The Commission had made some amendments to the storm water fee Ordinance including additional credits to homeowners, but were not attached to the online Ordinance. Since it was not available to the public, the Commissioners tabled the vote until August 9. Thank you, Bill Lewis, for catching that. And thanks, Dan Miller, for verifying that on your laptop during the meeting.
Because of that action, the consideration of a three-year contract (at a cost of 2% of gross collections, with an adjustment for any future postage increases) with Jordan Tax Service for billing and collection of the storm water fee was also tabled until August 9.
Update 11:28 a.m. The Municipality has updated their website to include the amendments to the Ordinance. They may also be viewed here. This is a 23 page document and takes time to open.
11 comments:
The *missing" documents that were reportedly available were two in number...(1)a 10-page "Attachment" entitled "Credit Manual for Stormwater Fee", and (2)a 2.25 page "Exhibit" entitled "Collection Fees For Deliquent Accounts". I received hardcopies of these after the meeting. They had apparently been uploaded to the website posting of the proposed ordinance, but for some reason did not register or whatever. This was confirmed during the meeting after I challenged the public availability.
The reading of the "missing" documents reveals some disturbing facts :
(1) the Attachment on credits is an insult to the intelligence of the public, and here's why :(a) realizing the annual fee for single family residential property owners will be $96/year, the appeal process for this class of some 12,000 Lebo owners to receive CONSIDERATION for to-be-determined credit or discount requires (i) a minimum filing fee of $300, plus (ii) for consideration of a "Peak Flow Attentuation Credit", documentation from a professional engineer through a written report and calculations that onsite stormwater detention/retention ponds or other structural BMP's (?) designed to control peak flow from the property, designed for a 25-year storm, are in place and functional. That report would likely cost a property owner say $600....if the property even had the required structural requirements to begin with, and (iii) credit consideration would only be given to the portion of a property's impervious area served by the Muni storm water system....my property and hundreds, if not a thousand or more others, are not connected to the Muni storm water system at all ! So you see that the implementation reg's , procedures and guidelines essentially preclude almost all single family residential properties from either qualifying for or cost-justifying a credit or discount....would you pay over $900 to apply for a maximum credit..MAYBE..of 50% of $96 /year even if you met all other criteria ?
For consideration of (iv) a "One-time Rain Barrel Credit", only 1-barrel/property might qualify on a "first come first served basis...until the budgeted amount is depleted", but not defined ? "The credit shall be 25% of the cost of the rain barrel or a minimum of $25.00 and a maximum of $50.00"....one time maybe against a filing fee of $300...that seems eminantly fair does it not...say 25% of $100 v. $300 just to file and be considered.
They must believe we are all brain dead....I'm running out of allowable words for a single comment. Allowable school property credits will be covered next. The devil is always in the details.
Bill Lewis
Here's the Muni *deal* for storm water fee credits for school properties, both public, and private (not) :
1)although the Manual specifies applicability to both public and private schools, the details in section 2.4 exclude private schools by stating, "Because public and private schools have a unique opportunity to educate schoolchildren on water quality, a 20% credit is available to public school properties on which a school operates"...there is no provision for credit allowance for private school properties in the details !
2) further, "To qualify for this credit, the school must undertake a curriculum of education activities that provideds for at least two hours (in total) per calendar school year of education targeting water quality and the curriculum must provide this level of education for at least 90% of all enrolled students in each grade year. The curriculum components that will be used to satisfy this credit policy must be submitted to Mt. Lebanon DPW for review and approval "
What do you think boys and girls ? Is this not a sham and even shameful ? Will this even be acceptable by PDE & PA School Code law and MTLSD policy ? If so, would it be administered accurately and honestly in every respect in each location and each and every year in the District ? Is this not a *softball* offer to appease or prevent open opposition to the storm water fee assessment by the public school special interests ? There is of course a requirement for a minimum $1,000 application filing fee for "commercial" property credit consideration...presumably school buildings would fall under this classification as they do in the Zoning Ordinance, but who knows ? It's not in the Manual details.
In this and my previous comment I have only referred to a portion of the 10-page Fee Manual....some provisions and requirements of the remainder would make you scream. Significant portions of both the Ordinance and the Manual, for instance, are devoted to enforcement and penalities for noncompliance and nonpayment by property owners.
It's just the government...it's here to help us.
Please tell your Commissioner what you think of all this.
Bill Lewis
Until budgeted amount is depleted?? Hold on! It is just a $25-50 one-time credit for a $96 fee. How could it be depleted? And what if I submit my application and it is caught in the four week turn around time and the residence before mine got the last credit, which would be my luck! Will Public Works be hiring more staff to go through the thousands of applications? And what about home schooling? The parents could easily educate children about water quality. In fact, every parent could do that. So Public Works will have time to study curriculum during down time when the rain barrel credit money dries up?? Where is the Municipality being hit with their fees? Or are they exempt because they would be paying themselves?
Folks, this really stinks! Forget the rain barrel credit. Just start the whole thing three months later.
Elaine
Stormwater Fees, Recreation fees, didn't we hear this song before?
"Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me."
George Harrison
Mr. Harrison, I have always been a big fan of yours. But this is a fee, not a tax. Are there taxes where you are? Or are they fees?
Elaine
Mrs. Gillen, an online dictionary defines tax as-
–noun
1. a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc.
2. a burdensome charge, obligation, duty, or demand.
Since the stormwater "fee" will be demanded by the local government for its support of specific facilities (storm water system) its a tax!
As for your question about here--
one pays their fees in the "material world" before arriving.
GH
How do you like the bait and switch approach of the Muni government? First we have a structural deficit and need to solve problems so we impose a $96 storm water fee on residents because we can't raise revenues otherwise. Then comes the recreation bond we couldn't afford otherwise!
Real sneaky, Dave, Joe and Matt - you three are about as honest as the school board. I guess you three are as afraid of the cheap deadbeat athletic supporters as the board is. Since when do Dave Reese and Dan Goff and Company have magical powers to avoid athletic fees?
If the cheap deadbeat athletic supporters won't chip in their own fees, why should I pay to play golf at the Mt. Lebanon Golf Course?
John Ewing
Since when does the Muni determine the curriculum for the schools? That decision is expressly reserved for the school board under the State School Code. Who is the clown that is violating State law by trying to dictate curriculum requirements? Was this decided in a secret non-public meeting with the Board? If it was all 14 of you are in violation of the School Code.
Did the Muni Solicitor or the school Solicitor review the ordinance?
John Ewing
John Ewing
Houses of worship have the unique opportunity to preach about Noah's Ark and the Great Flood. They should be eligible for a 20% discount, as well.
Elaine
I forgot to add that the sermons must be approved by Public Works.
Elaine
Leave it to the Muni to tax your church. First they wanted a sign tax of $50 every time a sign was posted by the church - reduced to $20. Now they want to tax your parking lot too. You know the parking lot that is required by the Zoning Code if you build the church. Maybe we should just park on the streets and walk to church and forget the tax? Or maybe not go to church so we don't have to contribute to the Commissioners new boondoggle.
Who ever heard of a tax on going to church? The Lebo Commission, of course!
John Ewing
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