Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Agenda for the Dog and Pony Show UPDATED

The agenda has been posted for the June 22, 2015 deer "management" commission discussion session.

June 22, 2015 
6:00 P.M. Mount Lebanon High School 
Fine Arts Theater 
155 Cochran Road, 
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 
Commissioner Work Session and Discussion on 
A Goal to Improve Deer Management 

Speakers: Keith McGill, Municipal Planner 
                 Jeannine Fleegel, PA Game Commission 
                 Jody Maddock, Director of Campus Services Bryn Athyn College 
                 Dr Anthony DiNicola, White Buffalo, Inc. 

Agenda: 

1. General Overview of Deer Management in Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair- Brief history, reports/statistics, deer/vehicular collisions, (Keith McGill, Municipal Planner) 

2. General problems with deer, Pennsylvania Game Commission approach, where to get accurate info, need for a management plan and why deer numbers are not appropriate for management decisions in these areas. (Jeannine Fleegle, Wildlife Biologist, Pennsylvania Game Commission) 

3. Development of a deer management plan and discussion of suburban “managed hunts” utilizing recreational archers (Jody Maddock, Director of Campus Services Bryn Athyn College) 

4. Sterilization/Contraception, costs/issues, status of response to previous PGC questions and other deer management issues. (Dr Anthony DiNicola, Founder/President, White Buffalo Inc.) 

5. Commission Q & A 

6. Commission discussion on next steps.

Update June 17, 2015 10:01 PM Speakers to discuss deer issue in Mt. Lebanon 
Solicitor Phil Weis told the commission closing the meeting to public comment was legal, Morgans said.
Of course it is, Susan. That is why we pay you the big bucks.

Michalina Pendzich is pleased the commission is holding the meeting. She is one of the five pro-kill women.

Jason Margolis, against killing deer, sees the public not being able to comment as a huge red flag.

As I read this Trib article, I am getting a feeling that a decision will be reached on June 22. Is that what Item 6 on the agenda means? The commission will make a decision without hearing citizen comments?  I hope everyone understands why I am calling this a dog and pony show. Mt. Lebanon is so damn corrupt.

I think this blog will be going invitation only on Friday.

Update June 18, 2015 8:47 AM There is another expert who is not listed on the agenda, Dr. Allen Rutberg. It is unclear whether he will be in attendance. Humane Alternatives to Controversial and Ineffective Deer Culls: The Humane Society of the United States

Update June 18, 2015 9:02 AM I just received this latest example of PIO spin.

Just posted: Read what happens
when writer Sally Bucey rides along with animal control:
http://lebomag.com/23017/ride-sally-ride-animal-control/ 

Animal Control covers 11 districts:  Mt. Lebanon, Upper Saint Clair, Scott Township, Dormont, Green Tree, Whitehall, Castle Shannon, Heidelberg, Carnegie, Baldwin Township and Rosslyn Farms. But the mtl Magazine reports:

He’s compiled a list of statistics from last year, including the number of animals caught in traps, Dead On Arrival or DOA deer removed (319, the most he’s ever seen), dogs picked up, cats picked up, relocated dogs, DOA dogs and cats… the list goes on.
The reader immediately thinks Mt. Lebanon. No mention how they died. Was it from car accidents, sloppy culling, poachers? Subtle, PIO. Very subtle.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

7. Continue with pre-determined plan, continue to silence residents with a conscience, move forward with brutal and selfish schemes.

Lebo Citizens said...

I looked up Bryn Athyn college, a private Christian school about 20 miles away from Philadelphia. I found this:

"Deer Study

In conjunction with the nearby Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, the College is conducting a Deer Study to track white-tailed deer in the area. Beginning in 2006, the team has been following deer tagged with GPS/GSM radio collars to investigate deer management strategies, habitat restoration, and molecular genetics." Well, look at that. Someone is going to talk about the ecosystem.

This Christian school is utilizing recreational archers.

Sorry, Keith, but you are no expert. Jeannine Fleegle is all about killing deer. The director from the Christian school will talk about recreational archers. And DiNicola wants to kill deer before doing any sterilization.

So who is speaking for the residents who are against violence in Mt. Lebanon?

Dog and pony show.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Recreational archery? Is that a joke? I'm serious.

Anonymous said...

Recreational archery is not coming into my neighborhood to do serious killing. Save that for kids' summer camp.

I hate this place.

Anonymous said...

Who will present a non-violent solution to the problem? Also, has the problem been identified and supported with evidence? No, it hasn't. THAT'S the problem.

Dorothy said...

I couldn't agree more with 5:29. Every time they identify a "problem" and we respond with effective, non-violent strategies, they say they were just kidding and identify a NEW "problem". I guess that, in some minds, THEIR identified "solution" so wonderfully addresses each and every such (imaginary) problem that they feel permitted to summarily dismiss every logical and fact-based non-lethal alternative proposed by us. I can hardly wait to see if anyone can identify the "problem" at this up-coming event, by and for deer haters. Our community is being governed against our will by and for the benefit of a tiny but powerful elite club of biddies and Commissionettes. I just hope the public wakes up soon to what the heck is going on! (This clearly isn't Kansas!)

Anonymous said...

Will these folks be at a follow-up meeting to answer resident questions/concerns? If not, then who do we have to answer our questions/concerns? I don't see how this reduces the divisiveness in the community.

Are we paying for these folks to come on June 22nd?

Nick M.

Anonymous said...

Will the speaker at the meeting define the term "recreational archer"? What are the qualifications to be so deemed? Would that be someone who bought a bow and arrow the day before, or someone who has undergone hunting and safety certification, if it exists. Is this simply another ruse to repeat this past Spring's fiasco? Will the elitists ever be satisfied? First the Taj Mahal, then the toxic turf, and finally deer control 'mismanagement'.

Anonymous said...

When is the blog going invitation only?

Anonymous said...

Definitely a huge lack of transparency, coupled with misinformation and the fact the the community is denied comments about these shannigans. Our community is denied Freedom of Speech! Most definitely civil rights violations!

Anonymous said...

The Trib has an article stating that the fourth speaker from Tufts hasn't been confirmed yet and his expertise is related to sterilization. #OHWHATASURPRISE


http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/8570113-74/deer-commission-lebanon

Anonymous said...

The municipality is certainly on track to violate civil rights. But their disallowing all comments at Monday's meeting is within the law. I don't like their decision, but I acknowledge that the decision is authorized by the law.

Let's save the civil rights cry for when it actually happens here. It will.

Thanks.

Lebo Citizens said...

9:44 PM, check the update for your answer. Hint: It looks like it will be on Friday.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

The municipality has already made a decision. I guess the issue you raise, Elaine, is whether they will announce that decision on Monday.

Anonymous said...

Tufts is not into sterilization. They developed a birth control method for deer.

Anonymous said...

Michelina never had an interest in government meetings and process until the deer ate her Hosta. Nobody in Mt. Lebanon had heard her name before she became the dull, long-winded voice of the garden biddies.

Anonymous said...

6:52: This is 5:29. Your follow up comment to mine should be printed in every regional news outlet, in VERY LARGE BOLD LETTERS. You have concisely summarized how the unfortunate and corrupt government in Mt. Lebo operates.

The municipality had better support any deer killing suggestion with hard facts and solid evidence. They need to establish whether there is a problem before they bring in a panel to discuss a problem that may or may not exist.

Anonymous said...

McGill has turned down or turned back the Public Works Dir. promotion for "family reasons" ?

Anonymous said...

So, what is McGill doing? Heading up the ecosystem department?

Anonymous said...

Yes McGill is now the chief steward for the ecosystem. Susan Morgans gave him a cram course in the subject over lunch yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Queue up the Carl Sagan voice:

"Billions and Billions of Deer!"

--Tom the Tinker

Anonymous said...

From Coalition for Coexistence

We are stepping back from discussing our group strategy on this blog or other public venues for the time being. We know that many of the pro-violence people in our community read this blog. Although we have nothing to hide, we prefer to communicate among each other in non-public ways so that we do not show our hand to the pro-violence sector.

And, to all of you pro-violence people, please let me say, timing is everything. See you at the right time.

Thank you.

Anonymous said...


Director of Campus Services at a second-rate college? And, people should listen to her why?

Anonymous said...

I am sick and tired of "living" in a community where violence is encouraged by the government. Time to move.

Dorothy said...

To 5:52, let me assure you that we are ALL sick and tired of living in this community where violence is embraced by our government. Time to move? We've ALL been tempted! Problem is...there's no way to take the deer with us. So, instead of losing heart, let's recognize that we're already in a protracted battle for their survival. "It ain't over 'til it's over." And this is FAR from over! Let's keep attacking every intellectually-indefensible argument put forth by the garden biddies. All the facts are on OUR side!