- Financial advisor
- MTLSD does not take the preliminary budget seriously. We are the only school district that refers to it as a "fake budget."
- Trophy case
- Zamagias TIF
- Pool railing
- Pool locker room floor is slippery
- Meeting was not available for viewing last week.
- Agendas are not publicized before meetings
- Trouble with teacher at Howe School
Without naming names, I would like to hear more about the situation at Howe School. The mother was cut off at the knees by the president and solicitor when she was speaking.
As far as the TIF goes, while one commissioner was removing her blog over the weekend, another commissioner posted this: Washington Park, corner of Bower Hill and Washington Road In December, Zamagias defaulted on their TIF loan. Mt. Lebanon has the opportunity to buy it back out of the Parking Fund, I believe. Please contact our commissioners, Senator Matt Smith's office, or Representative Dan Miller's office and share your opinion on this topic.
I would love to hear from Lebo Citizen readers about all these topics which were raised at last night's meeting.
To listen to the meeting please visit Lebo Citizens podcast from MTLSD's January 20, 2014 meeting
67 comments:
The financial advisor has provided unqualified opinions on certain details associated with bond issues that neither the district administration, solicitor or board questioned. He provided incorrect information regarding PDE or PA reimbursements on the initial bond issue, corrected it in a subsequent tabulation but did not advise board or solicitor until a resident discovered it and blew the whistle. He also provided incorrect information about the Zamagias TIF.
The "fake budget" is submitted by MTLSD only so they can apply for waivers later on. They are gaming the system, and should be called out on it but the PDE won't do it cause the PDE ranks are loaded with former and retired teachers and school administrators who want to perpetuate the game for their soul mates.
Regarding the Howe matter, the board president and solicitor could have/should have politely informed the speaker that the issue was a personnel matter with possible legal implications and therefore is not subject open to public disclosure or discussion under PA law.
Far superior to both of them jumping down the poor woman's throat ! That may have been the mother's first attendance at a board meeting and/or fist time at the speakers podium and not familiar with personnel polices or law.
They both confirmed their arrogance and disdain for the public and public inquiry.
Who heard what Birks said to Bill Matthews ?
If the Howe matter is not open to public disclosure, how is the parent supposed to address it given that she may have already tried with a building principal or other administrators?
The presentation of Mr. Bill Matthews near the end of the meeting is compelling and, in my opinion, required listening.
This board - indeed, many boards before it - does not seem to understand basic economics. In as much as no person can be an expert on everything, that's OK; it is why experts are consulted for their advice. But when a highly intelligent citizen confronts the board with evidence that its chosen expert(s) may not be providing sagacious advice the fallback position should not be professional arrogance.
There are a lot of smart people in this town, and our school board would be well served by paying attention to them.
I am trying something a little different. A reader submitted an audio clip of Bill Matthews' comments to me today. I have uploaded them to my website here.
Elaine
I thought the response to the Howe questioner was pretty business-like, and it sounded like she responded in the same vein (but I imagine the mood may have been different live and in person).
What strikes me is that although the president was clearly ready to (correctly) cut off a personnel question, sadly it seems nobody took the opportunity to head this off earlier this month or even in December.
A simple statement that a teacher would be out for an extended, possibly indefinite, period would have worked wonders here.
"We wanted to let you all know that since Teacher X will be taking an extended period of leave from our school, his/her class will have a long-term substitute whom we hope to identify in coming days."
Event (and NOT the reasons for it). Heads-up. Plan for addressing event. Done.
If I receive that, I wonder what's up, but I am far more likely to keep my questions and speculations to myself, which is where they belong. What people need to know at that point is, my child's regular teacher will be out for a while. If the District has more to say later regarding reasons or anything else, they'll say it later.
Thing is, the little information that has come out was kind of a nervous fox-trot, and even at that it came after a long period of zero information.
An ounce of prevention...
The Zamagias TIF is a classic case study that conclusively illustrates and proves governments have no business in trying to manipulate, dictate and conspire in attempts to substitute for or displace the free market and private enterprise systems.
This project in its entirety, from 2005 to present, should be thoroughly investigated by the PA Attorney General. A multitude of elected and appointed officials from several governments and levels of government as well as the cooperative private sector have made egregious decisions and errors in the name of those governments and the associated taxpaying public.
6:32, I agree.
That property has been pretty much empty for as long as I remember (and I'm in my 40's). With the "leaders" we have in this community, I fully expect it to be empty for the next 40 years.
That is, unless we could put a turfed field there. Then I bet we would see serious interest.
TIFs in a community like Mt. Lebanon are a kick in the teeth to all the developers, business & property owners that used their own money, paid the going tax rates and took a chance on living in doing business in Mt. Lebanon.
Now for all their hardwork and investment what are the rewarded with, proping up someone else's venture.
Sure a case can be made for gov't. and tax incentives for an area like Duquesne or brownsites, but Lebo certainly isn't a depressed area--- is it?
If Mt Lebanon is oriented toward "transit oriented development", why would there be a push toward condos with 2 car garages nearby (Zamagias TIF). If folks are looking for a home near transit, they don't usually want a 2 car garage.
http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/4936020-74/townhouses-zamagias-lebanon#axzz2qlySk5G7
8:36 PM, No, not distressed but all of Uptown including the Zamagias TIF District has been officially declared "blighted" so as to qualify for tax subsidies like TIF's and LERDA's. The Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project being considered in Uptown over the LRT "air rights" automatically qualifies for TIF-like treatment under the PA Transit Redevelopment Investment District (TRID) law and regulations. It will likely amount to $ millions to developers if approved by 3 - 4 Commissioners.
We're screwed !
Yes 8:36 blighted is the term, not distressed as I wrote, thank you.
Isn't it nice to know that ever so affluent, and better than you- Mt. Lebanon's business district, is in the same economic shape as Homestead, Duquesne and Wilkinsburg.
So, in the end if the TOC proceeds the current landlord with a vacant storefront (or even an occupied one) on Washington Road that pays full-price on property taxes will have to compete with brand spanking new retail space that gets a tax break.
Sounds fair to me.
Why don't we have govt subsidize building a new house equal in price to your 50 year old house that you are trying to sell on the assumption it will make it easier to sell yours.
Essentially isn't that the BS scheme they try to sell about TIFs!
how about buying it back and building another parking garage with retail space on the first level? I bet the business owners on Washington would love more parking for more customers.
12:39 AM, the muni BS is similar to that of the school district and muni sports nuts - "if you don't build it , people will not move here and housing prices will decline...." - you know the drill. The real reason is that there is no prospect for future growth in taxes in the bubble to satisfy the tax & spenders at current already high tax rates. Therefore, they have to create new artificial, subsidized growth to provide the illusion of prosperity.
About the Howe School situation:
I did not see anything in Monday's personnel report that was related to or addressed the residents' concerns at Howe.
Elaine
I am honestly torn on TIFs in general. I think in this case you get to understand what is was in the TIF agreement that did not work. For instance, if Zamagias fails to pay the loan, the property should go back to the lein holders. In this case that would be CFA (Commonwealth Finance Authority) or the Municipality/School District.
I spent about an hour last night Bing'ing what happens in a TIF default and couldn't come up with much except that the CFA takes over some of the rights but it wasn't clear what that meant.
As for a TIF on the TOD project, if there were better/clearer repercussions for not performing as planned, I MIGHT be open to it. However, preference should be given to developers that do not request a TIF.
6:53 AM, there was public parking on the site from the middle 1970's to about 2006. It was monthly permit parking, and there were only around 40 permits issued monthly by the former Parking Authority on the original 0.8 acre site. The original 4-parcel site was purchased by the Authority at the direction of the Municipality to "land bank" for future residential development at the "northern gateway" to Lebo. It took 20 years to get around to do something about it. Over that time, the public parking lot activity was suspended twice to allow the site and building on it to be used by Medical Rescue Team South (MRTSA) and the Library (MLPL) while their buildings were being constructed and renovated/enlarged. The Municipality has spent the last 18 years with two selected developers trying to develop the property with TIF grants to no avail.
The site is now zoned R-7, high density, high rise, multifamily residential. A garage/retail only project would not comply with the zoning requirements.
For those not sure what a TIF is, read Wiki's definition. Tax Increment Financing
Basically, it is "favoritism for politically connected developers."
Elaine
8:52AM,
I appreciate the backstory of that piece of land. It certainly makes you wonder why it isn't being utilized properly. But can't the zoning be changed and allow the town to build public parking?
8:48 AM. It was the developers and governmental agencies, not the TIF agreements, that did not work. Poor, really flawed, selections of developers coupled with gross mismanagement of the entire project processes by the Municipality and Allegheny Redevelopment Authority. The School Dist. came along for the ride after Howard Hanna III, his goodself, appeared before the SB as the Zamagias exclusive marketing expert and agent and claimed that people would be waiting in line to buy the condo's priced in a range of $350,000 - $1,000,000 each. The SB approved the TIF plan, and Hanna walked away from the project 6 months latter unable to sell any. The only SB member to early on question the deal was Dan Remely.
PA has now purchased the $1.7 million TIF loan to Zamagias (that should not have occurred in the first place) from the issuing bank, and the loan will eventually be paid - principal and accumulating interest - by Muni & School Dist. real estate tax increment payments to PA from any, repeat any, future development in what has been defined as the TIF District in the 400 block of Washington Road by any, repeat any, developer. Zamagias is off the hook and does not have to repay the loan even though they used the money to purchase land parcels, now owned and will be allowed to keep ! As such, the TIF District may now be viewed as essentially tainted or even contaminated by developers and or lenders.
And now we are considering an even larger TOD air rights project by state, county and local government agencies that have an extremely poor records of learning anything from history. Think about it !
8:52 AM. It might be an excellent idea for you to personally appear before the Commission, Planning Board, Zoning Hearing Board and Parking Advisory Board and make such a proposal after you clear it with the Municipal Planner and the 2013 Comprehensive Plan for Site 1. LOL.
Elaine- I think the Howe comments refer to a situation that parents are put in when their child's teacher takes an extended absence from school without an explanation. This has happened to me 4 times with 2 elementary teachers in the last 3 years. Sometimes the absence is a day here, day there, and then weeks (the 4 times refer to over week long absences). In my case, parents were not given an explanation or hint of why the teacher was gone or when s/he would return. Likewise, finding a sub was an issue and as soon as the kids would acclimate to one, it seemed a new one was on the horizon. In the absence of information, kids and parents are left to wonder what happened and what will be the toll on their child's education and relationship with the teacher. The parents that attended the school board meeting would probably like to know if there is a policy or procedure for addressing this communication problem. I think it's a good idea for the district to address it.
The development of the air rights over the T station is nothing more than camo to cover up attempts to increase ridership for the expensive rail system that never did what it was sold as.
It didn't get people to use mass transit and it services even fewer communities than the century old trolley system the T replaced.
At one time you use those old trolleys to ride from Washington PA to Pittsburgh to Oakland and beyond.
Getting the rail system off the city streets was the only rational part of the T. It took 30 years to extend T service just to the Northside, something any trolley rider could do from Mt. Lebanon for 50 years. We still can't ride to Oakland.
http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/vintagetrolley.htm
"Why are Cities Building Streetcar Systems Again?
Streetcar projects are typically driven by a combination of transit demand and the desire to rejuvenate urban public spaces. The coming of the streetcar can help transform the face of the city; the streetcar provides attractive short-trip urban circulation and becomes a formative component in reshaping the public space. A streetcar is a proven way to attract "choice" riders (riders who have ready access to a car and are not transit dependent), a significant advantage over rubber-tired alternatives. By connecting together key activity centers, parking and other forms of transit with convenient service levels, the streetcar becomes the key to creating a vibrant cityscape that is attractive to all. Visitors and residents alike can leave their cars behind and see and do more within a given district when a convenient streetcar service connects destinations together. Stops are spaced relatively close together, and the streetcar thus becomes a "pedestrian accelerator", facilitating trips that are part walking, part streetcar.
In addition to their mobility benefits, streetcars have an excellent track record of being a catalyst for positive urban change when integrated with land use policy and greater coordination of all transport modes. The fixed nature of the rail infrastructure implies permanence- it's going to be there as a community resource for the long run. This can be a key ingredient in helping communities leverage public/private investment and organize development around a defined corridor. The streetcar is also highly visible, has an easily understood route, and the quiet, pollution-free electric vehicles blend in well with the community.
Streetcar systems are also much less expensive to build and operate than conventional rail systems. Infrastructure is simpler, and the relative ease of integration into the built urban environment results in a significantly lower cost per mile than higher capacity, regional- serving light rail systems. Of course all transit modes (buses and heavy rail included) have their place, and a combination of modes is necessary to achieve a comprehensive system. Some cities are also using a streetcar as a precursor to a new light rail system, offering a lower-cost "demonstrator" line that can later be extended or incorporated into a larger system. Some systems might also be considered hybrid streetcar / light rail (a.k.a. "rapid streetcar"), incorporating aspects of both approaches including sections where tracks are segregated from roadway traffic to achieve higher operating speeds."
The first thing one has to realize in determining whether the TOD is worth the local tax breaks is whom is the TOD designed to benefit first, the T or the community
In the case of the air rights... its designed to benefit PAT. The area around the T stop isn't blighted, there's a brand new hotel going up there which will probably spur retail activity without giving away tax money.
At Washington & Bower Hill the TIF was given a chance to develop a 'blighted' corner and we soon found out there was little demand to make the project viable.
11:57 - Regarding the Howe teacher situation, if it is a medical related condition, the SB really has it's hands tied by HIPAA laws and even stating that a teacher is out for a "medical reasons" or because of "health related issues" can be considered a violation of the law.
1:34, This is public schooling we are talking about.
All public employees are subject to RTK requests.
This included employee attendance records, salary information, expense reports, resumés, job applicatons, job descriptions, and the final action at termination. Parents and taxpayers have a right to know what is happening with their tax dollars, and who is educating their children, and what the children are learning. Nobody cares if some teacher is having an operation. People just want to know what is going on in the school.
2:28 - I understand that people want to know what is going on with their child's teacher. I had a similar situation for one of my kids a few years ago. I get that. All I stated above is that HIPAA laws prevent the board from telling parents if the absence is at all related to a medical issue. It doesn't matter whether you care if the teacher is having an operation, it's simply not your right to know under the law. And I'm sure others on this site would be quite upset if the Board released information and was then sued or had a grievance filed relating to the release of the information.
5:33 PM, yes, you are right about HIPAA, but in this case, it was said at Monday's meeting that it would appear on the personnel report. There has been no mention of the "situation."
Elaine
I don't doubt that teachers want to keep their health information or reasons for extended absences confidential. I believe the concern is whether the teacher will return to the classroom, approximately when, and who will teach during the interim.
However, HIPAA applies to health service providers, not the school board. Within the district, there may be health providers that need to comply with HIPAA but only as it pertains to the delivery of treatment to children.
If teachers are absent for weeks at a time, and especially if such absences are anticipated, a note should be provided to the parents regarding the length of the absence and the substitute. The teacher's need for privacy is being respected while also providing students and parents with essential information.
If extended teacher absences don't matter, then why keep the same one all year long?
BTW, I just found out today that my child's math teacher for the first semester will no longer be his teacher because, according to my child, "He wasn't really a math teacher. He was a sub". Maybe it would be better for parents to hear this information first hand....
Many, perhaps a large percentage, of substitute teachers are not state certified in some of the subjects they teach as substitutes. This should be very disturbing to parents in that the teacher absentee rate averages about 10% on a daily basis.
Off topic, but has anyone noticed the construction cameras on the district web site have been frozen on the same image? Looks like since last week.
Hi Elaine, I could be wrong but I think the personnel-report statement was more limited. From the podcast I thought that the solicitor said that if a publicly disclosable action (e.g. the termination the second questioner mentioned) were taken or considered, *then* it would show up in the personnel report.
The Trib wrote about the Zamagias property in today's paper. Mt. Lebanon eyesore persists
Elaine
7:29 PM, there are about 435 teachers in the MTLSD. If the absentee rate averages around 10% on any given school day, that means there are some 43 teachers absent from the 10 school buildings, and students being instructed by subs not all of whom are certified. Kind of gives you chills ! And we're paying everyone top dollar.
From the Trib article--
"But after several proposals never were built — including luxury condos,[with retail spaces] a retirement community and now townhouses — there was no new tax revenue to keep up with the payments."
Now of course we're all expected to believe that there is an overwhelming and primed demand for luxury condos and retail space just 200-300 yards south of the corner over the T stop.
I wonder if there are plans to construct an $800,000 bridge over Washington Road to get people safely across to the Saloon.
One thing to be sure the TOD isn't going to help develop the Washington/Bower Hill corner.
Couple of thoughts.
How long could a private company operate with a daily 10% absentee rate and temp staffing to fill in?
Where do people imagine the state's TIF reimbursement money came from? How about taxes!!!!
Elaine, let me tell you "the rest of the story" that the Trib article does not include about Zamagias Properties and their free property at taxpayers expense. What I am about to disclose was told, with full documentation, to the Commission in a public meeting last year by another taxpaying citizen.
Zamagias Properties acquired 7 parcels of property for their original project - 4 from the Parking Authority for $520,000; 2 corner parcels at Bower Hill & Washington Rd. from the Gordon brothers for $500,000; and, 1 single family residential property on Kenmont (assessed at about $150,000) also for $500,000. The total purchase price for the 7 parcels came to $1,520,000.
Sometime during late 2012 or so, Zamagias formally consolidated all 7 parcels into a single parcel using a former single Parking Authority parcel lot & block number to designate it, and filed with the County that the cost (purchase price paid) for this single consolidated parcel was only $520,000...not the $1,520,000 actually paid for the 7 parcels. Some believe, perhaps correctly, that Zamagias used a portion, perhaps all, of the TIF loan to acquire the 7 parcels.
Doesn't sound right does it ? The Municipal government has been advised of this in a public meeting and there has been no indication they have done anything about it. And here's the "added insult to injury" - the County reassessment reduced the value of the consolidated parcel from the $520,000 to only $428,000 for 2013 ! And Zamagias appealed that, but subsquently withdrew the appeal.
You, of course, will never get the real and full story in the magazine. And aren't we all just proud of our local government ?
11:57 am. The backstory you shared is quite disturbing. Can you please share the date of the commission meeting in which this information was distributed?
I think a "Center for Ethical Leadership & Government" should be the next property at that location.
11:57 am How is the parcel identified on the Allegheny County Real Estate webpage? I don't think it is listed as an address on Washington Road.
What a tangled web...
12:19 PM, the Parcel ID is 0098-P-00100, the address is 428 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228.
Note the Recording Date is indicated as 11/2/2007 which is the date that Zamagias purchased the 4 parcels from the Parking Authority for $520,000, not the date of the total price paid for the consolidated 7 parcels - click on the Maps tab to see the consolidated parcels as they now exist.
In 2013 Zamagias purchased an old corner 4-unit apartment building at Oak Way and Washington Rd. for something like $130,000 which carries it's original Parcel ID, and was to be included in the overall property assembly for the failed Townhouse scheme.
12:54, how does a property drop in value in Mt. Lebanon?
Isn't the school district supposed to keep our property values sky high?
So we're spending $113 million+ and not getting a return on that investment?
12:12 PM. The Commission meeting date was December 11, 2012 and the speaker in Citizens Comments at the beginning of the meeting was William Matthews. If you are not familiar with meeting minutes, they are not verbatim, and in this particular case only refer to a general subject matter reference, not the specific remarks or documentation.
If you wish to obtain a CD of the entire meeting ($10), if still available, it would provide the speakers oral comments. Please contact the Managers secretary/ admin. assistant.
There are times, like today, that I think you live in a different Mt. Lebanon than everyone else. If the only news source was your blog, one would have to conclude that everything about this town was horrible, starting with the school district. In this morning's paper there is an article that mentions both our State Representative and State Senator who attended the recent school board meeting, where you presumably had people recording the session, who gave accolades and praise for the outstanding job done by the Mt. Lebanon School board. The article went on to point out that Mt. Lebanon is the highest ranked school district in the county and one of the top schools in the state. I guess you missed that.
Please remember that at the same time the Commission approved the TIF, the School Board refused to go along.
1:27 PM, it was covered extensively, so I did not see a need. I try to talk about the stuff that the PIOs miss.
Elaine
1:27 If you would like to see blog coverage of PA testing and superior results from suburban school districts, please consider viewing "Yinzercation".
1:27 the PR on the praise the praise and outstanding job was pretty hard to miss.
That info does not eliminate the question on why property values dropped, especially on current sales numbers on some high priced properties.
The district leaps to #1 and values drop, but sale prices remain high.
Tax breaks are given for development, but new condo/townhouse sales aren't happening.
Land sits stalled at a highly visible commercial zone, but we're told there is a pressing need to develop air space.
I'm no expert on development to be sure, but there seems to be some sort of disconnect here on property value.
12:12 PM, here is a link to the 12/11/12 meeting.
http://lebocitizens.com/Lebo_Citizens/Podcasts/Entries/2012/12/11_Entry_1.html
For some reason, it doesn't work with Google Chrome, but if you have something that uses Safari, it will not crash.
I need an Apple genius to figure out what is going on with my website.
Elaine
1:27 PM, I don't hate Mt. Lebanon. I just look at it differently than you do. While you are thrilled about the nine schools who received accolades for a job well done (not the school board as you suggested), I am wondering about the tenth one that didn't. It represents half of the middle school kids in Mt. Lebanon. Is there a problem there?
Elaine
1:31 not true. The school board approved the Zamagias TIF, from the Trib in March 2007:
The Mt. Lebanon School Board on Monday night approved a controversial tax-increment financing plan for a proposed luxury condominium complex.
The board voted, 6-3, to give a $6.1 million tax break to developer Zamagias Properties for the $42.8 million project at Washington and Bower Hill roads.
Board members Mark Hart, Jo Posti and Susan Rose voted against the plan, which moves to the Mt. Lebanon commissioners for consideration.
1:27 PM, yeah and isn't it wonderful the the high school (not the SB) received the high award in a 20th. century building in terrible condition, "totally unsuitable for delivery of the programmatic requirements for a 21st. century education" ! Don't you and other SB & Super suck-ups see how ridiculous you are and what your ilk are doing to what had been a fine community ?
1:27 PM. Attendance at the SB meeting by Miller and Smith, both Democrats, was purely a political ploy to counter Gov. Corbett, a Republican, who will be running for reelection. The Gov. cancelled a similar next day Philly award ceremony because the local Dem's were protesting what they believe to be his record on education funding.
It's all BS in the long run.
3:11 you've got it right, kudos to the students and the teachers, but the irony is the high schoolers achieve their scores while attending an antiquated and torn up building.
Boy were we sold a bill of goods.
Plus, those high schoolers learned under the administration of how many superintendents in their careers?
Tells you how important the topspot is.
Is anyone aware teen center this Friday is a pool party at the new pool? Is anyone concerned now?
Has the railing been fixed, 8:32 PM?
Elaine
Also discussed at the school board meeting, Mt. Lebanon hires 2 principals
Elaine
I am very concerned 8:32, the floor is SLIPPERY, at a pool! The water is wet!
10:42 the slippery floor is in the basement locker rooms, not the pool.
The pool has an unsafe spectator balcony that has yet to be repaired even though the District is aware of the problem.
Here's yet another fact based nail in the Zamagias/Mt. Lebanon buddy- buddy coffin.
The Municipality had already granted a 5th. extension - YES, 5TH. TIME EXTENSION - before the Parking Authority could exercise the buy-back provision in its property Sales Agreement with Zamagias due to Zamagias's contractual breach of a requirement to break ground on its $42 million luxury condo project within a certain time period.
The contracts with Zamagias required Zamagias to provide 18 public parking spaces on the developers property dedicated to the Authority's use. To approve a 6th. time extension into 2011, the Parking Authority in frustration required Zamagias to pay the Authority $500/month until such time as all the parking spaces were constructed and made available to the Authority, to which Zamagias agreed.
The Municipality disbanded the Parking Authority effective the end of calendar year 2011. Parking is now operated by the Municipality as an Enterprise Fund (business)referred to as the Parking Fund in budgets and financial statements. There is a token appointed Parking Advisory Board to supposedly provide advice to the Commission on what amounts to only certain limited aspects of parking, none of which include budgeting, parking fees or accounting and financial matters.
The Municipality provided Zamagias with another time extension during a Commission meeting last month in December for the entire year 2014.
Zamagias has apparently not paid the $500/month fee since sometime during 2011 (no one seems to know), the Municipality has not called for the payment and it is not included as a condition of the Agreement extension for 2014 !
Are not buddy-buddy relationships just great, or what ! Mt. Lebanon is now open to and waiting patiently once again for Zamagias to come forward with yet some other new scheme instead of pulling the plug, buying the property back and telling Zamagias by-by.
If we do not pay our Muni bills on time and abide by all legal obligations with Mt. Lebanon, we incur monetary penalties, interest charges, delinquency notices, lien filings and possible foreclosure proceedings. Developers get a wink-wink, nod-nod and a carry-on from local, county and state governments that seem to be deaf, dumb and blind to whats going on !
12:08 So you are saying Zamagias doesn't have to pay its bills, but the rest of Mt Lebanon citizenry does, and will have to pay even higher bills with tax increases, and for most activities in Mt Lebanon, where fees are going up.
This anonymous comment was submitted under "Well, well, well" but I thought it fit better here and the reason for the crosspost.
Elaine
"I don't know about the trophy case, but what about the staircase at the pool that didn't reach the floor as originally designed and built, so another block of concrete had to be added to allow the stairs to reach the floor----or the fact that there is less spectator space in the new pool than there was in the old one?? Perhaps someone should inquire into the ongoing issue of whether the plans were well conceived in the first place. While we are at it, we might also want to learn why so many flaws have popped up from what seems to be a seriously deficient design---is there any kind of a penalty clause in the architect's contract to reimburse us all out of the $7 mil he got for any part of the $3 million and building, cost overruns? We are certainly building a monument to incompetence and excess though we may not be building a high school of 21st century merit...... "
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html
"Low bidder" for trophy case, Viking Woodworking is owned by the father of the author of the Devil's Advocate article entitled "You and I are not equal."
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