Oakmonter Futules Seeking Second County Council Term

Nick Futules has a strong desire to make strong, sustainable Allegheny County parks.

Plum and Oakmont's county council representative is seeking a second term to continue his role of Allegheny County's parks co-chairman.

Futules (D-Oakmont), who will be uncontested in the primary election, will face off against Plum councilman Mike Dell (R-Plum) for a big local race this fall. The position is a four-year term for District 7, which covers parts of Plum, Oakmont, Penn Hills, Verona, Harmar, Cheswick, Springdale and Wilkins.

Futules is the long-time business manager of Futules' Harmar House in Cheswick, which he co-owns with his brother—Verona Councilman Tony Futules—and co-owner of A.K. Property Corp. and Futules Properties.

Futules himself served on Verona Council for two terms, or eight years, during which he chaired the budget and finance committee. He ran for the county council seat in 2007, replacing Susan Caldwell, who was previously appointed to the position.

During his four years in office, Futules counts programs investing in volunteers as some of his biggest achievements.

Futules first helped implement a program allowing county firefighters and EMTs to have free entrance to Allegheny County swimming pools, skating parts and ski hills, which was unanimously approved by county council.

He continued to emphasize volunteerism by working with Chief Executive Dan Onorato to install the FireVEST Scholarship Program, which provides free education and textbooks to county firefighters who commit to five years of service to a volunteer fire department.

Of the 200 scholarships offered per year, 150 are new recruits, according to the Community College of Allegheny County. The local program has been a model for many other similar programs nationwide, Futules said.

The program doesn't cost much since it means adding a few extra students to an existing class, he said.

"Anyone who wants to volunteer for the county deserves something from us," he said.

Futules also wants to extend the free entrance benefits to anyone who volunteers for the parks, such as the Boyce Park ski patrol and holiday helpers at Hartwood Acres.

Investing in volunteers is worth it, Futules said, because it's the least the county can do to say thank you to people who save it—and taxpayers—money by working for free.

Futules also is working on implementing a parks community days, similar to "Kennywood Day" at local schools.

Futules started the project last year in which community members would receive discounts at the park on a day they choose. It brings new people into the parks and increases cash flow to the county, too, he said.

Under Futules, the parks department began working on ways to cut out the cost associated with running the parks, he said. They raised entrance fees across the board, which brought in an additional $500,000 in revenue, Futules said.

"The goal is to make the parks self-sustaining," he said.

Futules also works on the board of directors of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, a non-profit organization that collects private funds to help pay for the parks.

"We've come to realize that taxes can't pay for everything anymore," Futules said.

Futules said he enjoys working in the parks department because they "don't have a party," and he has received support from both sides of the fence.

"They're for everyone in the county, Democrat or Republican," he said.

Futules believes his success so far is a result of his business manager background, which he's done since he was in his late teens.

Being a member of county council requires a lot of time and dedication, he said.

"It's considered a part-time job, but it's not," Futules said.

The father of three and grandfather of one has always considered himself a hard worker.

"Being in the restaurant business, I work seven days a week," he said.

He originally took an interest in holding a public position because he likes to see and be part of how things work, he said.

Futules is concerned about the Port Authority budget crisis and is critical of the use of free fares within the Downtown area. He supports raising the fares if that's what it takes.

"If you ask riders, people would pay an extra dollar to keep their bus," he said. "Nobody rides the bus because they want to—they ride it because they have to."

The councilman's philosophy is to do what will benefit as many people as possible, he said.