The exchange, which I believe I have shared here before, is below.
Good morning Gentlemen,
On March 15, 2014 at 10:58 PM, Dave Franklin posted this on my blog post, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2395310382514169324&postID=1444478462632748849
"On 10:42, to date soccer has made the single largest donation to the turf project...
Dave Franklin"How much was soccer's donation? Since you are members of the Turf Project Task Force, I thought I should ask you directly, rather than waiting for Dave Franklin to respond on my Lebo Citizens blog. To date, Mr. Franklin has not answered my question.Thanks in advance.Elaine Gillen
From: John Bendel <jbendel@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Recreation David Donnellan <ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org>; John Grogan <JGrogan@mtlsd.net>; Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sun, Mar 23, 2014 8:24 pm
Subject: Re: Soccer donation for Mt. Lebanon Turf Project
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Recreation David Donnellan <ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org>; John Grogan <JGrogan@mtlsd.net>; Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sun, Mar 23, 2014 8:24 pm
Subject: Re: Soccer donation for Mt. Lebanon Turf Project
Elaine,
The soccer association has made a pledge to the turf project. Since they are a private association, I do not feel comfortable providing the specific amount of their pledge without their approval to do so. Several other sports associations have made pledges and the Commission expects to receive a status report on the totals in early April for pledges and cash on hand as of month-end March. The status report with the totals can be shared at that time.
Lo and behold, this eblast surfaces today.
From: MLSA Announce <mlsa@tristan.excaliburdata.com>
Date: April 7, 2014 at 3:40:36 PM EDT
Subject: [MLSA] Cedar Boulevard Turf Project - please read carefully
Reply-To: <soccer@mlsa.org>
So did the Soccer Association make the largest single contribution or didn't they? Was Dave Franklin's announcement premature? Am I being lied to? Or did someone on the Soccer Association commit to something without the approval of the Association? Are parents being asked to contribute twice? Is this another example of donating the same $125,000 over and over? I love his choice of words, "grass roots effort."Friends of Soccer:On behalf of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Association, I wanted to take a minute to share with you some important news regarding the APPROVED plan to add artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields. The Commission has allocated approximately $750,000 towards the completion of this important field project.
Adding artificial turf at this location will undoubtedly benefit our Association as well as community recreation programs, other youth sports associations, our high school programs, and it will even allow for some much-anticipated adult league play. Practices and games on the turf will not be affected by soggy field conditions again. Our ability to teach our youth will greatly improve with a consistent playing surface.
These improvements are long overdue, and our Association would like to thank the many folks who have been involved in this effort over many, many years. However, the work is not complete. The plan approved by the Commission also requires a private contribution of approximately $250,000. To date, the Sports Advisory Board has raised over $100,000 through limited requests. This is a great start, but let's not stop now!
On behalf of the Association, I would kindly ask that you please consider making a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to the Turf Project Fund.Go to http://www.mtlebanonendowment.org/contributions/field-improvement-project/ to make your tax deductible donation TODAY!If you have any questions, or if you know a corporation or local business that might be interested in participating in this exciting project, please contact the Sports Advisory Board at leboturfproject@gmail.com.** We know that all of our kids probably play more than one sport and we appreciate that you might receive an email like this from another Association. Please understand that our goal is not to stuff your mailbox, but this truly is a community-wide, grass roots effort. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.Thanks for your time and consideration,Bob AndrewsMLSA President
Mr. Andrews was one of the eighteen who wrote in support of turfing Middle and Wildcat Fields.
Update April 8, 2014 10:57 PM During Citizens Comments tonight, I asked about the Soccer Association donation. John Bendel is still not comfortable releasing that information. Through my Right To Know, I learned of the possibility of corporate deal with Dick's Sporting Goods. Steve Silverman shared that Dick's has donated $5,000. That's it. No clothing deals and no sign. I also asked what the amount is projected to cost. John Bendel said that it was still $1,000,000 with $750,000 coming from us and $250,000 coming from "non-municipal funds." If the project comes in higher than that, the Commission has not decided whether the Sports Advisory Board's contribution will remain at $250,000 or if it will be 25% of the project, as originally discussed.
31 comments:
Since when can an advisory board have a gmail address?
"Adding artificial turf at this location will undoubtedly benefit our Association as well as community recreation programs, other youth sports associations, our high school programs, and it will even allow for some much-anticipated adult league play." When can the rest of us use it ? We paid 75% of it !
@5:04 - Use gmail when you want to color outside the lines
Yeah. Make that donation, soccer parents. Then I'll make sure I get those records and make them public. Let's see who really favors this idiotic project and wants to force their neighbors to pick up the tab. It's for the children.
Look what a donation did to that Internet Browser CEO... Or should I say EX-CEO!
The soccer sold a property for $125,000. Are we to believe they failed to earn interest on their money?
I'm thinking they should be closer to $150,000 in the bank.
A pledge is not a contribution!
Constance Spicuous Consumption5
Perhaps the smartest thing the SAB has done so far occurred this week: they cancelled all field sport games and practices in Mt Lebanon for a week and then asked for financial support from all of the parents for their new turf field.
5:58 what would you do with that knowledge? Thanks for the heads up, I'll make my donation anonymously!
Yes, 10:13 PM, they did cancel. I received that email too.
I was looking through the archives and found when the fields were closed due to excessive heat. We may see more of these LeboALERTS with artificial turf UPDATED We were told at the SAB meeting that it doesn't get that hot here and that the fields will not be cooled with water.
Will the SAB be asking for financial support for new, cooler grass fields?
There was a time when we were told that kids would run into each other on grass fields when playing simultaneously on separate halves of the fields. Kids could run into each other!!!!! If you watched the SAB meeting from last week, it was revealed that all soccer games and varsity games will be taking two slots because they could run into each other. The fields could not be used simultaneously. What a bunch of BS-ers!
Elaine
10:24 You'll have to use cash and not use it for tax deduction. I wouldn't trust ANY of these idiots with something you want to keep private. Especially here in Mt Lebanon. I've lived here since the early 60's and seen quite a few outed for their support or lack of it. I even remember the township evil moments and there are many.
What property did "soccer" sell? Did taxes purchase that property?
1024: wow, you're brilliant.
As I wrote, I will simply make public who supports throwing away money on an idea that doesn't even fix the alleged problem that is the justificationfor the dumb project. Surely, if you support the idea, you're willing to do so openly? Why wouldn't you? After all, the handful of middle-aged wanna be jocks need all the support they can get or else people will find out what a farce this all is.
I'm looking at it this way...at the end of the day, there will be turf. Sorry, but we all know this is a done deal.
Therefore, I will encourage as many donations as possible to the SAB. The more donations, the less tax dollars spent.
Oh do you now, 8:14 AM? That is flawed logic. If the SAB doesn't raise $250,000, then the project is dead in the water and NO tax dollars will be spent, except the ones that Gateway is collecting now.
Elaine
6:49 AM, I hope you plan to come to the commission meeting tonight. It should be a very large crowd, with the Brookline and Baldwin people livid over Castlegate, and the newcomers and how they are unfairly being targeted to pay for the underassessed commissioners' homes.
Let the commissioners know how you feel about this farce.
Elaine
11:34 PM - "What property did 'soccer' sell?". There's the old saying, "If we don't learn from history, we'll be doomed to repeat it !". Perhaps not in exactly the identical fashion, but close enough for a lesson. Here goes the history lesson :
The property was a 4.5 acre plot of undeveloped land bordering Conner Rd. and Terrace Dr., now up for sale by current owner (a Kossman subsidiary). The property with lots of environmental issues was a gift to "soccer" by a Mr. Krebs on 12/31/1999 arranged by his attorney Tom Stevenson and his associate attorney Alan Silhol (names ring a bell ?). "Soccer" was a 501(c)(3) so Mr. Krebs was able to take a healthy charitable gift federal tax deduction.
The property was/is zoned R-1 single family, but Krebs had tried unsuccessfully for years to get it rezoned for commercial and multifamily in a series of failed development proposals. He finally gave up.
"Soccer" wanted to develop the property into a regulation soccer field. They claimed they would raise $1.0 million in private funds to do so. The Muni with a bit of inside conflict of interest (sound familiar ?)granted them zoning variance and preliminary project approval. All involved on both sides were active members of the same political party (sound familiar ?). The $1.0 million in "private funds" was revealed by citizen's investigation not to be anywhere "private" at all - State Rep Tom Stevenson (sound familiar ? had earmarked $800,000 of state grant money from a pending state bond issue for the project. The then Gov. fortunately did not authorize the grant for "soccer". And "soccer" finally figured out the cost of developing the property would exceed $1 million due to serious environmental and geological issues. They gave up.
"Soccer" sold the property to two former Lebo Manor brothers who have a landscaping business based in Carnegie for $125,000. They wanted to build a series of 19 or so homes on the property, but they too found it unworkable. They ended up selling the property to Mark Kossman for around $175,000, who in turn sold/transferred it to a Kossman subsidiary and is now up for sale. Mark or Marc indicated he wanted to build a single house with the possibility of one more on the property, but obviously gave up on that idea. He owns a house on Hoodridge near the Shannon border.
That's the history of ownership, price and source of funds, 11:54 PM. Mt. Lebanon is a very slow learner because residents have no sense or appreciation of history, just like public school children today. Lessons have not been learned !
P.S.- and "soccer" knew damned well they could not raise over $1.0 million from "soccer" moms & dads or truly private fundraising, even though that was their original public representation. One of the "soccer" leaders became a Commissioner in Stevenson's Ward.
seems odd that if … to date soccer has made the single largest donation to the turf project… that they would be hitting their membership up for more money
2:00 PM Soccer has "pledged" that $125,000 they received from the sale several times to projects over the years but never came forward with the actual cash. Their most recent IRS Form 990 non profit tax return on GuideStar.org shows they had $185,000 in unrestricted cash at year end, basically unchanged from the year before.
Soccer should at least offer a matching $ deal to their flock of indentured servants...for every dollar you donate, Soccer will donate a dollar. Otherwise they look like the fools they really are.
I just heard that the updated costs for turfing these two fields is much higher than the commissioners have stated. They are now trying to figure out how to push it through without telling people. Sounds like the School Board a few years ago doesn't it. I can't make it to the meeting but someone please ask if the amount is larger than it is now then that amount be charged to the Franklin's and the sports people. And that construction halted to their money is in a MTL held bank account. In other words, their plan is to start this turf project knowing they don't have the funds and when they get half-way done they will force money from other projects so they can finish it. "They" have to have these fields no matter what gets pushed aside. Add this to "MTL evil list"!
It appears that certain Commissioners, Mt. Lebanon Municipality, and special sports group are trying to privatize public parks at the expense of the tax payers money. This is very underhanded and pernicious. Any attorneys out there that can speak to this issue???? The taxpayers need help!!!
I still don't know what soccer donated/pledged. During Citizens Comments, I asked about the Soccer Association donation. John Bendel is still not comfortable releasing that information.
Through my Right To Know, I learned of the possibility of corporate deal with Dick's Sporting Goods. Steve Silverman shared that Dick's has donated $5,000. That's it. No clothing deals and no sign.
I also asked what the amount is projected to cost. John Bendel said that it was still $1,000,000 with $750,000 coming from us and $250,000 coming from "non-municipal funds." If the project comes in higher than that, the Commission has not decided whether the Sports Advisory Board's contribution will remain at $250,000 or if it will be 25% of the project, as originally discussed.
At a previous meeting, John Bendel told a resident during Citizens Comments how this was unique. The same resident gave quite an extensive list of projects equally "unique." I would like to add another one, the little park over by Sunridge and Connor Road. Neighbors raised funds to improve their neighborhood park.
After the meeting, I asked David Donnellan when he was going to put up the concept plan for Middle/Wildcat. He hadn't decided. When I reminded him that he committed to putting it online within a couple of days of the Sports Advisory Board meeting, I guess he had a change of heart. If/when he sends the concept plan to me, I will share it with everyone. So, we're to fund at least 75% of the project, never have use of the fields, and now have to beg for concept plans, which were part of a public meeting.
Elaine
How can the "Public" pay for this but not be allowed to use it? Is it now a "Private" park? Do I smell a lawsuit coming... What's next only certain streets are allowed to swim in the new pool?
Like I said, certain people in the township are attempting to privatize public facilities for their own personal gain. What are the legal remanifications for these decisions? CA did this and certen towns went bankrupt. Are we going down this same road??!! Eventually townships and municipalities run out of money. Are we headed in that direction!!! It's better to bLance the budget and spend money on infrastructure and roads. Forget about the turf progects and Taj Mahal high schools!! If no one can afford the taxes to live here then nobody wins. Enrollment goes down, programs, teachers, and administrators are cut, and schools are closed. Extremely shortsighted behavior and decisions and NOBODY wins. Stupid is as stupid does. Too many stupid people in power. This stupid people need to move and out of Mt. Lebanon!!!
Can someone reiterate the details on when & where the public turf meeting will be held that Maria Joseph mentioned in her comments?
Certainly, 11:13 PM. Maria sent me a flyer of the event, which I will be posting on the blog in the next few days.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30th AT 7-8:30pm MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE CHAMBERS
For more information please email: healthylebo@gmail.com
Elaine
Mr. Bendel said in his email to Elaine, "The soccer association has made a pledge to the turf project."
The soccer association has given us a pledge before and the money is still at the soccer association.
I will believe the money was donated when the money shows up at the municipality and the amount of the gift is disclosed. Soccer pledged to us on McNeilly and kept the money. No wonder Bendel won't disclose the amount.
I would like to step out of an unexpected place to address the Franklin proposal about closing a school, moving the district's administrative offices into it, and perhaps devoting some of the space to youth sports: I think it is a great idea. And here is why:
1. We have plenty of excess capacity in terms of school square footage, so there is no reason to constrain the needs of the high school with administrative offices and activities. Indeed, the commercial and administrative activities that legitimately require some such space are a burden and distraction to the student life of the high school. Move the administration off campus.
2. It would not be prudent to sell off or abandon property that might have to be repurchased in future years if our demographic trends reverse. It is not possible to see into that distant future, but we have the land and the buildings, so let's "bank" them on the prospect of generational turn over and future families. This not only costs us nothing significant, but it puts to productive use facilities that are significantly under utilized now.
3. We would all like to do something to increase the available youth sports resources. It would not even be a bad idea to bring youth sports and the school administration into a deeper, more formal, relationship.
Having said all of that, those who are usually concerned with often imprudent and single-minded proposals supported by Franklin and others, we should be open to a good idea when one comes along, regardless of the author. That is, after all, how democracy, and communities, work.
Moreover, the idea is neither new, nor rooted in partisan politics. In fact, the suggestion to close one of the middle schools and move the district administrative offices into it was first made by opponents to the spendthrift high school renovation project during the public hearings held before its adoption as part of the Act 34 (or whatever) process. It was, in fact, a CONSERVATIVE political proposal that was rejected at the time precisely because of the Liberal-Conservative rift in the community by a deeply partisan and unanimous school board (no, neither Remely nor Kubit count - they should have the intellectual integrity to follow Mary Birks into the Democrat Party).
So, I for one want to thank Franklin for recognizing a good idea when one was on the table (even if the recognition is belated). My personal view is that careful consideration ought to be given to this proposal, especially by those who usually oppose Franklin-endorsed projects. Let's start a dialogue.
The Swamp Fox
Dear Fox,
We closed both middle schools, held them, and reopened them. The cost of renovating Mellon was $10,000,000 and the cost of renovating Jefferson was $6,000,000. Neither of those numbers include interest on the bond we issued. So your suggestion to "bank" a school or schools is likely to be very expensive especially considering a sharp increase in construction costs over the last 15 years.
I'm also at a loss to understand why you want a deeper more formal relationship between the administration and sports people who make pledges they don't pay. We were told soccer would donate $125,000 for McNeilly Field so we borrowed $2,000,000 to buy the property and the $125,000 promised is still sitting in the Soccer Association's bank account and has been there for several years.
Soccer got the $125,000 from selling undeveloped land donated to them. That land is still undeveloped and is up for sale for $995,000.
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