Initially, the school board threatened to challenge the settlements, which would have made implementation of the settlement impossible. Ultimately, however, Municipal Solicitor Phil Weis was able to strong arm the school board into agreeing not to object to the settlements. Unfortunately, after getting things worked out with the school board, the county began resisting the 84% settlement. To date, a couple of hearings have taken place where the county did send their lawyer, but did not present any evidence to rebut the settlement agreement between the homeowner and Mt. Lebanon. As a result, although hearings were held, the 84% settlement figure was implemented.
However, Phil Weis said the folks who lost the original municipality appeal but failed to appeal to the BOV in 2013, yet appealed as a homeowner as a part of this group in 2014 and are now trying to get into the BOV queue are SHIT OUT OF LUCK. The municipality is now saying since the homeowners have instituted the appeal, they are sending the school board to fight the newcomers at the BOV level.
Is this how Kristen Linfante or Dave Brumfield (I can't remember which) planned to resolve this issue? Send it to the school district? While we have all been agonizing over the toxic turf crap, our friendly commissioners have joined forces with the school district to stick it to the newcomers.
So spend 2 million bucks on turf as an "enhancement" to allegedly atract more homebuyers. Then send a message that if you move here, expect to be punished? That is the most half-assed decision-making Ive seen outside of D.C.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a realtor, how do you sell that idea?
In the past the commission appealed the homes while the school board appealed the commercial properties because they were more expensive.
ReplyDeleteThe school board appealing home assessments tells me the board is in referendum trouble and they know it so they will now do home appeals. Where will they get the dollars to pay the appeal officer if they are in referendum trouble?
That leaves open the question of how Zmagias paid $1,520,000 for five properties and now has combined his properties into one lot assessed at $500,000.
If the board had a finance committee maybe they would have figured out there is $1,020,000 in low hanging fruit to pick up from the Zmagias properties instead of sticking it to the newcomers.
Apparently, Mrs Cappucci's idea of giving the board the budget all of the time doesn't work very well. She should have learned her lesson from Mr. Moorhead negotiating a $200,000 change order down to $95,000 but she, like Linfante are too busy telling people off and can't organize a governmental body properly.
Two years ago the county held seminars on how to win your appeal. Now the county is sending lawyers to fight property owners who are paying more than their fair share. It's not fair.
ReplyDeleteThe county, school district and the municipality say that this process is legal and fair. It is nothing more than "revenue enhancement" after the millage has been calculated.
State lawmakers must require proper disclosure ..in writing......of this back-door tax increase... by taxing bodies before someone buys a home in Allegheny County.
The Board had a 2.1% millage increase limit plus exceptions for specific items for this school year's budget. They gave administrators a 2.1% raise then spent 0.8% more on incentive pay. What budget line item is padded to allow the excess 0.8% merit pay increase for administrators?
ReplyDeleteAny excess over the 2.1% increase for the superintendent's pay increase or for the business manager would also suggest more budget padding.
Maybe that is the real reason they left $300,000 in the Capital Projects Fund.
Cappucci's is clueless. Anyone can run anything when you get $2,000,000 more every year to spend and what the new money doesn't cover you float a bond for.
ReplyDelete5:13 PM, the school board is transfering $3 million to the Capital Projects Fund leaving $300,000 to be determined at a later point once the audit of the 2013-14 Fiscal Year is complete and any additional funds to be transferred can be finalized.
ReplyDeleteElaine
5:22 PM, double counting helps too.
ReplyDeleteThe 2015 Election will be for the majority of the school board (5 seats) and commission (3 seats.) Can Mt. Lebanon wait that long for change?
The Newcomer's Tax, almost $1 million overage on the pool project with paint coming off at two weeks old, the $1+ million turf project on deck to start next month, Pay As You Throw coming up next month, a deer management plan in the works, running out of money for change orders at the high school, can we survive with our current leaders in office? Can we afford to wait until November 2015?
Elaine
Not so fast about the paint on the pool. It will be corrected for next season. There will be no charge to correct that. The pool is beautiful and is a great community asset!
ReplyDeleteOf course the pool is beautiful. It was supposed to be a $3.3 million dollar project. What did it end up costing us? Almost a million dollars more. Yes, it will be corrected at no charge for next season. But it was waaaaay over budget.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Plus,6:13 PM, we never got to see the change orders for the project. Kelly Fraasch had asked to see them. I don't know if her request was ever granted, but I know for sure, they were never made public.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Not to mention, the first bid opening for the pool was a disaster thanks to Feller, Donnellan and Gateway.
ReplyDeleteElaine
6:13, how are you justifying that it's ok if paint is coming off the pool now and being corrected next year? With all the money that was spent on the pool, I believe many would think that the job should have been done right the first time. If paint is coming off the pool now, I would have to argue that shoddy workmanship was done or they were in a hurry to get the job done for opening day and maybe some corners were cut. Am I wrong on this?
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Peeling pool paint, unlevel gym floors, leaking roofs in the recently renovated and new municipal buildings.
ReplyDeleteIs there one job that has gone thru better than expected or on budget here in the bubble?
But 7:27, in order to keep up with Southpointe, Upper St. Clair, Peters Township and the rest of the Joneses, we have to get these projects done...at any price or quality of workmanship...or lack of.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
There is no excuse of incompetency for shoddy work product. If it wasn't done right the first time, then the subcontractor has to redo the work without charge. Lots of litigation out there for poor work product!!!
ReplyDeleteThe big difference between Lebo and places like Cecil, Peters, South Fayette and others is they're growing. They aren't built out, people are heading to those places because they're newer, good school systems and they aren't acting like clowns like Lebo.
ReplyDelete9:31, you're absolutely correct. One question I have is, are we holding these contractors accountable for their mistakes?
ReplyDelete9:55, and Mt. Lebanon is on the losing end of that because many of those residents are using Mt. Lebanon as a pass thru community to get to and from work. Needless to say I mention the ever growing amount of stop signs and speed bumps.
Nick M.
Those communities are YOUNG. Mt Lebanon not so anymore. People that could afford to left years ago. Mt Lebanon also has a decreasing NOT increasing salary average. I know the firm I work for doesn't suggest their new employees live in Mt Lebanon. They suggest Peters, SF, and Upper St Clair.
ReplyDeleteSo instead of focusing on the reason out community is less attractive to the active workforce than neighboring communities, we spend money on artificial turf.
ReplyDeleteRead Phil Weiss' response to a confused and aggrieved newcomer about their BOV appeal... Further evidence of a shakedown conspiracy:
ReplyDelete"Also, from your docket number, it looks like your appeal to the BOV is from an appeal you filed for 2014. If this is correct you should be aware that it is possible that the School District may choose to participate in that appeal. They are considering their options at this point."
11:31 (Nick M), it looks as though the school district isn't holding Celli and Dick accountable for screw ups.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Gateway seems to get by with faulty estimates on the municipal level.
Good catch 2:10 AM,
ReplyDeleteCalifornia's new law which limits practices with full-on tackling during the playing season and prohibits them during most of the off-season, comes amid growing concern nationwide over brain damage that can result from concussions among student as well as professional athletes.
PARENTS BEWARE, the leading cause of epilepsy is head injuries.
How is this relevant to turfing the fields?
ReplyDelete