In early 2014, the Commission requested a panel be formed to evaluate the feasibility of a Payas-you-throw (PAYT) program in the Municipality. The panel consisted of municipal staff, members of the Environmental Sustainability Board and Municipality residents. A PAYT program is reliant on user fees for residential solid waste. Since collection is currently paid for with general tax revenue, the Municipality would have to remove a portion of the solid waste cost from the General Fund tax revenue if this program would be a fit for the Municipality. In the short term, the Commission has decided not to commence a PAYT program in 2015. Further consideration of a PAYT program will be on the Commission priority list in future years. The results of the feasibility study can be found on the municipal website at http://www.mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=2190.*Commissioners Fraasch and Linfante brought this program to the Commission.
*Page 6 of the CAFR or page 12 of 177.
62 comments:
Congratulations to the commission for finally doing something sensible.
--Tom the Tinker
http://mtlebanon.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2354
I'm guessing then that May 26th is the official wake for the deceased?
It was scheduled for last month, but the first April meeting was canceled and the Discussion Session from Monday was for Sandy Baker and Ward 3 interviews.
Elaine
PAYT will never go away - once promoted, never forgotten. Even factual evidence that it is not necessary or suitable for Lebo will kill it. That's the way things work in this sorry town.
I agree with 7:54. It's like opposite world. Complete streets was the gem in the 2000 comprehensive plan and those would save lives and promote health. They are nowhere to be seen. Conversely, PAYT will be a yearly strained debate.
Here is one area where you and I (thought quite respectfully) disagree, Elaine!
I like PAYT because:
1) I experienced it for 8 years in WA state... it's no big deal. The version there: Pay for a garbage can the size of your waste. The bigger the can, the more you pay. Period. No big deal.
2) It shrinks the municipal budget... something that REALLY needs to happen.
3) It is more fair. Why should I subsidize my neighbor's lifestyle, or they mine? I don't pay for their food bill, why should I pay for their garbage on the other end?
- Jason M.
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20150220/NEWS/150229994
"Township residents currently pay $51 every four months for trash and recycling collection. That fee is not expected to change, he said. Recycling is picked up the same day as the trash."
Jason, I might be on board with PAYT-- IF we have a program similar to Peters though I'm not sure of details like what about items that don't fit in the container.
Also, only if there is a reduction in the property tax equal to the increase caused by PAYT.
There is a flaw in your logic regarding each resident paying for their own trash. If we apply that logic, in about 8-10 years each and every resident will be paying for a massive recycling endeavor even though many of us never used or created the material.
What is the material?
Why only several tons of plastic grass and 20,000-40,000 ground up used tires.
It's rather funny if you think about it because we paid once to properly dispose of all those tires when we bought new tires and paid the disposal fee for the discards.
Hi Jason,
Even though we do disagree on PAYT, and we belong to different political parties, we have been able to work quite well together.
Elaine
Isn't that refreshing?
Two people on opposite sides of an issue, friendly, cordial and respectful.
No name calling, no innuendo.
That's how a community should work.
I expect Elaine and Jason will probably debate this topic more and I'll bet they'll remain friendly neighbors.
I can't see supporting a new idea by Mt Lebanon until there's more transparency, accountability, and integrity. If I had lived in a town that demonstrated those characteristics consistently, I'd support PAYT. At this point, I don't trust Mt Lebanon and with the trash I see in the region, I don't have faith that everyone will respond appropriately to PAYT demands.
The concept of PAYT is nothing new. When I was a kid our town did not collect trash. Each household could select from a handful of private trash collectors, and the borough had nothing to do with it. "User pays - user benefits."
The municipality could set garbage collection criteria, and then open the market for any private trash company that meets the specifications, allowing residents choice. That is something I could support.
Unless there was an appropriate reduction in taxes, I could never support this idea. Basically it's just giving the township a windfall of money to waste.
Roger D.
I think it is Divine Intervention, 1:36 PM. Those three words, transparency, accountability, and integrity keep coming up either in meetings or phone calls today.
That is the problem with our local governments. Do you know why PAYT didn't happen? The PAYT program had to be submitted to Republic by June 30th, but because of the deer program taking so much attention, that wasn’t possible. Mt. Lebanon needed at least 2 months to propose the program to residents. How many other things were neglected because the focus was on deer and before that, it was turf?
Elaine
Sandy Baker alluded to much the same in her meeting with the commissioners.
She said this is a great community that can probably resolve almost anything if there is cooperation. To have that you need transparency, accountability, integrity and as she commented... leadership that fosters a community spirit.
Bendel said we need to put the divisiveness behind us.
By the way, I'mwith Gideon on this.
If the municipality isn't contracting for my trash collection why should they get to tell me whom to use.
Maybe I only need one small can picked up every two weeks and can find a company that will do it for less than the muni's pick.
If I'm writing the check personally it is my choice who I hire.
Why wouldn't I be able to work with Elaine on the things we do agree on because of the things we don't agree on?
Who agrees with everyone on everything? I don't even agree with myself on everything.
Also, I learn more when I talk to people whose views are different than mine ... these interactions either refine my positions, or change them.
Anyway, fellow Lebo Citizens, based on the last two blog posts thread, I have a proposal:
** Anyone interested in creating a bi-partisan/non-partisan group, eminating from the users of this blog, that will organize a candidate's forum with an emphasis on governmental PROCESS in MTL?
I am sure we would get in to some of the issues as well, but the focus would be on the candidate's views on what accountability, transparency, and integrity mean within the local MTL Governmental context?
Anyone in?
- Jason M.
Jason at 9:48, dumb question but I'm going to ask anyways. When you experienced PAYT in WA, what prevented folks from throwing recyclables in with their regular trash so that one would pay less? Do you remember how much the difference was between a small can and a large can? Thanks Jason.
Nick M.
I have spoken about my concerns with PAYT at a number of Commissioner meetings and will continue to do so when this silly idea raises its head, again. I live in a section of Mt. Lebanon in an area zoned for single and multi-residential dwellings AND businesses. Within FOUR structures of my home, I have TWO apartment buildings and a rental property in one direction and THREE apartment buildings and a duplex in the other. Oh, and there is also a duplex across the street. That said, I have indicated that, people being people, I fully expect that folks would be carrying "larger" (don't-fit-in- the-bag) items around the neighborhood in the middle of the night and placing them in front of other dwellings. WHY? To avoid the extra surcharge that would be attached to things that DON'T fit in the bag. These apartments and duplexes have a much higher turn-over in occupancy than privately-owned residential properties (and a higher than average frequency of placing furniture and other large items at the curb as they are leaving), and the occupants enjoy a certain anonymity by virtue of the congregate living. I have told the Commissioners that, should someone else's sofa suddenly appear in front of my house, they can expect it to sit there until long after I have moved away, myself. I will NOT pay a surcharge to dispose of something that doesn't belong to me, and I find it amazing that the Commission never seems to imagine the impact of the Law of Unintended Consequences BEFORE they make their decisions. (Actually, I suppose we COULD play a game of "musical sofa" for amusement, but I still think this is just a stupid idea. WHAT THE HECK DOES IT SAY ABOUT A COMMUNITY WHEN THEY REACH THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES? AND AT OUR RATE OF TAXATION???
There so much that needs to be discussed and examined on not only PAYT but recycling as well.
This article appeared in The Wall Street Journal recently.
The price of virgin plastic is below the cost of recycled plastic, meaning the recycled stuff is going to end up in landfills any way.
Therefore the cost of running extra trash trucks, hiring people to record and send bills and duplication of effort is using more energy than it's probably saving.
Think about it. Some method must be employed to charge the appropriate amount for your trash.
Do they bill you? Do you need to buy bags or stickers at Rolliers or the Municipal Building. That's more fuel usage for starters.
Then you need to use more stamps, paper and envelopes. Creating more trash, more paperwork.
I don't see the benefit. Now if they're talking about a plan like Peters, with a more efficient collection system, I could get on board if and only if property taxes are reduced by the amount we pay.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/recycling-becomes-a-tougher-sell-as-plastic-prices-drop-1428279575
"The ramifications are being felt far and wide. In the U.S., many cities and towns pick up detergent bottles, milk jugs and other bits of household plastic and sell them to recyclers who sort, process and resell the scrap. These municipalities typically earned cash—as much as $10 a ton in parts of New Jersey—for selling recyclable materials under contracts that tie the sales price to commodities prices, with a minimum.
In recent months, some expiring contracts have been replaced with new contracts that set no such floor. That raises the possibility for some municipalities that a moneymaker could turn into a loser.
“They are definitely concerned about the possibility that they may have to pay for the materials to be removed,” said Dominick D’Altilio, president of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, a Bridgewater, N.J., group that includes recycling firms and municipalities."
I shared the above with the commissioners.
Jason, no one suggested you and ELAINE COULDN't get along. The point was this is how a c"community" should work. Sandy said the same thing in her presentation to the commissioners.
As for your group, keep us posted how it goes. I've been there, done that and skeptical it'll ever happen.
I'd like to be wrong.
So there's no PAYT because a deadline wasn't met.
So there wasn't a bow/arrow deer cull because a deadline wasn't met.
So there isn't a Wildcat turf field because the permit issue problems.
So the tennis center isn't open because it isn't ready.
Need I go on? Why isn't somebody losing his job?
We have a feckless Manager who doesn't manage and doesn't lead and a Commission who tolerates incompetence because they're dead from the neck up and always put politics above common sense and fair play, 5:01 PM.
Dr. Margolis:
I'd like to hear more about what you have in mind.
PAYT is a double tax on garbage. Probably the old tax will be used to build more sports fields and he commission will tell us the PAYT tax will be used for another PET PROJECT of the commission..
What was the football win-loss ratio last year with a new turfed field? How much did we pay the football coach beyond what teachers earn? UGG!!!! To reming you, we paid a new football coach more than teachers make on the top step of the salary scale.
Yes, I know sone sports facilities are paid for by the district and the town. I also know this is another freebie for athletic supporters.
How would you like to be a newcomer, have your taxes jerked up,, and then pay another tax for sports?
Show me where sports are mandated in state law !
They are not mandated so we are taxing newcomers above the education taxes because the commission is disfunctional.
I just watched that video. This is Mt Lebanon's version of Pay It Forward. They stuck a knife is Kelly's back, along with the ESB's. Then Kelly took an extra she had and stuck it in Elaine's. I've never seen anything like this...
I'm having a hard time following what you are saying. The PAYT program pertains to the municipality. Football coaches, education, and teachers - that's the school district. Where is the new turfed field?
This post is about the municipality, 6:45 PM.
Elaine
Nick: It wasn't much of a difference... maybe $30 every other month vs. $35 every other month ... or something like that.
Roger D: Totally agree. Must come with an exactly commensurate tax cut.
@ 4:10pm: Look at what is being modeled for the community. All the commission votes are 4-1, or 5-0. Kristen and Feller used to mock people during Citizens Comments when they disagreed during her presidency. And who do they pick for a Ward 3 replacement? A carbon copy of themselves.
- Jason M.
Elaine, I think I understand what 6:45 pm is saying.
6:45 is noting that with the money for trash collection freed up via PAYT, the (large) excess muni income will be moved to support sports fields/etc for the muni and the school district. As an example of this, we all know the Wildcat turf is used by the school district.
So 6:45 thinks that paying for trash pick up via PAYT will result in the same taxation but a NEW fee and new revenue for the sports addicted community.
1 +1 = 2
I'm saying both governing boards are to blame for overspending and using an examples.
Good Night
A taxpayers opinion for what it is worth.
The problem with local government's approach to solving "problem's" whether they be deer, trash or turf is that they set the goal line before they totally evaluate the issue.
Watch closely Brumfield's comments to Sandy Baker on deer. He says: "Our deer are not behaving the way biologists say they should in our community, in terms of how accepting they are of humans."
That's probably an accurate assessment, but where does he go with that. He doesn't want to know why they're behaving oddly, he goes directly to talking about reducing accidents and culling the herd down to 100 deer even though he admits he doesn't know whether we have 50 deer or 5,000.
Now we're approaching trash collection the same way. Someone has decided we must "recycle" and to increase MTL's recycling we'll charge people individual by the pound/bag/can.
No analysis of what we should be recycling, glass is a no brainer, paper, plastic in today's market appear to be more trouble than it's benefit.
On top of that there's no examination of the logistics such as accounting, staffing, and implementing.
The goal is increasing "recycling" and modifying behavior so that's what they do.
9:57 AM, it is ALL about behavior modification. We are to accept toxic turf, even if it goes against our principles. That is why the prokill ladies have dug in their heels because they don't want to modify their behavior. We are expected to modify our personal and religious beliefs to fit the commission's individual agendas.
I've been told that if I wanted to be selected for commissioner, that I should have modified my behavior. It is my right to say negative things at the podium. It is my right to have a blog. It is my right to give my personal opinions on my blog. It is my right to permit the comments that I accept. But with all of that, there are consequences. It was a blessing that I wasn't selected. I can't be fake. Thank you, Commissioners.
Elaine
Yep, toxic turf. It's good for maybe 8 to 10 years before we have to spend another $600,000 or more to replace it and the municipality has taken 2 fields out of use for over 1/2 a year just on the initial installation.
Brilliant.
Who told you to modify your behavior or there will be consequences Elaine?
BIPARTISAN VOTING BLOC
I'd like to repeat the call for this blog to launch a bipartisan voting bloc. Instead of incessant complaining, let's take action, and take our community back. I would like to nominate Jason Margolis, Elaine Gillen, and Richard Gideon to step up and organize this group. It may be too late to put up any candidates (maybe write in?) for this election, but we can evaluate the current candidates and based on their positions can agree to endorse or not endorse these candidates.
It's very easy to launch an adhoc voting bloc. Someone mentioned starting a 501C3 non-profit, but that's not appropriate, i.e. a 501C3 handcuffs a group from endorsing candidates, and that is what the focus of this group needs to be all about - a political focus.
So will you "guys" please email each other privately and get together to discuss this strategy.
I'm not sure that this bipartisan group needs to hold a candidate forum, i.e. it may be more productive for the mgt team of this bipartisan group to meet directly with each candidate and discuss issues and their positions to determine if they can be supported and endorsed or not.
In addition, this bipartisan group needs to choose a name and launch a new private email list and/or private FB page, so that strategy and communication can be discussed in private. There are too many trolls and spies on Elaine's blog.
So let's take the first steps to take action, and take our community back.
We're already on it, 4:14 PM. :)
Elaine
9:57: Bravo. Your comment hits the nail on the head.
Listen folks, doing aerial surveys and counting deer in Mt. Lebanon at one specific point in time is a waste of time and money. The problem, as Sandy Baker pointed out, is that Mt. Lebanon is a smorgasbord for deer.
The PROBLEM - Mt. Lebanon plants irresistible flowers that attract deer in its 30 public flower islands and 22 additional public garden areas throughout the community, and residents that plant tulips and hostas, etc. in their yards are doing the same. It's this abundant food resource that is the major attractant causing deer to come into Mt. Lebanon to browse.
The SOLUTION - reduce this food attractant. Mt. Lebanon needs to plant deer resistant flowers in these 52 public flower gardens, and it needs to launch a proactive campaign to ask residents to implement deer-resistant gardening strategies. In addition, it needs to enforce its bird feeding ordinance, i.e. increasing the height of its bird feeders. If just these 3 basic actions were taken Mt. Lebanon could resolve the majority of its deer-human conflicts. This ain't brain surgery.
What's the point of doing surveys and counting transient deer traveling to Mt. Lebanon for dinner? It's absolutely idiotic and a waste of time and money.
We know the problem and the solution. The Commission has been told repeatedly, but they refuse to take appropriate action. Instead of planting deer resistant flowers in its 52 public flower gardens and reaching out to residents, and explaining to them and asking them to implement deer-resistant gardening strategies, they prefer to spend $75,000 to bring AR-15 assault weapons into our parks, and turn our parks and neighborhoods into a private hunting club.
Killing deer is not an effective solution, because it doesn't address or resolve the core problem, i.e. it doesn't reduce the food attractant drawing all the deer into Mt. Lebanon.
In addition, studies show that killing deer triggers compensatory reproduction (an increase in deer reproduction and population), and new deer will continue to migrate into Mt. Lebanon to replace killed deer to eat at its smorgasbord.
The pro-kill garden ladies will never be happy, because even if half the deer in Mt. Lebanon are killed, the other half will still eat their tulips.
So what's the point of unleashing lethal weapons in our parks and neighborhoods that threaten all of Mt. Lebanon's families, children and pets? It is totally insane, and makes no sense.
May 2, 2015 at 9:57 AM Brumfield says: "Our deer are not behaving the way biologists say they should in our community, in terms of how accepting they are of humans."
What is Brumfield saying and what is his point? Is he saying that the deer are too tame and gentle, and because of this behavior they should have their brains blown out?
What objective biologists is he referring to, i.e. Merlin Benner, who gets paid to advise Mt. Lebo to kill deer, so that he can collect a nice paycheck to kill them?
Maybe Brumfield means, that the herds of deer reported by the pro-kill ladies, the 16 deer on Linfante's roof, 2 on her front porch, and 6 in her driveway, and the 400-600 other Lebo deer that our PIO constantly refers to, even after the most recent survey of 193 deer, which included deer outside of Lebo's borders, have colluded together (not normal deer behavior) not to go into the 6 baited corral traps set up by Merlin the Magnificent. With this massive overpopulation of deer in Mt. Lebanon, Merlin could only find 6 deer to trap and kill. Where were all the deer hiding? Sandy Baker was here for 4 days, and was given a tour of Mt. Lebanon. Elaine asked her how many deer she saw - Sandy said none.
4:59. I am not telling u this impulsively.
I genuinely believe the MTL admin and commission do not care about deer management. What u have seen is an illustration of that fact. What they care about is... Making the politically elite happy. This is why so many people are very unhappy because 99% of MTL does not fall in that group. I could provide u with countless examples of how this outlook impacts MTL but rather than drone on about a depressing matter, I will suggest that you attack this problem at the heart of the matter. MTL will continue to suffer on all fronts if it continues to cater to a small number of people. You have to get MTL to care about everyone. Currently, the administration is both too weak and too cruel to do so.
Well, I was thinking the same thing about Brumfield's statement about our deer acting weird. Who says? They are extremely placid here, but let's remember that deer are not predators--- anywhere. So, ditto. Why blow their brains out?
The deer are doing their part to peaceably co-exist. Their behavior problem is their capacity to trust the compassion and good will of humans. They should know better. We set up corrals and feed them to gain their trust, and then we blow the entire family's brains out once we gain their trust, i.e. the pregnant mom and her fawns.
These are animals with complex emotional lives and strong family values. Mom's who love their babies. Deer are sentient beings that feel fear, forbidding, pain, suffering, love, and joy, and who want to live in peace just like us.
I don't understand how these cold hearted and hateful garden ladies can enjoy a tulip so much that they want to blow the brains out of a gentle doe and her babies. It's incomprehensible.
I also have no respect for these cowardly punks (I can't call them men) who slaughter these tame deer families for $500 a head. These cowards are no different than the baby seal clubbers that bludgeon to death hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals in Canada. These are cowards with no honor.
And Mt. Lebanon call itself a "Community with Character". A "Community with Character" wouldn't be accused of inhumane actions and cruelty to animals by The Humane Society of the United States.
I saw a deer wait to cross Washington Road today until all the lights were red. S/he crossed effectively at Cochran/Washington.
Then another came up a moment later when the lights were green. It waited and waited, and then it turned around and went back into the green space. It was like it knew it was too dangerous to cross.
I've seen the same behavior on my street with the deer. They aren't bolting into cars. They often are looking and waiting to cross the road, and when the street is busy, they often turn around when the road is busy.
The deer don't get any credit for looking both ways. Oh but who does?
Hey Folks, we're going off topic. Please save the deer comments for a later post. Thanks.
Elaine
Sorry a comment related to deer, but actually comment on the big picture.
I found Brumfield's remark about deer not behaving as expected interesting in that, that is exactly how I'd describe the actions of our commission.
Even though there is a huge push, going almost national, to not cull they still pursue it and give the community a black eye.
On artificial turf, the pool renovation the projects have or are going wildly overbudget and schedules. If you miss the goals so regularly wouldn't you begin to look at why?
On TOD, it's the same thing. Expensive studies suggesting it isn't cost efficient., but they go ahead, ignore the advice and solicit bids. They get just one.
Something certainly is odd about the behavior of our elected officials and municipal employees.
10:00 AM, this is how the commission operates. They all want to hear positive things during Citizen Comments. The Sandy Baker event was the only positive thing I could comment on and for that, I paid the consequences. It has been one divisive issue after another.
Elaine
It seems they never look back and evaluate what they've done.
The pool went what, a million dollars over budget?
The turf project is at least a quarter of a million over.
The deer cull cost $2,500/deer, yet we couldn't employ sterilization because it'd cost $1,000/deer.
Now they continue to bring back PAYT without fully investigating why or how. It "feels" right, so they'll do it.
Same with radar guns. There are means already available to slow traffic, but spending money of course is the answer.
Ask anyone about speeding on Rt. 19 from Simmons Market South and they'll tell you... "don't do it." Radar guns aren't used there.
Here's a perfect example of how shallow our boards and commission delve into issues.
• When the PAYT Feasibility Study Group were asked if PAYT throw would lead to illegal dumping, four members were uncertain, one "thought" it might.
Shouldn't a feasibility study panel know rather than 4 out of 7 shrugging their shoulders?
Another question... did the panel think PAYT would require the municipality to allocate funding for administration, education and outreach, five members thought it would!
No answers on where that additional funding would come from-- of course. We'll deal with that little tidbit after we go down the PAYT road.
So with two major issues, what does the PAYT Feasibility panel recommend. Why a bag system!
Now where in the study do I see the real implications of the recommended system.
• Will resident need to drive somewhere to pick up the bags? Doesn't sound very environmentally sound considering fuel and carbon emissions from additional driving.
• Paper, making paper whether from new trees or recycled materials uses energy, generates water pollution and creates more waste. So what do we gain?
Then there is additional manpower, from administration thru to pick up. That takes money, time and uses energy and materials.
Now then the panel suggested that PAYT isn't a pressing matter and rightly so.
I hope the people pressing for reopening the idea come fully prepared with in-depth analysis of all the ins and outs of PAYT and recycling in general.
10 Ways Recycling Hurts the Environment
http://listverse.com/2013/01/27/10-ways-recycling-hurts-the-environment/
Just read and think about what the above link is telling you. Then decide if you still think PAYT's goal is worthy of changing our whole trash collection system, which has worked fairly efficiently for 100 years.
You are all talking about PAYT but that is peanuts compared to what is coming up!!! There is the new teachers' contract and if history repeats itself we are in for a huge kick in the ass. Add that the High School is going to cost way more than ANYONE thought. No one is screaming wow either. I heard a democrat commissioner admit that Property Taxes will double to pay for the missteps. No one is talking about the decline of Mt Lebanon. Most homes over in Sunset Hills are being sold are for rentals. That will creep into other neighborhoods too. We have a rental home on our street and the New York City owners are nothing short of slumlords. We've gotten to know the local cops as they are at that house atleast twice a week. PLEASE... There are some really serious issues facing this town so get off the damn deer and PAYT!
I think that one of the reasons why Mt. Lebo is turning into rental housing, at least in some parts, is because of the deer killing. It's similar to the way a broken window in the neighborhood leads to blight. The current kill-deer mentality, I predict, will lead to blight. It has already started. I live in the Beverly Heights neighborhood. Beautiful street---- with rental housing.
Most homes in sunset hills are being sold for rentals ? How many? Where? I believe that you may be wrong on this "fact"!
You guys are awesome. You just make stuff up and take things out of context.
There was to be no PAYT unless the municipal budget was reduced by the amount the municipality was paying to collect garbage.
The least you could do is research it a bit instead of guess at what some people are thinking. Watching a five minute video is hardly research.
The fact is, people who recycle and don't throw away much are subsidizing people of throw everything into the trash as well as apartment buildings who can throw out as much as they want.
I'd rather we follow the free-market principles of economics and pay for what we throw away instead of subsidizing those that abuse the system.
This is LESS government in our lives, just what we all need.
7:28, I'm sorry, but maybe you should do a little more research.
The PAYT Feasibility Study only recommended taxes be reduced by an amount equal to what it cost to collect from individual private residences.
There is no mention of how we ALL pay for municipal garbage collection from the pool, parks, tennis courts, ice rink, Washington Road trash cans, municipal offices, etc., etc.
By your logic I guess we'll have to put coin slots on Washington Road garbage cans so that government won't be responsible for collecting your red cups at Brewfest and such.
We may make stuff up 7:28, but at least we're thinking about the whole picture.
7:28 how is the stormwater fee panning out? Maybe if MTL were successful in any of its newfound plans, people would buy into the next one with a little more faith.
Off topic: what's the deal with broken windows? Two apt buildings within a mile of my house have numerous broken windows and they've been like this for at least a year. I walked by one this am and wondered if the health dept should swing by. I thought this was regulated show in our home rule charter bc I've heard of people getting fined for peeling exterior paint, etc.
The "Broken Window Theory" was born (I think) at the Pratt Institute, the educational top dog of city/community planning. It is a theory that has proven to be a reality and it's been around a while. I've done a lot of non-profit economic development throughout the city of Pittsburgh.
So, I had the pleasure of working with some great people with planning degrees, some from Pratt. Here's the theory: Once a broken windows start popping up (either in residential or business properties) within a community's borders, a domino effect starts. Next, it is cars parked on the sidewalks, homes fall into disrepair, storefronts become empty---- all of which eventually leads to crime. It doesn't happen overnight and I haven't listed all the various stages or all evidence of decline. I have noticed an increase in broken windows (and other spin-off conditions) and thus an increase in community blight in the past ten years throughout Mt. Lebo.
Please Google "Broken Window Theory." I might be wrong about who or what institution or person first coined the phrase, but what I have written above is a simple definition of the "Broken Window Theory." It's all about the road to blight.
I also believe that broken windows fall under the Mt. Lebo Building Code. I don't think it's the health depth.
Thanks for the recap of broken windows theory. I'm familiar with it and we now are experiencing it here in MTL. But also I am curious about what happens when we do have apartment buildings full of broken windows. Are there any repercussions for the building owner?
Well, I believe that one of the consequences of the broken window theory is that those in charge of enforcing various laws do nothing, instead. Broken government leads to blight. You could give Mt. Lebo building inspection a try. That department is usually responsive.
PS The community's ignoring the problems is the fastest road to blight. Good for you. At least you noticed and want the problem alleviated.
10:44, sure there are repercussion for the apartment owners. The local governing bodies will come up with even more cockamamie projects that will be completed way over budget and therefore cause higher millage rates that in the end will make it harder for landlords to invest in repairs to their properties.
6:34 There are quite a few homes across Mt Lebanon that are being purchased as rentals. I don't live in Sunset Hills but I do know that in my neighborhood 3 houses on our street are rentals including the one next door. We had a man come to our door to explain that his investment group purchased the house and would begin construction as soon as possible. That was 15 months ago. My sons and I cut the grass and shovel the snow so it isn't such an eyesore. My problem is that my wife and I work hard and have had to drop many extras so we can live here. The other two houses are a Section 8 and have become not only eyesores but problem with the people in them. For all the sweat we put into our home we now can never sell it for what we have in it. Same with my neighbors. On the bright side there's now way now that the School District can raise our assessment. We got a very large decrease last year. Is this really the direction this community wants to go in? I never thought we would be one of "those people" that sell right after the last kid graduates but if we can we will.
How many of you can determine from the linked 2014 CAFR the amount of money in the unassigned general fund balance as of 12/31/2014, and what percentage those funds represent as a percentage of the 2014 Muni revenues or expenditures. If the % is less than 10%, Brumfield, Bendel, Silverman & Franklin will not be able to use any for their pet projects and change orders this year. Here's hoping !
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