Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Mt. Lebanon to Address Conflict Resolution

Laura Pace Lilly asked me to post this on Lebo Citizens.  I think the timing for such an event is perfect, especially in the area concerning conflicts on the playing fields.


Mt. Lebanon to Address Conflict Resolution
The increase in hostility these days is palpable. In the media, on the playing field, in the halls of government and in our neighborhoods, conflict is on the rise and the reactions range from less-than-cordial to downright shocking.
To counter this trend, the Mt. Lebanon Community Relations Board is presenting the forum “Can We Disagree Without Being Disagreeable?” on Wednesday, September 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Commission Chambers, 710 Washington Road, in Mt. Lebanon. Admission is free and the public is welcome.
Moderated by KDKA’s Jon Delano, the panel will include: Ellen DeBenedetti, a mediator, trainer, conflict coach and facilitator; David Miller, professor at Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist; The Rev. Kris Opat, assistant rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Emily Stevick, psychologist.
“Our community relations board has put together an outstanding panel, who will share their own experiences, answer questions from the audience and talk informally with people after the meeting, “ says Susan Morgans, staff liaison to the board. “We hope to raise awareness among the public that respectful disagreement can often lead to new ideas and workable compromises.”

Since I will not be able to attend this meeting, I am willing to post a recording of it on the Lebo Citizens website, if there is someone out there willing to record it.  I do have an extra recorder, if needed.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe the school board will attend and listen to someone for a change. Were they invited Laura?
John Ewing

Anonymous said...

Questions From the Budget Presentation About Fat Extra Balances and Other Mischief

Capital Projects Fund – $8 million
Who got their pockets picked for $8-Million? The ML taxpayers are pre paying for the high school.

– Food Service Fund Balance ‐ $600,00
Who got their pockets picked for $ 600,000? The ML Taxpayers or Parents paying extra food charges? Posti said $900,000 of food service equipment for the HS would come from the Food Service Fund Balance. Klein admitted rent and depreciation were credited to the Food Service Account and charged to the Education Budget. One way the parents are charged extra for lunch prices; the other way the residents are getting a millage increase to subsidize lunch prices out of tax millage. Who is telling the truth, Posti or Klein? ? Prove the truth with your financial statements your audit and your budget transfers.

–Asbestos Abatement Fund ‐ $1.7 million – If Building C needs to be destroyed because of asbestos why has this Fund not been used since 1995 to remove asbestos from Building C?

–Elementary Bond Funds ‐ $615,000 – How long can you keep bond funds not spent without running afoul of IRS Arbitrage Regulations? Why didn’t we use this money for Capital Projects funding?

- Millage rate may have to be phased in over a period of time so that debt payments will be affordable under Act 1 millage rate limitations
Upper St. Clair phased in millage for a Bond Issue and levied $2,000,000 in extra taxes doing that. Why is Mt. Lebanon following Upper St Clair’s bad example?

John Ewing