School board April 14 meeting changed

Another change on the MTLSD website with no announcements, buried in the website. Mistakes in millage amounts and now meeting changes. Another fine service of our well paid Director of Communications.

Meeting Change Notice 

The Regular Meeting of the Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2014 has been moved to Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

The Board plans adoption of a proposed final budget for 2014-2015 at the Regular Board Meeting on April 15, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. The Board plans final adoption of said 2014-2015 budget at the Regular Board Meeting on May19, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. Copies of the preliminary budget (as adopted on January 20, 2014) and the proposed final budget will be available to the public at the administration offices of the School District located at 7 Horsman Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15228, or on the District website at least 20 days before official Board action on the final budget.

Four more documents from the mother of all RTKs

On March 26, 2014, I had sent this email to Manager Steve Feller.

Hi Steve,  

I have been reviewing the missing attachments which you sent and see that there are a few more attachments which are missing from those attachments. Specifically, on page 168, the PureFill Brochure and 
"Attached you will find a document titled "Synthetic Turf Safety Proven with Science", an overview of all of the major issues with cited research. This is the single best collection of research data."
Also, page 175 from Prograss: "I have provided an attachment with all the fields we have installed in Pennsylvania and a Multi-field project list as well."
Thank you in advance for your followup. 

Elaine Gillen

This was his response along with the four attachments.

Hi Elaine 

The items you inquired about are attached.  It seems that we missed these because they were actually located in a file hosting service. Thank you.  

Steve Feller

Multifield project list

ProGrass Installations

PureFill Brochure

SBR Safety Proven With Science

Are you frickin' kidding me? UPDATED 2X

I just checked the Mt. Lebanon School District Budget website. Weren't the school board directors talking about a .55 mill increase at the most? Nooooo! They are talking about a mill and a half increase!!!!!!!

The Board discussed using a combination of cost reductions, increased revenues and use of fund balance to balance the budget. After much discussion, the consensus of the Board was to look at the use of $500,000-$1 million in fund balance and a millage increase of approximately a mill and a half. (Saved in Google Docs)

A MLSD 1.0 mill is equivalent to about $2.6 million.  0.55 mills = about $1.43 million. 1.50 mills = about $3.9 million.

Last year at this time, the school board hosted a School District Budget Forum on April 2, 2013. You may remember that is when Elaine Cappucci was rude to Bill Matthews and me. Jo Posti called me a liar. See:

No way! UPDATED 2x
As promised, more on the budget forum Bill Matthews' presentation
I had it right, Josephine.

So while the Municipality is appealing assessments, the School District is secretly pulling a fast one while they talk about fake budgets. No school district budget forums this year. Welcome to Mt. Lebanon!

Update March 30, 2014 12:40 PM The website has been updated to read:
The Board discussed using a combination of cost reductions, increased revenues and use of fund balance to balance the budget.  After much discussion, the consensus of the Board was to look at the use of $500,000-$1 million in fund balance and a millage increase of approximately half a mill.

Oops. It was just another typo by our highly paid Director of Communications. A mill and a half vs. half a mill. What's the difference? Same same. I never heard back from any school board director.

great...great...great

While Timmy Tweets:

A principal from an award-winning middle school in the area submitted this opinion piece to today's Post Gazette, Slaying the Testing Beast.  Greg Taranto, the principal of Canonsburg Middle School, was named 2012 Middle Level Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals.

Parents and educators must start speaking out and talking to our school districts, school boards and state and federal legislators. State and federal legislators are especially important, because they are the ones mandating tests such as the PSSA and the Keystones and thus tying the hands of district officials and school boards.

Instead of having breakfasts and pizza lunches with students (What's next? Nap time with preschoolers?), wouldn't it be "great" to have great parents and coffee - great combination - great way to start the day?

I am sure that parents would love to discuss how standardized tests are out of control with Timmy. Then there is the Keystone Report. Pennsylvania Teacher Union Lashes Out at Critics, Foes Timmy can perpetuate PSEA’s “Big Lie” that Corbett had cut $1 billion from state funding for K-12 education in Pennsylvania. 

Those are just two examples which should be on our super Super's radar, instead of pizza and breakfast.  A third topic over coffee might be our budget, but then we would have to call it Coffee and Kleenex. Wouldn't it be "great" if our superintendent would have more important matters on his mind besides food and talking magical frogs?

Mt. Lebanon Commissioners are pulling the trigger

Michael Suley is my hero!! Does that name ring a bell? He wrote this letter to the editor of The Almanac, Lebo reassessment proposal pits neighbor against neighbor. (Saved in Google Docs) Mr. Suley spoke at the commission meeting tonight. I uploaded the podcast, which was recorded by two volunteers. Thank you, Guys. The podcast is available here on Lebocitizens.com. Mr. Suley speaks at the 00:16:30 time stamp.

Mr. Suley sympathized with a previous speaker who was caught up in the newcomers tax. He said that the commissioners should apologize to the newcomers and asked for the commissioners to withdraw the appeals. Suley identified the problem by comparing Dave Brumfield's house on Crystal with neighbors' homes. He also focused on Roycroft and Arden, Linfante's and Bendel's streets respectively. A homeowner on Roycroft is paying $500 more A MONTH for a similar home on the same street. John Bendel asked Mike to wrap up his comments, but then you hear Brumfield interrupting him. I love how Suley pointed out, while VP Bendel had asked him to wrap it up, Brumfield was stammering away (my words, not his.) 

Thank you, Mike, for highlighting the problem and offering solutions. He disagreed with Dave Brumfield's quote in the paper that it was the County pulling the trigger. Suley corrected Brumfield by saying that the commissioners are pulling the trigger. 

Suley is past vice-chair of the Allegheny County appeals board and also was the manager of the Office of Property Assessments. 

Heads up, Mark Cuban

Mr. Cuban,

It looks like you are being set up for a donation, if you haven't heard from Mt. Lebanon already. mtl Magazine did a nice piece on you, modern mogul.

Mt. Lebanon has turned into one big fundraiser, Mark. I am sure you are aware of the Taj Mahal going up, otherwise known as Mt. Lebanon High School.  I presented almost 4,000 signatures to the Mt. Lebanon School District Board of Directors, asking them to cap the renovation at $75 million. Next time you are in town, drive up Cochran Road and see how that worked out for us 4,000 residents.

Now, the School District has hired someone to head a $6 million campaign, half of it going toward capital projects, and the remaining $3 million for endowments. We haven't heard how that is coming along. Seems as though we are in "The Quiet Phase."

Rumor has it, that the School District is hammering out an unbelievable contract with the teachers' union. Our super superintendent, Dr. "Timmy" Steinhauer will get his yearly increase. I believe last year's increase was 7.5%.

While this is going on, Mark, the Commission has decided to artificially turf Middle and Wildcat Fields on Cedar Blvd. They have decided to steal $750,000 from the unassigned funds and the Municipal Budget and partner with the Sports Advisory Board, who has been charged with raising $250,000. My guess is that your phone number is on their To Call list. Here's the thing, Mark. Three commissioners have gotten together with a few people and have bullied us into paying for this project. No public hearings. No referendums. No transparency whatsoever. It is criminal how this is going down.

Things are so much different now than how it was when you lived here, Mark. Little did I know that when I was in high school, walking past your house to go to work at Thrift Drug on Bower Hill, that I would be writing to you on a blog some day. There was no Internet back then. A blog? Not even in our wildest imaginations.

I am just giving you a heads up, Mark. I enjoy watching your show. I wish our elected officials would think as carefully as "The Sharks" do when it comes to using taxpayers' money. Our commissioners and school board directors should be required to watch Shark Tank. I know I have learned quite a bit.

Elaine Gillen

Spreading the word

While some of our commissioners and Sports Advisory Board members are working hard to raise non-municipal dollars to fund the Middle/Wildcat Turf Project, I hope this message is also delivered to the field sports groups. Parents, you need to spread the word.

Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford

Remember when I shared this on Blog Lebo a few years back? At the time, it was intended for the school board since there was talk of closing schools or cutting programs, in order to fund the high school project and cover rising pensions. It appears that our school board directors need a refresher course. Some may say that the municipality should place an order for the commissioners and a few advisory board members.




Saturday Night Live Debt Skit from ABI Videos on Vimeo.

"...we nearly have a tax revolt going here."

In The Almanac's Mt. Lebanon schools face $2.6 million shortfall in budget article, Elaine Cappucci said that they will have to raise millage again, or "decimate" its education system. 

Most board members hope to target somewhere between a 0.5 and 0.55 mill tax increase, and to use between $750,000 and $1 million of the fund balance. 

Dan Remely was alone in preferring a significantly smaller tax increase of .25 mills. He favors using $1.5 million of fund balance. 

“There comes a point where we have to figure out some way to protect taxpayers as well as our other stakeholders,” he said. “I am concerned we nearly have a tax revolt going here. Our schools draw people into Mt. Lebanon. These families are then being taxed even further, as we’re seeing in the papers.” 

Remely’s comment references a controversial practice whereby the municipality of Mt. Lebanon targeted recent home buyers for property reassessments at or very near their homes’ sale prices – a practice the affected families have dubbed the “Mt. Lebanon Newcomer’s Tax.” Some of these residents’ tax bills increased by thousands of dollars following their reassessments.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting pretty tired of this well-worn script. To use a Jan Kleinism, it is "typical for this time of year." We can speak of bonuses, trophy cases, and lucrative raises any other time of the year, but come February and March, they all start crying the blues. They even put out fake budgets. Searching for the words "fake budget" on Lebo Citizens, I found Fake budget will be posted soon. We get the same lists of unknowns. We know, that darn governor... But how do you do it? You want to make cuts far away from the student, yet manage to give Timmy his raise every year.  What are you cutting this year? FLES?

Word is that "The Grievance" doesn't look good for the school district. Still hoping to hear any time now, right? Of course, "typical for this time of year."

For more on what Dan Remely refers to as a tax revolt, read Valuation changes, fairness pledged in Mt. Lebanon. 

Commissioner Fraasch on Crumb Rubber Infill UPDATED

For the last couple of weeks, I have been spending most of my time reading about artificial turf. My Right To Know generated 445 pages on turf, while the second batch included an additional 178 pages. But in those 623 pages, very little was mentioned about the safety of crumb rubber infill, or as I like to call it, toxic turf. When safety was discussed, it was usually in reference to appeasing a select few.

Kelly Fraasch has updated her blog to include her Concerns about Crumb Rubber Infill. Kelly posed some straightforward questions such as:

• Why would companies be offering filtration systems for our waterways, but not have any reservations about putting a child on the turf that they are filtering the particles from? Filtrations systems are being offered to Mt. Lebanon as revealed in my RTK. 

• Why with all the regulations on tires in our dumps and disposal centers would we find the tires any different laying out on a field getting stuck on our children’s clothing and skin, or worse, ingesting/inhaling the crumbs or crumb dust?

Mr. Franklin insists that artificial turf is lead-free. Not true, Dave. According to Kelly's latest post, Field Turf, the largest artificial turf manufacturer in North America, sells a lead-free artificial turf, but only if the community asks for the custom-made field. The fields that most communities purchase, use lead to brighten the field's colors and for a sport team logo.

Lebo Citizens readers have expressed concern for their asthmatic children. Artificial turf does have an adverse affect on asthmatics.

Once we go with artificial turf in our park, there is no turning back. When plastic replaces natural grass, nothing will grow there without years of soil remediation.

Then there is the whole "misrepresentation" of the ESB's position. Only two websites have posted the ESB's statement; Kelly Fraasch's blog post ESB Statement to Commission and Lebo Citizens' Environmental Sustainability Board's statement to the Commission concerning artificial turf. You will not find the ESB's statement on any municipal site.There was a hint mentioned in Susan Morgans' article, field fundraising under way.

The proposal was controversial, with some residents opposed because of the approximately $1 million price tag and others citing health or environmental concerns.

Please read Kelly Fraasch's in depth article Concerns about Crumb Rubber Infill. Keep in mind that organic infill is slightly better; however, the plastic rug underneath the infill is still hazardous.The decision yet to be made by the commissioners is: organic toxic turf or synthetic toxic turf. My vote is natural grass.

Update March 17, 2014 2:02 PM I have been given permission to share this open letter to our commissioners from Lebo Citizens reader and Mt. Lebanon resident, Charlotte Stephenson.

Subject: Artificial Turf/Respiratory Illness

Dear Mt. Lebanon Commissioners:

I am aware of your plan to install artificial turf on the fields known as Wildcat and Middle located on Cedar Blvd. This is to let you know that I am highly opposed to such a project out of concern for my health and the health of many other residents who suffer with respiratory illnesses.

Having lived in Pittsburgh all my life, I have battled asthma episodes since childhood. There is nothing I can do to change the fact that my airways react to respiratory viruses and environmental substances. I was hospitalized recently with viral pneumonia and asthma for several days. Visiting the hospital for breathing treatments and IV steroids is something that I have learned to do when home remedies won't stop the wheezing. Did you know that Pittsburgh is viewed as the "asthma capital" by local pediatricians? My guess is that many of you remember a popular soccer coach and Markham parent who passed away suddenly from an asthma episode.

According to the EPA, inhaled black carbon is known to be associated with asthma and may also be associated with other potentially fatal lung diseases. Please ask you pediatricians about the prevalence of asthma here when you take your child for their next visit.

I used to walk and run on the high school track, completely ignorant to the materials I was subjecting my lungs to. Certainly, when the facility reopens I won't be going there to exercise anymore. However, I ask you to please discontinue any further plans to install artificial turf on any natural surfaces in our community. Do this out of respect for the the health and well-being of all the residents here, especially those like myself who live within close proximity to the spaces. I will not have peace of mind knowing that the wind blowing over the chemical-laden surfaces could be directing chemical substances to my residence or that I could be inhaling black carbon when I visit our recreational center and Veterans Memorial.

This is not a time to be selfish to push your agenda. This is the time to demonstrate concern and consideration for all of your constituents. Please do the right thing.

Sincerely,

Charlotte M. Stephenson

Where the H is H? Here it is!

On April 13, 2013, I made this blog entry: Where the H is H? I wrote:

How can the State reimburse Mt. Lebanon when we're behind in filing the proper documents for the PlanCon process? Part H (PDF), Project Financing addresses the financing used for a project. Calculation of the temporary reimbursable percent for a project's financing occurs at PlanCon Part H. Once PlanCon Part H is approved, reimbursement on a project commences. Have we done this?

The High School Renovation Process (saved in Google Docs) illustrates how behind the board is in the process. It shows that PlanCon Part F was the last submission approved. However, the February 20, 2012 agenda indicates "That the Board approves submission of PlanCon Part H to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in substantially the form presented." This is the last item I can find pertaining to PlanCon Part H. Was it ever approved by the PDE? Did the board approve it after that - approve the approval?  

But look what is going to be resolved on Monday, according to the March 17, 2014 agenda?

(4) PlanCon Part H Submission: RESOLVED, That the Board approves PlanCon Part H for submission to the State in substantially the form presented.

I will be the first to admit that I didn't watch or listen to the entire school board meeting last week. There is just so much time in a day. Would someone please explain to me why we submitted PlanCon Part H two years ago and the Board is approving PlanCon Part H again? It could explain why we never received any reimbursement. But what do I know?

Missing Documents to my RTK are here

In my post "Leboleaks" Funding, I had written:

Dave Franklin wrote to Audrey (MLCE) about a proposed Project Fund Agreement. This agreement is one of the missing documents from my RTK. I copied the Office of Open Records (OOR) appeals officer, as instructed, when I sent my long list of missing documents to Steve Feller.

This afternoon, Steve Feller emailed an additional 178 pages to my original Right To Know request of January 24, 2014, along with a cover letter.

I have decided to share a link to the entire file here since there is so much stuff going on in Mt. Lebanon, at the moment.

                                                                     Source: Leboturf.blogspot.com

Assessments and Regressive Property Taxes - Open Letter

The following is an open letter to Dave Brumfield from Lebo Citizens reader and Mt. Lebanon resident, Steve Diaz.

Dave: I write this open letter to you this morning after reading about the hearing on Tuesday about property tax assessment appeals taken against residents by the municipality. This is a matter of justice, fairness, and just doing the right thing.

First, I notice that you are quoted in the paper as saying that the more recent the sale of a home, the closer to sales price the assessment should be. This is an opaque comment, but reveals a serious flaw. If, as you are reported as having said, the difference in assessments is in the six figure range for homes recent sold over those with longer-term residents, then you must admit that the system is inherently unfair and unreasonable. For example, how long have you lived in your home? Would you volunteer to file an appeal of your own assessment to see it raised to its current "market value"? Do you think that if you sold your home it would be reasonable for the buyer to pay taxes on an assessment that is six figures higher than that on which you are paying? Or, put another way, is it fair for you not to pay property taxes on the same current "market value" that you would expect any buyer of your home to pay? You see it is a case of whose ox gets gored: so long as you can live with an outdated low (hence unfair) valuation, you don't care if someone else is taxed on an unjust higher basis than you are. I recently asked you if you would file an appeal to raise your own taxes, and your response was "Why would I do that?" Well, I agree that none of us wants our assessment increased -- and it is not reasonable of you to insist that some pay based of "market value" (meaning sales price) and some on another basis (by the way, "sales price" is not the standard, as you know -- even though "sales price" is the basis for assessment that the municipality argues in the property assessment appeals it files against its citizens). If market value is to be the measure, why should you not pay property taxes based on a current market value assessment like any new buyer? You see, this is one way in which the local governments (the municipality and the school district) enforce inequality and unfairness in order to support their profligate and excessive spending, without feeling the pinch themselves personally. This is a case of moral and ethical callousness towards your fellow citizens that is unworthy of a public official; you are a lawyer, are you not concerned with Equal Protection of the Law?

Second, property taxes are, in their nature, regressive. As you know, property taxes are a holdover from the Middle Ages when such taxes were imposed on the premise that the ownership of land implied income (or ability to pay), predicated on the agricultural nature of European society hundreds of years ago. Today, it is simply ridiculous to assume that living in a home is any measure of "ability to pay." We receive no rents from tenant farmers, or from our own farming (even if we can legally keep half a dozen chickens in Mt. Lebanon). Moreover, many of our residents are seniors living on fixed incomes. There is no reason for "ability to pay" taxes -- such as sales taxes (which are used for the purpose in Europe today), or income taxes (which reflect actual cash flow) should not replace property taxes entirely for single family residential property. Yet, I hear no clammer for such reform from municipal hall.

Third, the school district is in deficit because of its own excessive spending (which you are known to support). The municipality is not far behind. To rectify such spending errors, public entities should be forced to go into bankruptcy, as individuals who incur debts they cannot repay must do --- not drive the local citizens into individual bankruptcy or foreclosure because we cannot afford the overspending of undisciplined public officials who seek to spend other people's money too freely, or to buy reelection by pandering to political "wants" in excess of the means of the community.

I appeal to your own sense of fairness and common sense -- stop the abuse of municipal appeals of assessments on home resale, unless you are prepared to live by the same measure of taxable equity as everyone else.

Respectfully. Steve.

PS. I note that your public posture and your private assurances to citizens are not always the same -- why? SD

Steven A. Diaz
Mt. Lebanon Resident and Taxpayer.

What was your first clue, Kristen?

Lebo Lebo commission tables zoning change after outspoken criticism by The Almanac's Nick Lewandowski

Commenting on the decision to table the motion, commission president Linfante expressed a continued commitment to transparency. “I recognize some of you may not trust us,” she said.

I couldn't help but laugh when I read Kristen Linfante's quote.  What tipped you off? Was it when you lied about the ESB's position on artificial turf? Was it the emails in my RTK where you stated that you would apologize for misrepresenting the ESB? Was it how you pulled a fast one with your nomination petition? Uh, when you said that no one in your family plays sports, yet I hear that your son has quite a pitching arm for baseball? Could it be your deer incident report? How about trying to get a straight answer about Steve Feller asking you for your personal emails for my RTK request? And of course, there is that tiny issue about moving to Mt. Lebanon in 2005, and the new assessment window begins a little less than four months later. Were you even unpacked? And that is just what you have done.

It is equivalent to 26 teachers...UPDATED

I caught the last part of the school board meeting last night, only to hear Timmy say that early budget estimates indicate that:

Revenues are $85.7 million
Expenditures are $88.3 million

The difference is a shortfall of $2.6 million, or 1.02 mills or the equivalent to 26 teachers' salaries. Here it comes, Boys and Girls. Not like we didn't warn you. The same group who called us fear mongers is now touting toxic turf.

Lebo schools face $2.6 million budget shortfall in 2015 

Update March 13, 2014 6:41 AM I think Jan Klein should take one for the team and retire. Timmy should take a pay cut. Last year's student parking fee increase subsidized bonuses. Mt. Lebanon shortfall $2.6

Looks like it is going to be a fun night tonight!

I think it is going to be a little crowded tonight in the Commission Chambers. Bill Zlatos' article in the Trib, Assessment appeals draw Mt. Lebanon residents' ire Some residents who bought their homes in 2011 and 2012 have organized and will come to tonight's meeting. 

... is among 150 recent homebuyers who consider themselves unfairly targeted by what they call the “Mt. Lebanon Newcomer's Tax.” The municipality last year appealed the assessments of about 150 properties purchased between 2011 and 2012 in which the sale price was at least $48,000 more than the assessment.

Couple this news with my "Leboleaks" and toxic artificial turf, it may be a little crowded tonight.  Aww. Too bad.

"Leboleaks" Funding

I am trying to get as much of this uploaded as I can before tonight's meeting, since commissioners are learning about this stuff right along with everyone else.

On January 1, 2014, John Bendel emailed Dave Franklin and Tim White about a funding strategy for the turf project. He asked if either considered asking for a grant from the Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment (MLCE). I don't know anything about grants, but I thought I would share John Bendel's idea here.

The second email exchange is interesting (to me, at least). Dave Franklin wrote to Audrey (MLCE) about a proposed Project Fund Agreement. This agreement is one of the missing documents from my RTK. I copied the Office of Open Records (OOR) appeals officer, as instructed, when I sent my long list of missing documents to Steve Feller. In Franklin's note, he stated that the municipality will send a request for funds AFTER awarding the project. Donnellan clarified Franklin's statement by saying that the funds are needed PRIOR to awarding the project. John Bendel confirmed it. So there it is in writing, Folks.

I cannot catch a break

On March 1, 2014 at 10:40 AM, I wrote this comment:

Someone did share a horror story with me concerning a sweet deal with Underarmour which John Grogan blew over this turf fundraising. It appears that UA wanted to work with the high school and supply much needed equipment to the weight room, etc., but Grogan insisted that they also make a $2,500 donation toward the nonmunicipal share for the turf project. UA went elsewhere.
Elaine

I filed a Right To Know with the School District on March 1, 2014 at 1:44 PM for all communication between John Grogan and Under Armour. It was received by Mrs. Szalinski on March 3, 2014.
Here is the response to my RTK. Grogan Under Armour emails Notice how Under Armour reached out again on March 2, 2014 with John Grogan responding on March 3, the day of my RTK. So do I have to file ANOTHER RTK for the rest of the story? I cannot catch a break.

Municipality and (MTLSD?) raising non-municipal funds in corporate deal UPDATED

According to Minutes of the November 25, 2013 Adjourned Meeting of the Mt. Lebanon Commission, the Commission allocated $750,000 in municipal funds for the turf project, including $637,400 by action at the November 25, 2013 meeting. The remaining $112,600 will be considered in a separate motion at a future Commission meeting. In this month's issue of our municipal mtl Magazine, there is a three page article about field fundraising. The Public Information Office writes that the field sports organizations are to raise an additional $250,000 or 25% of the project. Volunteers are to contact Dave Franklin at his office, dfranklin@eckertseamans.com according to the municipal magazine article. But look who is doing the heavy lifting raising non-municipal funds.

As revealed in my January 24, 2014 Right To Know, the Sports Advisory Board (SAB) or field sports associations, isn't doing the lion's share of raising non-municipal funds. It is the Municipality!  Gateway, our municipal engineer has donated $4,000 in 2013, with promises of more in 2014. Gateway is also doing the engineering on the project and any traffic studies required; however, a major portion of the dollars required will have to come elsewhere. What I discovered is a sweetheart deal with...drum roll please...Dick's Sporting Goods. Orchestrating what should be something entirely by the private sector are Mt. Lebanon Commissioners, the Director of Recreation, MTLSD Athletic Director, and the Municipal Engineer creating the pathway for the SAB and the Turf Project Task Force (TPTF). 

Keep in mind that the RTK information requested was from November 1, 2013 to January 24, 2014. 

Steve Silverman, elected but not yet sworn in as Commissioner, started communicating with Tony Lombardo, V.P. of Dick's Sporting Goods (DSG) on December 5, 2013. Steve indicates, "I am hopeful Dick's will help Mt. Lebanon with our new Turf Field." 

On December 11, 2013, Steve followed up with Tony and brought Commissioner John Bendel, and Director of Recreation David Donnellan into the conversation. Steve suggested that Tony meets with the three of them.

A question arises as to what Dick's might do for the turf project and how Dick's would benefit is addressed in the December 19, 2013 email from David Donnellan to several SAB members, including Municipal Engineer Dan Deiseroth of Gateway, and MTLSD Athletic Director John Grogan. Click here --->THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EMAIL. <----- Is the School District aware of Grogan's involvement with this partnership? Does it conflict with Policy KGD Partnerships and Sponsorships? Why is Mr. Grogan involved with any fundraising project of this magnitude while MTLSD is trying to raise $6 million?

The December 20, 2013 emails indicated that Chip Dalesandro, representing Football, didn't like the deal. Donnellan thanked Silverman for reassuring Chip that no such commitment had been made. [Yet.] Silverman, using his mtlebanon.org address, is now aware and involved.

Donnellan copies Commissioner John Bendel on his December 19, 2013 message about Dick's, so Bendel is involved.

Mr. Lombardo indicated on December 20, 2013 his looking forward "to helping in any way.." and a meeting with his V.P. of Community Marketing on January 6, 2014  in a reply to a Donnellan message of December 19, 2013. 

The holidays slowed things down for a while until we find that another Dick's executive, Jim Famularo is contacted by Commissioner Silverman, and cc's Bendel and Donnellan about a meeting scheduled for January 30th when all will be present.

January 17th and 18th emails describe meetings and the very revealing Tim White message of January 18 at 9:48 AM sent to John Bendel, which states that "While they (Dick's) can stroke a check for a huge position on this, my understanding was they wanted some type of access to our constituency (defined as sports groups grant them access to email lists) and they want a contract for blanket procurement for sports products" found here. The "blanket procurement for sports products is still on after all. Bendel and Silverman are parties to this as well. 

So here we have it. The Municipality is doing the major "private fundraising" and a Municipal part time employee, Katherine Heart, doing fundraising for the "private" funding as well, as I revealed in Big enough for its own post UPDATED. Why isn't the Municipality working toward raising its balance of $112,600?

This stinks. It has been kept entirely out of the public knowledge. 

Meanwhile, this appeared in Pittsburgh Business Times on March 7, 2014. Dick's Sporting Goods launches campaign to fund youth sports "Every year we’re seeing more and more cutbacks in sports,” said Gruden in a prepared statement. “Budgets are being decreased, coaches are being eliminated, and fewer players are going out for youth sports. We have to do something about it!”

Update March 9, 2014 3:13 PM I scanned turf vendor correspondence and wish that my RTK was later than January 24, 2014. The responses to the turf vendor questions were either sent after the cut off date or they are MIA. I have also scanned the Field Analysis completed by Jordan Halter in May 2012.

Change Orders for March

The change orders listed on the Agenda for Monday, March 10, 2014 has me totally confused.

Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – The following change orders are presented for Board consideration. All the change orders listed below (totaling $168,011 from High School Project contingency and $49,246 from Capital Projects Budget) have been reviewed by the architect, PJ Dick and the District administration.
a. EL-58-217 to Farfield for $63,576 for power changes, wireless access additions, conduit, work lights and breakers in panels,
b. ME-22-218 to McKamish for $3,381 for heater unit,
c. GC-98-219 to Nello for $101,054 for drywall, door and window repairs, changes to beams and decking, and roof and joist reinforcements, and
d. EL-59-220 to Farfield for $49,246 for Auditorium Sound System piping (from Capital Projects Fund).

 I guess I am adding $168,011 to the High School Change Orders running total and $49, 246 to the High School Capital Projects total. Running totals have been updated.

Appeasing a select few?

I wanted to take a break for a couple of days, but I want use of my dining room table again. So here is another chapter from my mother of all RTKs.
Elaine

On  November 6, 2013, Dave Franklin writes:
"My primary concern was that the proposal seemed to place a particular emphasis on the organic product. I didn't want to let that horse too far out of the barn, and then have a difficult time pulling him back in."

In his email, Dave knocks GeoTurf's endorsement by the Green Energy Council. Dave continues with the cost of GeoTurf being significantly higher than traditional synthetic surfaces. He feels that Mt. Lebanon can't afford a more luxurious surface. Dave "doesn't want to rain on the organic parade, but I am [he is]  troubled about driving the cost up even further just to appease a select few in our community, especially when nearly every other community, School District, University and other turf customer is content  to use the traditional surface. In our efforts to satisfy this vocal minority, we may really just be buying a pig in a poke." He quotes an article written about renovating a football field in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Lebo's space would be much larger.

The Geo-turf field is expected to cost $1,721,969, about $310,000 more than the cost of a synthetic field with recycled tire infill and about $1.2 million dollars more than a new grass field.

John Bendel answered Mr. Franklin.with:

I get the rationale if the cost is significantly higher for organic fill, but don't know why the endorsements are in question. The product is used in other countries and I spoke with the public works director in San Carlos,CA. I called him because their project was almost identical to ours. The PW Director endorsed the product and told me they may use it on another field. Last year, the Geoturf vendor quoted a price that was in line with the YSA proposals. Dan Deiseroth's opinion of cost assumed organic fill.

If it costs about the same, and performs well, why not use it? If the price is significantly higher than other options then that's a different story. l'd like to wait until the bids come in to decide.

Good question, John. But then Kelly Fraasch's November blog post hit on November 13, 2013.

The icing on the cake is right here. SAB chair and Turf Project Task Force member Tim White wrote this to Kristen Linfante on November 19, 2013:

As is always the case, K Fraasch has us concerned - she is on record with some folks that she wants more information, wants to make sure the turf is the organic product (not the rubber product) and that she is proposing to use the Brafferton money (only).........usual BS

Obviously, Tim didn't read Kelly's November 13 blog post very carefully. She was pretty transparent on her position. Why shouldn't she want more information? This is a major project. She is concerned about the environmental and health issues related to artificial turf. That is BS? I wish we had four more commissioners concerned about the environment and the health and safety of our young athletes.

But Kristen summed it up with "No worries! We only need 3 votes, and we have them! It's a go for sure! Thanks for all your work on this!" Wasn't the vote on November 25, 2013? You know, the night that Kristen lied about the ESB's position on artificial turf?

Poor Dave Franklin. My blog post, "Whoa," says the EPA. came out on January 13, 2014. David P. Franklin, Esq., Eckert Seamans fired off an epistle to the commissioners on January 14, 2014. He encouraged the commissioners to review the actual 2013 EPA report (attached) rather than relying upon "position pieces written by those on either side of the debate." I wonder why the formality.

David Donnellan got in the act. He sent a 2010 turf report provided by J. T. Sauer and Associates on January 15, 2014 to members of the Turf Project Task Force. Sauer is the landscape architect involved with the turfing project.

So Parents, that is a little more background on the organic vs. synthetic turf debate. Are you part of the select few who demand a safe playing environment for your children? ESB and residents on Cedar Blvd., do your concerns for the environment make you the vocal minority? Have you reached that breaking point yet?

Kristen, when you say green spaces...

I was going through my files and found Kristen Linfante's first newsletter dated April 8, 2011, one month before the Primary. Yes, the Primary in which I lost to Joe DeIuliis. Kristen writes:

Public Spaces and our Environment—I will work to protect and
improve our parks and green spaces while seeking out grants and new  technologies that will make Mt. Lebanon even more energy-efficient AND cost-efficient.

Kristen's campaign website  Adding to our quality of life in Mt. Lebanon are vital and plentiful green spaces...

I guess I need to clarify something, Kristen. When you say "green spaces, " are you referring to the color green or are you speaking of natural grass? I still don't understand your position on this.

Looking through the stack of emails from my "Mother of All RTKs," I found some disturbing emails of statements that you made concerning the whole ESB commission liaison issue.

• 11/26/13 Day after the vote to turf Middle and Wildcat, Kristen emails John Bendel and Dave Brumfield at 8:02 AM with "I guess my recollection was wrong - but still not convinced - please read full thread
• This was after Kristen emailed Kathy Hrabovsky, head of the ESB, at 7:09 AM to let her know that they passed the proposal for turfing Middle and Wildcat.
• 7:41 AM, Kathy wishes she had stayed. She didn't realize that artificial turf was on the agenda.
• Here is what is really disturbing. Kristen "takes much stock in what Gillen has to say." (Just throwing in some humor.)
• From there, it starts to get ugly. Kelly calls Kristen on her lie. As one reader wrote in an earlier comment something to the effect of  We watched it. We heard it. We read it. 
• Kristen said a few times that she would apologize. Anyone hear it, read it or watch it?
• Finally, Kristen mailed the turf proposal to Kathy Hrabovsky on January 16, 2014.

So shame on us for not asking, Kristen. When you said "green spaces," did you mean organic toxic turf or synthetic toxic turf? By the way, how are those grants coming along?

Mother of all RTKs continued UPDATED 2X

I went through the Right To Know and pull out what I thought was important for this post. SAB highlights

• Page 9 Dave Franklin sent an email to Kristen and John about Kelly's engagement of the Parks Advisory Board. Keep in mind, Dave Franklin is the PAB representative on the Sports Advisory Board. 
• Page 11 Tim White to present program to Lacrosse on January 15, 2014
• Page 13 Concerns from a Parks Advisory Board member on January 12, 2014
• Page 23 and 28 refer to Astroturf's warranty and owner's manual. Neither were included in my RTK.
• Page 34 Geoturf mentions financing options
• Page 36-37 Discussion concerning the resident representing himself to Geoturf as a consultant to the Commission
• Page 39 The third and final email from Dave Brumfield.

Much more to come. This sure is a slow process.

Update March 5, 2014 8:12 AM Kristen Kelly RH exchange

Update March 5, 2014 9:58 AM Here is an email forwarded to Kristen by our municipal planner, Keith McGill concerning Recreation Director David Donnellan's and Municipal Grant Writer, Katherine Heart's efforts for private funding to turf Middle and Wildcat Fields. 

Big enough for its own post UPDATED

Even though I had this on my seventh update in the previous post, Mother of All RTKs UPDATED, I believe this deserves its own post.

Bendel's original email

Donnellan's response

Mt. Lebanon has hired a grant and revenue consultant as listed on page 22 of the 2014 Municipal Budget. Why is Commissioner Bendel active with non-municipal fundraising, when he should be protecting municipal funds? I will be transferring comments about this from the previous thread, to keep them all together.

Update March 4, 2014 8:59 AM Why are the Municipal grant writer and Municipal engineer involved with non-municipal fundraising? Sports Advisory Board January 9, 2014 meeting minutes (And there it is in writing, $4000 from Gateway Engineers.) I also received the Turf Project Task Force Agenda, which was missing from my RTK. Here is what Steve Feller sent to me, after I brought it to his attention. In addition, I asked for the presentations. Here is Steve's response.

Hi Elaine: Attached is a copy of the agenda.  I am told that the vendors did not supply written presentations (power point or other written format.)  Steve Feller

Mother of all RTKs UPDATED 8X

Remember A new twist in transparency here in the bubble? 1500 emails, many are more than one page at 25 cents a copy? I picked up my request for all communication to and/or from any Commissioners concerning artificial turf from November 1, 2013 to January 24, 2014 today. Here is Steve Feller's cover letter explaining how there were 445 pages at 25 cents per page. The total cost was $111.25. A Lebo Citizens reader offered to pay the entire amount. Many of you volunteered to help me out and I really appreciate it. I didn't need your help this time, but I may be asking for a rain check.

Briefly reading through the 445 pages, I learned that I received my first email from Dave Brumfield in a RTK request. And it was an email he sent to me. Imagine that! 

A couple more things I am going to share this evening before I go to sleep is a response from  Kristen Linfante to Lebo Citizens reader Damion Deringer where she explains in the second paragraph that she is commission liaison to the ESB, and they are not opposed to turf.

In another email, Kristen told a constituent who is opposed to using any taxpayer funds for the installation of artificial turf at the Wildcat/Middle fields, that the commissioners "received overwhelming community support for this action." What is "overwhelming community support?" Fifteen emails in support, mostly saying:

"Our family supports the turf proposal that will be considered by the Commission on November 25. Please vote YES. Thank you."

Three additional emails were from a spouse or coworker of a Turf Task Force member.I thought there were "thousands of children and adults within Mt. Lebanon" who are in support. In fact, on page eight of John Bendel's Field Enhancement Proposal, "Sports Advisory Board and all stakeholders support
the project." And you only received a total of 18 emails, with three of those being connected to a Turf Task Force member!

I wanted to get something out to Lebo Citizens readers since there has been some interest. Or in Kristen Linfante's words, "Overwhelming!" "Thousands!"

More to come.

Update March 1, 2014 2:45 PM What a morning! I have been asking the commissioners all this time, if Steve Feller ever asked for personal emails or texts. The email exchanges are in two parts. One of Kristen's responses didn't carry over, so I have the exchange in two parts..

Were commissioners asked to supply personal emails or texts Part 1
Were commissioners asked to supply personal emails or texts Part 2

Update March 1, 2014 4:24 PM This appears to be Phase 1. Dave P. Franklin wrote comments on the rough draft of the "Mt. Lebanon Field Enhancement Proposal" on 11/6/13. Check his notes on page six written next to the bullet No additional lights proposed at this time. On the final copy of the Mt. Lebanon Field Enhancement Proposal, see page seven. Dave's notes were not included.

Another thing that I picked up from the February 24, 2014 Discussion Session which I was not able to attend, John Bendel was explaining the next steps. At 1:01:00, http://mtlebanon.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=116, John recommends that Gateway do a landscape design from Morgan Drive to the end of the Wildcat parking lot so that we have, when it is done, a showpiece type project. What does that mean? Are they going to try to turf Dixon too? It would be rather silly to have two artificial turf fields next to a grass field. Riiight.

Update March 1, 2014 7:03 PM Kluck response No emails
                                                      Kluck response No texts 

Update March 2, 2014 1:27 PM Out of the 1500 emails that were in Steve Feller's original quote to me, only one email was sent to former Commission President Matt Kluck. Here is the email sent from Dave Franklin.

Update March 2, 2014 5:20 PM I found a couple more emails from Dave Brumfield. Here are two of them and they are both to me. One more is coming. It is about a poser, someone falsely representing himself to a turf company. That is a whole story in itself.

Update March 2, 2014 6:55 PM People have asked me how the commission came up with the numbers that will be used to fund the toxic turf project. This email from John Bendel might provide some answers to Lebo Citizens readers.

Update March 3, 2014 8:58 AM It appears that Commissioner John Bendel, Recreation Director David Donnellan, and Manager Steve Feller are aware that our municipal grant writer, Katherine Heart is working with the sports groups to pursue grants for the non-municipal funding for the turf project. Email is here.

Update March 3, 2014 1:54 PM See March 1, 2014 at 2:45 PM. I received this response from Steve Feller today.

Elaine,

These emails were forwarded to me for response.

I did not specifically ask for personal emails for the following reasons.

1.      Mt. Lebanon has established email accounts for each Commissioner.  The Commissioners are to use these accounts for municipal business, which they do.  One reason we set these accounts up is for this very reason, i.e. so we can response to RTK requests more easily.

2.      The Commonwealth Court has held that an email between a resident and a commissioner in a private email account is not a public record. That is another reason why I did not ask.

3.      The Commonwealth Court has also held that there is no duty to ask for email in a private account from a former official.  This applies to former Commissioner Kluck. 

4.      Lastly, I have on rare occasion asked Commissioners to review emails from a personal account. This was done before there was a practice of having all municipal business done on the municipal e-mail account. 

Thanks.

Steve Feller