On this first day of 2013, I thought I would toot my own horn, since you won't read about Lebo Citizens in Mt. Lebanon Magazine.
This month's mtl Magazine article, "Lebo Online" (page 9) caught my eye. www.lebomag.com has been around for a year now. According to the article, Lebo Latest is where you can get an update to the latest commission meeting, staff meeting, or any other news that they think we need to know immediately. Their online advertisers help defray the cost of labor to produce the website. My website, lebocitizens.com has no advertisers and costs taxpayers nothing. The same is true for this blog.
I often wondered how popular lebomag.com was compared to this blog. Page 11 listed their numbers through early December.
Visits: 37,700
Pages viewed: 144,407
Lebocitizens.blogspot.com numbers through early December:
Visits: 152,985
Pages viewed: 351,866
The article does mention that we will see them grow even more, with expanded online news coverage, surveys, and other features.
What I don't do is Facebook or Twitter. The PIO has me beat on that one. A Lebo Citizens reader sent me a link to mtl Magazine's social media commenting policy, as published recently on Facebook:
Periodically, we post our social media commenting policy. We're not having ANY problems...our fans are the BEST. But to be consistent, we need to pop these on here every now and then to make sure we all understand the rules. Thanks!
terms of use
Social Media Comment Policy for Readers
As an extension of Mt. Lebanon’s official municipal website (www.mtlebanon.org), any official Facebook page or group sanctioned by the Public Information Office will allow for public comments and postings, with a goal of fostering open and transparent communication between municipal officials and residents, as well as promoting and strengthening the positive character of our community.
Once posted, Mt. Lebanon reserves the right to delete any submission that contains:
vulgar language
personal attacks of any kind, including comments that are abusive, threatening, harassing, slanderous, hateful or embarrassing to any other person or entity as determined by Mt. Lebanon in its sole discretion
offensive comments that target or disparage any ethnic, racial or religious group or foster discrimination of any kind
sexual content or links to sexual content
information that may compromise the safety or security of the public
Further, the municipality also reserves the right to delete comments that are:
spam or include links to other unapproved sites
clearly off topic
advocate illegal activity
solicitations of commerce
in support of or opposition to political campaigns, candidates or ballot measures
Keep in mind comments posted by members of the public on any Mt. Lebanon social media site are the opinions of the commentator or poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement of, or agreement by, the municipality of Mt. Lebanon, nor do such comments necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Mt. Lebanon.
Finally, the Mt. Lebanon Public Information office reserves the right to deny access to our social media sites to any person who violates this policy at any time and without prior notice. Play nice!
But that's not all, Folks. In addition to mtlebanon.org, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and lebomag.com, the PIO includes LeboAlerts in their "comprehensive family of outreach tools." So I got to thinking about a comment made earlier this evening. Is this too much of a good thing? Are we getting too many LeboAlerts? Do we really need the print edition of mtl Magazine? I will be adding a new poll. I would love to hear from you.
52 comments:
Hope the advertisers make note of the online visits. They indicate that just a few thousand people more than the entire population of Mt. Lebanon visit their online pages more than once in a year.
That's pretty bad reach and frequency.
Here's an excellent subject related to the conversation between Mtr. Gideon and Mtr. Franklin.
Mr. G argues that things like the golf course should be privatized. Mr. Franklin suggest that perhaps the golf course is no longer an amenity we can afford.
Perhaps the same is true of MTLmagazine!
The municipality has a website where they can post all the phone numbers, alerts and hours of operation etc.
Then there is or was INMTL magazine for all the foo foo stuff. If as is often claimed by Ms. Morgans the magazine is self-sufficient- let her privatize it and free up municipal money and space.
Agreed. The state run propaganda machine is expensive, inefficient and only a fraction of the market wants to buy the product.
In contrast, the free service Elaine runs gives readers exactly what they want, when they want it and for a price thst they are willing to pay ($0 ).
Unique visits are the only true way to measure a website's success.
For example, having 20 people visit a site 10 times per day to make a blog comment does not really compare to a magazine website. The number of visits are skewed in this scenario.
That's not a knock...but it is an apples to oranges comparison.
I compared my stats to the stats presented in the article. If you want unique visitors in that time frame, my blog had 16,219 unique visitors with average visit duration of 4.50 minutes.
Gee, I wonder how many unique visitors Lebomag.com received.
Elaine
9:21 that is a good point though I wonder where MTL came up with their claim that 9 out 10 residents read the magazine every month?
9:21 AM, you're right. It is apples to oranges. We're comparing a staff of one at no charge, to a staff of what? Ten? At how much? I didn't even bring up the stats to my website for up to the minute information about meetings. At no charge. Sorry, Susan. I got you beat. But at $95,000 a year, I guess you have the last laugh.
Elaine
Here is what bothers me most about MTL magazine.
They make this claim: "We publish mtl-Mt. Lebanon magazine according to the highest ethical standards of journalism. No advertiser or individual can buy a story or a cover; our ads are clearly delineated and separated from our editorial content. We enjoy a good relationship with other fine magazines and newspapers in the Pittsburgh whose primary commitment is to inform, educate and entertaining readers."
No one can buy a story sure and ads are clearly delineated from editorial content, but they'll publish something like Kubit's FAQ on the high school project without any opposing views or investigation as to whether the claims made in the FAQ were accurate.
Essentially the magazine is a propaganda publication for the district and municipality.
We now know that Kubit's claim that the HS project would come in close to $95 million were wildly inaccurate. Will we ever see an article asking he or the board what went wrong? Will they ever criticize the board for distributing faulty information? No it'll never happen.
We have an issue with deer in the community. Think the magazine could do an investigative report on how many deer/vehicle accidents have ACTUALLY occurred. Could they ask if anyone even came close to be killed or needing transport to the emergency room.
9 out 10 residents read MTL every month-hmmm, Elaine's poll so far suggest that number may be a little high.
One of the commissioners asked for revenue generating ideas. Here's one. Start charging a subscription fee for the magazine. I'll bet readership will drop like a rock.
Here's an interesting article on just the printing cost of a magazine like MTL.
http://www.selfpublishingcommunity.com/Magazine-Publishing/2007/3/Magazine-Printing-Costs
The author writes: "Note that these are just the production costs of publishing a magazine - there could be all sorts of expenses not included above, from paying writers and illustrators, [someone says our editor/PIO makes $95,000] to the management of subscriber lists. However, hopefully the above figures give some of you an entry level view of the costs of printing a magazine, and also an understanding that to be successful it really is helpful to have a substantial audience right from the beginning."
Geez, $95k a year...for that much annually, we could give Franklin his little wet dream of a turfed field for 7-year olds AND pay for the maintenance and upkeep. So, Mr. Franklin, I assume yo'll be advocating for the closing of MtL magazine? If we're going to talk about what we can and cannot afford, let's start doing it realistically. Cut on the left to spend on the right. Basic economics.
The Salary for Ms. Morgan's is a waste of money. The Magazine could be on-line only, but there are folks who don't have computers even in this day and age. Up to date meeting info could be on the Community Channel, but the info on that channel is often very outdated. I don't know what the answer is, but I think Ms. Morgan should get on with her life's work.
The magazine claims it is self-sustaining. Then so be it. The municipality if it thinks it needs to deliver hard copy municipal info in a publication they could buy ad pages just like any other entity.
I think a full page in MTL runs $1,850/issue. For Morgans $95,000 salary the municipality could buy 51 pages per year and that is just one staffers pay.
Furthermore, it's argued that not every resident has access to a computer as justification for the magazine. Sorry but they do. We have an excellent library with computers open to everyone. Plus the library could as they do with tax forms and other publication distribute muni flyers that don't require postage.
Here's a suggestion for our commissioners.
Charge a subscription fee - say $4.00 a month - for MTL magazine. Let's see thats about 1 mocha grande which seems to be some sort of benchmark around here for acceptable tax/fee increases.
If we have 14,000 households that calculates to about $672,000 in new municipal revenue.
But of course the municipality can't hold a lien or penalties over your head if you choose not to subscribe so they'll never do it!
Go argue that one Dave, there's the revenue for your turfed field with no tax increase.
Here's a little comparison with USC's Today magazine.
"UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY is made possible through the combined resources of the staff and volunteers of the Township and School District of Upper St. Clair. "
So why do we need two PIO's, one for the district and one for the municipality? Couldn't just one work for both? Is there so much information coming out of these two bodies that we need two people making far above PIO pay in the private sector to distribute it?
11:40 I agree with you, our tax monies should not be paying Ms. Morgan's salary. However, even thought the library has computer access, not everyone can access the library. Some folks don't have transportation, especially the elderly who no longer drive. I wasn't making the arguement that not having access to a computer justifies the magazine. I see no justification for the magazine.
More regarding the 12:14 suggestion.
That $4 per month subscription fee (or $48 per year) means $672,000 of revenue to the municipality each and every year. Not just a one time bonanza.
We could turf a field one year, build a dog park another, pay off the McNeilly bond in two and after those wants are covered we could almost cover the annual expense to pave streets.
So sure commissioners, keep the magazine, but ask the people that read it, pay for it.
Hey good idea 12:14.
The school district has no qualms charging students to park at the high school that historically was free.
One rational was that the kids could avoid the charge by finding an alternative, like walking to school.
Why should MTLmagazine be any different.
If a resident wants the magazine - subscribe!
Justice in the life and conduct of the state is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens."
--Plato, Greek philosopher
Of course, when our trash collection was delayed by 5 days the district sent out no communication whatsoever. Tools are only good if you use them.
1:18 that is true, there may be elderly that can't het to the library and why I suggest the muni could provide hard copies available at the library. A neighbor could pick them up or print out a copy.
You could argue there are blind residents does that mean we need a Braille edition of MTL magazine?
I understand you're not arguing for continuing the magazine.
2:36 PM, did you get this LeboAlert this morning?
This is an important notice from LeboALERT.
Trash/recycling delayed by snow and Waste Management's schedule. Double trucks working today. Leave trash/recycling out and they will catch up ASAP. Thanks for your patience.
The truck was in my neighborhood at 5:00. Our garbage was picked up. Yea!
Elaine
Suppose we dump Morgans. Her $95,000 plus benefits can easily pay for one more full-time police officer plus a new patrol car. The new officer would exclusively focus on drug interdiction.
What is better for the community? Another home remodeling story or dedicated resources who will protect your family from drugs?
Then extend the concept to her staff. How many streets can we pave if we dump the whole lot of them?
I'd rather have smooth asphalt under my wheels!
I think her salary is $96,477 plus benefits, if you take into consideration of the 3% increase to the salaries listed here. http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/11/municipal-salaries.html?m=1
Elaine
10:20 PM: In the "Magazine's" defense, they did run a story about the substance abuse problem in pristine Mt. Lebanon (and it exists every where).
However, the money spent on the magazine and staff would be better spent on the substance problem at hand, drugs. How are they getting into the community? Our kids are targeted because they have money to pay for them. It's getting worse and it's the travesty of the next generation that no one wants to talk about.
Where is the leadership here to start talking about the real issues that threaten us instead of deer and turf? What the ****???
I'm sorry, there is nothing that appears in MTLmagazine worth a staffer making $96,000/year. Yes, I know that includes the PIO duties, but then aren't the two really one position.
What is the total cost of personnel, freelancers, etc. For the magazine, including vacation, benefits etc.?
Who penned the Commissioners's report ? Not your Commissioner, Elaine ! There was no mention of her musical talents.
Do you know about longevity pay? They get $35 for each completed year of service. http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/9139
Elaine
This just showed up in my mailbox.
This is an important notice from LeboALERT.
The January/February issue of mtl--Mt. Lebanon Magazine is now available online
at www.lebomag.com. Read about the new traffic program & Lebo hockey stars.
Elaine
Who in the world gets longevity pay? I've never heard of such nonsense especially for jobs that make far in excess of comparable pay in private industry.
Cutting longevity pay should be an immediate delete in the municipal budget. If the employees don't like it they're free to look for employment elsewhere.
While we're on the subject of municipal expenses...
Have we ever gotten an explanation for the missing parking fines? Gave any of those delinquent fines been collected? Have they even been pursued?
9:10 AM, it was just passed last month, right along with the 3% increase across the board minus the manager.
Elaine
9:16 AM, I believe a small percentage was collected. Those were a gift. We didn't have a legal leg to stand on.
Elaine
Simply incredible!!!!
In an economy where unemployment has been hovering in excess for 5 years our leaders hand out generous raises and a $35/year longevity bonus.
All these pay rates illustrated in the document you posted at 8:29, how do they compare to private sector comparable positions?
Correction: "hovering in excess of [8%] for 5 years"
Ohhhh but methinks we do 9:16 ! Why did the Authority auditor, Maher Duessel, not discover the unpaid parking tickets in annual audits since 1997 ? Auditors have insurance coverage for errors & omissions and general liability. We should consider seeking potential recovery from them. Of course, Maher Duessel are also auditors for the Municipality and School District as well.
The clues to their possible accountability might be found in past Authority audit (CAFR) notes in the financials and balance sheets plus Authority board meeting minutes.
What are the salaries based on?
Just as an example from Indeed average starting secretary/receptionist is $25,000.
http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-Secretary-Receptionist-l-Pittsburgh,-PA.html
It looks like in Lebo it's $32,000 if my math is correct.
According to Indeed the IT Manager is being paid just slightly below the going Pittsburgh rate.
$65,000 vs $66,000.
Hey 9:40, the Municipality had a SOP of granting automatic 3% per year increases to essentially all salaried non-bargaining employees, PLUS a $30-increased-to-$35 per year longevity pay, PLUS an automatic 3% "Merit" increase for years up until only just a couple of years ago ! Only the automatic 3% "Merit" was dropped. Each employee position has an assigned salary scale range from a minimum to a maximum. You will find that essentially each and every Municipal salaried employee is already at their maximum "allowed" level.
Why don't you ask local HR experts about private sector scales and let us know.
This same sort of thing has occurred all levels of government and public school districts nationwide for years; and, the public is none the wiser because we're all "too busy" to keep track of what is going on and riding herd on all the elected officials who have given the store away for this and future generations
The above only addresses salary structures of non-bargaining public employees. How about union pay scales and fringe benefits per-se for all public employees? Like just pensions for instance. Does this possibly ring recognition bells in the minds of you who are and have been just "too busy" ?
10:43 see 10:22's post. You can the same for about any position. It will show ranges and varying firms as well as a trending for salaries in that position. It does not show benefits though.
Things like a secretary/receptionist making $25k working in the municipal building that gets free Or cheap parking or walks to work takes home substantially more than a legal sec/rec making $25k that needs to commute downtown and pay for gas/parking or PAT transit fees.
Why, why, why was there an increase in longevity pay? Especially in this economy?
The school district and muni are both looking for new sources of revenue, so how can they justify an increase in longevity pay?
Why did it exist in the first place?
Is there a big threat that there will be a mass exodus of employees? Bet there a lot of people that would love to have their spots.
I'd bet many would be able to keep track of whether parking fine envelopes were being purchased, but not enough fines were coming in.
The problem with socialsim is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money.
On page 34 of the January / February “mtl Magazine” there is an article entitled “Calming the Flow of Traffic.” It states that 20 signatures must be on a petition to file a complaint with the traffic board along with other restrictive requirements that must be met such as a traffic study. This article answers the question of the responsiveness of local government to excessive traffic issues on local streets.
On page 5 our PIO, Susan Morgans, writes, “On a recent Sunday afternoon, I took a “long cut” to avoid the single lane of traffic snaking up Cochran Road from Virginia Manor shops to Bower Hill Road. I turned left on Parker, right on McCann, crossed Beverly, made a right on Marlin East, left on Akron, right on Ralston, left on Bower Hill, right on South Meadowcroft, left on Florence (don’t try that with a stick shift) and breezed home along a practically deserted Washington Road.
Depending on where the traffic jams are on Cochran, there are dozens of alternate routes, if you know Mt. Lebanon’s byways.”
This article along with the letter from the Editor in Chief of “mtl Magazine” show the callous disregard that employees of the Mt. Lebanon hold for the citizens who pay over $96,000 per year for Mrs. Morgans’ salary, plus her healthcare, Social Security employer contribution, workman’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, and pension contribution just to name a few of her benefits.
The next time you have a traffic complain about excessive traffic on your street, think about Susan Morgans ride over nine (9) residential streets for her own personal pleasure.
should be "traffic complaint"
A question from a moron. This longevity bonus is it a one time payment per year as in work one year get $35, put in another year get another $35?
Or does it compound?
1 year = $35
2 years = $70
3 years = $105
4 years = $140
5 years = $175 and so on and so forth,so that an employee with 10 years years service gets a check for $350. and if does indeed compound over the ten years of service the employee would have collected a grand sum in longevity pay of $1925.
A 20 year employee gets will have received a cumulative extra $7,350 in longevity pay.
If my math is correct, of course.
A 25 year employee would collect an extra $11,375 in longevity pay. His last year's check would be $875.
Sp anyone know the answer? A one time $35 bonus per year or a compounded bonus year after year?
5:06 PM, are you sitting down? It compounds.
Elaine
Thanks, Elaine. As they say - nice work if you can get it!
I'm sure all the residents on Parker, McCann, Marlin, etc., will appreciate all the cut-thru traffic Ms. Morgans can direct thru their neighborhoods.
That has to be the dumbest thng I've ever read... Did she really put that in MTL magazine. Tell frustrated drivers how to skirt traffic jams by sending them thru residential neighborhoods. Of course if they're alreadfrontera by traffic, they'll obey speed limits and come to a complete stop at stop signs.
Makes me wonder if the lone vote on the poll for reading NTL magazine if I'm in it, is Ms Morgans.
Yes, 5:52 PM, you can read it online here:
http://ebooks.mtlebanon.org/mtl/mtl-012013/
Elaine
Everyone ought to learn about Agenda 21 to see what might be in store. There are many sources available. Here's one:
http://www.infowars.com/agenda-21-is-being-rammed-down-the-throats-of-local-communities-all-over-america/
Thanks for the alert 2:10. This paragraph from the link is disturbing: "She said, “UN Agenda 21/Sustainable Development is the action plan to inventory and control all land, all water, all minerals, all plants, all animals, all construction, all means of production, all information, all energy, and all human beings in the world.”"
Let's see recent initiatives around here:
1. The creation of no idling zones suggested by the environmental advisory board. Sorry moms, on those frigid winter days as you wait outside the schools to pick up the kids... turn off your motors. You can stand to be cold.
2. They've already found a way to tax rain water. I'd be looking for an exhaled air tax soon.
3. Someone is pushing to - ta da, surprise, surprise - control deer around here.
Seems to all fit Agenda 21. Coincidental or should we be keeping a vigilant eye on this?
Does MTL have any real circulation data, from media buyer resources such as the Circulation Verification Council or one of the audit bureaus?
Lebocitizens poll sampling suggest the magazine is not reaching or at least read by the number of people it claims.
It's one thing to make claims to justify it's budget and accounting, it's another to have real evidence to support those claims.
A big mailing list is not an audit.
Post a Comment