Then we have the Trib reporting in my post, NSF YSA Makes The Trib!
Then-school Superintendent George Wilson dismissed the amount owed in 2008 because of the group's insufficient funds; and the organization paid the $20,000 balance for 2010 last year.Now we have Dr. Steinhauer reporting that the Joint Maintenance Agreement has served us well. In fact, the YSA had paid $30,000 in 2008. Huh? Listen for yourself on the podcast. It starts at approximately the 58 minute mark. June 11, 2012 School Board Meeting
How many more versions of the story are out there? Someone is lying to someone somewhere!!!
I do want to thank those school board members who questioned Jan Klein and Dr. Steinhauer. It is appalling how we can't get a straight answer.
34 comments:
YSA loves to work on plans FYI:
"TownSouth / Route 19 briefs
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
TOWNS
Mt. Lebanon
Recreational sports groups in Mt. Lebanon had planned to donate money to help build community athletic fields on a parcel off McNeilly Road, but now they've learned just how much one municipal commissioner wants them to donate: $850,000.
David Humphreys at Monday's commission meeting told representatives from the Youth Sports Alliance and other sports groups that since the project cost is approaching $2.5 million, he wants the groups to pony up $850,000.
That would be half of the $1.7 million cost to do basic improvements to the 23-acre parcel.
Bruce Fisher, of the Youth Sports Alliance, and Art McAuley, of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Foundation, said the alliance has just received the proper tax status to raise money. McAuley said his group could pledge $125,000 but couldn't commit to the full $850,000 now.
The groups are working with a fund-raising consultant and hope to have a plan soon."
Seems to be a recurring theme... Plan coming soon.
I watched the televised meeting and truly appreciate Mrs. Cappucci's and Messrs. Ostergaard, Goldman and Lebowitz's challenging questions and comments about YSA performance and the continuation or renewal of the JMA.
The SB was not given a copy of the YSA payment history from 1998 to 2012; and, the Klein/Steinhauer statements about 2008 being fully paid and the YSA having "insufficient funds" to pay in other years were absolutely false. The 2008 story is covered in this blog post; and, the YSA IRS Form 990-EZ tax returns for all years in question indicate they had about $30,000 in cash in the bank at any point in time with no accounts payable or any other recorded liabilities, which also indicates they felt they had no obligations for unpaid and outstanding "legally bound" payments to the District !
Bill Lewis
And then, of course, there is the pesky little question as to what authority the administration had in using unbudgeted taxpayer dollars to make up for the non-payments, both on time and not at all, to the District by the YSA. Yeah, the District was also "legally bound" to pay the Muni $83,300/year in monthly amounts; however, did the District do so with the prior knowledge and approval of the SB in a formal public budget amendment or budget transfer process ? Or, did they wing it and hope no one would notice ?
Agenda's and Minutes should be able to provide the answers.
Bill Lewis
Bill, from what I have been able to find out is that the Board never questioned the YSA's actions until Monday night. It was always presented to the commission and SB that the JMA has always "served us well." I guess someone has to file a RTK for the YSA payments since 1999 which was presented to the school board on Monday night. Ms. Jan said that the YSA has always been late, but they always pay. Does that make it Story #4?
Elaine
Gee, maybe we should dig up this issue for recreation, cutting paking/traffic problems and saving the environment. Dr. Steinhauer wanted a bike rack at the HS, didn't he?
Mt. Lebanon residents fight proposed bike trail
Tuesday, June 25, 2002 By Laura Pace, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
More than 75 residents of the Virginia Manor and Mission Hills neighborhoods attended a Mt. Lebanon commissioners meeting last night to object to a proposed bicycle trail.
Regis Aul, of Trans Associates, the municipal traffic engineer, presented its study on a proposed four-mile "share the road bike trail," which would loop around several streets in Virginia Manor linking the residential area to athletic fields at Jefferson Middle School near Moffett Street.
Before the trail would be marked with signs, municipal officials would need to examine four problematic intersections and improve conditions of the roads to be used, Aul said.
The trail would not limit parking or involve repainting road stripes, but would be marked with signs identifying it as a trail.
Residents of streets where the trail would go were concerned that people outside the area would come into the neighborhood to use the trails. They were also worried about liability, the safety of neighborhood children and access to their own property with the increased traffic. They said they may reorganize the defunct Virginia Manor Neighborhood Association, the group that had opposed mandated sidewalks years ago.
But Aul said the trail would simply be an extension of what is permissible now.
"It would merely reinforce what the bicyclist has the right to do on any street," Aul said.
Commissioners are investigating the trail after a recent Parks and Recreation study indicated community interest in linking parks and residential areas through bike and walking trails. The Virginia Manor trail section would be a pilot neighborhood trail. It the idea caught on, signs would be extended throughout the municipality.
Commissioners said last night's meeting was purely informational and that they would hold a public hearing before any trails are established, but no date for such a hearing has been set as yet.
More premature aging of artificial turf fields. According to a news report in the Beaumont Enterprise (26 January 2012), on 26 January 2012, the Port Neches-Groves school board, in Beaumont, Texas, voted unanimously at a special meeting to hire a local law firm to represent the district and to authorize the superintendent “to take legal action against FieldTurf,” the company that installed the artificial turf at Port Neches Groves-High School football stadium in 2008. According to the article, “District officials said the turf, which was supposed to last eight to 10 years, is experiencing premature wear. The turf is still under warranty, but Superintendent Rodney Cavness said it is not being honored by the company.” Source: Amos Morale III, “PN-G fires first shot in turf war,” in Beaumont Enterprise, 26 January 2012 , available at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/PN-G-fires-first-shot-in-turf-war-2726642.php
Paoli, Pennsylvania: Fields of nuisance; fodder for a lawsuit? For most the term “nuisance” translates to what is annoying, inconvenient or bother. In law-talk, nuisance is a tort – a wrong – such as a use of property or conduct that that interferes with the legal rights of others by causing damage, annoyance , or inconvenience. There is also a notion called “trespass,” which means to commit an unlawful injury to the person, property, or rights of another. What we all expect is a peaceful enjoyment of our property without the repetitive and constant noise blurring from loudspeakers, light shinning too bright from stadiums, balls clearing our fences, and players entering our property in search of an errant ball. This is all with the compliment of playing fields that abut homes, especially in insensitive municipalities, where the abutters are dismissed as antisocial, anti-sports, anti-kids.
According to a news story on Main Line Media News (June 2, 2010), “For close to two years people in Paoli who live near the Delaware Valley Friends School have had problems because of the school’s new turf playing field that replaced a grass one. In a residential area, the school is surrounded by homes and apartments. Residents have been complaining about noise, lighting, traffic, privacy and safety since June of 2008 when the turf field was put in.” According to the residents, “the turf field can be used more often because it is not affected by weather in the same way that the grass field was. With the addition of lights, which shine into neighboring homes, the field is able to be used later into the night and longer into the season. Along with the lighting complaints, noise from the athletes and coaches along with cheering during games, as well as noise from the temporary lighting fixtures run by generators, has been a constant nuisance.” “While noise, lighting and traffic may be affecting all residents, one major issue has been affecting certain people more than others. When the turf field was installed, a buffer of tall trees that stood between the school and the homes to the east of the field was removed simultaneously. Without the buffer, these residents now have an up-close view of every practice and game that takes place on the field, and in turn have lost the privacy they once had.” “Residents want the noise, traffic, lighting and safety concerns solved and would like to see the buffer reinstated to provide privacy.” Source: Blair Meadowcroft, “Neighbors say new turf DVFS field a nuisance,” on Main Line Media News, June 2, 2010, available at http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2010/06/02/main_line_suburban_life/news/doc4c067acc9bfc8812225892.txt and video link at site.
NFL Players Field Survey (2010): Artificial turf is more likely to contribute to injury, soreness and fatigue, shortened career, and negatively impact quality of life after football. On January 24, 2011, the NFL Players Association has posted the results of its survey on playing surfaces in the National Football League. The NFLPA conducts a survey on the conditions of NFL playing fields every other season. The 2010 playing surfaces opinion survey (see item 24 below) was conducted by the NFLPA at team meetings during September through November 2010. This year, a total of 1,619 active NFL players from all 32 clubs voluntarily participated in the survey. The survey is found at http://images.nflplayers.com/mediaResources/files/Surface%20Survey%202010.pdf and here.
Here is a sampling of what the NFL players had to say about playing on artificial infilled turf:
1. 82.4% of respondents think artificial turf is more likely to contribute to injury.
2. 89.1% of respondents think artificial turf causes more soreness and fatigue.
3. 89.7% of respondents think artificial turf is more likely to shorten one’s career.
4. 64.4% of respondents think artificial turf is more likely to negatively affect one’s quality of life after football?
I guess now is the time to talk about Dave Franklin's blog, Lebofields.blogspot.com before I get grief for publishing those anonymous turf articles.
Dave wants everyone to know about how YSA MAY produce their plan to the commissioners as early as this month. Early? The plan that was supposed to be presented in April? And May?
I don't see a lot of public support for turfing Wildcat and Middle Fields, Davex2.
Elaine
Thanks for promoting the Lebo Fields blog. The more folks who can get information on the subject, the better.
Lebo Fields- exactly.
The more information on a subject the better, whether it's fields, turf, signs, fund raising, maintenance agreements or parking tickets.
Determining if the information is unbiased or misleading is what makes things difficult.
Especially when you don't sign your name...
Elaine
But the information is signed. The NFL Players Assn, Main Line News Media and Beaumont Enterprise.
So does a residents name validate the information?
I mean really! We have Jan K saying the YSA paid <$4,000 toward the JMA in 2008. Then that Wilson waved it off totally. Dr. Steinhauer now says 2008 was paid in full. YSA IRS paperwork seems to disagree with both.
So we have identities, but are we any closer to the truth?
OK, I'll give you that one, but all I want is that you sign your comments. And if you want to use a ficticious name, email me at EGillen476@aol.com. Is that really too much to ask?
I would be betting on the YSA IRS paperwork to be the truth. If not, the YSA has REALLY big problems. Either way, the District is spewing conflicting information. They don't even have one lying and the other one swearing to it!!! No one seems to be getting his or her story straight.
Then there is the other extreme. I have had a complaint that a person's credibility has been questioned since he or she admitted that Bill Lewis and I had some valid questions.
Bill and I put out the facts and we are still blamed for things.
The bottom line is that there was a handful of people putting out the facts about the high school renovation, but people are going to believe what they want to believe. Same with YSA, turf, signs, Joint Maintenance Agreements, whether our administrators should get 3% raises, and all the other crap that has been going on here. Our local government is not representing the people, but just pushing their own agendas. All we can do is keep on plugging away.
Elaine
I guess it comes down to this. If you insist on submitting unsigned comments, I will only publish them if I agree with them. How's that for being homogeneous? I was allowing anonymous comments for the parking authority fiasco, hoping to get closer to the truth. As it happened, a few signed their names. One submitted comments anonymously. Who would YOU believe?
Elaine
From this blog:
"We have Jan K saying the YSA paid <$4,000 toward the JMA in 2008. Then that Wilson waved it off totally. Dr. Steinhauer now says 2008 was paid in full. YSA IRS paperwork seems to disagree with both.
So we have identities, but are we any closer to the truth?"
Seriously folks, if you can't get the YSA contributions story straight is suggests to me we will have a great mess in the finance office when Jan Kline retires. No wonder we don't change auditors; lap dogs are hard to hire.
If we can't trust YSA with money why should we trust them with our kids, Chip? Scott?
John Ewing
John, I don't believe football is part of YSA anymore. There are groups that are pulling away from YSA. Rumor has it that hockey is another one. Why should they be when all the YSA pushes is turf, turf, turf?
I extended the closing time for the turf question another three days. We'll see if promoting the Lebo Fields blog make a difference.
After all, "... don't blame the YSA for staying away from your blog. You've described them using any number of slurs." And for "staying away," Franklin sure posted in a hurry about his blog.
Elaine
If we're talking facts, football is still a very strong and critical member of the YSA with no intention of dropping out. No groups have left the YSA. Hockey is not a YSA member and I'm not sure it has ever belonged to the YSA.
Elaine,
Check the 990's and you will find football is one of the lowest contributors to YSA but they seem to make the most noise about what they want.
John Ewing
Mr. Franklin, or at least I assume it was him wrote this on Lebo Fields: "A few people have attacked the plan to turf a field in Mt. Lebanon by suggesting it is bad for the environment. Please take a minute to read these independent studies and get the rest of the story: "
He signs his name and I guess that is a good thing according to opinion posted it here. He also makes a point "get the rest of the story." I agree with him, get the rest of the story whether it's from him, Blumfield, Linfante, Fraasch, Kluck, Lewis or Gillen. Don't accept anything on face value. Today in a matter of minutes one has access to unlimited info on virtually any topic.
The one thing we don't have readily available is access to things like the parking authority or school district books.
What I don't understand is this Us vs. Them mentality prevalent here in Lebo.
Mr. Franklin why this: "A few people have attacked the plan to turf a field...". Why not some people.presented some evidence... ...here's differing opinions? Why is it if someone doesn't agree it's an attack?
Why do we steal political signs? Why picket a town hall?
I find this a little disconcerting from Lebo Fields: "If we're talking facts, football is still a very strong and critical member of the YSA with no intention of dropping out."
Are they saying that the leaders/board never changes? That even though youth and parents come and go the football administration is forever unwavering in support of the YSA.
Lebo Fields doesn't follow your blog Elaine. Why extend the date on turf poll?
Why not extend it? Right up to the minute the SB or commissioner have to vote on the YSA or Rec Plan.
That way Elaine gets as many people participating befor any votes are taken.
Elaine,
Lebo Fields has posted twice within 30 minutes of a previous post but then says Lebo Fields doesn't follow your blog.
Is not following another lie from field sports?
John Ewing
I heard back from Ms. Szalinski regarding my RTK request:
"On June 11, 2012, we received your request for any and all communications regarding the
dismissal by George Wilson of the amount owed by the Youth Sports Alliance in 2008, as
reported by the Tribune Review on June 7, 2012. Please be advised that the District is not in
possession of any records responsive to your request."
Who is telling the truth? Who isn't?
I sure can't figure it out.
David Huston
Thanks for adding this, David. I removed your name from the RTK and posted it in a new thread. I just filed my own RTK, by the way.
Elaine
David, is it possible that there are records responsive to your request, in general, but not to all the specifics of your request? For example, could the school district have interpreted your request to be seeking records that were about a dismissal that (1) was entered by George Wilson (and by not someone else on his behalf), (2) was for the amount owed by the Youth Sports Alliance in 2008 (and not some other fiscal year), and (3) and was
reported by the Tribune Review on June 7, 2012 (and not unreported, or reported by other papers, or reported by the Tribune Review on other dates)? Maybe there were records of the dismissal but not of its having been reported in the Trib. And so on.
Perhaps the best strategy for writing RTK requests is not to be overly specific.
Tom, if you look on the RTK form, it states:
Provide a detailed description of the record(s) requested.
I think David worded it correctly. Perhaps this is just goes to show that having the same auditor for over twenty years isn't such a good idea after all.
Elaine
Elaine, my point was this:
When making RTK requests, only include necessary details. Everything else just reduces the chances that you'll get the records you seek.
Case in point: Do you consider the "detail" about the Tribune Review article to be necessary to identifying the records in question?
I might include incidentals like that in a cover letter, to make clear that there is reason to believe that the records I'm requesting exist, but I wouldn't include it in the official request itself. There, it can only be used as an additional criterion for filtering records out.
Cheers,
Tom
Tom, let's do an experiment. You know the procedure for filing RTK's, right? If anyone needs help with that, I have a tab for that on Lebo Citizens. File a RTK using what you believe the verbage should be and let's see if we get different results. My guess is that it won't make a bit of difference, unless your Key Communicator status will influence the powers that be. I would be curious to see what happens.
Elaine
Why, why should anyone have to file a RTK?
Dr. Steinhauer said the YSA paid in full in 2008, didn't he? To make that claim, he would have had to seen the ledgers that show it. After all, he wasn't the superintendent, Wilson was, so he'd have to seen evidence and it should be available. Produce it in the interest of transparency and credibilty.
If no evidence is available the superintendent is either lying, gullible or a fool.
Elaine, if you want to do an experiment, do it yourself. If I made a request and got different results, you'd just say it was because of my dark allegiance to the Superintendent's Sooper-Seekret Key Kommunikators Kult and not because of my request criteria being more effective.
You can continue to believe what you want, and I'll continue to believe that the wording of a request actually matters.
Cheers,
Tom
Ouch!
OK, if you want to play like that, I would be willing to submit whatever the "correct" wording should be, in your mind, and sign my name to it.
Elaine
Ahh how the district must be laughing their heads off as we bicker amongst ourselves over the fine details of writing an RTK. We really have become a community of sheep! A friggin' Right to Know Request, are you kidding me. What are they running there- the Manhattan Project? Is there something Dr. Steinhauer is working on in the matter of Mt. Lebanon security? It's our school district, it's our tax dollars that pays for it and we have to carefully word a request regarding whether the YSA paid their $30,000 obligation or not! The accounting should be an open book. If Steinhauer says it was paid in full, he should have the proof immediately available at the public board meeting in which he said it! Furthermore, one director considering the 3 different versions should have the moxie to demand the evidence on the spot!
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