Tonight, the Sports Advisory Board, a.k.a. Turf Board, met and reviewed the results of the Needs Assessment Survey. This survey was completed by fifteen members at the initial meeting on March 26, 2013. The agenda and the summary are available here.
Of course, the most important issue is fields and the least important being new sports, such as bowling, biking, and kayaking. When breaking down into three groups last month, two of the groups felt that turfing would enhance the most important issue. No surprise, they are suggesting turf for two or THREE fields - Wildcat and one or two of the middle school fields.
On page 14 of the pdf or page 11 of the document, note the comments.
Group 1
Changing the hearts and minds of a large portion of our residents who seem to have an allergic reaction to investing money to maintain/improve these facilities
Group 2
Reccommendation to fix the top three is financing, turf, maintenance, and development of new or improved/renovated facilities
Group 3
The greatest need greatest enhancement our field sports Wildcat and Mellon
Financial support by realistic fees/players/teams/sports money
Group 1 thinks we have an allergic reaction to investing money on sports facilities? Have they not seen the sports complex at the high school which is part of a $113 million renovation? Did they not see the new turf at the high school? Are they not aware that the commissioners just passed a $4.8 million recreation bond? Mt. Lebanon to seek input on $4.8M bond
Groups 2 and 3 are all about turf. Not just one field, folks, but three.
Note: Previously, there was a Right To Know filed for the completed Needs Assessment forms, but it was denied by Steve Feller.
Update April 5, 2013 10:45 AM The podcast for the meeting is here.
24 comments:
I am shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you, that this Sports Advisory Board made of of people who had advocated vociferously for turf just one year ago has now come out said that their #1 priority is turfing a field or three.
None of us could see this coming when the Sports Advisory Board was first convened.
Here's hoping the commissioners do to the Sports Advisers what the school board did to the CAC.
"Thanks, but no."
Changing the hearts and minds of a large portion of "field sport users" who seem to have an allergic reaction to investing money to maintain/improve these facilities
When the SAB brings $500,000 cash to a meeting there will be something to talk about
7:12 AM, unfortunately the commission is playing the same game of charades as the school board. Remember, this board was Dave Brumfield's idea. Commissioners Brumfield, Linfante, and Bendel expressed a desire for turf. In the YSA turf presentation, the rec dept. director was quoted as saying that he supported installing artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields. http://www.mtlebanon.org/documentcenter/view/8952
Compare the names in that presentation and who is on the Sports Advisory Board.
This is a done deal. I wish they would stop playing us for fools.
Elaine
Should have been included in the original rec bond. Now it will cost 3 times as much.
It's not like you didn't know it was going to happen eventually.
"8:58 AM" how do you figure it will cost 3 times as much?
Elaine
Calling a turfed Municipal field an "investment" defies basic economics, and calling out "a large portion of our residents" as having "an allergic reaction" to the idea is a display of arrogance nonpareil.
It won't happen, but I'd like to see this "turf" business placed on the ballot in May as a non-binding resolution so as to get the sense of the community on this issue.
Rex Gatto did an excellent job of getting the entire "mess" out in the open. Not surprisingly, lots of testosterone-driven wishes, wants and demands for more and more, but obviously almost nothing and no concern about cost, how it will be financed and who in the final analysis is going to pay for it !
This will be revealed only when they have the necessary votes to implement their collective greed.
One field will become 3 fields.
And so on, and so on, and so on.
How arrogant of them. an allergic reaction? It's called being fiscally responsible. Too bad it's in short supply on that board.
If this group really does start pushing for public money to be used on athletic fields, I will make it my mission in life to expose these frauds.
Here, spell it out and see if it works: federal taxes are going through the roof, the "recovering" housing market is a sham and thanks to Obama, banks are going to once again be forced to lend money to people who have no means to pay it back, our witless school board lied and obfuscated for the sole purpose of spending money we don't have on a school we don't need and raising taxes to pay for it, and now we have a bunch of jock wannabes who are pushing to spend money on artificial turf on fields even though there is no evidence the community wants it and there is currently no actual way to pay for it. Makes perfect sense to me.
I'm just curious but are any of the YSA participants actually in contact with children? If so, have they completed criminal background checks? I ask because I found this:
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJReport.aspx?docketNumber=MJ-05317-CR-0000004-2013
Now, thankfully, YSA member Chip had all the charges dismissed. But thats a near miss. Are these the kind of people we really want forcing more spending on our community? It's bad enough having crooks like Posti and Birks still in elected office. Dave Franklin might want to consider vetting his board buddies and doing complete background checks before appearing at the next hearing.
It's unfortunate that the pro-sports people have no consideration for those who might feel differently or for the fact that 5.88-sq. mi. Mt. Lebanon has little space left that has not been developed in one way or another.
There's something to be said for green space---and that doesn't mean grass or fields. It means places where people (including families) can take quiet walks, find solace in nature, enjoy the foliage and breathe fresh air.
Studies have shown that adults recall simple pleasures the most.
I agree with 12:55. Anybody who has lived in a place where trees, creeks and Mother Nature are abundant, would never want to replace them with ballfields.
This issue should have gone to a referendum vote and we all know why it didn't---because the people running the show were afraid of the response they might get. Now we'll all have to live with their stupidity.
There is far too much organized sports here. For some, these programs are become nothing more than babysitters.
The first thing we need to do is get rid of Steve Feller.
The Roght to Know statute only covers citizens' rights to obtain information, it in no way deals with information citizens should be able to see.
So, the question one must ask, wHy the need to hide information, what possibly could be in those Needs Assessment Forms that needs protection?
You'd think the Sports Advisory Board would be proud to show their objective diligence in assessing the sports needs of the community.
No their going to hide their evaluation. We, the people that will foot the bill for the Needs Assessment of 15 sports nuts, aren't smart enough or privileged enough to see the preliminary work.
Mr. Feller must be ashamed to show the information, anyone wonder why?
Wonder if the SAB directors take into consideration items like the following Trib article. An additionally the falling trend in the number of kids in Mt. Lebanon.
Back in the '70s there were more than 7,000 students in the MTLSD, Today, there are around 5,200 and the numbers are projected to continue to fall.
Yet, these myopic, self-serving "directors" think the best use of taxpayer money is to pump millions of dollars into artificial turf!
Why do I call them "self-serving 'directors'" because they feel under no obligation to make their discussions, evaluations or paperwork available to the public.
Nor I'm betting will these "we're only interested in the development of our kids athletic abilities - directors" will fight tooth and nail not to let the community vote in a referendum on their turf proposals.
IMO... They're not interested in anything but their own deluded vision of what Mt. Lebanon should be.
"Childless by choice: Statistics show more are opting out of parenthood"
http://triblive.com/mobile/3706951-96/says-walters-kids
Just read Gatto's Needs Assessment Summary... Thank you Elaine for making it available.
This guys a PhD? I've seen Je. High student councils put together better surveys and more in-depth analysis of the results than this.
It is a joke and sophmoric attempt to legitimize a bird that was founded with an obvious agenda in mind!
I am hoping that some of the SAB members will chime in here with more details. I know that some members are also Lebo Citizen readers. Instead of Person 1, 2, 3 etc., it would be more impactful as to which organization Person 1,2,3...was representing. Since there aren't any Aqua Club members this year (they missed the application deadline) there are no swimming pool needs assessments listed. Nor is swimming a recognized sport by Mr. Gatto.
One more thing I have noticed is that more gyms is a perceived need, yet nowhere is there any pressure being given upon the school district to be able to utilize the multi million dollar sports wing being built at the high school or to make use of any of the existing school gyms.
Elaine
Before the Sports Advisory Board takes one more step they need to review exactly what their duties and purpose and duties are under the terms of the Boards formation.
Quoted directly from Amended Bill No. 20-12:
133 - SPORTS ADVISORY BOARD
133.1 - PURPOSE: The purpose if the Sports Advisory Board is to advise the Commission on how to improve the sports programming and facilities available in Mt. Lebanon.
133.3 DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS: The duties and functions of the Sports Advisory Board shall be to review and advise on sports related facilities and services in Mt. Lebanon. Specific areas for review shall include: to recommend possible changes and improvements to sports related facilities; to assist in the continued safe provision of athletic opportunities to Mt. Lebanon residents and consider public comment and other public input regarding sports facilities and services; and to support and promote programs and services.
Now, I would recommend that our commissioners and taxpayers review the specifics of Bill No. 20-12 because Mr. Rex Gatto in his Summary Report for Mt. Lebanon's Sports Advisory Board he writes on page 3:
"NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY
Dr. Gatto created a Needs Assessment specifically for Mt. Lebanon to solicit the Sports Advisory Board members' thoughts, feelings and insights about sports offerings, programs, associations, gyms, and fields.
Sports Advisory Board responsibility is to ensure that quality recreation programming, facilities, and fields promote healthy lifestyles, build self-esteem, family life, and meet the community needs."
Lets read the first part of that last sentence once again. "Sports Advisory Board [RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE] that quality recreation... etc., etc.
Now I'm not what I am sure most people would call a 'man of letters' like Mr. Gatto, PhD, but I am literate, I can read, and in Bill No. 20-12 I'm pretty sure the Sports "ADVISORY" Board was not tasked with the responsibility of ENSURING anything!
An online dictory defines ensure as:
en·sure
Verb
1. Make certain that (something) shall occur or be the case.
2. Make certain of obtaining or providing (something).
It offers this on Advisory:
ad·vi·so·ry
Adjective
1. Having or consisting in the power to make recommendations but not to take action enforcing them.Eg: "an independent advisory committee".
So if the Sports Advisory Board was to ensure it should've have been called the Sports ENSURANCE Board!
So if this group is to do what it was formed to do, it better get its mission straight and if it can't the solicitor should throw out the members for overstepping their defined duties and purpose.
Otherwise we need to examine just whom the solicitor works for.
Does anyone see the glaring omission in all the SAB thoughts, documents and agendas.
There is not one nod to find out what the community thinks about sports needs, facilities or spending!
Group 1 thinks they must "CHANGE" the hearts and minds of a LARGE segment of the community. Why?
Maybe they need to change, not the large segment! Did they ever consider that?
10:58 AM, don't you see? It doesn't matter. There are three commissioners now who would approve turf out of the unassigned funds. That is all that is needed. There will be four next year. Notice how the pressure is on the municipality, not the school district. They don't have a shot with the school district.
I present the information here. All I can do is stand back and watch it come to fruition. This is an instant replay of the high school renovation. The bullies keep winning.
Speaking of bullies, the sports cartel is pretty quiet. They know they have it in the bag.
Elaine
Well they have may the three votes needed, but the two commissioners could stand up and ask that the SAB stick to it appointed agenda or disband.
They could also let the community know exactly how the board members were appointed.
We saw at the beginning how this SAB sports cabal tried to get a non-resident on their team against the written rules in the municipal code and charter.
Citizens shouldn't have to be the whistle blowers!
By the way do you think we'll ever get to hear who will manage the field sign schedule and funds from the hastily passed field sign ordinance passed last year?
Or will signs just go up and everyone will look the other way when it comes time to count the sign space fees?
"Group 1 Changing the hearts and minds of a large portion of our residents who seem to have an allergic reaction to investing money to maintain/improve these facilities"
Say what?! This little group of what - 5, 6 or 7 people are so into their own little world that they think it's their domain to change the hearts and minds of a large portion of residents to spend money they don't want to.
This might be a topic for debate if they had any evidence that they even had more than a minuscule segment of the community that supported their position.
Didn't Mr. Franklin start a petition effort to round up signatures supporting turfing even one field?
How many people signed on?
But that's OK, Group 1 in their infinite wisdom knows better than a large segment of the cimmunity.
Self-centered little group aren't they!
I thought the issue was not having enough feilds. that is why Kelly Frassch in her plan had added a field at Rob hollow. I dont understand how turf changes this problem. In fact if I remember correctly the turf field has to be given a time off from time to time to have maintianance done. So this will take a field out of use. Again not having enough fields. Am I missing something?
You're missing that the community will never be able to stroke one individual's massive ego!
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