More questions

At the December 20, 2010 School Board Meeting, a resident asked the School Board the following questions.  The School Board attempted to answer some of them.  12/20/2010 School Board Business Meeting  Looking at the photo of Hoover School, the questions are asked just under the lamp post on the podcast.  Are you satisfied with their answers?  What about the unanswered questions?

  

1. Mr. Ostergaard, do you think our reputable architect who was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon, attended K thru twelve, have an advantage in knowing the community’s wants, needs, and affordabilities?  Were you surprised that they didn’t use one suggestion that the Community Advisory Committee made?  Was the CAC only an exercise in pacifying the community?
2. Ms. Posti, you didn’t think, we as a community had the right to vote on a huge project that will be financially life-altering for our residents.  Do you think it is morally right to tax families and seniors out of their homes?  These seniors have paid their dues for years building this community.  Collectively, you have taken their rights away.  Do you have any regrets?
3. Ms. Birks, has our football team gone undefeated this year?  Did the girls’ basketball and softball teams win the WPIALs?   Bricks and mortar didn’t win the WPIALs.  Talent, hard work, and excellent coaching did.  Our kids just proved that we don’t need the state of the arts sports center.  Yes, we do need the gym, locker, and shower rooms to be safe, clean, and healthy for them.  This is without question.
4. Mrs. Rose, a family living in a $150,000 home earning $50,000 will not be able to remain here in Mt. Lebanon.  Are you willing to cut the extra amenities out of the school project so they may continue to remain in their home and community that they love?  You know it is never too late to do the right thing. 
5. Mr. Peterson, is it true that you wrote a memo proving that a discussion took place in a meeting with some of our present board members about keeping this project under referendum to keep the community from voting? Is this ethical?
6. Mr. Kubit, do you know that according to our tax collector, there are a good number of residents that are a year behind in paying their taxes? If you haven’t noticed, the homes in Mt. Lebanon aren’t selling quickly as the past due to the sky rocketing taxes.  The exodus of Mt. Lebanon has already begun with 244 homes for sale.  Upper St. Clair 121.
7. Ms. Cappucci, I am not here to argue.  I just want to know the truth. My curiosity was peaked at the November 15^th meeting.  The fact that Mr. Kubit stopped everyone from answering Mrs. Stephenson’s question about the budget for the school relating to the referendum limit or not having a certain figure in your mind for the cost of the school.  Mr. Remely volunteered his answer. It was no.  I would like to know if you were present during the discussion regarding keeping the cost of the school under the referendum.  Yes or No?

So let me summarize what has been going on.

Fact: You intentionally kept this project from referendum.

Fact: The majority of the residents was not once to keep the renovation of the school not to exceed the $75 million already borrowed.

Fact: Four thousand signatures on that petition were ignored.

Fact: The Community Advisory Committee was an exercise in appeasement.

Fact: You have ignored the facts presented to you not only from professionals in their field but from our community. The news screams how bad the economy is.  The whole country has been tightening their belts.  Why aren’t we?

Fact: According to our tax collector, I said the residents are behind in paying their taxes.

Fact: You are building this school knowingly that residents living here at present, making $50,000 a year, will not be able to stay in their homes.  This is called profiling. This is called discrimination and that’s illegal.

Is there something more sinister going on?  It seems to me that you are planning to get rid of many more residents that aren’t up to your standards financially. I guess having more revenue from an elitist community will get you anything your heart desires.  I personally prefer a well diverse community like we have now.

Also, President Posti asks the resident for the copy of the document.  Mr. Peterson was already aware of it.  Didn't President Posti see it in her packet?  Why did everyone know about except her?