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
8 comments:
Everyone really needs to understand and to appreciate the heroic effort that Elaine has made to obtain these documents and emails.
As many of you know PA has a Right To Know (RTK) law. However, as a practical matter, many in the local machine will tell you that the law is essentially unenforceable and frankly a big fat joke.
In my opinion, Mt Lebanon only turns over those documents that they want to present. For instance, did you know that some municipal employees have made a practice of deleting emails from their PC? Did you also know that Mt Lebanon does not have any back-up copies of emails other than those on the employees PC's? I know that this is the case because Steve Feller told me this directly.
This makes obtaining information very difficult. When requests for RTK documents are given to municipal employees the request is given a legal review and if it passes legal then the employees are asked to present any relevant documents. In a perfect world the documents are presented, reviewed again and then released to the requestor.
However, suppose the employee "misses" a document or forgets where it is located? What if an employee deletes an email?
WWWHHHHOOPPPSSS!!
These things happen! ;) ;) ;)
Want to guess what the requestor gets? Nothing. Now, that doesn't mean that the documents weren't there, it just means that Mt Lebanon didn't return anything to the requestor.
The requestor can appeal to "a higher authority" (and I am not referring to God) but unless you can present the copy of what was not turned over want to guess what happens?
You got it - nothing!
In fact, even if the missing documents show up at the appeal you'll get the same outcome - nothing. After all, you now have what you wanted, right??? ;)
Anyway, Elaine did a super job prying these loose from the Iron Fist. I hope that all of you will read them and appreciate all of her fine work.
It's not over yet, John. I have filed an appeal. And that is all I am going to say about that.
Elaine
Hate to put this out on here because "They" read your blog but you have select people write, email and phone commissioners on turf and then see if your RTK contains those emails. You'll then have them then...
A lot of complaining about the turf, but I have must have missed the constructive comments on what to do about the chronic field shortage for youth athletics in Mt. Lebo. Today, and this week, is a perfect example: too much rain causes practices to cancel - lest the fields get ruined, any fields that are playable are over-run by competing interests (lacrosse, baseball, track, etc.) and no one gets consistent practice time. MLSA soccer cancelled today, the Jefferson Middle track team couldn't even use their own facility, and has anyone been up to Bird Park lately? Bird Park will be unplayable in a month as kids turn ankles and sprain knees on the ruts on the field. The reason turf is attractive to many people is because we don't have the field space to support all of the youth activities of today. Are there any other solutions out there?
And what is the biggest complaint, in your opinion: the idea of artificial turf or the use of municipal funds to, errr, fund it? (sorry about the repetition there... couldn't think of a different word!)
Don't shoot the messenger - I'm just a parent with kids who want to play.
I won't shoot the messenger. I don't have numbers to back up my statement, so I will only tell you what I know. I have heard many different reasons why people are opposing turfing Middle and Wildcat Fields. These are in no particular order. The misuse of municipal funds, the misrepresentation of the ESB's position on artificial turf, environmental concerns, health and safety issues, turfing a field does not add fields, the perpetuity of turfing fields, the hogwash about attracting newcomers (that ship has sailed!), claiming it is going to increase the value of our homes, [Ouch! Not sure that is something they want to say these past few weeks!], spending money on frivolous wants instead of using it toward infrastructure, with the rainy season starting now - not helping those with flooding issues, the back room deals, the cost of the project, not allowing voters to choose, catering to a small special interest group a.k.a. deadbeat athletic supporters (sorry - I just couldn't resist, Daves) and those are just off the top of my head. Perhaps readers can add more.
But let me ask you some questions, 11:00 PM. As a parent, aren't you concerned about the EPA saying that not enough has been studied about the safety of artificial turf? Does it trouble you that communities are putting plans to artificially turf on hold, until more information comes out? If your child has asthma or latex allergies, are you willing to submit your child to these life threatening situations only because your kids want to play? It doesn't sound like your kids fall into that category, but what about kids who do have serious medical conditions? Yes, too much rain does play havoc on the fields, but try saying that to people on Castle Shannon Blvd. or Shadowlawn. I don't think they will feel your pain.
You know, 11:00 PM, there is controversy on the other side too. There are those who feel Brafferton should have been fixed. Then there is the McNeilly group. And the Robb Hollow group. Then there is the Mellon group. The Bird group. Jefferson Middle School. At one time, there was even a Twin Hills group. The point is, 11:00 PM, watch the Sports Advisory Board meeting where people went around the room saying what their vote was. Turfing Middle and Wildcat was not unanimous. That really troubles me. There will be many people still complaining after the commission majority commits to a million dollar project.
On April 8th, the Commissioners will be discussing turf design, signage etc. Sounds to me like it is a done deal, 11:00 PM. I think you have nothing to worry about. Your kids will be able to play.
Elaine
The other thing going in your favor, 11:00 PM, is that not one person brought up turf at the last commission meeting I missed. No signs against turf along Cedar that I am aware of. People from Vee Lynn, Mayfair, and Parkridge are silent. Plus, there were core samples taken from the fields. So, looks like all systems go, 11:00 PM.
Elaine
Thanks Elaine. I appreciate the explanation.
I completely sympathize with the lack of transparency and communication in getting the turf project passed. I have been affected by the "newcomer's tax" and I'm getting a feel for how things are done here (not in a good way). I think a project of this magnitude should have strong community support before going forward, which involves extensive communication and engagement with the citizenry. It doesn't sound like this was the case.
I'm still on the fence as to whether or not the municipality should fund this; I haven't made my mind up simply because I feel it will be a good addition to the community (although i think there are better locations - Mellon and Jefferson come to mind.) I've lived in areas of the country where artificial turf is much more common - without issues - and therefore I share less of a concern from an environmental standpoint.
A turf field will offer significantly more field time. No, it technically doesn't increase field space, but it significantly increases field optimization - so it functionally acts as an increase in field space. This week is a prime example - practices would be held in this kind of weather without fear of ruining the field and with less of a risk to injuries. I haven't seen evidence in practice of an increase in allergies from the fields - although i will say that they get pretty damn hot when the temperature rises.
That being said, I understand the frustrations of not having a million $ project fully vetted before approving use of the funds (and conveniently, spending our tax dollars). This, apparently, happens all too often - unless of course it's a $42,000 leaf collector.
Referring to the previous video posted on Lebo Citizens (http://vimeo.com/49518944) regarding the hazards of synthetic turf and featuring two scientists including Kathleen Michels, Ph.D.:
Dr. Michels has been nominated to be the "Mom on a Mission 2014" by HealthyChild, Healthy World.
http://healthychild.org/mom-on-a-mission-finalist/kathleen-michaels/
Some of the mothers in Mt Lebanon who have advocated for healthy playing fields have been threatened, mocked, and intimidated by members of the Sports Advisory Board. One elected mother received such a threatening email from a Mt Lebanon coach that it was turned over to the police.
Ask yourself, Mothers, if artificial turf were good for Mt Lebanon, why would Dr. Michels be nominated for this honor by Healthy Child, Healthy World, and at the very same time, why would mothers who feel the same way in Mt Lebanon be treated with such aggression, hostility, disparagement, and unfairness?
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