Those from both in and outside Mt. Lebanon who opposed the deer kill have lived a tough lesson in Constitutional Law. Threats of arrests and fines by the Mt Lebanon Police Department persisted throughout the culling period, for the sole purpose of suppressing activists’ civil liberties. John Bendel has denied non-residents the ability to speak during Citizen Comments, pulling the non-resident sign up sheet minutes before the last meeting. To Mt. Lebanon business owners, not living in Mt. Lebanon: You're out of luck. Mr. Bendel permitted non-residents to speak in two consecutive meetings prior to March 10, 2015. Non-residents have been permitted to speak on several occasions in the past. Cutting off Kelly during her presentation during the March 10 Discussion Session is unconscionable. Mr. Bendel, by pissing off residents over sidewalks, turf, reassessments, and now permitting a firm to inhumanely fire eleven shots to kill three deer, I predict that your chances of being reelected as a Ward 1 commissioner are bleak.
For the Public Information Office to decide what residents need to know is appalling. “We see no value to Mt. Lebanon residents of releasing daily reports,” said municipal spokeswoman [Public Misinformation Officer] Susan Morgans. She said officials worry about inflaming those opposed to the culling and don't want them to “put themselves in harm's way” to protest or disrupt the program. She continues to spew out unsubstantiated claims as to how many deer are in Mt. Lebanon, when Feller himself admitted he had no idea. The PIO perpetuates Benner's stories of vandalism to the media, yet quickly crushed Benner's accusation of Mt. Lebanon Police scaring off four deer. We are tired of your continual misinformation. Where is the LeboALERT announcing the end of the deer cull? Perhaps you should consider following Tom Kelley and Coleman McDonough's lead, Mrs. Stroyd Morgans.
Steve Feller, you've got to go. Lying to a commissioner by telling her that the corrals were being relocated, instead of reporting the end of killing, is grounds for a pink slip. You have been deceitful to residents and frankly, we've had enough of it. Surely, you can see the handwriting on the wall.
Kristen Linfante, please resign. You have done considerable damage to Mt. Lebanon. If you are too ill to serve, then resign. Flight attendants warn passengers, “In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above your head…” We are to take care of ourselves before trying to help others. Learn from that, Kristen. And no, I'm not into you. In fact, I have more than enough evidence to personally sue your sorry ass.
Dave Brumfield, you are a disgrace. You told us that you would never permit guns to be used on deer. Thanks to you, six deer died horrific deaths. For some strange reason, you permit Feller and Linfante to manipulate you. What do they have on you, Dave?
Steve Silverman, while we have you to thank for limiting Benner's fee to $500 per deer, it did cost taxpayers $15,000 for this yayhoo's "expertise." You claim that this was the number one issue when you were campaigning. I don't think what you approved was what your constituents had in mind. Do you think hearing reports of keeping deer trapped in corrals for an average of ninety minutes and then being tortured with multiple gunshots (eleven bullets to kill three deer) will make our Junior Commissioner proud? How about getting those twenty or so Deer Crossing signs sitting at Public Works installed? Open your mind to non-lethal methods for a change. At tomorrow's meeting, how about sitting up and looking at the public for a change. Directly answer a question when asked, for once.
Steve Silverman, while we have you to thank for limiting Benner's fee to $500 per deer, it did cost taxpayers $15,000 for this yayhoo's "expertise." You claim that this was the number one issue when you were campaigning. I don't think what you approved was what your constituents had in mind. Do you think hearing reports of keeping deer trapped in corrals for an average of ninety minutes and then being tortured with multiple gunshots (eleven bullets to kill three deer) will make our Junior Commissioner proud? How about getting those twenty or so Deer Crossing signs sitting at Public Works installed? Open your mind to non-lethal methods for a change. At tomorrow's meeting, how about sitting up and looking at the public for a change. Directly answer a question when asked, for once.
Coleman McDonough, thank you for your years of service in Mt. Lebanon. I don't think guarding corn, allowing Benner to blame your police force for chasing away four deer, falsely accuse residents, who you are paid to protect, of vandalism, being manipulated by Kristen Linfante, and encouraging residents to have private hunts were the best decisions you ever made. You have turned Mt. Lebanon into a war zone. Unfortunately, this will be your legacy.
This cull has left our community deeply divided and will taint its reputation for years to come.
This cull has left our community deeply divided and will taint its reputation for years to come.
64 comments:
Elaine
I completely disagree wit you in Coleman. He is a respectful and respectable man.
The fault for his actions lie with Feller and the commission majority. When your boss asks you to do something do you get to say no?
Bendel's omission of any deer discussion is quintessential passive-aggressive bureacrat. Any normal person interested in getting it right would do an AAR: "Here's what we did, here's why we did it, let's work on getting it right"
This is why you document everything, and present bureaucrats with a coherent, cogent punch list. 2 numbered items or twenty. Then you ask them every single meeting until they are resolved. He's a banker and lives by paperwork. Beat him at his own game.
If he does not answer relevant questions, that can be used by others to unseat him.
12:14 In one word YES.
Even a soldier has the right to disobey a direct order in special circumstances.
It is this simple 12:14, even for public employees.
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/militarylaw1/a/obeyingorders.htm
12:14, you sound like the German military and public 1933 - 1945. When you know something is amiss and wrong, you speak up, particularly if you're wearing the badge and are responsible for public safety.
12:14 PM, it isn't Coleman's fault. He works for Feller.
It isn't Morgans' fault. She works for Feller.
It isn't Feller's fault. He works for the Commissioners.
Let's break it down further.
It isn't John Bendel's fault. He missed a couple of meetings.
It isn't Dave Brumfield's fault. He is against sharpshooting.
It isn't Steve Silverman's fault. He was just doing what his constituents wanted.
It isn't Kristen Linfante's fault. She thought it was inhumane. Plus she has serious medical issues.
I guess that leaves Kelly Fraasch. I guess it is her fault even though she was the only one who opposed it.
Elaine
Coleman was far too invested in Benner's deer-kill program. Not sure why. He allowed his uniforms and detectives to serve as Benner's private detail. For most of Coleman's career, he was probably good police. But, his creation of the corn patrol was irrational and fiscally irresponsible.
Members of Silverman's Ward 2 Democratic Committee want him to resign----NOW. Surely, we can do better.
"But Mousie, thou art no thy lane
In proving foresight may be vain
The best-laid schemes o' mice an’ men
Gang aft agley [often go a stray]
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain
For promis'd joy!" — Robert Burns
Note: we'll have to conduct a vote to have "an' men" edited to be gender neutral otherwise some Lebo residents will think women aren't included.
All Coleman is interested in is another pension. Expecting him to do anything is unrealistic. More than a few former chiefs go on to collect additional pensions. Doing anything controversial threatens that.
The guy up for the top job at PSP will be working on his fourth pension. Chief Moose (of Beltway fame) landed another gig in Hawaii. Politically adept and ever the "team player". Who cares what is right? There is money to be made. So what if a few stories have to be floated to please the boss.
Of course they can always prove this wrong by releasing the videos. They are interested in catching whoever did something, somewhere, aren't they?
Elaine, I totally agree with everything you wrote, and I think you should submit it as a letter to the editor or Op-ed to The Almanac, to inform Mt. Lebanon residents.
Based on my observations, Chief McDonough wasn't just goose-stepping taking orders, but was proactively involved in demonizing the deer, and trying to turn Mt. Lebanon into a private hunting club and shooting gallery, and harassing residents. Compare his behavior to Chief Tom Ogden, who chose not to get involved in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 deer cull, and even expressed safety concerns. Tom kept his police force above the fray, and maintained the excellent police/community relations he had developed over 30 years as Chief. The difference is night and day.
The gender neutrality issue was a distraction for the public and a manipulation. It was an attempt to make the public think that every little thing in Mt Lebanon is considerate of the public and that we have a say. But in reality, the commissioners are amassing a huge unassigned funds balance by failing to follow through on budgeted items that protect the public -- like address long over due safety needs -- and infrastructure.
Watch the budget and the unassigned funds balance and you will see where the true evil exists.
I've spoken with some neighbors who are pro-kill. I've got to tell you that they were not supportive Benner's trap and corral program. Regardless of how they want the deer to be killed (and they do) they seem to be much more angry and disgusted with the current commissioners than the no-kill people are. After all, the commissioners (Bender, Brumfield, Silverman) voted in favor of killing the deer. But, they fail to implement any program to achieve that goal. I think it is just a matter of incompetence of their part. Mt. Lebo deserves GOOD GOVERNMENT. Stop putting up with ineptitude. Replace them now.
Who is running for Wards 1 and 3? Does anyone know?
Yeah, that about says it all. With a little bit of this:
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” ~ Buddha
- Jason M.
Why across the street and not on Municipality property?
3:30 PM, Ward 1 needs to vote for anyone but Bendel.
Ward 3 is Andy Reinhart (D) and Steve McLean (R). Just an FYI, Steve was not supportive of me when I ran in 2011. And that is saying it politely. He is one of the R good old boys.
Elaine
4:19 PM, I don't understand your question.
Elaine
YES, STEVE SILVERMAN PLEASE RESIGN IMMEDIATELY! !
You have nothing to offer. Pack up and go home!!
So after this 'Major Public Safety' fail of killing all of the deer that traverse the South Hills, the cull won't be discussed publicly?
So on the one hand, Commissioner Bendel tells us the cull is in the "best interests of Mt Lebanon residents" but on the other hand he says, "fuhgeddaboudit".
On the Panhandle Trail today, I ran into a man re-hanging a private property/no hunting sign that had fallen off of a tree adjacent to the trail.
I said, "Is that your property?", and he said, "yes".
Then, I said, "do you get a lot of shooting?", and he said, "no".
Then I said , "They must not be from Mt Lebanon". He laughed and said, "I feed 'em'".
That's when I laughed and breathed a sigh of relief.
We didn't even have to say the word "deer" to understand each other.
Except for Commissioner Kelley, the police chief, Feller, and Morgan ALL share some percentage of lack of responsibility, unethical, unprofessional, and incompetent behavior, and bad decisions towards to the taxpayers of ML. It's too bad that there is no shame in our society right now. It would seem Chief McDonough's resignation is a sign that at least he has some insight as to what has been going on. I will give him that. The rest need to moooooove on!
The danger that we face is that the summer will go by and the deer issue will be forgotten only to return again in the fall. Misinformation came from everywhere. The commissioners were warned that deer would not go into the trap by the Human Society USA. Benner said that the American Veterinary Medical Association said they endorsed trap and kill but their web site says only that it is useful euthanasia, killing and animal who is sick or injured. The PGA said that the process is humane, but then they holding deer in a trap from 7:04 PM and finally shooting your last of 11 shots to kill 3 of them at 9:40 a total of 2 and 3/4 for the deer to linger in fear and panic cannot be consider humane. Calling yourself an expert so that you can get hired as a consultant them not even knowing that federal firearms laws prohibit shooting within a 100 ft of a school district is fraud IMHO.
3:30 PM Elaine
Unfortunately, this is where our bipartisan coalition has missed the most important part of taking our community back, i.e. not getting involved in getting good candidates to step up and run for office. At the end of the day this is all about politics.
Ward 1 - "needs to vote for anyone but Bendel." What choice do we have and what change can be accomplished if everyone running for Ward 1 is just as bad as Bendel, and holds the same pro-kill positions as Bendel?
Ward 3 - The same concerns with Ward 3. Has anyone interviewed Andy Reinhart (D) or Steve McLean (R) on their position on lethal vs. non-lethal solutions to deer issues? Are they OK with turning our parks and neighborhoods into a private bow hunting club, or our community into a dangerous AR-15 shooting gallery?
We can't take our community back and effect change if we don't choose our own candidates to run for office who are committed to non-lethal solutions, gov. transparency, and honesty, and who have the courage to remove the current cronies running our municipality.
Kicking Bendel out does serve a useful purpose, even if the replacement is no better. It sends the message that if you tick people off enough, they will hound you out of office. Bendel has higher aspirations. Put a period on his career here.
This might be off topic but did anyone ever see a platform. This website has pictures of cullers using ladders to set things up but no one ever saw a platform, right?
http://www.donnan.com/deer-culling.htm
What is Bender aspiring to? Game Commission?
I meant Bendel in the prior comment.
http://triblive.com/mobile/7967199-96/deer-lebanon-didn
The bottom line here isn't good. Mt. Lebanon endured weeks of controversy, and the community remains sharply divided, all for the sake of ridding the community of six animals.
This attempt to curb the deer population was a total debacle."
While Heyl's final conclusion is correct, he oversimplified the whole affair.
1. There never was an "accurate" determination of how many deer actually live in Mt. Lebanon.
2. The accident reports inexplicably jumped from 4 vehicle accidents with injuries in 4 years to dozens happening and the potential to die in one became astronomical.
3. He fails to mention the experiment, the method Benner employed had never been used in PA before or that Benner was the only bidder on the RFP that he helped write.
4. Completely ignores the fact that Mt. Lebanon turned into some socialist state where residents almost had to have state issued travel permits if they wandered anywhere near a cull site.
5. How about the hours put in by the corn police and managers defending this debacle.
And finally...
6. No mention of the commission covering the ears and eyes to their constituents who warned them this wouldn't work. Especially the one that like some spoiled little brat consistently egged on the opposition and riled even more animosity.
You're right though Mr. Heyl, the community is deeply divided and it doesn't look like it's going to heal anytime soon, because there are a multitude of problems concerning the management of municipality and whose interest is being served.
Heyl also failed to note Benner's primary reason for abandoning the cull.
The arrival of warm weather AND THE ABUNDANCE OF ALTERNATIVE FOOD SOURCES so the deer didn't need his corn lures.
Duh, Mr. Benner, it always starts to warm up in March in Mt. Lebanon.
Who is running against Bendell??? Please tell me there is another candidate.
8:29 AM, I understand the R running against John Bendel is Dan McNichol. I hope the D's launch a successful write-in campaign. John Bendel thinks he has it in the bag.
Elaine
If Bendel is the only candidate on the ballot I'm writing in Joe Cervidae!
What's the deal with the Public MisInformation Office and the "reputable" news sources claiming in their obituaries for the cull that it started on March 10th?
KDKA/CBS declared on February 18th that the deer cull was in effect.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/02/18/mt-lebanon-deer-culling-plan-in-effect/
Part of the cull plan was to set up the un-gated corrals with feeders to get deer use to the corrals. So the cull plan actually started mid-February and not March 10th as the spinmiesters want people to believe.
It was SNAFU from the earliest concept and the municipalities to admit it shows they haven't learned from their mistakes.
They screwed up the "free" archery hunt in the fall of 2014 due to poor planning and they screwed the pooch on this latest deer management plan.
They'll continue to blame anything and anyone for their failings which indicates we're headed for more in the future.
Residents better get active, involved to get rid of the nincompoops currently running things.
The difference between a Democrat and a Republican in Mt. Lebanon is miniscule. Why are there no other parties to choose from?
“We see no value to Mt. Lebanon residents of releasing daily reports..."
Is this really really one of the duties described in the Public Information Officer's job description?
Determining what information is of value or not before releasing it to taxpayers.
If we want to heal the divide in the community the first place we should start is in the Public Information Office.
Spin, misinformation and stonewalling is what keeps muddling up all of our projects and initiatives.
If they start out needing hefty doses of spin and "marketing" rather than standing on their own merit they are doomed to failure.
Take for instance the cull.
Had someone been honest and said it's too late to start now, we would have needed all the protests, bad PR and supposed vandalism.
But no, the commission was determined, come hell, high water or sunshine to proceed with the debacle.
Had it been announce the day following the 11 shots to kill 3 deer someone might have determined - this "expert" might not be the expert he claims to be and saved the community a lot of embarrassment.
So, let's take care of the easy stuff first and fix the public information office. Then we can move onto the hard stuff.
10:24 we had a republic run for school board and immediately switched to democrat, what does that tell you about conviction.
Then we have crossfilling so a large portion of voters don't have a clue whether they're voting for an Ror a D... or much less care.
They know the name, they don't care where the candidate stands on issues or what their political philosophy is.
Correction for 9:58.
It was SNAFU from the earliest concept and the municipality's failure to recognize or admit in hindsight that it was FUed from the start shows they haven't learned from their mistakes.
Just look at the turf SNAFU. It's way over budget, way behind schedule and warm weather is here and we don't have a main field. But you can bet Bendel's going to be promoting future additions to the crown jewel during tonight's meeting.
Morgans persists in claiming there are 400 to 600 deer in Mt Lebanon; in contradiction to verified counts in 2013/2014. Plus where is the 2015 count to proceed a cull according to PA and Federal Law? Not to mention Mt Lebanon is six square miles, the average deer is five feet long and three feet wide totaling 15 square feet; do the math and that equals one deer for every 500 square feet. The average Mt Lebanon property is 1100 square feet. Do you see 1.75 deer per property in Mt Lebanon? Give me a break! Do a factual count before wasting taxpayers time and money Commissioners!
I just heard from Tara at the Allegheny County Health Department. She is the RAT supervisor for our area. Last week, she sent a notice to Mt. Lebo to cease and desist leaving food (corn) on the ground (at the killing sites). She got a snooty message from someone at the municipality on Friday saying that all the sites were being cleaned up. Tara made it clear to me that a municipality cannot allow the placement of ground food. Thank you, Mr. Feller, and commissioners for placing our public health at risk, notwithstanding laws that prohibit you from putting fermented corn for five straight weeks on Mt. Lebo's once lovely parks. Why on Earth would Mr. Bendel expect to get reelected?
Fantastic post. Yay! Thanks for putting this all down in writing and exposing this ugly farce. Now up to the people to take a stand!
More evidence of MTL SNAFUS!
Poor conceptualization, poor planning, poor implementation and poor post-analysis.
Watching the municipality operate is like watching the antics in the old "Our Gang" series with Spanky, Darla, Alfalfa, and Buckwheat.
So that is the REAL STORY, the County Health Dept. told them to stop putting corn out and the municipality responded that it was cleaned up on Friday.
Now we know why Benner was stomping around and screaming as he took down his traps.
The warm weather excuse, bad bullets and all the other excuses were bullshit.
Without the corn they couldn't lure in the deer.
Feller and Morgans are liars for peptuating the blame on weather, protesters too.
Regarding the rat issue, it's still ok to feed the deer in our backyards though, right? They're beautiful creatures and my children and I love to watch them peacefully graze.
Ask why the rat/food issue was not addressed in Fellers summary.
1:29...is there ANY way to get a copy of that letter before tonight's meeting?
For those new to the game, the deer cull was effectuated in the vein as the boondoggle turf project, the high school renovations, the Newcomer's Tax, etc. The perfect storm of corrupt/corruptable prodigal sons and daughters have been elected to office, allowing all municipal/school district projects follow the same script:
1) Secret pre-planning. For turf, the sports daddy's. For deer, the Commissionettes, for HS, the PTA crowd. These exclusive cliques develop the "end" to justify their means- "field slots, public safety, academic edge, fairness", respectively.
2) Slow and discreet allocation/transfer of monies. The above groups, through their puppet commissioners, move money from one project to another, hoping no one notices or speaks up.
3) Spread propaganda. Usually accomplished through MTL Magazine and via rumor spread amongst the community at large, the unsuspecting public is slowly led to believe that they DO need turf, $100 million high schools and inhumane deer management programs.
4) Once the time is ripe, rush the plan through no matter the cost. Once $$& is contracted, the plan must go through, no matter the complications, costs or opposition. Preferably, spend as much $ up front, so taxpayers will have to stomach the growing costs to finish, instead of abandon.
5) Squash dissent. No matter what, never abandon the plan in which the end result is reached. Play deaf, dumb, blind and stupid to any reasonable dissention among the peasant citizens. Never admit you are wrong, until of course, the project fails and it is politically convenient to do so. Then assume full credit for opposing the plan all along.
Time for some change, folks. Please vote against all incumbants.
-Zack Morris
3:35 No, Tara, the rat lady, is not the entire real story. Mt Lebanon municipal staff ignores most warnings, especially from women. She is a good influence but certainly not enough to take down Merlin the Magical Deer Slaughterman.
Breaking news. Linfante just emailed that she is resigning.
12:23 Your math is a little messed up and doesn't really make sense. You don't have to know the square foot of a deer to know how many deer there are per sq ft.
6 sq miles = 167,270,400 sq ft
167,270,400 sq ft/600 deer = 1 deer/ 278,784 sq ft or 1 deer/0.01 sq mile
Protesters—
If you get someone to keep pushing the pedestrian button at the crosswalk at Washington School you'll slow traffic down enough so the south bound drivers will get a chance to read your signs.
Kidding of course but it'll be a chance to check out the new lights if they're in.
If Linfante resigns, it's only the first step.
4:49, I thought that too and worked out the math the old way, but unlike you I figured I could be wrong. Math isn't my strong suit.
4:47, please, please, please don't tease us like that, say it isn't just a rumor.
Next to go should be Morgans and then Feller, hopefully.
We can eliminate Bendel in the next election.
Earlier this evening, I told my kids that the deer cull was over. They then proceeded to tell me "that's what you think, Mom -- you can't believe anything Mt Lebanon tells you".
How sad this is? You tell your kids deer are being killed in their parks and they can't go there. Then you tell your kids it's over and they don't believe you.
Just as I suspected... this cull would begin to fray the fragile connection children have to nature in this community.
Reaction to Linfante's resignation pours in:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrEwCa8nSA
If Linfante really resigns, then Lebocitizens will have scooped the "official" MTL Public Information Office once again.
The NY Times has their famous motto - "All the news that's fit to print."
Maybe the PIO should have one.
How does "Yesterday's news, tomorrow - maybe - if we decided to tell you" sound?
i don't see her name plate where she usually sits in the commission chamber.
Nothing was announced during the discussion session so far.
Elaine
The only problem with Linfante resigning is that the pro-cullers get to appoint a new puppet that will have the cherished position of being the incumbent come election time.
Maybe the corn police finally took her to jail.
It's official. Santoni must have gotten a copy of the letter she sent. The write up is in the trib and post gazette tweeted about it. So who is a kind, sharp, open minded and ethical Ward 3 resident that wants to shape up my Lebanon? 45 days for resumes to be submitted.
If they were smart they'd beg Gillen, but they're not.
Elaine would be smart to refuse the offer.
Dear Ms. Gillen:
Is there anything about Mt. Lebanon that you do like? Your neighbors, your library, the school system, the public services, the volunteer efforts? This community has so many wonderful attributes and I am grateful that I grew up here and continue to reside here. I have not seen a pleasant comment anywhere on your blog about our community. Why do you stay here if you hate it so much? Moreover, your personal attacks on the commissioners are unprofessional and hateful. We have a democratic system and our volunteer officials were elected by the community to serve. If you disagree with their decisions, please run for office instead of resorting to personal attacks (e.g., "murderers", "liars", etc.) That type of conduct does no one any good. Best, Kirsten Rydstrom
ps. why are there so many "anonymous"comments instead of people standing behind their comments.
Ms. Rydstrom:
Your characterization of our local government as "a democratic system" is incorrect. The United States Constitution guarantees each State, and by association each State's political subdivisions, a "Republican form of government" (ARTICLE IV, Section. 4.). The word "democratic" or "democracy" does not appear in either the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.
Also, you state that our local "volunteer" officials "were elected by the community" to serve. Our commissioners get paid, so they are not, by definition, "volunteers." Also, election returns prove beyond question that none of the individual commissioners were elected by a majority of the registered voters in each of their respective Wards. That they received a majority of the votes cast is true; but the TOTAL NUMBER of votes cast in each ward didn't even amount to a simple majority of that particular Ward's voters! By your own definition this is hardly "democratic."
Finally, Elaine does not need my help to defend her Blog. However, I will say, as a former reporter, a former teacher of 23 years, and a current government contractor, that you should be very happy that a forum such as this Blog exists to criticize what goes on in this upper-middle class enclave. I will agree with you that some people go to extremes in their posts, and I do not care for that; but in spite of the language used at times a robust criticism of government is proof of freedom. There is a name for places where everybody agrees and no criticism is tolerated; it is called totalitarianism.
During my time serving in the military, during the Vietnam War era, I was told we were defending our country's freedoms - including the right of people to burn our flag and call us "baby killers." I was called exactly that by a benighted young woman. I did not like it one bit. But if the young twerp had been arrested and jailed then what I was told I was doing for my country would have been a lie.
By the way, you'll notice that I've signed my name.
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