Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2012 Commission
Tonight, The Honorable Alexander Bicket administered the oath for the swearing-in ceremony. With right hands raised and left hands on the Bible, John Bendel, Kristen Linfante, and Kelly Fraasch were sworn in as our new commissioners. Dave Brumfield is the new Commission President for 2012 and Matt Kluck is the new Commission Vice President for 2012. Congratulations to all.
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81 comments:
God grant them the courage to stand up for the municipality and not the school district.
The Brumfields had Invited everyone to join them for some refreshments, which turned out to be quite a spread, in one of the meeting rooms. That was really nice of you, Dave and Michelle. Thanks.
Elaine
One more thing. Before the meeting started, Susan Morgans wanted me to let my readers know that if they have any questions about the magazine, to please contact her. What the readers said about the magazine was inaccurate. She said that it does not cost a million dollars a year and I should have caught that. We did spend about an hour together when I was running for commissioner. See March 7, 2011 post http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2011/03/mt-lebanons-public-information-office.html
Sorry about that, Susan. There were 144 comments in that thread and I missed it.
Elaine
Elaine, Ms. Morgans may be right. The only true test would be to see the numbers, which she should be able to provide.
Couple of. Things to look for- does the magazine pay it's own utility bills, IT support contracts, rent, office furnniture, equipment, health insurance, pension funding, etc., etc.
In other words, all the things that a private business would incur running a publication.
Of course the above are separate issues from does the community want to underwrite the magazine!
Couple of thoughts. If the municipality is concerned about environmental issues, cutting paper and energy use would be a good place to start. In the 21st century the magazine could be online rather than cutting down trees.
As a cost- saving effort, why do the school district and municipality both need separate communication employees? If they shared one office it we'd probably save enough to keep the rifle range or avoid student parking fees at the very least. And if we do eliminate the range, put the magazine offices in that space. Then high school students could intern with the magazine. The magazine could pay the district some rent perhaps and one PR staffer could be eliminated from either the mini or the district.
As the PIO, Ms. Morgans should have made the correction. She "caught that." At what point will she acknowledge your accomplishments, Elaine?
If Susan Morgans caught an error, then why didn't she post a comment and set the record straight??
The swearing-in ceremony was nicely done.
Congratulations to the new commissioners.
I love the idea of students interning. They should do it now in the District's IT and Communications depts. We now have Junior Commissioners for the Commission. We could have Junior Public Information Officers. Before I get cornered again at the next Commission meeting, I have to say that the magazine does have summer interns.
Elaine
Anon 9:32, I did ask her that question, and Susan said that she doesn't read blogs. Then how did she know about it? It was pointed out to her.
Elaine
What a great idea! We spend millions on athletics, but how much do we invest in budding writers?
Moving the magazine offices into the high school is brilliant. What college student wouldn't love to have an internship at an award-winning publication on their resume?!
Here we have an opportunity to provide that experience- not to college students- but to our very own high school students. And save some money by combining the information offices of the district and municipality into one.
That's curious since she had a feature on the Reallebo blog when it started. She also contributes to Fakelebo, so what's the difference?
By moving it into the HS, they could also help the students with the school paper thereby eliminating the cost of an advisor.
Our PIO "doesn't read blogs"? I'm sorry, but that's an LOL...
Don't they share printing costs or something like that? Maybe there can be some bartering when it comes to glossy mailers.
Anon 9:18, brilliant idea!
Elaine
If you combine the PIO offices who is in charge?
How about the most qualified applicant?
Elaine
Who's in charge... the taxpayers! After all we are a Homerule Community.
If you asking who oversees the combined dept. - how about the commission and SB presidents or their appointees.
After all President Posti wanted more cooperation between the two. That and they seem to figure out how to share a parking lot with out much effort. Doubt that this issue would be insurmountable. That is if they were really interested in saving taxpayer money.
Anon 10:24. One of the PIOs would be eliminated. Sorry, but thats the way things are done in the real world. When budgets get tight companies look for ways to economize. Why shouldn't the school district and municipality?
So what would become of the penthouse office space in the Municipal Building?
Elaine
The state budget secretary declined to say whether Pennsylvania schools will see more cuts when Gov. Corbett releases his budget,
Move the Historical Society there. Rent it.
The Commission should junk the old budget structure and build a budget based on priorities and performance.
I thought they did that already. it is the school district that doesn't do that.
Elaine
Sue Morgans doesn't read or investigate the blogs her magazine features.
http://ebooks.mtlebanon.org/mtl/mtl-102009/pageflip.html
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=422899318083
There is still about a $1,000,000 shortfall in the municipal budget that must be paid by 2015.
Yeah I'm sure the Historical Society could use. How about letting the library use it. They could turn it into a meeting room or office space for home office people to use for a fee.
Maybe do something like pool passes. A group or home Office say the Youth Sports, Garden Club, or whatever we have here could "subscribe" to the space which would then make it available for their meetings, team drafts etc.
Library could then outfit it with digital projector, whiteboard and computer link.
May be way to help out and expand the services of the library.
With the economy in the hopper, budgets out of whack we've got to start thinking outside the box people. This isn't MTL 1950s and 60s --- people!
We need to cut our budgets so we can pay our bills. That means eliminating services.
I'm wondering- what part of this economy don't the School Board/Superintendent or the Commissioners get?
Ah, no we give the top guy in the school district 15 more paid vacation days! Raise his salary which in turn raises his pension, which by the way is underfunded right now. I guess it doesn't matter if they make it a little more underfunded, right?
And yes, believe the board when they whine... its not our fault as they construct a $108+ million high school that building professionals suggest isn't entirely necessary.
Also at the same time as they engage in the above they're looking for cuts or considering implimenting fees for programs and supplies... FOR THE KIDS. Incredible how dumb we are.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
"Corbett freezes pay for cabinet, management
January 03, 2012|By Amy Worden, Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG - Members of Gov. Corbett's cabinet and management employees in the executive branch will not see any increase in their salaries this year.
Citing the still-sluggish economy, Corbett has imposed a pay freeze on top-level staff members, his spokesman, Kevin Harley, said in an e-mail.
"The economy remains a challenge, and revenue is coming in below estimates," he said.
Harley did not say how many state employees were affected, but under a similar freeze imposed by Gov. Ed Rendell in 2009 and 2010, 13,000 were identified as management-level."
For all those interested, but don't know much about the magazine publishing industry.
According to —
PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE magazine (self-proclaimed Leading source for Magazine Publishing Executives):
"Magazines Reaching the Print-Digital Audience Tipping Point
NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2011—For most magazines, leveraging digital platforms to deliver content and advertising has helped to extend the audience reach of their brands. For a handful, the audiences generated through digital delivery channels have now surpassed their traditional print delivery.
According to the most recent wave of Affinity’s American Magazine Study surveys—which report the total magazine brand footprint across print, mobile and social platforms, as well as integrating magazine Website data from comScore’s Media Metrix—there are now 15 magazines generating larger digital audiences than print reader numbers.
#INLINE-CHART#
For some of these brands—like WebMD the Magazine, ESPN the Magazine and Food Network Magazine—it may come as no surprise, since the printed magazine is an extension of an already established Web or broadcast presence. But the remaining brands reflect a conscious effort on the part of the publisher to develop new distribution outlets beyond the printed page.
A closer look at the brands that have crossed the digital tipping point when it comes to the audience delivery of their branded content, reveals that they are all leveraging multiple platforms in order to grow their digital audiences beyond their traditional print readers.
Digital platforms employed by the magazine brands that have crossed the audience tipping point:
Barron’s — Website, Social networks, Tablet apps, eReader apps
ESPN the Magazine — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps, Zinio
Fast Company — Website, Social networks, Tablet apps, eReader apps, Texterity
Food Network Magazine — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps, Zinio
Forbes — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps
Fortune — Website, Social networks, Tablet apps, eReader apps
Harvard Business Review — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps, Zinio
MacWorld — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps, Zinio
Money — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps
New York Magazine — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps
Sporting News — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, Zinio
The Atlantic — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps
The Economist — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps, Zinio
WebMD the Magazine — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, Zinio
Wired — Website, Social networks, Smartphone apps, Tablet apps, eReader apps"
For those that missed it...their data says: "there are now 15 magazines generating larger digital audiences than print reader numbers. "
So, does MTL stay in the last century or move into the 21st century... and save some money and trees in the process?
Anon. 12:02 pm ... There is an alternative. We can raise taxes enough to pay for the services that will distinguish us from other less desirable communities which will, in the long term, raise property values.
Some of Commissioner Brumfield's latest votes have been a pleasant surprise to this constituent that had doubts about his agenda.
Hope he continues to keep an open mind and ear.
What is the difference if the MTL magazine is in the space or the Historical Society or the Library. Our tax dollars fund each of them. At least the MTL magazine has revenue to offset most of the expense. The library just got another bump in funding from the municipality. Maybe the library should give back the extra money it received in this budget and go raise the funds by itself like the MTL magazine does.
It is interesting to me that this budget is short and it includes the "Savings" and added revenue from taking over the Parking Authority. The municipality took back the police issued fines which are about 85k/yr. How did we increase revenue by 85K and still end up with such a huge hole? Where did that money go?
Hmmmm, way back in 2007 Bloglebo poster Joe Polk reported the info. below. Allowing for inflation, raises & benefits and the skyrocket cost of paper/printing over the last 4 years we'd have to be approaching $1,000,000.
"THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2007
Showing Off Lebo Isn't Cheap
POSTED BY JOE POLK AT 2:49 PM / 3 COMMENTS
When it comes to public relations, Mt. Lebanon officials go all the way.
The affluent suburb -- where the median family income neared $80,000 in the last census -- allocated about $838,000 this year to spread good news about itself. It employs two full-timers in its public information office: Susan Fleming Morgans, who is paid $82,229, and new addition Laura Pace, who makes $34,916.
"There's a welcoming atmosphere here," said Fleming Morgans. "We want residents to feel free to bring up questions about anything in the community.""
So somebody nudge Ms. Morgans that there are two questions here.
1. How come Elaine and her blog has never been featured in MTL magazine? Reallebo.com and Elaine LaBalme (New Girl In Town blogger) were featured.
Keep in mind, Ms. Morgans lebocitizens was nominated as one of the most valuable blogs. I would hate to think as MTL's PIO your bias would be showing.
2. Just what is the bottom line for operation of the magazine? All in? as they say.
Anon 12:57, perhaps we can have our "'CAKE' and eat it too!" See Anon 12:51's post on magazine publishing.
Do we really need a snail mail version of MTL magazine in the "21st century?" Think GREEN! Save the planet! Prevent global warming!
Maybe the Environmental Sustainabilty Board can tell us the repercussions all that paper, fuel and ink has on the environment.
Anon 1:59 the difference is that the school district and the municipality could share staff and expenses. Not so sure the school district needs a historical society.
Does Sarbanes Okley apply to the accounting of government (public) entities?
Doesn't the Historical Society pay us rent? We could sell that house and move them to the penthouse. Correct me if I am wrong.
Elaine
From the National School Boards Association, check out page 5:
http://tinyurl.com/7qxg4nc
I love this quote:
"When a school board says ‘We may be stupid but we are not liars,’ something is terribly wrong."
Anon. 12:02 pm ... "There is an alternative. We can raise taxes enough to pay for the services that will distinguish us from other less desirable communities which will, in the long term, raise property values."
Which services and what proof can you provide on the claim "raise property values?"
Lets see there's North Hill Monthly and USC's Today magazines.
According to a PG article:
"Our profit point is much lower than theirs will ever be," he [IN MTL publisher] said of government-produced publications. "As a private business, you have to watch your dollars very carefully."
Mr. Dollard employs 10 full-time employees and 26 freelance writers, photographers and sales representatives.
That's comparable to Mt. Lebanon Magazine, which publishes 10 issues per year and employs 10 people, who also do other work for the township.
"A magazine is only one part of what we do," said Ms. Fleming Morgans, who doubles as the township's public information officer.
The annual budget for the magazine is about $654,000, Ms. Fleming Morgans said, and it is entirely advertising-funded, another plus for residents.
"We operate at a net-zero cost to taxpayers," she said.
The Upper St. Clair Today Magazine is published and mailed quarterly by the township and school district at a cost of nearly $200,000 a year.
[NOTE THIS STATEMENT--"IS PUBLISHED AND MAILED QUARTERLY BY THE TWONSHIP AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AT A COST OF NEARLY $200,00/YEAR. Repeating... "by the township AND the school district... $200,000/year! AND IT IS SELF-SUSTAINING!!!!]
It has been around for 16 years, the last 15 of which it has also been self-sustaining, according to Paul Fox, a member of the magazine's steering committee.
"It's our passion," Mr. Fox said.
The magazine is published largely through submissions from local residents and a youth writer's guild, he said.
"Everybody told us we couldn't do it."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10021/1029826-55.stm#ixzz1iWZ3OtwB
Thank you Anon 3:35, a very informative article. The following is advice from your find. Didn't our board recently disband the Audit & Finance Committee?
"As a matter of prudence, principles of auditor independence and corporate responsibility for financial statements and other practices found in Sarbanes-Oxley provide lessons that school boards would be well-advised to consider.
One best practice could be to establish an orientation for board members and administrators covering their duty of care and statutory financial oversight responsibilities. Boards also may wish to establish an audit committee, a code of ethics for administrators and financial officers, a document management system, and whistleblower protection, as matters of good practice."
Anon 12:02 you said "that will distinguish us from other less desirable communities"
Just a little arcissistic, are we!
That's narcissistic.
I don't know this to be fact, but I doubt that the MTL magazine would sell nearly the number of ads it does now if it moved to an online format. For example, why would Howard Hanna and Coldwell Banker (the longtime cover advertisers) buy ad space to show houses on the magazine's website when they could save their money and show them on their own? I personally can't imagine anyone would go to a magazine website that had as many ads as the current print version of MTL. No ads means no money.
As for the mainstream publications that are now online, please don't forget that you can't access them for free. You must be a paid print subscriber, pay a separate online fee to read the same content that is in the actual magazine or buy the app for you phone or tablet reader.
Also, contrary to what many would like to believe, the magazine does provide a good service for the community in that it allows for the distribution of information to all residents, regardless of whether they own a computer. For example, my senior neighbors don't own a computer, but they rely on and enjoy the magazine for useful information, whether it be about community programs, public safety initiatives, garbage pickup or upcoming events. I've been told that the community's leaders don't care enough about the seniors, so why would we want to shut many of them out by putting everything online?
Anon 4:33 you say: "I personally can't imagine anyone would go to a magazine website that had as many ads as the current print version of MTL. No ads means no money. "
Well perhaps personally you should expand your horizons, do some research and look outside the bubble.
Many magazine have a plethora of ads in their online versions. Many blogs have turned into substantial income sources for their founders by offering ad space and banners. Where do you think Google, AOL and others get a large part of their revenue from?
And once again you're also wrong on online publication requiring subscription fees. Just went on WebMD and can look at the current and archives=d issues. Food Network, Fortune and MacWorld magazines are free as well. You can subscribe for additional options but for most part they as well as many others are free!
You should really start reading the trade publications -- hardcopy publications are struggling and as iPads and Tablets and the cost of production/mailing rises they'll find it even harder to survive.
You also don't seem to want to address the issue that USC can publish a joint muni/school district self-sustaining magazine for $200,000 but MTL's cost $650,000+? I guess thats one of those "less desirable communities" we keep hearing about.
Anon 4:33 you say "I personally can't imagine anyone would go to a magazine website that had as many ads as the current print version of MTL. No ads means no money."
You really need to take off your blinders, stop isolating yourself to the bubble and move into the 21st century. Read this informative article on making money via web advertising.
How does Google make money?
By Ben Tremblay
One of the question I often have to answer is: “How does Google make money?”. They don’t sell any product, everything you use from them is free and on top of that they seem to be very active in the “open source” community. So how the hell can they cash-in?
Advertisement
Advertisement, that’s how Google is making its money. Every time you do a search on Google, you’ve probably noticed that there was a section called “Sponsored Links”. Every time you click on one of those links, Google charge a certain amount of money to the website for the click. When you go on a website you’ll notice advertising from Google too. Daily Common Sense has ads from Google. Same thing happens here, when you click, Google charge a certain amount of money to the website you clicked on and part of that money is given to the webmaster publishing the ads. This is called AdSense and is an enormous source of income for Google.
How much does Google charge for a click?
The price advertisers pay for a click depends on a lot of factors and this is where Google is playing smart. They use some sort of bidding system. When you want to advertise with Google, you select keywords you are targeting. Let’s say I own an online guitar store and I want to bring potential customers to my website. I’m going to bid on the keywords “guitar” and “buy guitar” for example. The price I’m going to pay will depend if there is other companies bidding for that keyword. The more companies are fighting for a keyword, the more I’m going to pay for a single click to my website. The price can vary from 0.01$ to 100$ and more. Not to bad for a click hey? You can imagine that for highly competitive keywords like finance and health it can cost quite a lot of money for a company to advertise with Google.
No production cost
Google doesn’t sell any tangible product and that’s the beauty of their business. They sell something that doesn’t really exist. They really sell traffic. It mostly comes down to this: They get paid for sending traffic to other websites. That’s why Google seems to be everywhere now: They have to show substantial growth to their stakeholders and to do that they have to drive more and more traffic to provide more and more advertisement. That’s also the reason they’ll be jumping in the cell phone industry, so they can make a bit of money from all the web traffic that next generation cell phones are going to drive in the next couple of years.
Expect to see Google around more and more in the next couple of years...
So tell me why couldn't the municipality do the same thing? Every time a resident or perspective resident signs to read a MTL story on they're bombarded with Rolliers, Bado's or Galleria banners for which MTL charges the "advertisers" a fee for the click thrus.
Really rather simple. No trees, no postage, no carbon polluting delivery trucks.
No you're right Anon 4:33, don;t tax your imagination... just keeping taxing your neihbors
Couple of things:
First, what did the writer mean by "less desirable communities"? Name a few. I'm curious as to what skewed perception you have on life.
Second, I just got my latest issues of both MtL Magazine and InLebo magazine. InLebo, in my opinion, is much better in terms of value. MtL magazine is a nice publication but it's pure fluff.
third, if we're such a wonderful community and, um, so "desirable", why in the heck would our 'official' publication run ads highlighting businesses in other communities? That makes zero sense. How about doing more features on local businesses instead of who has the nicest garden...I'm not sure how it promotes Lebo when the ads in our 'official' publicaition feature retial and restaurants from Sewickley, USC, Peter's, Bethel, etc. (And who says it's the official publicaiton? If it's allegedly self-sustaining and not getting money from the township, then it's not more the official publication of Mt. Lebanon than my diary).
Fourth, why not charge a subscription fee of X amount per year? I'll bet I know why they don't...
MTL has a defined bias. Two examples are the website recognitions, and the replacement of "Our Town Would Be Different Without" article.
Do we really want a $650,000 publication that is biased? Why duplicate the services of the Posti Gazette? Why duplicate the services of IN Mt. Lebanon Magazine?
Even if the magazine is profitable the duplication of services is a waste of resources.
The municipality does not count debt service in the expenses of the recreational programs reported to the community. How do we know the magazine really is at a profit if the other accounting is using a selective cost allocation?
It's really easy to write about communities when they are growing and developing; it's a lot harder when they're not.
That's a main reason Mt. Lebanon Magazine has gotten so boring.
It's also a lot easier to find stories when your school district doesn't circumvent referendums and take on expensive projects that divide the community instead of bringing them together.
We need to get off our high horse and graciously make room for someone else. The party's over here, folks.
From the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget:
News for Immediate Release
Jan. 4, 2012
Governor Corbett Orders Freeze of Nearly $160 Million in State Spending
Harrisburg – With commonwealth revenues continuing to come in below estimate for the 2011-12 fiscal year, Governor Tom Corbett has directed his Budget Office to freeze nearly $160 million in state spending.
The governor also has asked government entities not under his jurisdiction to reduce their spending by nearly $66 million.
“Until revenue collections improve, we must take precautions to ensure that the commonwealth budget remains in balance,” Governor Corbett said.
Midway through the state’s fiscal year, revenues are $486.8 million below estimate, the state Department of Revenue reported Tuesday.
Governor Corbett has directed most agencies to reduce their overall 2011-12 spending by 3 percent. Some individual appropriations will see spending reductions of up to 10 percent.
The state-related universities – Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple and Lincoln universities – will see a reduction of 5 percent, or $25.7 million, in state funding.
Public safety agencies, such as State Police and the Department of Corrections, will freeze approximately 1 percent of their spending. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is not being directed to freeze any funds because of the numerous disaster-related emergency response activities that agency has coordinated this fiscal year, the governor said.
Basic education subsidy funds paid to school districts will not be affected, and the Department of Public Welfare will see a spending reduction of less than 1 percent, or $55 million.
The funds being placed into budgetary reserve across all agencies represent less than 1 percent of the total $27.2 billion General Fund budget.
“We did not make the decision to freeze these funds lightly. If the revenue picture improves in the months ahead and we determine these funds no longer need to remain frozen, we may be able to free up some or perhaps even all of the funds we are now placing into budgetary reserve,” Corbett said.
For a list of funds placed into budgetary reserve, please visit the Current and Proposed Commonwealth Budgets section of the Office of the Budget website at www.budget.state.pa.us.
Most budget freezes are at 3% of the 2011-2012 state budget with a few at a 5% freeze level and Payments to Pennsylvania Fairs reaching a 10% level. If fairs are being cut that raises the question of funding cuts for community *gatherings* in Mount Lebanon.
Mr. Ewing:
So if you want recreation debt service to be rolled into recreation operational accounting then you are okay with the golf course paying for its almost $1,000,000 in improvements from a couple of years ago through higher fees, right? You wouldn't want to be a deadbeat golf supporter, do you?
Buying an ad in the print MTL is a wise spend for a local business because it is guaranteed to reach every household in town. I doubt that those advertisers would do the same if they had to "hope" for online traffic, especially if the "fluff" is as unreadable as has been suggested here.
And as far as accepting ads from businesses outside of Lebo, are we so "narcissistic" to believe that our restaurants, hardware stores and doctors are the end all, be all? Talk about living in the "bubble" with "blinders" on. How can you even begin to discuss the economics of this publication or the budget as a whole and then suggest that we should limit paid ads to Lebo-only businesses?
And (the point that you elected to ignore) how do we best distribute useful information to our residents who don't have a computer? Are we so "narcissistic" to assume that everyone has an ipad or laptop? I'm told that we have taxed people to the point where they can't afford their medicine. How would they feel if we told them to buy a computer and pay for monthly internet service if they want to find out what's going in their community?
And I suppose the online MTL would have a user fee too, right? If I don't read it, why should I pay for others to read it?
An anonymous commenter wrote (at January 4, 2012, 12:57 PM), We can raise taxes enough to pay for the services that will distinguish us from other less desirable communities which will, in the long term, raise property values.
This claim is not necessarily true. Consider:
If a community adds desirable new services and keeps everything else the same (including taxes), that community will certainly become more desirable, and its property values will increase.
Conversely, if a community raises taxes and keeps everything else the same (including services), that community will certainly become less desirable, and its property values will decrease.
So, if Mt. Lebanon raises taxes to pay for desirable new services, these two effects will compete. Property values could go up or down: it all depends on how desirable the new services are compared to what people could get elsewhere for the same money.
Anon 6:11 seems you're out to pick another fight.
Mr. Ewing didn't say he wanted the debt service to be rolled into the operating accounting per se.
But even if he did say what you're alluding too, hey lets do it. If you don't know the TRUE cost of something... magazine... golf course... how do you determine whether to keep it or not?
Be like saying my Hummer only cost me $100 in fuel a month to drive while conveniently ignoring the $300/month lease + insurance costs.
Tom gets it!
Tom, anon 12:57 was asked to fill us in on which services would raise property values and to substantiate their claim by anon 3:48.
So far they haven't responded to the question.
Anon 6:11, I shouldn't have posted your comment since you were going after John Ewing and didn't sign your name. I was going to delete it, but someone just responded to your comment.
Elaine
Anon 6:23 you say: "Buying an ad in the print MTL is a wise spend for a local business because it is guaranteed to reach every household in town."
Do you have any idea of what you're talking about? "Guaranteed to reach every household in town," really?!!!
Show me me anywhere in the MTL rate card where they make that guarantee? Ask Ms. Morgans to appear here and put that claim in writing.
I know a few advertisers that will be looking for rebates if she does.
Now they do make these claims:
"Circulation targeted to the valuable Mt. Lebanon market without the costly spillover inherent in every other advertising vehicle."
"100 percent saturation. mtl magazine reaches virtually every consumer and business in Mt. Lebanon."
"Direct association with a quality publication and knowledgeable community, which reinforces the advertiser’s image."
Number 2 is a debatable claim, but still no guarantee! Ask Ms. Morgans to add it.
I'm willing to pay for improvements in the Golf Course but the Municipality has used it as a cash cow for years to fund a 10-year $2.000.000 cumulative deficit at the Ice Rink and who knows. Th what other fantasies. Then the Municipality added insult to injury when they purchased a $600,000 chiller for the ice.
The Golf Course had a $70,000 surplus a year ago and requests were refused to put some of that money back into the Golf Course.
So Mr. VOICE of the Athletic Deadbeats, put your money where your mouth is!
Darn, I guess there's more than one voice. I feel cheated now. But I'll gladly welcome the company.
Dave Franklin
Happy New Year, David.
John Ewing
Since it has been stated that the Mt. Lebanon Magazine pays for itself through advertising revenue, why not sell subscriptions for it? The additional revenue could offset the municipality's negative budget variance. If the demand is really there, let the market determine it's value rather then personal opinions.
Personally, I rarely read it anymore because after so many years it seems somewhat stale. It really appears to be a marketing tool for the community with a strong bubble filter, including the coverage about the high school renovation project.
If the magazine is truly is of value to our residents (including those who do not have computers) then let those who want it pay for the subscriptions.
As for the golf course, golf is one of the few activities offered to old geezers like me. I would be willing to pay more to play here, but between the cart rental and round costs I am pretty sure I pay more than most others who participate in other recreational sports programs in Mt. Lebanon. Playing three times in a month costs me approximately $110. Also, the golf course draws customers from outside of Mt. Lebanon, so before raising those fees it would be a good idea to compare them with other competing courses in the surrounding area.
Really, the powers that be in Mt. Lebanon need to start looking through a business sense lens when evaluating costs rather than the opinionated and territorial ones they do now.
Some factual cost/benefit analysis could go a long way at this point in time.
Haha "cash cow"- do you want to calculate in your fancy analysis how much money the town would get from actually developing the golf course? Would it not be good to analyze what better value options could be found? I think the Land Use group talked about that but I am sure they too are crazy, right!
As for the ice comment, you do realize that your beloved "cash cow" of a golf course has been blown out of the water as a money maker by the ice rink? Projected "cash" from the golf course (not included debt service payments) on 2011 and 2012 will be around $120k. Same period for ice rink? $400k and there are no debt service payments. The ice rink is the "cash cow" for recreation. Not golf- and that still doesn't take into account the value of the land that is occupied by a place that most in Lebo don't know how to drive into.
grumble grumble deadbeats grumble move out grumble short change only what i dont use grumble
The golf course and the ice rink are like a Brooks Brothers suit. I don't really, really need one, but it makes me feel good despite the costs.
If things become to tight for my budget then I guess I'll have to step down to Macy's, Kohl's off the rack.
Then again, maybe not. Is it possible to privatize either one? Let some company take over the operation and pay the community for the rights. The state has been talking about doing that with the turnpike and I80.
Maybe investigating prompting the owner of the Castle Shannon/Mt. Lebanon Blvd. property to sell to the privateer. They could then develop living-on-a golf-course hi-rise condos.
Close to shopping, the T and foremost, how many places in Pittsburgh can you live next to a golf course. There's also available the woods lining the 8th hole if they're part of course land.
Al Freoni has been a proponent of land development. He was on the Parking Authority when the Washington Road/Bower Hill property development was discussed. I'm sure he is aware of the Castle Shannon/Mt. Lebanon Blvd. property too. How are those developments working out for you? Are they better investments than Twin Hills Park or McNeilly Field?
Al, I hope the Strategic Plan for the District goes better for you than the former Parking Authority.
I wasn't suggesting the municipality buy more land or undertake developing condos around the golf course.
Just seems like with an aging population 1 or 2 bedroom condos close to public transit, shopping nd restaurants would be attractive properties. The developer would manage and maintain the golf course which would still be open to the public.
Just an idea.
In the Recommended Budget, go to page 23 for Public Information.
For the Golf Course, page 52.
For the Ice Rink, page 54.
In the Amended Budget, add $6720 in expenditures to restore PT hours to Level 3 for Public Information.
Elaine
Anon 7:44 PM is right on the mark.
The only way to survive is to look around and get creative with what you have. I suggest the formation of a citizens' group to advise the commissioners. Or, perhaps we should form the group ourselves and suggest our ideas through this blog.
Those of us who have lived here for decades know what must be done to keep this place alive and kicking.
How about volunteering for one of the many boards and authorities that are intended to address these issues. Any ideas would likely be vetted by one of them before being presented to the commission. If you can't get on one of the committees, go to their meetings. Take a commissioner to lunch. Learn the truth about options, costs, etc. You'd be surprised to find out how many of these issues have been discussed and debated already.
In my humble opinion, blogging isn't the answer. Reading them and debating on them is good sport, but blogging will never be an alternative to doing. And the people who have been keeping this community going for decades (10 to be exact) haven't been doing it on blogs.
I agree with some of what you are saying, Anon 11:49PM. It is definitely better to get involved in local government, than just vent about it on blogs. Speak at meetings. Write to your commissioners. Starting this year, my new commissioner insures me that I will get a response. Yea! But what do you do when people are intimidated by the process? Or they have work conflicts? Or family commitments? Blogging hasn't been around for ten decades. In fact, according to Wikipedia, the word "blog" was coined in the spring of 1999. Technically, it has been around for one decade, but hasn't really caught on until the past few years. Didn't the School District say that blogging is an important aspect of 21st century learning? So to say that blogging isn't the answer isn't entirely true. It is part of the answer.
Elaine
Wouldn't it be funny if Anon 11:49 PM was the PIO?
Intimidated by the process? I'm sorry, but I've heard that a lot and no one has been able to give me a credible example. Having your opinion challenged or even ignored is not intimidation. If you're afraid of people challenging your opinion, then your opinion probably isn't worth having.
For heaven's sake stand up if you're mad and more importantly jump up if you've been intimidated. No one wins everything, but if you don't speak up and fight you will never win anything. If you receive hate email or threats, do something about it. We have a well-trained and well-funded police force that can identify the bad actors in a heartbeat. In this day and age, it is very easy to catch and punish cyber bullies, but it can't happen if people don't use the tools that are in place.
Work conflicts? Family commitments? Sure, we all have them. Even the commissioners and SB members have them. The world doesn't stop because of them. Again, if your issue is so important and your feelings are so strong, you can find the time. You can make the time.
Blogs are great for understanding multiple points of view. They are also great for disseminating information. I agree that Elaine has done yoeman's work to get the word out. But until the rest of us put ourselves in front of the Commission or the SB, we can't expect our voice to heard and we certainly can't expect anything to change.
Take for example the petition of 4,000. Much has been made about it on this blog and elsewhere. I think we can agree that it had little if any impact. However, what if just 20% of those people (800) showed up at back-to-back school board meeting to complain? What if just 10% (400) showed up? I'd like to think that things would have gone a bit differently. Yes, I know that a ton of people showed up at the Act 34 hearing, but only a small fraction of residents bothered to show up after that. I know I'm guilty of that.
If there is a diverse, critical mass of upset people in this town as has been suggested, then the meeting rooms should be packed. Heck, when a ton of people show up to voice an opinion or raise an objection, not even everyone needs to speak. The packed room speaks volumes.
I have to believe that the public meeting "regulars" are tired of reading about complaints and gripes here and then being alone again on meeting nights.
There have been some excellent suggestions and some interesting opinions expressed in this thread; however, one thing is lacking - the courage to sign one's name to one's post. Regardless of whether I agree with them or not, I have the greatest amount of respect for Mr. Moertel, Mr. Ewing, and Mr. Franklin (and others who have identified themselves on other threads on this Blog) because they are not afraid to put their names behind their convictions. Suggestions of more public involvement in the community, at public meetings or in personal communications with public officials, are "spot-on" correct; but that process does not occur behind the wall of anonymity.
Thank you, Richard. To me, not signing a post tells me that he or she is just intimidated by the process. In a perfect world, I wish everyone would sign their comments, but I have found by bending my rules from time to time, it permits people to get involved in the discussion. Granted, it gets abused every once in a while and I don't publish everything that comes in, but for the most part, the comments come from caring people who are concerned about our community.
I had asked earlier about the Historical Society. Here is what I found:
I checked out the property where the Historical Society is located and found that it is listed on the Allegheny County website as 794 Washington Road and owned by the Parking Authority, which no longer exists. Its assessed value is listed as $402,700. The building next to it (788 Washington Road) has an assessed value of $248,200.
Mr. Gideon, what is it they say... "until you've walked a mile in my shoes."
I don't sign because of an experience that made an impact on my situation due to what someone thought of my signed comments. Simple to say.. get police involved, sue them for slander, but without proof good luck with that. There are ways to hurt somebody with out leaving a trace.
Their are certain individuals in this community that just don't understand the meaning of community or free speech.
And Anon 11:49 is somewhat wrong and partially right "Any ideas would likely be vetted by one of them before being presented to the commission. If you can't get on one of the committees..."
Mr. Taylor got involved directly and through one of the committees. What did it get him... do you remember Anon 11:49, or is it more convenient to ignore the "disagreeable" people?
The other question... what good does it do to go to their meetings if you get responses like Mrs. Cappucci's to the CAC. Remember that one. It went something like: "I have no intention of revisiting building C!" This was to Mr. Rothschild and the CAC.
Also, why is it anonymous bloggers so upset the apple cart, but a signed malicious PTA letter about candidates and their innocent family members just before the polls open entertains but a whisper?
By the way--- THE LETTER BROKE THE RULES and it certainly didn't fall under the heading of "disagreeing without being disagreeable!"
So I'll stay anonymous and keep reading here for ideas and thought provoking infomation.
Oh by the way, I will contact my representatives as for the most part they are respectful and appear to be appreciate of my participation.
Elaine:
It would seem like a simple answer to the problem of increasing municiplal revenue.
Move MTL magazine into the unoccupied rifle range space, eliminating duplicate PIOs. Adding to the high school learning experience. We save money!
Then rent the MTL magazine space to the Historical Society. Or let them use it for free, if we so desire. We either make money from rent or free up the property below, the sale of which puts $400,000 into the muni piggy bank.
The freed up $400,000 house on Washington, which could be bought by a private business brings in additional revenue by putting the property back on the tax roles for both the muni and school district.
Seems to make sense all the way around. Unfortunately, no one wants to upset the staus quo.
I looked at what I wrote about the two properties on Washington Rd, and realized that I failed to mention that both properties belonged to the Parking Authority. So both properties could be sold and we could get $650,000 if we could sell them for their assessed values. From what I remember from a Commission Discussion Session, SHACOG rents from us and the Historical Society pays them rent. Seems pretty confusing since we are in essence, paying ourselves rent. We could still rent out the penthouse to SHACOG and the basement too, I believe.
Elaine
So does the school district get tax payments from the properties?
I would think not. So by moving and consolidating district and municipal PIO offices we could free up at least one property to go back on the tax roll.
The procedures of the sale would go along way to improve the recreational areas that Mr. Franklin keeps talking about.
$650,000 in assess property values means an additional $18,000 in the pocket of the school district. Is that right... approximately $18Ds?
Meant 18Gs!
Dear Anonymous 12:57,
Thank you for mentioning the malicious and libelous e-mail that was circulated by the PTA leadership and authored under a fictitious name. In fact, one PTA President stated in her own words “Please read the message below sent out by Bill Zellers, a Mt. Lebanon resident. Although I don't know him personally, I feel compelled to pass along his important message.” Sure, she just felt compelled to send a trashy and intentionally harmful letter targeting innocent victims to a wide distribution network out of the goodness of her heart. That letter went to school board directors, the Temple Emanuel, United Jewish Foundation of Pittsburgh, UPMC, not to mention patients of mine, people who attend church where I am an Elder and Moderator of Presbyterian Women and various other personal and business addresses.
All this was done to undermine those of us who stepped forward to participate in a school board election. You obviously know all too well the shameful and dishonest behavior of power-hungry and ill-mannered people who claim to be doing work in our community for the common good. Their most “disagreeable” behavior, like that of the Mt. Lebanon PTA, has gone pretty much un-checked. Well, make no mistake, this is NOT going unchecked and those responsible WILL be held accountable.
Be sure to read the PTA ad in the IN Mt. Lebanon Magazine on page 14 as they highlight how wonderful they are. Stay tuned, this disgusting behavior from the letter's author and the PTA bullies will be appropriately dealt with.
Not afraid to sign my name – Charlotte Stephenson
I think Commissioner Miller mentioned selling at least one of those properties- if not both- multiple times. The Historic Society has even mentioned the possibility of buying one of them. The money from a possible sale of either of them may have to go into the parking enterprise fund- not sure.
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