Saturday's Commission Goal Setting Session to Review Financial Trends and Public Outreach UPDATED

On Saturday, August 8, 2015, the commission will hold their third goal setting sham...er...I mean... session. According to the agenda, the work session will begin at 8:30 AM and conclude at 11:30 AM.

I am particularly interested in the second item on the agenda.

The following recent email exchange with John Bendel was like pulling teeth.

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com> 
To: jbendel <bendel@mtlebanon.org> 
Cc: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; philip.weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; sfeller <sfeller@mtlebanon.org> 
Sent: Wed, Aug 5, 2015 8:07 am 
Subject: Re: board email addresses 

John,

It appears that "sidestepping transparency and record-keeping laws by using a personal email system" is making national news. I do hope the commission decides to take a positive step forward and do the right thing for Mt. Lebanon.

Elaine  

-----Original Message----- 
From: egillen476 < egillen476@aol.com> 
To: jbendel < jbendel@mtlebanon.org> 
Cc: commission < commission@mtlebanon.org>; philip.weis < philip.weis@bipc.com>; sfeller < sfeller@mtlebanon.org> 
Sent: Mon, Aug 3, 2015 5:24 pm 
Subject: Re: board email addresses 

Hi John,

Thank you for bringing this up at the next work session. To answer your question in one word, "Yes." But it is more than just that. If you go on the municipal website under Boards and Authorities ( http://mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=29 ) you will not see any staff liaisons listed for the Parks Advisory Board, for example. If you go to the page for the Parks Advisory Board ( http://mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=75 ) Tom Kelley's email address is still listed with no mention of a commission liaison. Because I am friends with the head of the PAB, I was able to send Hugh an email about some issues last year concerning Rockwood Park. At that time, I told him my thoughts about having an email address for each board, and he thought it was a good idea. It would beneficial if residents had a way to contact each group. This was around the time when Tom Kelley stormed out of a meeting.

Each board email address could be set up just like the commission's email system, commission@mtlebanon.org, For Parks Advisory Board, it would be PAB@mtlebanon.org., Parking would be parking@mtlebanon.org, etc. 

Just as you are to be using mtlebanon.org for your emails, board members would be required to use their mtlebanon.org emails for municipal business, something that would make Steve Feller's job a lot easier when filling requests for open records. The boards are subject to right to knows. This would make Mt. Lebanon more transparent and also allow residents an easier way to provide input to the advisory boards. As you know, attending meetings can be difficult for residents.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Elaine

-----Original Message----- 
From: John Bendel < jbendel@mtlebanon.org> 
To: egillen476 < egillen476@aol.com> 
Cc: commission < commission@mtlebanon.org>; philip.weis < philip.weis@bipc.com>; sfeller < sfeller@mtlebanon.org> 
Sent: Mon, Aug 3, 2015 6:52 am 
Subject: Re: board email addresses 

Elaine,

We can bring this up at the resident engagement discussion session. 

Can you help narrow for me your specific question, do you want to be able to provide input to the advisory boards?

On Aug 2, 2015, at 1:03 PM, " egillen476@aol.com" < egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Thanks for your response, John. The problem with the current system is that none of the boards' emails are available through Right to Know requests unless they have included a commissioner or a staff person in their email exchanges. It makes Steve Feller's job more difficult trying to track down emails for Open Records requests. I have been working toward a change in this system for a couple of years now. It would lead to a more transparent government. Isn't that what you folks strive for? I would hope so. 

Please consider adding my request to your next work session on public outreach. 

Thank you.

Elaine

-----Original Message----- 
From: John Bendel < jbendel@mtlebanon.org> 
To: egillen476 < egillen476@aol.com> 
Cc: commission < commission@mtlebanon.org>; ddonnellan < ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org> 
Sent: Sun, Aug 2, 2015 9:21 am 
Subject: Re: board email addresses 

Elaine,

You are correct the SAB's next scheduled meeting is September 3. There is an opportunity to address the SAB at citizen comments during each Board meeting. The specific issue you brought up regarding the turf field was handled the through the proper channels - you informed the SAB staff liaison and the person responsible for the field, David Donnellan, and the Commission. 

On Jul 29, 2015, at 7:40 AM, "' egillen476@aol.com' via Commission" < commission@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

John,

I appreciate your response. Thank you.

The next Sports Advisory Board meeting is September 3, 2015, unless it is canceled. It would still be helpful if taxpayers had a way to contact boards via an email address.

Elaine 


-----Original Message----- 
From: John Bendel < jbendel@mtlebanon.org> 
To: egillen476 < egillen476@aol.com> 
Cc: commission < commission@mtlebanon.org>; Recreation David Donnellan < ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org> 
Sent: Tue, Jul 28, 2015 10:19 PM 
Subject: Re: board email addresses 

Elaine,

Recreation Director Donnellan is aware of the issues at middle and wildcat fields and is taking steps to address them. He is the person that is responsible for programming and operations. The Sports Advisory Board will discuss this at an upcoming meeting.

On Jul 27, 2015, at 5:59 PM, "' egillen476@aol.com' via Commission" < commission@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

Commissioners,

This is one of those situations where residents need an email address to contact the Sports Advisory Board. The 'crown jewel" that was forced upon taxpayers is being abused. It isn't a difficult request. All that is needed is something like SAB@mtlebanon.org .

Elaine Gillen

Item 2a is rather concerning to me. According to Susan Morgans, there is no value in public engagement. Remember this post? "We see no value to Mt. Lebanon residents of releasing daily reports," Asking Susan Morgans what causes citizens who might otherwise contribute to disengage is rather comical. She could answer that question with two words. Susan Morgans.

Update August 5, 2015 10:08 PM Honestly, how much are we paying these folks? Here's another email sent to the commission, Steve Feller, and Phil Weis.

John,

I just checked the Boards and Authorities webpage ( http://mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=29 ) and see that it has been updated. Thank you. However, if you click on Steve Silverman's name for the Parks Advisory Board and Community Relations Board, Dave Brumfield's email pops up, not Steve Silverman's. 

Thanks for your help.

Elaine Gillen