In yesterday's PG, Roycroft resident Kevin Kirkland wrote about Mt. Lebanon Magazine's Senior Editor, Laura Pace Lilley's kitchen remodel, Old garbage incinerator makes way for modern kitchen in Mt. Lebanon.
John Kendrick, a frequent commenter here on Lebo Citizens, voiced his opinion about the kitchen remodel. Another PG reader wrote, "Must be nice to have $50k to drop on a kitchen upgrade. Only in Mt. Lebanon I guess." Yet, Laura's husband Myles, responded only to John with "Mr. Kendrick, I would like to discuss your concerns regarding my kitchen project. Please post your contact information and I will reach out to you directly." Fortunately, John was smart enough not to share his contact information on the Post Gazette website, but Mr. Lilley asked for it a second time.
Through a RTK, one will find that Laura Pace Lilley and Mt. Lebanon Magazine Managing Editor, Merle Jantz are fascinated with Mr. John Kendrick. Perhaps Myles should check with his wife for Mr. Kendrick's contact information.
41 comments:
I have four pending comments about this. Funny how you don't send these in to the PG. Oh wait, it is because you would have to sign your names to them.
Elaine
It's ironic that environmental concerns were raised with the kitchen renovation b/c I believe the family supports Marcellus Shale development. And Marcellus Shale development is a subject worthy of considerable scrutiny with respect to its impact on the environment and the health of neighboring residents and their communities, right here at home in western PA.
Hi Elaine,
You are correct that Laura Lilley and Merle Jantz are very fascinated with investigating every aspect of my life. I really don't know why becasue I've never met either of them, and I never even knew that they existed until I read their despicable emails about me.
What intrigues me even further was their invetigation of my mother, Irene Kendrick. My mother lived in Mt Lebanon since 1976 and I don't think that over the last 37 years that she said more than three words total to a single resident - not even her neighbors. In fact, we don't even know the names of most of our neighbors.
So why would Merle Jantz and Laura Lilley want to investigate her? Why did they research financial information and apparently engage the services of a law firm to search court dockets to find out more about my mother? All of this was done on taxpayer time.
I have never spoken to either of the Lilley's, but I did talk with Merle Jantz about his comments. Merle Jantz told me directly that he thought that his comments about myself and the other residents mentioned in his emails were funny.
Quite frankly, I can certainly understand Mr Pinto's frustration, anger and disgust about the article published in MtL.
Do you think that Merle is really laughing now that he is being sued? Maybe Merle will be rolling on the floor if there is a judgement issued against him or Mt Lebanon?
John, with the offensive "to market, to market..." that came from Susan, the current lawsuit against Merle Jantz, the disgusting emails between Lilley and Jantz, what the hell is Steve Feller doing about all this?????
More will be coming out, I am sure.
Elaine
Steve Feller has been aware of the conduct of Jantz, Lilley and Susan Morgans for years.
Steve Feller did absolutely nothing about it. Nothing.
It is unfortunate that all Mt Lebanon taxpayers may have to pay for the conduct of these three despicable municipal employees, particularly when this was known conduct that could have been either changed or managed.
Laura Pace Lilley was a full time reporter for the P-G under the name of Laura Pace for a number of years and covered Mt. Lebanon. She was reduced to part time status at the P-G and shortly thereafter joined mtl in a new, senior position some claimed was created just for her.
Don't expect Steve Feller to intervene on any troubling matters in the bubble. He particularly avoids anything to do with personnel problems.
I don't understand what is going on? Is this blog the reason for the attacks???
No, the emails were dated August 2010, before I started this blog.
Elaine
The architect for the kitchen project, Quitin Kittle, is the Chairman of Lebo's Zoning Hearing Board.
A local architect in a profit making business on the local zoning board is called a conflict of interest.
I want to add to my 8:30 AM comment. Anybody who signed his or her name on any Mt. Lebanon blog, falls victim to the PIO and their scrutiny of commenters. Try posting an anonymous comment on lebomag. It can't be done. Try submitting a comment to any PIO staff articles. It can't be done.
I would hate for anyone whoever commented on a Lebo blog to file a RTK with Steve Feller asking for emails to or from the staff in the Public Information Office that are concerning themselves. It would be overwhelming, but it would be interesting to see if Susan Morgans would comply.
Elaine
The observation at 10:09 is in no way accurate in general, and in particular as it pertains to Mr. Kittle.
Mr. Kittle is well respected both as a professional and as a member of our Community.
If the following is true, this is by far the most alarming thing to appear in any of our local blogs or media in my opinion.
Just what part of an employee's job description in the community magazine's office empower them to investigate or discuss the financial information of any resident??????
" Why did they research financial information and apparently engage the services of a law firm to search court dockets to find out more about my mother? All of this was done on taxpayer time."
I want to add that Merle Jantz and Laura Lilley had comments in their email exchange about my sex life.
I am single, never married - no kids. What I do with the women in my life or who I decide to date is absolutely none of the municipality's business, and I resent their comments.
Some interesting reading-
http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1435&context=dljhttp://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1435&context=dlj
Do you mean:
http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1435&context=dlj
Elaine
Another reason why I will never join in the political arena in Mt Lebanon.
Yes. The link provides some food for thought on Mr. Kendrick's problem and the recent PIO's remarks on local supermarkets and their patrons.
Damion, I bet they have done a thorough background check on you already.
Elaine
Oh, i have no doubt in my mind that they did. I will give my ideas but I won't cast my name for any Mt Lebanon ballot. As soon as my children are out of the school system, I am out of Mt Lebanon. I'm sad to come to that realization so soon after I came here.
Damion,
I wonder if it is different anywhere else?
Surely you don't think USC or Peter's is any less political.
Believe me, I am not defending the ridiculousness, just realizing that the underbelly or politics, no matter how local, is pretty crude.
2:55 Show me magazine articles that match the tone of Lebo Mag from USC.
2:55PM,
It certainly is different elsewhere and I would definitely not live in Peter's or USC.
I will leave it at that. I will censor myself for the rest of my rant.
Was the article about John Pinto politically motivated?
Well, 2:55 we do know that in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District when the board tried to pull a fast one it was stopped in its tracks, so there's one that IS different for ya.
Plus, didn't your parents used to ask you- if all your friends jump off the bridge should we allow you too?!
The larger question is whether or not we want to finance an institutionalized attack machine - one that investigates and researches the most private and personal aspects of our lives; and apprently an organization that operates with very little supervision, accountability or guidance from the management, Mr. Stephen Feller.
Does everyone remember the FBI files of J Edgar Hoover? I am starting to wonder what files are sitting in the Public Information Office in Mt Lebanon, Pennsylvania!
The institutionalized attack machine turns a profit. A small profit. A very small profit.
10:33, and that makes it OK???????
Mr Kendrick,
Funny you should mention the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover. I was just watching something about that this AM:
Watch Ed Snowden's 1971 precursors discuss burglarizing the FBI
For those not familiar with it, it's interesting history.
I don't know the whole back-story on why individuals in the Township government would want to be investigating individual tax payers. For those who live in the insulated world of the Mt Lebanon Educational Establishment and the local Township government, if you were caught using your work email or social media to send snarky comments about your customers or co-workers and you worked for a real business, you would be most likely terminated from your job. For example, see this:
Justine Sacco, PR executive fired over racist tweet, 'ashamed'
Maybe Amy Chua (the Tiger Mom) is right. Americans just don't have self control or impulse control.
Inside our local government bubble, snarky comments are viewed as light-hearted, satirical, and humorous. No one gets terminated or reprimanded. They all get lucrative salary increases. They're all award winning. I feel sorry for some of the people in the PIO. They are really talented, but have to live in the shadows of all the editors. Why do we need so many editors? They have entirely too much time on their hands.
Elaine
If they did research on a regular citizen, one might think they dug up some dirt on local politicians and other municipal employees, which gives them the ability to do or say whatever they want.
I just stumbled upon how Mt. Lebanon is defined according to the Urban Dictionary.
Is the Public Information Office fulfilling its function? The only messages I am getting are: avoid wearing tropical shirts, beware of the Market District deli counter on Sunday afternoons, and learn about the breakfast snub. ("Some of the Princesses will snub you at the coffee shop for their own insecurities, the freak will puzzle you and make you wonder if your lovely kid should play with her lovely kid. You will forget the nerd’s name while envying his political prowess, the jock will coach your kid’s team too aggressively and when you feel like letting loose at a party, you always know where the burnout hangs.")
Elaine
Elaine, I guess in the world where every kid gets a trophy, it's the next logical progression.
Correction: I just stumbled upon how Mt. Lebanon is defined according to the Urban Dictionary.
Elaine
Ironic that people will criticize comments here that refer to the Superintendent by his first name, but not one criticism or negative opinion of public employees apparently using government time to discuss a residents sexual habits or personal finances.
Then we have the head PIO insulting businesses and shoppers, calling people fat, poor etc. and not a word of reprimand by the commissioners or manager.
Harry Truman, used to say "The Buck Stops Here!"
Maybe the big problem is we have a municipal manager that can't manage his people.
Opinions please, is that too harsh?
Not too harsh at all, 12:30 PM, particularly when you tell it like it really is. The other side of the coin is that the Commissioners, fully aware of Feller's failings, are unwilling or somehow unable to take the necessary corrective actions. As such, we have a dysfunctional government in a personnel management sense.
Maybe the Commission, and Municipality can follow the lead of Allegheny County and celebrate "Dignity and Respect" month. See www.dignityandrespect.org for more details.
Everyone should take a look at how the UPMC Center for Inclusion has sought to ensure "every person is valued and appreciated".
UPMC has sought to ensure every person is valued and appreciated unless they are insured by Blue Cross.
That and they don't have any employees.
So I can file a RTK request about myself? Would this mean I would receive all information, email or other written about my by the PIO, commissions, various boards and etc? If so, I bet there's a doozy of stuff written about me!
8:00 AM, yes. You can file a RTK about anything. Theoretically, personal emails from representatives of local agencies and text messages are also included. Now, I see that personal emails are exempt, at least in my case. Here is an appeal that I just lost.
Elaine Gillen vs. Mt. Lebanon School District
Elaine
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