Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Mt. Lebanon swimming pool renovation plan hits snag

While Dave Brumfield focuses on dogs, our commission is being sued by a resident over the bidding process.
...a resident is suing the municipality, claiming the commission improperly allowed the winning bidder to modify its bid and undercut another company because the board didn't want to hire a minority contractor.
"A nameless poster threw out [mis]information about the township and use[d] this vehicle to do so"* in a previous thread, Pool contract to be rescinded UPDATED by submitting the link to this Trib article, Mt. Lebanon swimming pool renovation plan hits snag

When design and other costs are taken into account, the pool project will cost about $4.28 million. A slide and other features are being added.
Options added to the pool mean will leave less money for other recreation improvements, such regrading two holes at the municipal golf course or upgrading Robb Hollow Park, Feller said.
 There were many of us who knew something wasn't right. The bid was discussed in Executive Session. The Manager, Commission, and Staff are out of control.  The only one who is clean on this is Matt Kluck. He voted against it. 

*Dave Franklin August 25, 2013 at 9:54 AM Pool contract to be rescinded UPDATED

21 comments:

  1. Oh but we're going to save lots of money in attorney fees won't we!

    With all the legals beagle involved in the affairs of our community, one would think legal issues would be the least of our problems. Does anything ever go smoothly here any more?

    Of course we can expect to read all the lovely details of this latest Lebo fiasco on the pages of the 'official' community magazine, the prime source of all things Mt. Lebanon.

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  2. Thank goodness a resident has the courage to sue the idiots ! The government will try every trick to have the suit dismissed. Standing will presumably be one of the challenges unless she is an owner or shareholder or officer of the minority firm.

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  3. According to the Trib: The lawsuit "asks that Plavchak's contract be invalidated and awarded to Waller, and that Plavchak be blocked from rebidding."

    The commissioners should ask for a resignation, no matter how the suit turns out.

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  4. When you are in trouble for being dishonest on a pool contract you can create a distraction like a dog park. Lawyers need to create distractions to mislead a jury or a community that is paying attention, You really don't think Mr. David Franklin Esquire would allow his beloved turf money to go to a swimming pool, do you?

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  5. I am glad I followed my instincts and waited to see what happened before filing a RTK. My request would have been denied.
    Elaine

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  6. "But the project could be delayed because a resident is suing the municipality, claiming the commission improperly allowed the winning bidder to modify its bid and undercut another company because the board didn't want to hire a minority contractor."..Tribune Review

    This suit is being heard in the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. However, if Waller Construction Co.'s attorney feels he has a discrimination case he could go to the Feds, which would make things even more unpleasant for the Municipality.

    As far as Anna Pappas's standing is concerned, her attorney seems to feel she has it based on her Mt. Lebanon residency.

    This whole thing is appalling on its face, but as we all know sometimes initial news stories are not either accurate or complete. One thing is for sure; given the nature of the suit this is a story we should all follow closely.

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  7. 7:08 AM, who should the commissioners ask to resign?
    Elaine

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  8. All of the democrats should resign.

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  9. I'd keep Kelly and Kluck on...the rest can go and the sooner the better!

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  10. If Pappas 's standing is rejected, we oyght to ask the ACLU to sue on behalf of all Mt. Lebanon tax payers.

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  11. If the ACLU wins the case Mt. Lebanon taxpayers will pay legal fees for both sides. Hire your own lawyer.

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  12. "Penny wise and pound foolish" (Ben Franklin) eh 7:24?

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  13. I erred, Penny wise, pound foolish is an old English proverb, not a B. Franklin quote. Ooops

    But regardless, 7:24 our local government branches never seemed to have a problem spending our money on both sides of the fence before. Why worry about it now?

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  14. fyi, the resident's lawyers are Dave Franklin's law firm.

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  15. 7:27 is that a fact for real?

    If so, that is an interesting coincidence that the guy that wants to use the unspent funds to turf a field represents the person slowing up the pool renovation.

    Interesting.

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  16. Mr. Franklin is not representing the resident; other lawyers at his large law firm are representing her. Their names are at the end of the documents Elaine posted. They got the judge to move the proceeding from the General Docket to the Complex Litigation Docket.

    Mr. Franklin's work is in sports law, contracts and mergers rather than trial law.

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  17. Thank you for the explanation, thought the insinuation was Franklin had something to do with the suit.

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  18. Unfortunately, 11:46, it was an insinuation offered without facts to back it up. That is unfair to Mr. Franklin and his well respected law firm.

    Perhaps we would all be better off if the moderator took down these posts.

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  19. It is a fact that Dave Franklin works for that law firm. It is a fact that ESCM is representing the plaintiff. It is my opinion, as well as many others, that ESCM is a well respected law firm. Good luck to Mrs. Pappas! It is about time someone is taking action to hold our government accountable.
    Elaine

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  20. I'm not wishing Ms. Pappas any ill will. I'm suggesting the posts that demean Mr. Franklin without proof be taken down. It is the only fair thing to do, Elaine.

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  21. Please identify yourself, 11:07 AM for my readers. The fair thing to do is to ask Dave Franklin to remove all of his demeaning comments, both anonymous and otherwise. He can remove them by clicking on the trash can.
    I have published most of Mr. Franklin's comments, as I have published demeaning comments about me.
    Elaine

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