From one of the Field Boys

Last week, I emailed the entire commission with the following:

Dave,I would like to see Matt Kluck have more than five minutes to discuss turf. The YSA presentation ran over thirty minutes, even though fifteen
minutes was allocated to the YSA on the June 25 agenda. I hope you do
the right thing and let the discussion resume after the commission
meeting. Elaine Gillen

I received no response. During the Citizens Comments portion of Monday's meeting, I spoke of backwater valves, flooding on Cedar Blvd, asked who sets the agenda, why the YSA proposal was removed from the municipal website, and I would like to see any presentations down the pike posted. It is in the podcast, the first five minutes of the meeting.

Last night, I sent this email to the entire commission:

Commissioners, 

I just approved this comment from Dave Franklin (Lebo Fields): "I recently received a copy of a proposal being circulated by one of
our commissioners about a comprehensive Rec proposal. It covers every
major Rec asset from the tennis courts to the golf course to the pool
to the ice rink to new fields. It touches everything and at a
significant price. I fully support a large portion of this proposal,
but I'm worried that when she presents it you're all going to
Commisionet Fraasch her to move. Really?" My opinion of this Commission is now at an all time low. I am guessing
that Mr. Brumfield is the commissioner who is circulating a proposal.
Dave, are you responsible for keeping Jim Cannon's presentation off of
the municipal website? Elaine Gillen

This morning, I was greeted with this response from Dave Brumfield.

Ms. Gillen,
After having been at work all day, then coaching, attending a board meeting and finally getting home I saw this email.  It is readily apparent that you have no regard for facts when it comes to your blog, email and citizen's comments allegations.  In the last week you have accused me of preventing Mr. Cannon from getting his fair time.  But if you had asked me or Matt Kluck you would know that I had already agreed with Matt that if Mr. Cannon's presentation could fit in regular discussion we would otherwise it would be done after our regular meeting.   Since we had a full agenda from Gateway we were trying to squeeze it in but did not want to take away from Gateway's alotted time so we entered the presentation with 5 minutes as a place holder.
Next you accuse me of circulating Kelly's rec proposal to Dave Franklin.  I would have thought that in one of your conversations with Kelly you would have asked how long Kelly has been circulating her plan to key members of the public to drum up support.  The fact is I have not even had time to open the attachment with the proposal since Kelly sent it to me Monday night.
Then you think I am keeping Mr. Cannon's presentation off the website.  It was actually staff's opinion that it should be kept off.  When asked I told staff that as long as there were no copyright concerns, as some of Mr. Cannon's material was previously published, to put it up.
I would hope that this situation serves as a cautionary tale to keep you from using accusations and insults as your first line of inquiry.  I have replied only to you Kelly and Matt so that you can see I am not trying to embarrass you.  But so that you also know that I am serious about how easily you could have confirmed any of this.  I realize that this may be a somewhat terse email but at this time of night after all of this it is the best I could do.
Dave

First of all, I am not embarrassed by any of this.  It is public information, so I am sharing it with my readers as well as any commissioner who happens to read my blog. One reason why I am posting this is to show that Staff is running the store in Mt. Lebanon, not the commissioners. I would be embarrassed of that, Dave. Second, you never responded to my email about doing the right thing. As it turns out, you did the right thing and permitted the Matt Kluck turf information presentation to be given in the second part of the Discussion Session. By not responding to my email, I would be embarrassed, Dave. Third, I was respectful during my comments at Monday's meeting. Listen to the podcast. To say that I was using accusations and insults should be embarrassing for you, Dave. Fourth, your constant interruptions during Mr. Cannon's PowerPoint was embarrassing.  For you. It showed your true colors. And finally, to say that I have no regard for facts, is humorous, to say the least. I have promoted Lebo Fields, the blog by the other Field Boy, Dave Franklin, several times on my blog. I presented both forms of the YSA proposal and even had a poll which has not been removed to see what kind of support you had in the community with your plan. You can't say that I have kept anything from the public. I also discovered that to find the YSA proposal on the municipal website, one must use the muni website search widget using the keyword, "YSA."  

As of 11:43 AM, the turf information presentation is still not on the municipal website, a website that is funded by you and me. My website and blog, funded by me, shows both sides. So who should be embarrassed, Dave? 

Elaine Gillen