What follows is remarkable. The time and energy wasted between our public information officer and our commission president slicing and dicing me in their email exchanges, could have been spent more productively by taking the ten or twenty seconds to convert the file. What I don't understand is this. If I went to the website that Susan Morgans suggested to Commissioner Fraasch, couldn't I convert the poster into a different format and say that "Brewfest is called off" anyway? And why would I even want to do that? Fortunately, Kelly Fraasch's husband helped me, by doing a "save as" and saved the file in a different format, which took a whopping twenty seconds or so. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know to do that. What is worse is that our public information officer didn't either.
During Citizen Comments at the September 23, 2014 Commission Meeting, Steve Feller said that if I am not receiving information from the Public Information Office, to contact him. So I did and heard back nothing from him, and still nothing from the public information office. Wanting to know if Manager Feller followed up on his end, I filed a Right To Know on October 5, 2014. (Spoiler alert. He did nothing.) Here is the October 5, 2014 Right To Know that Steve Feller sent to me on November 6, 2014, which was due to a 30 day extension to do a "legal review" of my request.
Susan Morgans, like it or not, you are being paid (and very well, by the way) to field inquiries from the public. Please visit the Public Information Office webpage. You also handle media relations. Since you are a board member of the Press Club of Western PA, you must be aware that there is a category called "Continuing Blog/Online" for the Golden Quill Awards. (See page 14.) The Press Club of Western PA treats bloggers as media. In fact, as a member of the Press Club of Western PA, I had several submissions for the Continuing Blog/Online category. Did I ever have a chance of being considered with you on the judging panel? Yes, Kristen Linfante, I may have been "delusional," but I gave it a shot. How do you know, if you don't try, Kristen? I don't like to go through life saying that I would've, could've, should've.
Ms. Morgans, with the dozens of blogs in Mt. Lebanon, how many others pestered you about BrewFest? Ironically, you also serve on the Community Relations Board. Fostering a sense of community is not one of your strengths, especially with the ethnic slurs for which you were forced to apologize. Unfortunately, with Bottom Dollar closing, where "Friends will avoid you because they’ll think you’ll think they’re poor or cheap or both (and you’ll be thinking the same thing.)" you will be bogged down in chitchat in other grocery stores where fostering a sense of community is part of the shopping experience. By the way, Susan, I wonder if your mandatory apology is noted in your personnel file. Or the two incidents where you "accidentally" sat on my recorder. I hope your boss didn't drop the ball on that, as well.
I still maintain that when I die, I want to be reincarnated as a Mt. Lebanon Public Information Officer. I would be well compensated and be permitted to have a bad attitude toward residents and volunteers, at the same time write about my curly hair and other useless information. The commission president would have my back and would make personal attacks about a resident's "lonely and pathetic life," and "miserable life" in my behalf. Fortunately, we have one more month of her presidency. Thanks to our narcissistic commission president and public information officer, as well as an inept municipal manager, Mt. Lebanon has reached an all-time low.
Update November 9, 2014 6:51 AM Looking through the Lebo Citizens Spam Folder, I came across the lonely and pathetic life comment. You tell me who wrote these two unapproved comments.
Update November 10, 2014 7:14 AM Another Linfante classic.
69 comments:
Something is amiss when public service employees forget who they work for!
Elaine is delusional, Kristen?
I'll bet she knows that there is some pretty pricey vacant land that the taxpayers paid a lot of money for that to this day sits vacant and unused and off the tax rolls.
Who's delusional, commissioner?
Construction continues unabated. A few dozen people show up at the "massive protest". Time to find a new topic. More sound bites from Lebo Citizens. It's like MSNBC and FOX. Tune in for more righteous anger at 11.
4:02 PM, I did find a new topic. Several actually, (change orders, Brewfest, inept managers, naming rights, PlanCon, narcissistic commissioners and PIOs, but you seem to be hell bent on talking about turf. I should probably move this to a more appropriate spot, either under the protest post or better yet, in the trash.
Elaine
I have had a change of heart. It is an appropriate spot. Comparing me to MSNBC and FOX, must be driving Susan and Kristen nuts. Thanks.
Elaine
Not sure about the couple dozen but it would be a couple dozen more than have shown up at any commission meeting to support turf.
Elaine: narcissists are masters at projection. You don't have the miserable life....
Challenge accepted Mrs. Morgan! Turn out 200 or 300 people at a commission meeting to speak to your value. I was at the rally today and overheard people thanking Elaine for her work. Are you willing to donate your time for your work? Mrs. Linfante could afford to kill all the deer she wants with your goodwill.
I had difficulty in locating the reference to "a
miserable life". It appears on Page 32.
Those "few dozens" people at the protest are a "few dozen" more than the pro-HS signatures or names Kubit even put into the record and they probably outnumber the number of pro-turfers at a commission meeting.
Susan makes $100k/year plus another $50k in health and pension benefits. The job could be filled for half that cost. She's very lucky to have Feller for a boss. Truly blessed.
It is a shame that Commissioner Linfante didn't attend the protest, because she would have learned that in addition to Robb Hollow, Twin Hills, and McNeilly the soccer organization had land available behind Primanti's for soccer fields.
Trouble was residents in her ward didn't want fields in their backyards!
But they're OK sticking an artificial turf heat sink in other peoples' backyard!!!
"In which many would like to live in if they had the means."
That says it all. And I said it yesterday at the rally:
DESTRUCTIVE ENTITLEMENT.
- Jason M.
The hypocrisy is amazing. Yes, other towns nearby DO have some thing we would lime. But some communities nearby also have turf. Oh, and a higher per capita income, little Miss If They Have The Means. Good lord, what an arrogant and elitist comment to make. Yet the people who run in her circle arethe same politi-thugs who lecture all of us on the need for diversity and inclusion.
Linfante needs to go. I mean go, like out of the area. Nobody likes her, she's not cut out to be a commissioner and her one-percenter attitude represents all that is wrong with this community.
Finally, if she doesnt like the blog, why the hell does she keep reading it?
11:52. In my experience, dealing with Feller is like meeting the devil. I would not call that a blessing for a boss. I'd call that a curse.
""There is not another option," said Kristen Linfante, commission president, who voted in favor of the turf along with John Bendel and David Brumfield. "We would love to have grass fields. There is simply no place to put them.""
Only an idiot, fool or liar would claim that "there simply is no place to put them." Or, she's calling her predecessors that bought McNeilly and Twin Hills incompetent idiots for buying land we can't use for its intended purpose!
Let's see-- who was on the commission when Twin Hills and McNeilly properties were bought? Raja, Deillius, Miller and who else?
Who pushed for more land for fields? The YSA, Rec Dept., Soccer organization?
*like* not lime. Hard to type on phones with old tired eyes...sorry.
Elaine each time you bring these type of emails to the forefront I often get the chills. I assume this crap is going on but the foolishness is disappointing.
I laughed at Commissioner Fraasch's comment, "I think the only fuel that gets added in these situations are the people that can't maintain professionalism and can't treat everyone with respect equally."
100% correct!
"As I have said before it is my goal to meet your expectations, and a majority of our taxpayers, each time we can. Sometimes we don't meet expectations and I apologize. The ultimate responsibility falls on the Commission/Municipal Manager when we don't meet the expectations of our customers (taxpayers)."
Someone seems to know her role and service to our community. Thank you Mrs. Fraasch.
Let me get this all straight please correct me if I am wrong EG.
You requested a change in format on a poster, Commissioner Fraasch is going to school and cannot help you but enlists her staff that should be at her service for any and all requests. The staff refuses. The Manager refuses. Kelly is for the issue and even protecting the staff for their unprofessionalism and Kristen Linfante, President attacks Commissioner Fraasch for doing the right thing.
Does this happen all the time?
What a disfunctional cast of characters in the municipality.
Coaches like CANCER for KIDS.
11:44 AM, not quite. Don't forget, the manager works for us, the taxpayers. The public information officer works for us, the taxpayers.
If a resident has a complaint and goes to a commission meeting with that complaint and is told to bring it to the manager's attention by that manager, and he doesn't follow up or even acknowledge the email, then the president needs to be questioning the manager, not attacking Kelly.
And yes, this goes on frequently.
Elaine
Let us not forget Linfante is reading a book to build up her confidence as a woman. Perhaps her lack of confidence is why she is under performing and demanding speakers call her "commissioner."
I still can't get over how Susan Morgans and Kristen Linfante were ready to pounce on Kelly and me. Why couldn't Susan Morgans respond to me one way or another? Why couldn't Steve Feller?
Elaine
"Good morning Susan
I understand the PIO created the attached poster. I would like to put it on my blog, but need it in a different format. Would you please send it to me as a jpg or in png format?
Thanks for your help.
Elaine Gillen"
Elaine - I am quite surprised that friends of Kristin have not staged an intervention. This woman is embarassing herself and needs to get out of the public eye.
Your friend, the PIO did NOT create that poster!!! If she says she did then she is an out-in-out liar. She also does NOT have the skill set to do what you wanted. END OF STORY! It's not only the people outside that are getting pissed off it the people inside. If I could find another job that pays the same I would be gone.
11:33 PM, I know that the logo was designed by my son. I reread what Susan wrote and I guess she admitted that she didn't know how when she said her "designer and assistant designer were not in the office last week." She also said she stayed late on a Friday to make sure the poster was in a digital format. I guess you could interpret that to mean that she made her staff stay late on a Friday. What does this woman really do?
I see that Laura Lilley, the assistant PIO has launched her acting career making commercials for Highmark. I guess I could also come back as an assistant PIO in my next life.
Elaine
More power to the asst. PIO if she's developing an acting career, but since the commercial was obviously shot during daylight hours, I hope she was off-the-clock with the municipality.
I find it highly unlikely that Highmark was paying the agency and production crew extra to work Saturday or Sunday to shoot her bit.
If they were, there's a partial reason our premiums are so high.
Elaine how many employees does this idiot PIO have? How much are taxpayers being hit for this crap of a magazine? I know we don't even take it in the house. It goes straight to the trash can. Wonder how many other residents do the same.
3:56 knowing how things work around here Mt Lebanon taxpayers most likely paid Highmark to use her. Remember we are NOW the New Dormont! The joke of the rest of the South Hills.
May I suggest that you file a RTK concerning Linfante's and the PIO's efforts to suppress turnout at Saturday's rally? Seems the Lebo elite are up to their old dirty tricks! They'll stop at nothing to hijack the will of the majority!
Elaine ANY release on how much money is being thrown at turf project now that the plans have changed? While waiting in line at Giant Eagle's deli i saw my son's old soccer coach. I asked what he thought about the turf and as he was explaining why he's a "former" coach and WHY his kids now only play for a local club and about 10 other Mt Lebanon residents joined in the conversation. Most had no idea of what was going on but all had a problem with over a million $$$s being spent on it. All agreed that taxes were too high and services like garbage collection were a disgrace. Many wondered if the commissioners cut garbage collection so to hide the actual costs and to stop a tax increase. All agreed that Mt Lebanon is headed in the wrong direction.
I was at a store in Dormont this weekend when the store owner began a conversation with a customer. They were making fun of Mt Lebanon's High School project and talking about how we spend like we have it. Another customer began talking about how *hi$$y our town looks lately. I just listened but couldn't agree more. We have lost our way with the 4 Commissioners.
Pope Francis just released a list of 10 tips for becoming a happier person based on his own life experiences. I found #7 on the list to be quite interesting because of how relevant it is to the turf debate here in Mt. Lebanon.
#7 Respect and take care of nature--Environmental degradation "is one of the biggest challenges we have." he said. "I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is: "Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?"
What could be more degrading to the natural environment than tearing up perfectly good grass and replacing it with a dangerous, ugly, chemical filled plastic carpet? This is the legacy we are leaving the children of Mt. Lebanon.
Well, I was uptown over the weekend in one of the new restaurants and I overheard conversation about all if the new happenings of Washington rd in mt lebanon. By my count, at least 4 newer eateries have opened up! I think our town is indeed heading in the right direction!!! Vibrant uptown, can't beat it.
Wow, 10:52 you measure success and prosperity by the number of eateries on Main Street.
Amazing!
They couldn't sell condos on at the corner of Bower Hill and Wasington, only one developer showed any interest in the TOD at the T station (with govt incentives) and you measure prosperity by the number of gyros and pot stickers served.
I guess if we measure suc ess by the number of brews downed Washington Road is next gold rush!
That vibrant Washington Road, 10:52... next time you're up there take a walk down to the pavillion down at Clearview Commons.
Look up at the gutters and see where water is dripping through the rust holes. How many years ago was this structure built at what cost and it already is falling into disrepair.
Yep, perfect example of prosperity Lebo style.
Does anybody have any ideas WHY Steve Feller protects the PIO and her staff?
There must be a reason...
Not related ..but suggesting a new post on missing 13 yr old child in Mt. Lebanon. Saw leboalert and news story on her. Might help get the word out to find her.
10:52 I love satire as much as the next person but come on. This isn't the forum. Heading in the right direction? Because a gyro place closed and a sit down Greek place took its spot, next door to a place that serves hot bogs and burgers? I was going to call you an idiot but that's an insult to actual idiots.
Our town is (and has been for the last several years) headed right down the toilet. Oh, wait, I shouldn't say that. The commissioners will come up with another "management fee" for wholesale community waste disposal.
The four commissioners, the manager and the PIO are a disgrace. If any of them had any respect for themselves and the community, they would resign. What is happening to make Lebo a better place? What projects are taking place that bring actual value to the town? Turf? A hotel? Give me a break. Neither of those add value.
No, my logic-challenged friend, Lebo is most definitely NOT headed in the right direction. Vibrant uptown..hahahaha...please share some of what you're smoking. Maybe instead of confining yourself to the comfroatble confines of six square miles, you should go see other part of the South Hills that are growing instead of shrinking like we are.
Still haven't seen any Gatorade stores popping up as Sleepy Steve Silverman predicted. Rumor has it local Rite Aids, CVS's and the Medicine Shoppe are stocking up on Ace bandages, sterile wipes and walking casts. Supply and demand?
Linfante wears her misery on the outside. Anyone who looks at her can clearly see that she is a woman tired of projecting the elitist image that she desperately wants others to see her as. It must be hard on the soul to falsely portray something your not for decades upon decades. Elaine, she's clearly becoming less relevant as each day passes. I wouldn't waste too much time with her nastiness. Once her faux facade erodes, she'll take off to another town where she can start the charade all over again.
As you all put Kelly Frasch on a pedestal time and time again name one thing she has done to help the community besides talk down turf and deer culling. That's right nothing!
Hey 1:47. Right now - talking down the toxic turf and deer culling is enough. At least she's taking a stand. Looking out for what her constituents actually want. She takes the time to communicate and speak with the people in her Ward. She doesn't just assume that since she was elected - she gets to do whatever she wants - like the other commissioners. She is incredibly responsive. And according to the videos I've watched on this blog - the only one who took the time to actually do some research and ask some tough questions. Your question/comment is ridiculous. What has your commissioner done besides make bad decisions about turf. Everyone else is phoning it in. Kelly is involved and doing her job.
1:47 PM, your comment fits right in with Kristen and Susan's distain for Kelly.
Here are a few things that come to mind about Kelly.
Wasn't the Drug Task Force and drug drop off container at the Public Safety Building a Kelly Fraasch initiative?
She managed to work out the McNeilly/Robb Hollow swap with the State, but Gateway, Public Works and the SAB put the kibosh on that deal.
Then there is radarforpa, helping residents who live on private streets, and Kelly's very informative blog.
Just a few things off the top of my head.
Elaine
She also pushed for the crosswalk lights on Washington Road if memory serves.
Now tell us 1:47, what big initiatives Brumfield, Bendel, Linfante and Silverman have pushed?
Kelly is a wonderful commissioner and I feel lucky that she represent my Ward.
Kelly will be a great replacement for Dan Miller as our State Representative after Dan gets elected as our next Congressman or Governor.
10:52 AM, please continue to support those businesses in Mt. Lebanon. I am up on Washington Road weekly. I hope to see a large crowd there on November 29, Shop Small Business Saturday.
We'll see if the PIO and Commission help to promote Shop Small Business Saturday.
Elaine
The other thing Fraasch has done is get involved with the problems some residents are having with flooding on Castle Shannon Blvd.
Apparently, to the point of picking bricks up off the street.
It is odd that none of those residents are jumping to her defense, but that is the way it goes here in the bubble I guess.
The best thing I personally like about Fraasch is that she looked for a means to unload an unused, money draining black hole (McNeilly "Park") before embarking on spending money for practical fields at Robb Hollow.
The other four dimwits, pretend like Twin Hills and McNeilly don't even exist.
Plus when they're done with their multi-million dollar "crown jewel" (big laugh here) they'll embark on new money-sucking boondoggles for sports.
I know from a very reliable source that Kelly is the only Commissioner that works with the Jr. Commissioners. She also hosts a very nice recognition night annually for those that have done great things in the community. She happens to not be my Commissioner but I hear more from her than my Commissioner regularly. She hosts her own blog, is active on a local blog called nextdoor and is very effective in communicating with residents.
Kelly has done a wonderful job with the parks. My park at Church Place looked like a dump. It looks a million times better. My friend lives near Foster by a park that looked even worse. Now the park is a wonderful place to go. I have friends on the Nature Conservancy that rave about her work in helping them with the passive parks.
Oh I haven't even mentioned the Zamagias property. She is the only representative that has talked with the neighborhood about the property. She aggressively advocates for our neighborhood often and we are typically ignored.
I hope that 1:47 is inserting his big toe in his mouth.
Kelly Fraach is the only Commissioner actively working with other towns next to us. I have a friend on a board with her that speaks very highly of her work and active participation after many years of Lebo being absent.
When we are making fun of the other four Commissioners he often shares how Kelly is well thought of by many officials in other towns.
He says that they make fun of our town all the time especially about Linfante.
Echo, echo, echo ...
4:36 she was wading in knee high boots on Mapleton or Marlin to help some residents during a storm. She checks on us during big storms.
She was sweeping on Academy Avenue to help a young family out that was getting flooded because the drain was covered with leaves, but the family ended up being idiots and yelling at her. People can be stupid.
1:47 Either you are just trying to be mean, move the conversation away from Kristen Linfante or you just have no clue!
To me me this highlights the differences between Fraasch and Linfante.
http://www.popcitymedia.com/innovationnews/reallebo0120.aspx
"I've found that you have to work a little harder to make your own community when you weren't born here," adds Linfante, a professional freelance violist who moved here when her husband took a seat with the Pittsburgh Symphony."
Notice she said "make your OWN community" and not fit into, not join or be a part of the existing community.
I've found Fraasch to be very community oriented and like others have found receptive to opinions even when you don't live in her ward.
This is followed by: "Real Lebo invites commentary, but there are rules: Play nice. Be civil. No anonymous posts and if a thread goes on too long and no longer serves a positive purpose, it will be snipped."
Gee, remenescent of shutting down a meeting, isn't it or the - extremely civil - "What the Kluck", right?
I don't think I've ever heard Fraasch snip anyone in a commission meeting. In fact, I think I've heard her ask to give residents additional time time to speaking when they're reaching their allotted 5 minutes.
5:02 PM, 1:47 is just projecting again. Kelly is the only elected local official deserving that spot on the pedestal.
As I stated from the beginning, Kristen Linfante, you should be so lucky.
Elaine
Kelly screwed up Academy Goes Both Ways.
Another issue to find fault with our commissioners... and no, I don't know Fraasch's position on the "Newcomers" Tax or Reassessments.
Ooops, skipped pasting in the accompanying link for @7:28.
http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/dealing-municipal-school-district-assessment-appeals/
4:54, you are correct, Kelly does do a wonderful job working with other communities. In case you didn't know, she is a director for the Allegheny League of Municipalities representing Mt. Lebanon.
http://alleghenyleague.org/
Nick M.
The comments on this one are up to 60. Can we reach 100?
This is great… tools for detecting lying!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0-WkpmTPrM
Commissioner Frasch came up to me at a public place and had her children say hello to me. I have been an outcast of Mt Lebanon for some wrong doing but she treated me like a person. She actually gave me a hug and wished me well. I didn't deserve it, but she was very kind.
There is a commission meeting tomorrow night. Watch them in action!
Elaine
I removed the last two comments. Of course, now I 'm going to get sued by Dave. Thanks, 11:50 PM.
Funny how I am told to ignore Kristen's personal attacks that she makes on municipal emails and via anonymous comments about me, but if someone writes in about Dave's whatever, the blog patrol writes in to complain about it.
Elaine
Mt Lebanon are going to start shooting deer in our backyards. Please don't say that you weren't informed when the project begins.
Elaine - When did you lose your First Amendment Rights? Dave is already thought as a joke in the legal arena so I wouldn't worry about him suing you over a blog posting. Time that people see Dave for what he is and that's a BULLY. He bullies kids. He bullies adults. Wonder if he kicks dogs and cats? He's a sad excuse of a man.
Kristen is certainly exercising her First Amendment Rights, isn't she?
Dave is a personal injury attorney. As my attorney said with her head in her hands, "Personal injury attorneys sue over anything." He is suing the assistant PIO's kitchen architect, who also happens to be on the Zoning Hearing Board. You tell me.
Elaine
Elaine: Just thank the heavens you don't coach lacrosse; then Dave could really mess with your life.
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