburgh City Council Interviews - 3/30/26

This was a pre-agenda interview held by the Pittsburgh City Council on March 30, 2026, to consider the appointment of Jeff Scallakin as the director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. The discussion focused heavily on infrastructure maintenance and departmental growth, with Scallakin emphasizing his nine years of experience and the expansion of the department from a single employee to 127 staff members. A key procurement-related topic was the desire to increase in-house capabilities, particularly by hiring painters to maintain handrailings, fences, and bridges, which would reduce reliance on costly external contracts and improve efficiency. Council members expressed strong support for this initiative, noting the potential cost savings and improved project timelines. Scallakin also highlighted the department's success in securing over 40 federally and state-funded projects, reflecting effective partnerships and funding acquisition efforts. The meeting concluded with plans to confirm Scallakin's appointment and continued focus on expanding in-house maintenance capabilities to better serve the city's infrastructure needs.