Earlier in the day, I reported an address to the commission of a friend of both Dave Brumfield and Kristen Linfante, whose home is assessed $310,000 below their purchase price last year, along with the link to their friend's County Assessment. I was alerted to this discrepancy by a Lebo Citizens reader.
Moments later, my mailbox was flooded with emails from Lebo Citizens readers notifying me of the fundraising efforts by the Recreation Department as discussed in my post, TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE. As I mentioned in my previous post, I questioned the commission about this action in a separate email.
At the same time, a newcomer received this response from Dominick Gambino, who clearly intended to send it to Nancy Carroll. The resident had been asking for information concerning his appeal.
This attitude is exactly what we are seeing from our local elected officials. I had emailed the commission asking about the results of the deer aerial survey. As usual, Kristen ignored me. This issue is very important to me, but based on what I had seen at Tuesday's meeting, the citizen who spoke during Citizen Comments was informed. I had heard that the pro-culling residents were circling their wagons and her comments confirmed it. Transparency? Nope, not any more.
I received one response to my emails.
Emailing to the Commission is not slanderous gossip. In light of the fact that our Commission is in the news over the Newcomer's Tax, I felt that my email was not out of line.
I did not see the letter from the Recreation Department as forwarding an email request. I let Dave know that I disagreed with him. Comparing this to Martha's Run or Ultra Party is insulting. $750,000 of our money is going into this project already, without any approval from constituents. Does the Municipality donate to Martha's Run or Ultra Party? Hardly. I know that the committee for Martha's Run pays to advertise in mtl Magazine.
From: Dominick Gambino <d.gambino@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Municipal Tax Assessment Appeal
Date: Thu 04/10/14 02:43 PM
He can't stand that you won't react. That's the best weapon against folks like him
Sent from my iPhone
This attitude is exactly what we are seeing from our local elected officials. I had emailed the commission asking about the results of the deer aerial survey. As usual, Kristen ignored me. This issue is very important to me, but based on what I had seen at Tuesday's meeting, the citizen who spoke during Citizen Comments was informed. I had heard that the pro-culling residents were circling their wagons and her comments confirmed it. Transparency? Nope, not any more.
I received one response to my emails.
From: David Brumfield < davidcbrumfield@gmail.com>
To: egillen476 < egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Apr 10, 2014 03:24 PM
Subject: Re: Totally inappropriate
How is forwarding an email request for charitable donations inappropriate. Aside from your dislike of the project please explain how this is any different than assisting in the advertising for Martha's Run or the Ultra Party.
Additionally, as to your prior email I think it is an unforgivable invasion of privacy for you to circulate the name, address and community service record of a resident whose assessment is being appealed in some cheap attempt to allege bias contrary to the facts.
In the future please do not copy me on any emails where you cast aspersions on private residents. I have no desire to participate in your slanderous gossip.
To prevent the unnecessary dissemination of this information I am only responding to you. I shall not copy or forward this and request you act likewise.
Dave Brumfield
I explained to Dave that because his email is subject to a Right To Know, according to the Sunshine Law, I could not honor his request. Since it was written from his personal email account, I now understand why there are never any emails of his in my Right To Knows.
Emailing to the Commission is not slanderous gossip. In light of the fact that our Commission is in the news over the Newcomer's Tax, I felt that my email was not out of line.
I did not see the letter from the Recreation Department as forwarding an email request. I let Dave know that I disagreed with him. Comparing this to Martha's Run or Ultra Party is insulting. $750,000 of our money is going into this project already, without any approval from constituents. Does the Municipality donate to Martha's Run or Ultra Party? Hardly. I know that the committee for Martha's Run pays to advertise in mtl Magazine.
I also felt that a more appropriate response from Dave, in regard to the assessment of his friends, would have been, "Thank you for your concern. This property has been appealed by the Municipality."
I am so tired of the tone that our elected officials use with their constituents. I am tired of the attitude from many staff members within our local government. I don't appreciate how the newcomers are being treated by a contractor hired by the Municipality and School District. It is offensive to me that an employee is on the Mt. Lebanon Community Relations Board.
The public is seeing this very ugly side of Mt. Lebanon. The transparency is gone. Where is the civility, Kristen and Dave? It left the school board long ago.
Update April 11, 2014 2:10 PM Good thing I didn't see this on Facebook yesterday. Don't you just love to see municipal staff fundraising for the non-municipal share on our dime? (Saved in Google Docs)
Update April 11, 2014 2:10 PM Good thing I didn't see this on Facebook yesterday. Don't you just love to see municipal staff fundraising for the non-municipal share on our dime? (Saved in Google Docs)
25 comments:
Why is a public official responding via a personal email account? Pretty sure that doesnt pass the smell test. And the Ethics folks in Harrisburg should be looped in on this.Or am I just being slanderous?
No, 7:54 AM, you wouldn't be. Unfortunately, this attorney gets libel and slander confused. As I learned in high school, "Slander is Spoken." That might help him to remember the difference.
Elaine
So let me get this straight - when they came up with the criteria for appeals in 2013 - they did not appeal every home that met the criteria? They only appealed certain homes? How is that fair? Ugh, this place is such a mess.
Remember- it's neither libel or slander if it's TRUE.
Dominick's email... Gosh, gotta' love technology and the people who foolishly trust it enough that they gift wrap and deliver self-incriminating evidence with the press of a key.
Press the key again and it can show up on a blog that is read by hundreds of angry people.
Elaine
Spencer SheaToday at 11:32 AM
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My name is Spencer Shea. I live at 401 Parker Drive and spoke at last Tuesdays meeting. As I have been speaking with many of our neighbors, it has been said more than once that we need to mobilize more residents of MTL. In addition we need an overarching defined outcome that will demonstrate success with not only this item (new comers tax) but more broadly.
I am proposing that we leverage the upcoming May 13th meeting at 8:00 PM, mobilize our neighbors in masses to attend and demand the commissioners immediate resignation, a new interim election held and new leadership appointed. The 6 current officials have proven on multiple occasions their incompetence and inability to perform their duty effectively.
I am proposing we solicit volunteers to divide up our town, deliver the attached (or an alternative document) to each home and arrive on May 13th in large masses to demand an end to this administration and a restoration of equity, proper financial governance and respect back to the office and the town it represents. I will volunteer to speak if this group would like. In thinking long term it would appear this will not only send a very strong message but more importantly set a precedent for future administrations that they represent residents fairly, truthfully and in a transparent manner. I'm certainly open to any other suggestions however in the end, all of this does need to culminate in a tangible outcome all will be able to see, hear and take notice of.
We can certainly alert the media and leverage any other medium to mobilize. Last Tuesday was a small advance however to implement true change and prevent a reoccurrence of what we have become too familiar with this administration, they must go and must go now. It's not acceptable for this to simply be the status quo. We've all seen what inaction and apathy lead to on a national scale.
Hi Spencer,
Your comment showed up without the attachment. Would you mind emailing it to me at EGillen476@aol.com ?
Thanks.
Elaine
Mr. Shea, I applaud your initiative and making use of the media is certainly a good starting point. Any local official bold enough to ignore the damage that the negative publicity of a campaign such as you suggest needs to rethink why they are an official in the first place.
Whether the effort to actually remove officials is possible is addressed in the link below. A mass march with the accompanying media is your best bet for change. It does need sufficient mass to work.
http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook06/Issues_Governance_08_Removal_from_Office.pdf
Fire Steve Feller too!
Here is the document referenced in the 3:13 PM comment. Attention Mt. Lebanon
Elaine
This old article from the PG shows how the man who Mt. Lebanon hired wanted to charge people to use the county website. County opens 2 new Web sites on assessments
Elaine
Does anyone know the percentage of total yearly revenue Mt Lebanon stands to gain from these targeted reassessments?
10:57 the Commission decided at the time that they appeals should be revenue neutral. That any gain in revenue to the municipality would be offset by a reduction in millage.
However, the School Board did not have the same attitude. They intend to pocket the difference.
And so will the Muni ! Did they reduce millage with imposition of the storm water fee that results in $1,500,000/year increased revenue ?
I can name a couple of commissioners and school board directors who are also bullies. I don't want to be "slanderous," so if the shoe fits...
I would support resignations from those who have well-fitting shoes.
Elaine
Speaking of bullies, Brumfield isnt too bright. As an elected official, there are slightly different boundaries regarding criticism. Im surprised he was dumb enough to mention slander. Good luck with that, Dave.
I think Brumfield obtained his JD from some online school using Cliff Notes texts. And "Duke" was the Manor Oak bar & grill where he hung out, not the Duke U.
I guess he will now go after me for slander. "The devil made me do it" is my defense and he'll be busy researching case law for devil cases pretty soon, unless he hears MRTSA sirens first.
Mr Shea,
Mt Lebanon had a strong sense of community when the Neighborhood Associations had touch with the Machine. Have you ever thought about identifying one or two people in various geographic areas who can be the point for a Neighborhood Association? Would you be open to reviewing Charlotte's School Bpard petition to see if any names on the list may be interested in rebuilding a community network of concerned citizens?
These Neighborhood groups don't need to have a formal charter or mandate. They need to get residents to start talking and they need the elected officials to stay in touch with them to ensure that our local government is responsive to their needs.
It's not uncommon in Chicago for an Alderman to remind someone how the pothole in front of their house was patched just before the election. Mt Lebanon used to be the same way.
Eventually there will be an election. Eventually new Commissioners will be elected. Perhaps when the new Commissions take office the new Commission can hold Public Hearings that will be broadcast over the Mt Lebanon website? The hearings can be of an investigative nature, use the subpoena power of the Commission and have an open presentation of the roles that various municipal employees and residents in this effort to turf the community.
Good point John...
Anything we can do to restore the notion that the residents are in control, accurately represented and that elected officials work for us as opposed to the opposite I would support. Frankly...I'm tired of seeing my hard earned money indiscriminately allocated to municipal projects that we neither need not want. The farther on down the tracks the commission gets, the more ravenous it becomes and I fear that residents who see this as "not my problem" now will wonder what to do when someone comes knocking on their door.
Eliminating property taxes would go a long way towards wrestling control from tax and spend commissioners and school boards.
Support Pennsylvania Senate Bill 76.
I wonder how many residents know that one of the proposed changes to the Home Rule Charter is to reduced the number of commissioner votes from 4 to 3 needed to pass municipal tax increases?
I had no idea the home rule charter was being evaluated when it was "studied". Were there Lebo Alerts about this? Were the meetings videotaped? I read the minutes and there were very few citizen comments. I stopped reading Lebo Mag a while back not realizing that when the government rules are rewritten it would be the only source of information.
12:32 the Ad Hoc Study Committee meeting schedules over the past year were posted on the Muni website and possibly included in the magazine, but I no longer read the rag either. The recommendations were presented to the Commission in a public meeting that was televised and also audio recorded for podcast posting on Elaine's lebo citizens website.
There is a multistep process coming soon that will be publicized, one of which is a public hearing to be followed eventually by a series of Referendum questions on electoral ballots in both primary and general elections over at least two years - likely only two questions per election because the County limits Referendum questions to about 73 words total per ballot.
Where have you been ?
does it occur to anyone that if the appeals are intended to be "revenue neutral" that we are waisting municipal money on making them, since it is the county's obligation to assure "fairness" in the system; there is obviously another purpose that the commissioners are unwilling to disclose
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