We're busy enjoying and participating in the community we love, believing that the best is yet to come.
What is the eblast about? Here it is.
From: Gardner, Robert [Rgardner@Maidenform.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:52 PM
To: Anne Pillion, Beer Buy (Tim Scales); beth evans; bill ferari; Bridget Meyer; Cheryl Bender; Chris Helmeci; Chris McMahon; Dan Gbur; David Barrett; Deb Smit; McGrady, III, John; John Wells; KRBonn; KATE MCGRADY, Kathryn Duchin; Laurey Silverman; llrothesq@yahoo.com; votemattsmith@yahoo.com; Nancy Tashman; Noel Slater; Paul Cline; rjpapke@comcast.net; sara dougherty; SkcCreations@aol.com; Kristen Linfante; Steve Silverman; Dianne Wainwright; David P. Franklin
Cc: Commission
Subject: FW: Mt. Lebanon Town Meeting Re: Fields
Dear Commissioners
Thank you for tomorrow night’s public forum regarding the possible upgrading of the municipality’s fields and recreational areas. Unfortunately, I am out of the country and will be unable to attend. If I were home I would be in attendance to urge you to PLEASE invest in the upgrading of these public spaces. Undoubtedly, you will hear from those who say this is no time to spend money. My hope is that you will hear from an equal or greater number who understand that Mt Lebanon has a rich tradition of investing in its singular identity within the South Hills. Sidewalks, neighborhood schools, Main Street business districts, and beautiful public recreation spaces and fields define us. Please don’t let that slip away. The tag line on our website says “A Community With Character.” Character must be developed and nurtured.
I’ve included many of our friends on this email who value these public spaces. I urge anyone who can attend tomorrow night’s meeting to please do so. But if you cannot, and if you agree with my comments, please hit “reply all” and let your opinion be heard. If you don’t agree with me, please let that be known as well.
Regardless of the outcome, Commissioners, thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Rob Gardner
Rob Gardner • Vice President & General Manager
200 Madison Avenue • New York, NY 10016
O 412.841.7216• M 412-841-7216 • E rgardner@maidenform.com
Mt. Lebanon seeks public input on rec needs
Mt. Lebanon residents are encouraged to share their ideas about the community’s recreation needs—including suggestions regarding maintenance, improvements and additions to parks and recreation facilities—at a special public meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 19, in the Commission Chamber of the Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road.
The commission is seeking input from people of all ages that will help them meet community needs, prioritize projects and allocate available funds appropriately. Speakers will be asked to keep their remarks to no longer than 5 minutes.
The meeting will be taped and broadcast for one week following the meeting according to this schedule: Saturday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m., and Friday, 3 p.m.
Residents who are unable to attend the meeting but would like to share their concerns and ideas with elected officials may e-mail comments to commission@mtlebanon.org.
Update 4:10 PM
Elaine -- Rob is not the only one distributing e-mails. I am forwarding this to you. It went to the sports teams too.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Katie Donnelly <donnellyko@xxxx>Subject: Re: Mt Lebanon Parks and Recreation Facility MeetingDate: April 18, 2012 11:38:02 AM EDTTo: Maggie Fleming
Cc: over 100 email addresses
Having recently become involved in more field/youth sports discussions around Mt Lebanon, I encourage all of you to attend tomorrow's meeting. I unfortunately will not be able to attend. I can't stress enough how serious this issue has become in recent months and will stretch beyond field hockey. If anyone has any questions or comments or would like to discuss the issue further, please feel free to contact me. I've sat in several meetings where this is a hot topic, and I'd hate to see anything affect our already challenging field set-up.
KatieOn Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 11:03 AM, Maggie Fleming wrote:Please plan on attending!The Mt. Lebanon Commission will hold a meeting to solicit public comments on parks and recreation facilities in the community. The commission would like to hear from residents on how the municipality can improve and better maintain all of its parks and recreation facilities. Residents are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to speak.WHEN: This Thursday April 19th @ 7:30pmWHERE: Commission Chambers of the municipal building (710 Washington Rd.)MORE INFORMATION: http://lebomag.com/3713/special-commission-meeting/
***Residents who are unable to attend the meeting but would like to share their concerns and ideas with electedofficials may email comments to commission@mtlebanon.org ***
- We have all talked about the condition of these fields over the years, and we have witnessed other communities improve (and even add to) their facilities, while Mt. Lebanon has struggled to maintain the status quo.
- The Commissioners have made it clear that if only a few people show up at this meeting to address the condition of our athletic fields it is “highly unlikely” that they will conclude that improvements and additions to these facilities should be a priority.
- We need to be seen and heard at the meeting Thursday night.
- The time is now! Please don't assume that someone else will attend for you - we need you!
Maggie Neishloss-FlemingExecutive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer
13 comments:
If you want to really talk about hijacking the community read the two articles in the PG on the teacher's grievance and the preliminary budget.
In the budget the board proposes charging students $50 ( total income $10,000) to park at the school and add $1 to event ticket prices (total income $18,000+). Essentially sticking to a small group of residents.
So while the board is scouring behind the sofa cushions looking for nickels and dimes, the board solicitor and his cohorts will rack up $100,000 (see budget PDF) defending the district against a teacher/union grevillea that will cost the district should they loose $890,000/year for the next 20 years.
Who's hijacking who?
Giffen Good
Now we know who the "Character" is.
I did not know the 412 area code extended all the way to New York.
David Huston
This is just sick that Rob does this.
He sends his email out to his friends who then have to just "reply all" and say they agree.
Isn't this the exact tactic he used for the school? His friends don't have to make any effort whatsoever to investigate the issues. They just reply to his email. How many will actually call a commissioner to find out what the problem is? How many will talk to people to see if there is even a problem?
This is the sort of stuff that will end up with the Commission turfing Mellon and fixing all the school district fields.
Let's hope we have two commissioners who know floating 10's of millions in bonds to satisfy the fancy of a couple of commissioner's ridiculous campaign promises is off the charts insane!
Fix what we have. If someone wants to do more than that, then shell out their own cash!
Here's what I hope your readers will copy and paste:
Dear Commission:
You are elected stewards of taxpayer funds. It is your responsibility to spend my money wisely and without regard to influence from special interest groups. While I know many of you have made campaign promises in the past, it is my sincere hope that you are now realizing the folly of floating bonds to pay for your every whim. We do not have the money.
I support the commission spending an appropriate amount of the existing fund balance to maintain what we have, and if possible, provide for an increase in field space at Robb Hollow or Cedar Blvd.
Spending more than the existing fund balance or floating bonds for recreation use should be off the table in this economic environment. You will, in the very near future, need to ability to float bonds for other uses that should take priority over recreation.
Please use fiscal restraint when considering how to address your parks and rec issues.
Sincerely,
Resident of Mt Lebanon
The 12:29 PM comment was submitted by Albert Brennaman. He emailed me to say that he forgot to sign it. Not a problem, Albert.
Elaine
How many times does this jackal Gardner get it wrong?
If I remember correctly, he was a member of the BOSN group or at least argued vehmently for a new $150,000,000 high school project in the beginning.
Oh yeah, he was spot on that major point. We can't afford a "tsk, tsk" $109 million project and he wanted to spend $150,000,000.
He ws also one of the people that preached that the board knew what they were doing and would bring in the project for $95 million or less. Nailed that one too.
Wasn't he one of the mouth pieces saying that our school taxes would only go up $18/month?
I think he also believed that the way to disagree without being disagreeable was to march kids outside the town hall with "What the Kluck" signs.
Right, I'm going to pass along anything this, in my opinion, dolt has to say on any community issue.
I do like ALbert's letter to the Commissioners.
Godfrey Hardy
Godfrey, I just submitted a variation of Albert's letter. I removed most of the email addresses from his eblast. I debated about doing that. If anyone would have an issue with their email addresses being circulated, I would hope that they contact my buddy, Rob Gardner. Maybe he will send them blind copy for his next "if you agree..." garbage. I will be leaving them all in next time.
Elaine
left SKC Creations in there because we all know that Sheryl K. Cohen, PTA Council president, was also Rob Gardner and Josephine Posti's treasurer.
Godfrey, I want to add that Rob Gardner was a member of Build Our School Now, along with Dave Brumfield (according to the Post Gazette, but Dave claims that he was never a member.) And Rob was a member of VOICE, which my baggage-free commissioner promoted every five seconds and was included in Rob's latest eblast. Both commissioners should be recusing themselves from any rec bond vote.
Elaine
You know Elaine, correct me if I'm wrong, but this "We're busy enjoying and participating in the community we love, believing that the best is yet to come" guy that loves promoting higher taxes and luxury projects, has not as of yet stepped forward to pay for the PK study or made any major contributions that Ms. Posti has seen fit to announce.
He must be too busy enjoying the fruits of everyone else's labor.
Godfrey Hardy
Wait, why the hell is State Rep Matt Smith included in the email list?
Is Matt working behind the scenes on something? I doubt he wants to get involved but it makes no sense for Rob to include him.
Oj Itsop
I'm looking forward to a major contribution to the PK campaign from Maidenform - size E please, Rob - you know $18,000 per month for the next ten years..
Sally Adams
Sally, I am sure they will. They give excellent support to b**bs.
Sophie Smith
OK, kids. Let's try to focus.
Elaine
The passing of Drummer Levon Helm today brings back the memory of lyrics to one of the Band's songs that apply here.
The Night They Drove Old Dixie [Lebo] Down
"Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest"
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