It appears that adding two words to a sentence in an ordinance requires a super vote; four votes are required. Those two words in the
Sports Advisory Board Ordinance are "up to."
§133.2 Membership and Term. The Sports Advisory Board shall consist of such members as are appointed by the Commission from time to time, each appointed for a three (3) year term. The term of the initial members shall be set by the Commission so as to be staggered in order to expire evenly. There shall be up to thirteen (13) voting members of the Board that will consist of: (i) eleven (11) members chosen from any sports organization recognized by the Commission and/or the Parks Board; and (ii) two (2) at large positions. The Municipality and School District will also be able to provide a liaison and staff members, all of whom shall be nonvoting members. Any Parks Board representative shall be nonvoting.
Recommended Action: Move to adopt Ordinance (Bill No. 5-13) by special procedure (roll call taken with four votes required).
In addition, there will be a new appointment to the Sports Advisory Board, replacing the Upper St. Clair resident.
On February 12, 2013, the Commission appointed 13 members to the recently created Sports Advisory Board. The appointee from the Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association cannot serve because he resides in another community. Section 125 of the Administrative Code requires that "members of any board or authority shall be residents of the Municipality." Tonight’s action will appoint the alternate nominee of the Hockey Association to replace the initial appointee.
Recommended Action: Move to appoint Dave Klasnick of 1021 Martin Avenue to fill an unexpired term ending March 31, 2014.
Thank you Readers and Commissioners, for working together to make things right. Take note, School Board Directors.
53 comments:
Any word on criminal background checks? I think anyone involved in any youth-related effort should be vetted.
Anyone want to hazard a wild guess as to what advice the Sports Advisory Board will dispense? Chuckle, chuckle.
Holy cow, it's still somewhat confusing. If Franklin is a nonvoting member, then there are only 12 voting members of the 13 initial members of the Board. Does "up to" imply that a Parks Board appointment in the future may be eliminated in favor of a sports group to achieve the 13 voting member number ?
Thank you Elaine and Lebo Citizens. How did the commissioners, manager, and solicitor put an Upper Saint Clair resident on a township committee in the first place?
"Up to" is legalese for -- the board will be whatever 'we' want it to be to make our agenda appear unbiased.
Here is how I see it. The SAB can have up to 13 voting members. Because the Parks Board is being included in the count, that reduces the amount of voting members to UP TO 12. Platform Tennis, Baseball Association, Women's Softball League, Wrestling, High School Hockey, Aqua Club, Men's Golf League, Softball Fast Pitch and Tennis Players Association are not being represented. Those are the ones Matt Kluck mentioned. There could be others, but I am not sure. The PAB should not be included in the mix. Putting the PAB in the 13 is denying a sports group of being represented.
As far as criminal background checks, I suggest writing to the commission.
Elaine
Let have a short little review.
The school district, just the school district - spends $1.4 million ANNUALLY on sports teams and this doesn't include the $30 or $40 million on the new athletic facilities or the $1 million stadium turf replacement every 7 to 10 years, the $17,300 data/phone line to the stadium and last but not least $80,000 field maintenance fee paid to the municipality.
Then we have the the recreation expenses on the municipal side yet to be tallied. We know there is the McNeilly property, the new pool and golf course renovations.
So what do you think the Sports Advisory Board will recommend? Austerity? Efficiency? Cuts in spending?
It is a shame there just isn't anything recreation-wise for our kids to get involved in.
I am counting 10 sports groups on the Board. Lets say me and my buddies from the non represented groups - Elaine wrote Platform Tennis, Baseball Association, Women's Softball League, Wrestling, High School Hockey, Aqua Club, Men's Golf League, Softball Fast Pitch and Tennis Players Association - want in on the Sports Advisory. 9 more groups want in. Franklin has tied up a spot. Who says we don't count ? How do we get in ?
What are these guys advising ? How to spend more money ? Will they be representing us 9 ?
The bigger question is will they be representing their own special interest or the community at large?
We can't afford to do standard municipal maintenance like paving streets without floating a bond. Wouldn't one figure street paving would come out of the municipal taxes we pay annually?
No, we pay taxes then they tell us they don't have enough revenue to pay for the essential services a municipality is suppose to do, so they borrow money.
WHERE has our solicitor been in all of this? WHY are we paying people to ignore our ordinances?
Have we reached the point that all expenditures must be approved by vote of the residents because we can't trust those in charge?
Here's another question: how does The Mt. Lebanon Travel Hockey Association (The Hornets) have Jim Reed (a resident of Upper St. Clair) as President of the association with assets over $100,000?
The VP of the association is a William Schmitt of 1236 Sun Ridge Dr., also in Upper St. Clair.
Why did an anonymous blogger have to inform the commission president, municipal manage and the solicitor that a non-resident couldn't sit on the board?
4:44 you drive a spike (figuratively of course for those that take literally opinions they don't like) into the heart of the matter. What are these people in charge doing?
3:51 9 groups want in but the Franklins get two seats. Hmmmmmmmm
Check out page I-11 here http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3862
I think I know why Parks Advisory is being included. 125.5 "Organizations of Boards. Each board, at its first meeting following March 31st of each year, shall elect one of its members to serve as chairman for the ensuing year and such other officers as a board may deem appropriate." I would be willing to bet that the chairman will be the Parks Advisory Board representative.
This is interesting: 125.1 "Before the creation of any authority or board not in existence at the time this Administrative Code is enacted, the Commission first shall ascertain the feasibility of carrying out such special purpose by an existing department, board or authority." Did the Commission do that?
Elaine
6:34 pm Regarding 125.1 : Certainly not as a result of any formal internal study, written report, or in any public meeting forum, nor in the enabling legislation. And this does not qualify for executive session deliberation.
Was it the result of divine guidance ?
Check out Code of Ethics §161 Violations.
9:35 PM, what should I see there?
Elaine
Does Ethics Violation relate to discharge of Duties described in Section 604 of Home Rule Charter for various officials?
Here's the deal.
The Sports Advisory Board isn't the very first board to ever be created in Mt. Lebanon.
So wouldn't one think - the Commission president (a lawyer), the manager, the solicitor and the municipal secretary would all be familiar with the codes and rules for forming a commission? If not, wouldn't the wise before forming one be to review the codes and rules?
So how did we get to the point where the commission actually picks and announces a person to sit and potentially vote on a board, that isn't a resident?
Is this an innocent slip or moment of forgetfulness, incompetence, laziness or something else?
We're not inventing the wheel here, board's have been formed before.
1:11 PM, want to hear something really pathetic? It was brought to the Commission's attention at the public hearing that there was a non resident appointed. Here are the minutes:MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING NOVEMBER 26, 2012 OF THE MT. LEBANON COMMISSION
Elaine
Exactly, even when alerted to the issue of a non-resident the elected representatives and employees failed to uphold the codes of the municipality.
And why a violation of Code of Ethics may apply.
This is an outrage!
It is the solicitor's duty to keep elected officials out of trouble. If he tried to do so and was ignored, he should feel uncomfortable; if he didn't inform the board, he should be replaced for not doing his job.
Regulations and codes are in place for a reason. If elected officials can't follow them, they need to go.
Many residents have long suspected that the current municipal and district boards have their own agendas and now we have some proof. I suspect there's a lot more to come.
The problem is if they choose to ignore or are ignorant of one, how do we know if there are more they've missed.
We also have the missing parking fines as evidence of less than stellar management in the municipal operations.
When the commission schedules a public hearing and also schedules consideration of an action immediately after the public hearing - it clearly shows it has no interest in what the public has to say at the public hearing. Why do they even bother with the hearing? In this case it had no plans to follow the other rules about committees being made up of township residents. Now the township will call it an oversight. It is only with the involvement of Elaine and Dave Houston that things like this get corrected. Thank you.
Ignorantia juris non excusat
Hey 3:53 PM, let me add my pepperoni support to that Latin pizza. But ignorance seems an acceptable excuse in these parts, unfortunately.
Ignorant only until it comes time for compensation.
At which the rule becomes "exceeds expectatiions."
Um, dumb questions!
Why do we need a Sports Advisory Board?
We have a recreation dept with a recreation manager. Why can't he run quarterly meetings and invite all the different groups to discuss problems, objectives and future opportunities. He then pulls all the input together and makes a scheduled report to the commissioners.
Doesn't that make more sense and puts every sports group on equal footing. The SAB is just a cover for the old YSA without the financial contribution obligations.
When the idea was initially introduced at the commission meeting, the name was Youth Sports Advisory. I poked fun at Dave Brumfield when I was at the podium. He couldn't come up with anything else since it could be called YSA for short? If you read what Kristen Linfante introduced in her ordinance, she gave the duties for the SAB.
Ms. Linfante said the proposed advisory board will:
Review and assess all sports-related facilities and services in Mt. Lebanon. Recommend possible changes and improvements to sports-related facilities and services.
Assist in the continued safe provision of athletic opportunities to Mt. Lebanon residents.
Receive and consider public comment and other public input regarding sports facilities and
services.
Support, promote and/or provide programs and services to assist athletes and coaches in Mt. Lebanon.
If they don't have anyone from Aqua Club, who will be concerned about the pools? I say POOLS since the high school pool was to be open to the community.
Elaine
I still ask, wouldn't all those described functions of the SAB, be the normal duties of the Municipal Recreation Dept. and its Manager?
As for a name for this advisory board I think Sports Citizens Advisory Board would be more apropos.
SCAB n - A dry rough protective crust that forms over a wound.
LOL
The Recreation Department Manager got a $5,000 raise this year to $100,000 but Brumfield and buddies don't trust him to do his job so they appoint an advisory board to do it for him????? What is missing here???????
Elaine---You are absolutely correct about the high school pool; it has been open to the community for decades. There was even such a thing as a "family swim."
My, how far we have fallen.....
10:15 the HS pool is suppose to still be available to the community according to the project benefits documents.
"Since 62% of after hours usage of the High School is by community groups, the schematic design improves community use and access to areas such as the gymnasiums, fitness facilities, new pool, renovated auditorium and Fine Arts Theatre."
Does anyone have a tally for annual municipal spending on recreation?
We know the Rec Mgr makes $100,000 and a bond will be issued for the pool and golf course improvements but what is the total minus green fees, pool passes, school district JMA payments etc?
That is all itemized in the municipal budget. I have provided links here and on my website for you to do the math. Let us know what you come up with.
Elaine
I wouldn't even attempt to pull all the numbers together for recreation expenditures in the municipality.
How many man-hours are used in staffing and maintenance, revenue vs. Expenditures for the ice rink, tennis center, golf course. Utilities, golf carts, domes, McNeilly bond.
The only person that could possibly pull anything close to an honest accounting would be the treasurer.
But, I suggest before we consider future frecreation Increases we should get a handle on what we spend today.
Elaine, I'll take a wild stab at trying to figure out what we spend on recreation in Mt. Lebanon.
I guesstimate the district and municipality - all in - spend about $4 million annually on athletics and recreation facilities.
Dividing that by a rounded 33,000 population, that's about $142 per person per year. Boy a bargain for all we have right?!
But for a family of four that's roughly $568 annually. Remember those infants and kids usually don't make $142 each year.
Then figure on top of the $568 which is covered by taxes, add a family pool pass of $150, sports organization registrations usually around $100-150/kid/sport, greens fees of $13/round, $5 rink admissions and this all begins to take one helluva a chunk out of the Median Family Income of $104,000 in 2011.
As I said, these aren't really firm numbers. Personally I think they are far too low, but that is why I'd like to see accurate numbers. I'm curious to know what we are actually spending for recreation.
Especially comparing it to memories of being a kid in the 1960s where you biked all day and played ball in the most convenient empty space.
We laughed, we learned to socialize and we were in pretty good shape.
From the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2011 (the last year for which figures are available) - Expenditures:
Culture and recreation: $2,681,818 (p.87). The breakdown of this figure is on page 90, and includes expenditures on Recreation management, the Rec Center, golf course, tennis center, and "Seasonal programs."
The Municipality shows the following revenue for "Total recreation": $2,593,396 (p.88). This is the sum of the revenues from the Rec Center, golf course, tennis center, and "seasonal programs."
Although slightly off topic, it's interesting to look at the Municipality's "General Government" expenses. There are 12 categories listed on page 87, the most expensive of which is "Fringe benefits unallocated" at $822,520 out of a total cost of $4,062,202, or 20.25% of the cost of government. The next most expensive item in this category is "Public Information" at $814,190 (not to be confused with "Information Services" at $381,252).
Thanks for checking that, RG. I knew it was listed, just didn't take the time to look it up. We're not dealing with fake budgets when it come to the municipality. That is a Jan Klein move, which is "typical for this time of year."
Elaine
On the annual report recreation expenses and revenue.
Do salaries for the Rec Manager, staff, offices, utilities and public works employees and equipment etc., as well as pensions, healthcare and insurance get figured Into expenditures or are they entered under general government expenses?
I would figure the Tennis Center, Ice Rink, Golf Course staff would be, but as example the Rec Manager and staff would not.
So the net cost of MtL Recreation is not $2,681,818 (expenditures) - $2,593,396 (revenue) = $88,422.
Or is it?
If ($88,422)/year is the real bottom line for MtL Recreation, maybe we should investigate building an indoor facility at McNeilly that is open to outside sports and the general public and turn it into a revenue generator for the community!
12:51, you mean like the "revenue generator" rec center in Upper St. Clair?
http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_679491.html#axzz2LvASvCuL
Correction: "Information Services" is $400,820. I was a line too high.
With respect to the 2011 Financial Report, part of the problem in trying to calculate what a particular recreational activity costs is that some of its expenses may be spread across different programs, making it difficult to calculate its true cost in order to compare it to an equivalent free-market activity.
Here is a direct link to the report so that those interested may do their own analysis: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2011.
SABMcNeily private company could run the facility as that public/private partnership that Richard suggest.
The SABers want all-weather (indoor) fields and the community has the land... C'mon Mr. Franklin & friends make it work!
2:06 no nothing like USC's facility.
I'm thinking something like that place in Greentree that has indoor turf.
There would be no taxes invested in it except the land the municipality already owns.
The SABers would put up the building and run the entire operation basically like Ice Castle except for activities like indoor soccer, lacrosse, rifle if they're into that. They could rent to other districts, youth groups, parties, whatever they think they can make a buck at.
Taxpayers wouldn't pay a dime and hopefully at some point divest themselves of the McNeilly property.
Thanks Richard for the link.
I see that they disallowed borrowing or raising taxes for street repair 2011. I knew Dan Miller was pushing for this but didn't know it passed.
That's a good thing.
Time to start thinking!
We hear this rational constantly in support of more expenditures for youth sports, like the following one offered under the "our kids are dying" post.
IAnonymousFebruary 25, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Elaine,
While I agree that heroin is a concern, I would like to remind everyone that ar more children are dying from another epidemic. It is known as obesity and it impacts 1 in 3 american children.
Perhaps we should be focusing on more athletic activities?"
But is there any evidence that more 'organized youth sports' has any impact on childhood obesity? For all the youth sports money are the kids getting anymore svelte?
There is evidence it may not contrary to @2:31 wishful thinking.
http://fitkidsplayground.com/2012/06/23/are-youth-sports-making-kids-healthier-or-teaching-bad-habits/
"New research from University of Minnesota School of Public Health* researchers has found nearly half of overweight adolescents ages 12 to 17 also participate in organized physical activities.
“Youth sport is encouraged as a way to help curb the obesity epidemic among young people, but the results of our review show that the activity alone might not be enough to prevent extra weight gain,” said School of Public Health researcher Toben F. Nelson, Sc.D., assistant professor within the Division of Epidemiology & Community Health. “The fact that many studies show that sport participants are as likely as non-participants to be overweight is interesting because studies consistently show that participants are more likely to be physically active.”"
I'd like to borrow a little of the philosophy of Andy Warhol.
He said: "What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest...."
Now he said more on this topic and granted the discussion was about Coca-Cola, but it got me thinking about physical activity and youth sports here in Mt. Lebanon.
Somewhere along the way we've convinced ourselves that the only good sports activities for our kids are monitored and heavily organized sports.
That somehow the little kid that plays basketball in the neighborhood gym Tuesday and Wednesday night 7 to 8:30 pm will be better professional fodder than the group of kids that shoot hoops in a littered Hill district court night after night with no adult supervision.
Or that our little darling in their &100 Nike cleats, UnderAmour and swinging the latest $200 aluminum bat will out play the poor Cuban when he gets to be an adult because he played on a manicured Wildcat Field. Rewarded of course with healthy snacks provided the games scheduled parent.
Whatever happened to letting the kids find their way. Choose which sport they were interested in and decide how good they want to be, how many hours they want to invest and how much they want to win?
Just a thought.
Living next to the high school, I can assure everyone that many, many kids play pick up football at the HS turf and also practice/play basketball at the outdoor courts almost every day of the year.
8:26 yes that does seem to be the case, but Mellon, Jefferson, Middle, Wildcat, Foster, Lincoln, Howe, Brafferton and Markham fields, basketball and tennis courts aren't what I'd call crowded by any means during the day.
10:46 - During baseball, football and soccer season (April - Oct), the fields you mentioned are almost always in use, except when the kids are in school.
Is that your opinion or do you know that as fact!
I drive by several a number of times a day and they look empty to me. Mellon and Jefferson are usually empty 9 am to 2 pm Monday thru Friday.
Maybe instead of counting deer, we should count how many hours each field is being used in a day.
Something I've never heard discussed-- a roller blade rink. Seems to me I've seen more kids organizing their own roller blade hockey games on empty elementary school and park tennis and basketball courts than kids actually playing tennis or baxketball.
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