Welcome to Leb-Anon

I can't take credit for this. Someone sent me a suggestion that Mt. Lebanon needs a support group based on Al-Anon principles. Judging from yesterday's LeboALERT, our public servants are in denial. They will not admit that Mt. Lebanon is turning into a ghetto.

Last night, there were several reports of gunshots around 10 PM around Main Park. This was sent to me today.

Blood stains on Greenhurst Drive this morning

Maybe the nineteen of them can read this email at their next Leb-Anon meeting.

Correcting misinformation UPDATED

In this week's administrative report to the commissioners, Keith McGill announced the coffee that the public information office held for real estate agents.

I wish I knew what "misinformation about Mt. Lebanon" those mean, old real estate agents are spreading about us. Really, Susan?

Also in the 2016 Manager's Recommended Budget, see pages 30-31 for what Public Information is costing us. Funny how people still have to rely on Lebo Citizens for information. Or is it "misinformation" as some people like to call it?

Update November 1, 2015 3:32 AM From the 2016 Manager's Recommended Budget: More corrections of misinformation.

Citizen Engagement. The impact of technology and the explosion of social media offer new opportunities for better community engagement and dialogue. There is an opportunity to increase transparency and accountability in how local government services are delivered.

Hunting on Halloween UPDATED 4X

At the August 15th private property recruiting meeting, I raised my concerns about hunting on Halloween. Since hunting is permitted in Mt. Lebanon until thirty minutes after sunset, hunters can hunt up to 6:48 PM this Saturday. I was laughed at, when I mentioned it.

	NEXTpittsburgh (@NEXTpittsburgh)
10/28/15, 9:08 PM Costumes of the night at the @MattressFactory @YelpPittsburgh monster bash go to Mt. Lebanon's Betsy's Ice Cream. pic.twitter.com/fUMgDag1EY

NEXTpittsburgh (@NEXTpittsburgh)

10/28/15, 9:08 PM

Costumes of the night at the @MattressFactory @YelpPittsburgh monster bash go to Mt. Lebanon's Betsy's Ice Cream. pic.twitter.com/fUMgDag1EY

Commission president John Bendel claims that Jody Maddock's hunters have been told that they are not to hunt on Halloween. That's terrific, John, but Jody Maddock's hunters are outnumbered. Have there been any LeboALERTS announcing that there is to be no hunting on Halloween? No. The only restriction that I am aware of is "No Block Parties on Halloween," (except...uh...Roycroft and Sleepy Hollow.)

Update October 29, 2015 10:33 PM No mention of private hunters.

From: jbendel
To: egillen476 
Cc: commission ; philip.weis ; kmcgill ; alauth 
Subject: Re: Halloween 
Date: Thu, Oct 29, 2015 10:16 pm 

Elaine, 

Keith McGill contacted White Buffalo to remind them that there is no hunting on Halloween.

Update October 30, 2015 12:57 PM My email:


Commissioners, School Board Directors, Mr. McGill, Dr. Steinhauer, Chief Lauth, Rep. Miller, and Solicitor Weis,

I have been getting phone calls from people who were crying and emails such as the one below about Trick or Treating tomorrow.

These hunters are everywhere. This is even worse than I thought - how many private hunters are there in addition to the 6-10 White Buffalo guys? These poor deer.


there are tons of pickup trucks (one is parked practically in front of my house now) - he must be eating at the Subway (I hope and not hunting on Academy). There is a tree stand in the bed of his truck.


These trucks are all big, like Nissan's or Silverado's. I saw several this morning. Just saw a beat up one pulling out of the ball field area - the guy was in Camo and had a dog in the truck with him.


I see them at the Dollar General in the morning and at dusk, and then out and about. They are easy to spot.

As you can see by my earlier correspondence with the commission, I have concerns with the private hunting that will be going on tomorrow during Halloween. I believe that President Bendel was intentionally ambiguous concerning my concerns about private hunters since the commission has no control of the archery program.

Since there will be no action by the commission, I am begging the school district to issue a warning to parents about this dangerous situation.

Our primary concern should be about the safety of our children. Please, Dr, Steinhauer, step up and do the right thing. Send a letter to parents.

Thank you.

Elaine Gillen

Update October 30, 2015 4:48 PM Not one of them responded. Instead this LeboALERT came out at 3:00 PM. Let's pretend there aren't any hunters out there. Unbelievable.

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.

Trick or Treat is tomorrow
night from 6-8 pm. Police will be vigilant, but please be extra careful while
walking and crossing streets. Have
fun!

Update October 31, 2015 12:37 PM I never heard back from Dr. Steinhauer or any of the other eighteen people. I guess Student Safety is not one of Timmy's goals. I checked the Superintendent Goals for 2015-2016, and sure enough, nothing is mentioned about student safety. Saved in Google Docs Silly me, I thought that Student Safety would be Timmy's Number 1 Priority. Evidently, it isn't important to our school board directors either.

Looking for Volunteers for my Write-In Campaign

The polls are open on Tuesday from 7 AM to 8 PM. The polls for Ward 3 are located at Foster School, Mellon Middle School, and Markham School.

I could use some help passing out voting cards. Any volunteers? Email me privately at EGillen476@aol.com if you want to help me out.

Time slots are:
6:45 AM- 11:15 AM
11:00 AM - 3:15 PM
3:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Any amount of time is welcome. Thanks in advance!

We've been lied to repeatedly UPDATED

What is it about Ward 3 commissioners? The last three Ward 3 commissioners have lied to their constituents.

Clueless Joe lied about his plans to move. During the May 2011 Primary, when I ran against him, Joe told the Mt. Lebanon Republican Committee that he had no plans to move out of Mt. Lebanon. This was while he had a For Sale sign in his yard and had told the media that he was moving out of Mt. Lebanon.

Kristen Linfante - well...uh...did she ever tell the truth?

Coleen Vuono is no exception.

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: cvuono <cvuono@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; philip.weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; coleenvuono <coleenvuono@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, Oct 28, 2015 4:26 am
Subject: Re: Emails

Coleen,

I see that your moving sale ad was created on October 21, 2015 and that your moving sale was held the day before your rude response. 

Your Statement of Financial Interest did not indicate that you had a staging business. I believe you told a resident that you retired in 2011. Why would this ad have been in the March 2014 mtl Magazine?

You have been lying from Day 1. 

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: Coleen Vuono <cvuono@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Philip Weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; coleenvuono <coleenvuono@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, Oct 25, 2015 4:08 pm
Subject: Re: Emails

Ms. Gillen,

Prior to the last Commissioner's meeting no one knew the outcome of the vote on sharpshooting, including me.

Rest assured that I am fully aware of the requirements of residency in the third ward in order to represent that ward. The interim manager and the members of the commission have been informed of my intent to sell my home. This situation is being addressed appropriately by the appropriate parties.

Your input is unnecessary and is intrusive. .

Coleen Vuono

On Tue, Oct 13, 2015 at 3:55 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

That all depends on you folks. It sounds like you are breaking Sunshine, Coleen. You already know the outcome of the vote. The similarities between you and your predecessor are amazing.

After tonight's vote I would hope that you would find a better way to spend your time than in creating controversy in this community.

Coleen Vuono 

The sale of your house has everything to do with Ward 3, and ultimately, all of Mt. Lebanon.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: Coleen Vuono <cvuono@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Philip Weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; coleenvuono <coleenvuono@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, Oct 13, 2015 11:25 am
Subject: Re: Emails

Senior citizens in Mt. Lebanon know that they can place a phone call to their commissioners to voice their opinion on issues if they do not have access to the internet. I have received calls from Mt. Lebanon residents.

I base my decisions as a commissioner on what I consider to be in the best interests of the community after being informed by residents on both sides of issues. The deer issue is one of public safety.

I am in favor of a deer management program that includes sharpshooting, but that has not been the only issue I've been involved in.  Since I've been on the commission I've voted on many agenda items, I've proposed items for discussion that I think are important to Mt. Lebanon and I've been involved in other issues in the third ward.

In addition to my "life" I served for 4 years as a commissioner and recently served on the Planning Board and volunteered to complete the term of the previous third ward commissioner.

I support this community and have shown this in my civic engagement.

My personal life-the sale of my home-has nothing to do with you (even though you toured it during an open house-were you planning on moving?)

After tonight's vote I would hope that you would find a better way to spend your time than in creating controversy in this community.

Coleen Vuono 

On Tue, Oct 13, 2015 at 9:43 AM, 'egillen476@aol.com' via Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

Commissioners,

My phone has been ringing off the hook with senior citizens who do not have access to the Internet. They are unable to email you and tell you how they are on blood pressure medication and how upset they are with your current unmanaged program. They cannot fathom "sharpshooting" will follow through March 2016. 

Knowing how the commission operates, you will base your decision tonight on the volume of emails. You will use any means which justify your personal agendas. I am in the process of ordering more yard signs (fourth shipment), but "Not In My Yard" signs don't seem to carry the weight of emails, I'm learning. 

It is clear that my commissioner is the driving force behind the sharpshooting vote tonight. I tried to tell some of you how her intentions to serve on the commission were only to kill deer. After all, she "has a life," as she said during her interview in April. I imagine that the "Sale Pending" sign on her house will change to "Sold" after tonight's vote.

The Scott Township commissioners govern in the interest of public safety, and not make every divisive issue a competition, with the loudest group winning.

If you are keeping track, I am opposed to sharpshooting, bow hunting, corral and kill, or any other lethal means that come across your computer. I speak for the hundreds of people who have "Not In My Yard" signs in their yards.

Elaine Gillen

Update October 28, 2015 10:45 AM 

No Discussion Session video UPDATED

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Philip Weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 8:49 pm
Subject: Re: video?

Good evening Elaine,
We are experiencing an issue with Granicus. I.T. is aware of the issue and is working on a resolution with the vendor.
We experienced a similar issue once before and only the discussion session is affected.

Keith

Keith McGill, AICP
Municipal Planner

On Oct 27, 2015 8:06 PM, "egillen476@aol.com" <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Commissioners,

Are you aware that the commission discussion session video is not online? The commission meeting video is available. Do you know when the discussion session will be online?

Elaine Gillen

Update October 28, 2015 4:55 PM 

From:	Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To:	Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; E.T. Gillen <egillen476@aol.com>
Subject:	Discussion session
Date:	Wed, Oct 28, 2015 3:02 pm

---

The Commission discussion session is now available on line.

Keith

--
Keith McGill, AICP
Interim Municipal Manager/Municipal Planner
412-343-3684
kmcgill@mtlebanon.org

Commission actions to reduce dvcs UPDATED

The following email was reprinted with the author's permission.

 
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 10:29 AM
Subject: Commission actions to reduce dvcs
To: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>, Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>


Commissioners,

I would like to ask what specific actions the municipality is currently taking -- other than discussing the need to kill deer  -- to reduce deer vehicle collisions by 50% over the next few years.

When I spoke at last night's meeting, I emphasized the direct and well established correlation between deer mating season, which is going on right now, and increased deer vehicle collisions (nearly half of PA dvcs occur in Oct or Nov alone).  Articles educating motorists of the increased likelihood of dvcs this time of year are being put out by newspapers, the Game Commission, insurance companies, and PennDOT.  Yet, I have seen or heard nothing from the municipality in the way of driver education on this matter despite your insistence that deer-vehicle collisions are such a pressing safety matter that it justifies bringing hunters and guns into our community for the sake of public safety.

The deer are one factor in deer-vehicle collisions. Surely there are others?  Drivers play an important -- and more influential -- role, and roadway conditions are important too. Those are factors we can have some influence on.  The Game Commission, PennDOT, and insurance companies all focus on public education to try to reduce dvcs.  In contrast, it seems to me that our municipality is focusing only on killing deer, even when sterilization could impact this problem directly as it would eliminate much of the mating-related behavior that is responsible for many dvcs.  

Maybe I am mistaken, and there are other actions being taken right now.  Could you please identify what those actions might be and how/where they are being implemented?

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Barbara Alsko

Update October 27, 2015 5:25 PM Thank you, Barb!

From: LeboALERT <noreply@mtlebanon.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 3:46 PM
Subject: LeboALERT: Deer are very active...
To: EGillen476@aol.com

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.

Deer are very active now.  Please drive carefully to avoid crashes.  Find tips  on deer behavior and safe driving at www.mtlebanon.org.

Tony's Picks for Killing

I have been looking at the White Buffalo proposal to kill up to 150 deer. The public locations under consideration are:

Taking into account the Federal Gun-Free School Zone Act, I have taken some screen shots of Tony's picks for killing.

Golf Course:

Myrtle Ave through the center of golf course

Myrtle to the wooded area of golf course

Mt. Lebanon Montessori and Academy along wooded area

Sorry Howe School. You're one ft. too far away.

McNeilly Park:

Robb Hollow Park:

 Public Works:

Twin Hills:

Scott Township Motion and Court Order

Which brings us to the costs...

White Buffalo has the costs broken down into two parts.

The first part includes planning, communication, education, and permitting for a total of $13,080. This was approved by our illustrious commissioners at the October 13 meeting.

The second part is based on killing up to 150 deer. The total cost before processing is $52,670. If 150 deer are killed, the cost per deer is $351. If only six deer are killed, the cost is $8,778 per deer. And when the public properties are eliminated because of the Federal Gun-Free School Zones, the cost to kill six deer on PRIVATE property will be $8,778 per deer.

It gets better. Tony is estimating $100 per deer for processing. What he fails to tell us is that if the meat is donated to Hunters Sharing The Harvest, all processing costs are waived.

Soooo many violations!

Many thanks to Nick M. for providing the PowerPoint presentation of the 2015 Office of Open Records Annual Training Forum. Our oh so transparent wonderful municipality is in violation of many of these slides.

Slide 4 Who is our new Agency Open Records Officer (AORO) now since Steve Feller's resignation? Has the Office of Open Records been notified?

Slide 6 This one is for my appointed commissioner, Coleen Vuono. She likes to questions the motive of the Requester.

Slide 8 TEXT MESSAGES, phone records, security camera recordings. We were never able to see the alleged deer corral sabotage, recorded by Merlin Benner's Wildlife Specialists.

Slide 10 Agencies can give out information without requiring the requester to file a RTK. However, verbal requests cannot be appealed by Requestor.

Slide 14 Records in Possession of Third Party Contractors are Subject to Right To Know Requests. Think White Buffalo!

Slide 17 Cannot charge for redactions.

Slide 18 No surprise charges.

Slide 22 An agency (Mt. Lebanon) can make records accessible if public interest favoring access outweighs any interest favoring withholding. Locations of deer killing sites?

Slide 25 Appoint an alternate AORO. Post RTK requests with responses. By being open, this will reduce the amount of similar RTK requests.

Slides 26-31 deal with the Appeals Process. Remember that the burden of proof is on the Agency. The Requester provides the information listed on Slide 27.

Slide 35 lists the contact information for the Office of Open Records.

Our sleazy government needs a refresher course. They have put me (and others) through the wringer on a daily basis, on so many levels.

The Goddard School is now open

The Goddard School on Painters Run is now open. Enrollment is open to all ages, from infants to school age. Weather permitting, children play outside every day, enjoy nature walks, and picnics. Just across the street, they can watch deer being killed. There is a yellow warning sign posted across the street from Crust. The distance from Public Works to The Goddard School is well below the 1,000' limitation.

Measuring the distance of Robb Hollow Park, I drew a line as close to 1,000' as I could from The Goddard School.

Mt. Lebanon removed Bird Park from the archery program because of its proximity to Markham School. Are they going to be consistent and remove Public Works and most of Robb Hollow Park as well? It might be a good question to ask at the commission meeting on Monday.

I want a refund!

I am turning into a real nerd. I watched PCN last night and saw most of the PA Open Records Office forum on the PA Right to Know Law and the Sunshine Act. I found out that my buddy, former manager Steve Feller was pulling another fast one on me. Besides the crap about the dead tree next to my house which was on municipal property, besides the illegal killing of deer in Rockwood Park, Feller was charging me outrageous fees for Right To Know records.


PA Open Records Office Annual Training See 01:01:00 time stamp on Part 1

 Agency is only required to provide the record in the current medium


I always requested pdfs to be emailed to me (electronic records) to avoid charges. Mt. Lebanon records were in that medium.

That worked for a while. That is until Feller figured out how to get around:

Cannot charge for electronic records

Feller started printing out emails to redact information, re-scan, and email to me. He would charge me 25¢ per copy of just the redactions. I could never figure out why Feller couldn't just redact the information electronically. Now I understand. He was just giving me a hard time. He was violating another point:

Cannot charge for redaction 

The last RTK that I had filed, and is being appealed in Harrisburg, Feller charged me over $30 for everything - both redacted and non-redacted information at 25¢ a copy. I guess I am fortunate that Feller even responded. I understand that there were three RTK requests filed by an individual earlier in the month and was completely ignored.

I want a refund!

Attention Dog Walkers: Fawns Are Fair Game

Timmy, the dog recently underwent surgery. Since he fears the Cone of Shame, the vet suggested that I bring a men's medium t-shirt prior to the abdominal surgery for my 60 pound doggie.

Isn't he so cute?

The T-shirt is off now, but I am thinking that a fluorescent orange T-shirt is in order. Now that I hear that fawns are no longer off-limits to archers, dog walkers should consider investing in orange T-shirts for their pups. Buy one for yourself, while you are at it. Since archery season is over in January, fluorescent orange outerwear may be a wise investment for those cold days ahead. 

In Mt. Lebanon, orange is the new black!

Shaking My Head

Have a speeding ticket? No worries. Just hire these guys. Or just follow the speed limit, in the first place.

FOUR POINT SPEEDING VIOLATION REDUCED FOR MT. LEBANON MANOct 20 2015, by Mike Worgul in Case Results, Traffic Offenses
A 41-year-old Mt. Lebanon man was charged with a speeding violation. He was spotted by police officers, going 20 mph over the posted limit. Our client had never been in trouble before and worked at a local hotel and restaurant in the Allegheny County area. He and his wife of 15 years were both hesitant about fighting the four point offense on their own, so they hired the criminal defense attorneys at Worgul Law Firm. 

Sensitive to the the needs of his client, attorney Samir Sarna went to court on behalf of him and fought his speeding violation. There he represented him with a strong defense and negotiated for a lesser charge. To the relief of our client, this lesser offense was not associated with any traffic points.

In Mt. Lebanon, it is all about money or who you know. sigh. 

Updated Mt. Lebanon Deer Incident Report UPDATED

https://lebotools.mtlebanon.org/dit/public_incident_report.php

Chief Lauth reported that the deer covered with a tarp at 318 Hazel Drive had been hit by a vehicle. Now the report says that the deer had been stuck in a fence and discharged by police. He told Commissioner Vuono that there were no incidents related to archery.

No incidents? What about 9/26/15 - dead deer with arrow on Robb Hollow?

Check out the report for 23 Ralston on September 3 - deer ran off. Pathetic.

This has to stop!

Update October 20, 2015 5:26 PM

From: Kelly Fraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: dbrumfield <dbrumfield@mtlebanon.org>; philip.weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 3:39 pm

Subject: Re: Hazel Drive discrepency?

Chief:

Please review the email below.
I would appreciate if you could respond to Ms Gillens concerns and copy the rest of us.
Thank you.

Sent from Kelly's iPhone, please excuse typos or auto-corrections.

On Oct 20, 2015, at 2:28 PM, "egillen476@aol.com" <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Aaron Lauth had reported to Coleen that the 318 Hazel deer had been hit by a car and left behind until Animal Control came to pick it up. He also told you, Kelly, that he had no idea where the bloody tarp would have come from. Now the deer incident report is claiming that the deer on Hazel had been stuck in a fence and "dispatched" by a police officer. Which is it? 

https://lebotools.mtlebanon.org/dit/public_incident_report.php 

On 9/26/15, there was a dead deer with an arrow in it on Robb Hollow Road. How can you or Mt. Lebanon Police claim that there were no incidents related to the archery program? What about the car accident on Washington Road that involved a wounded deer? Where does that show up on the deer incident report?

Are you aware that ******* has been issued a second citation for the Shady Lane incident? This one is by the PA Game Commission. It is tragic that she has become a scapegoat. She was walking her dog during her visit here. She lives in *******. You may remember that I spoke to you on the phone about this incident. The police had asked her to delete her photos.
Elaine Gillen

Update October 20, 2015 5:38 PM

From: Aaron Lauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
To: Kelly Fraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; David Brumfield <dbrumfield@mtlebanon.org>; Philip Weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 5:31 pm
Subject: Re: Hazel Drive discrepency?

Commissioner Fraasch,

After reviewing these incidents in question, it appears that I confused the reason for the 9-1-1 call related to the deer at 318 Hazel Drive. Based on my quick recollection when called upon at the meeting, I apparently mixed up the reason behind the calls received on 9/27 and 9/28.

318 HAZEL DRIVE 09/28/2015 INJURED DEER STUCK IN FENCE - DISCHARGED BY OFFICER
243 TWIN HILLS DRIVE 09/27/2015 X DEER STRUCK BY VEHICLE - IN YARD INJURED

After further review, The Deer Incident Report does reflect the correct information surrounding these incidents. The Twin Hills Drive incident was reported as a deer struck by a vehicle and the Hazel Drive incident involved a deer that had become stuck in a fence. While the start of the Hazel Drive call was different than what I described at the meeting, the outcome was the same. The deer's leg had become stuck in a fence, and as it attempted to free itself, the leg was broken causing severe injury to the animal. Since this call came in at 11:30 pm, our police officers were sent to address the situation. Based on the condition of the animal, the decision was made to put the deer down as is routine in these types of situations. After discharging the deer, it was left in the front yard of 318 Hazel Drive for pickup by Animal Control the following morning. I still have no information about who may have placed a tarp on the deceased animal, but I can confirm that an Animal Control Officer did pick up the carcass first thing in the morning.

The incident listed on 9/26 involved an early morning call about a deceased deer that was found in a yard on Robb Hollow Rd. An Animal Control Officer responded and located a dead deer with an arrow in its side. It was then quickly determined that archer from the contracted deer management archery program had hunted the deer and was in the process of tracking it when the call was received. The hunted deer was found in close proximity to where the archer was hunting and he was currently tracking the deer. I did not speak about this situation at the meeting because this event appears to be part of a normal archery hunt where the archer had shot (arrow) and was actively tracking the deer as required, therefore no "issues" or Game Commission violations occurred.

Lastly, I can confirm that ******* of ****** was cited by MLPD for Defiant Trespass on 10/5. ******* entered private property and refused to leave after several requests by the property owner. When the local Wildlife Conservation Officer from the PA Game Commission became aware of the incident, it is my understanding that he then filed charges for interference with a lawful hunt. At the time of the incident, MLPD officers asked ******** to delete the photos on her cell phone at the request of the victim, as well as ******* relatives whom she was staying with at the time.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thanks,

Aaron V. Lauth

Chief of Police

Mt Lebanon Police Department

555 Washington Road

Pittsburgh, PA  15228

(412)343-4015

alauth@mtlebanon.org

www.mtlebanonpd.org

Lebo violated the Federal Gun-Free School Zone Act UPDATED

Look how close Rockwood Park is to Foster School. Mt. Lebanon had deer killed with guns in 2006-2008. They violated the Gun-Free School Zone Act. Nothing within 1,000 feet of a school. No amount of paint in soothing colors recommended by John, in the paint department of Rolliers would have made it OK. I was living a nightmare for two f-ing years. I called Tom Kelley in Public Works. I called Steve Feller. I called my commissioner. I was in tears, hearing the gunshots outside my window. Those bastards were breaking the law. Susan Morgans came up to me before a commission meeting and said, "How many times are you going to say the same thing over and over about the deer?" Oh, how I wish I knew this back then:

2007 USDA Activities Report

2008 USDA Activities Report

Reporting was changed to quadrants, rather than specific locations

I announced on NextDoor that if Ward 3 voters wanted another option for commission, to write in my name. I also had a link to my YouTube interview of April 27. Julie Daubner flagged it as inappropriate. Greg Daubner flagged an additional comment, as well. That is what is inappropriate here?

There is a wildlife center in Virginia that takes in dozens of fawns every year and then releases them when they are mature enough to go back into the wild.
http://wildlifecenter.org/critter-corner/current-patients/fawns-2015

Then there is Mt. Lebanon. Four NIMY signs were reported stolen over the weekend. Why? The deer are being killed, as they wanted. Deer are going to be killed until the end of January, year after year. Depending on the vote in January, more killing could go on through March.

Trees are being numbered and cleared out of Twin Hills Park. Why?

 


There are huge broken tree limbs hanging directly over trails. The park is neglected. I have never seen a public park in such hazardous condition anywhere.

The Eagle Scout bridge has graffiti on it.

And only God knows what this is in Twin Hills:

I was driving from Heidelberg today via Swallow Hill >Segar>Lakemont>and past Public Works, praying all the way that I wouldn't see a wounded deer. We shouldn't be living like this.

I am so upset that I sent the following email to the current commissioners, commission candidates, solicitor, and interim manager:

Good riddance to Tom Kelley, Steve Feller, and my former commissioner. I pleaded with them to stop the killing in Rockwood Park. I went through HELL from 2006-2008 when Mt. Lebanon was killing deer next to my house in Rockwood Park. 

Kristen Linfante, as my commissioner, had the audacity to tell me to seek help and advised that I see John in Rolliers' paint department so that he can recommend paint in soothing colors for my basement. 

I had been telling the commission many times over the last ten years how it is unsafe to be killing in Rockwood Park. I also had to put up with Susan Morgans with her snarky question before a commission meeting, "How many more times are you going to say the same thing over and over about the deer?" That was ten years ago. 

Fast forward to 2015. Six candidates on the ballot for commission. Only two are anti-violence. I can't even find an email address for one of the candidates who is pro-kill. You can all sit there in your homes and make these "well thought out" decisions to kill deer, but how many of you have been in a situation where you are lying in bed at night, trying to sleep in a vinyl siding addition with gunshots outside your bedroom window? I had just lost my husband and had no safe place to grieve. Now I find out, what Mt. Lebanon was doing was ILLEGAL! Rockwood Park is almost 716 feet from an elementary school, violating the federal Gun-Free School Zone Act. No guns within 1,000 feet from a school. How dare you! 

I was driving from Heidelberg today via Swallow Hill, Segar, Lakemont, and past Public Works praying that I wouldn't come across a wounded deer. What have you done to Mt. Lebanon?

As I said during Citizen Comments, Killing Anything, Anywhere, by Any Means is a PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. Thanks to you, we are afraid to walk our dogs, drive in our cars, and play in parks. How dare you!

Elaine Gillen

Why I am doing a write-in campaign

In April, I interviewed for the vacant Ward 3 seat.



As I said in the interview, I believe the most important responsibilities of a commissioner are:

Public Safety
Fiscal Responsibility
Infrastructure

I'm not seeing a lot of that with the current commission.

Here is the link to the video that I posted above. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSTc-TXyXDA

Tree stand adjacent to Twin Hills Park

343 Oak Forest

Oh the things I learn...

There has been so much drama over the dead tree next to my house. As you know, I have been battling with Mt. Lebanon since April over the damn dead tree. Long story short, the tree belongs to MTL - nuh uh.

I had concerns with Mt. Lebanon using this area for killing deer. Mt. Lebanon said that it is really moot as the park is too close to Foster School. It turns out that the killing next to my house in 2006-2008 was ILLEGAL! So Rockwood Park can never be used for killing. Did you just hear my sigh of relief? Mt. Lebanon admitted that USDA Wildlife Services was not observing the Gun Free School Zone law, within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of a public, parochial or private school. It was introduced in the U.S. Senate in October 1990 by Joseph R. Biden and signed into law in November 1990 by George H. W. Bush. USDA also killed deer immediately next to Lincoln School, in what they call Meadowcroft Park, along with other areas close to schools. This is why Bird Park is not part of White Buffalo's archery program. I cringe when I hear about shootings near Hoover School area.

So the paperwork has been notarized and the tree is coming down ASAP. MTL hired Gateway, who then hired Steve Liadis to do the surveying to tell me that the tree does not belong to me. Unreal.

What I learned? Mt. Lebanon wastes money every chance they get and more importantly, violate Federal laws.

Scott and Lebo will meet again on November 2

Hunting in park focus of Mt. Lebanon meeting with Scott

I don't see how there can be a compromise. Scott Township does not want hunting of any kind. The park is for recreation, and Scott commissioners don't want to put their residents in harm's way. How refreshing.

The next scheduled meeting is the day before Election Day. 

Commission candidates on deer UPDATE from police chief

In Ward 1, John Bendel (D) pro-kill
                  Dan McNichol (R) Vote McNichol - Deer Management pro-kill

In Ward 3, Steve McLean (R) Email from Steve McLean pro-kill
                  Andy Reinhart (D) Email from Andy Reinhart AndyReinhart.com Mt. Lebanon Deer Management Issues 

In Ward 5, Kelly Fraasch (D) anti-kill
                  William Hoon (R) anti-kill

In an email exchange I had with Andy Reinhart this morning, it is not clear to me what his position is on deer management.

Update October 15, 2015 1:35 AM I have heard that while deer don't bother Andy Reinhart personally, as a commissioner he would vote for sharpshooting. He doesn't think it poses a safety problem. If that is true, then I am seriously considering a write-in campaign. Is it an omen that I just looked outside my dining room window and saw the most beautiful buck crossing the street?

From 2011:

#Throwback Thursday

Update October 15, 2015 9:10 AM I am going for it! I announced it on my website, www.lebocitizens.com Write-in campaigns are rarely successful, so I need everyone's help. Spread the word to your Ward 3 friends and relatives. This is the much needed third vote for the sharpshooting program to fail in January.

Update October 15, 2015 5:01 PM Remember the fawn with the arrow stuck in it on Segar Road?
This is what happens when our commissioners turn Mt. Lebanon into hunting grounds.

Sharpshooting approved...or was it?

The Trib reported Mt. Lebanon approves sharpshooters for deer. The PG reported something similar in Mt. Lebanon will allow sharpshooting to cull deer, but seemed to be more in line with what I read in emails from those who attended the meeting.

Mt. Lebanon residents show distress Tuesday at a Mt. Lebanon Commissioners meeting over the idea of introducing sharpshooting services to cull the deer population in the area.

From what I have been able to put together, the actual process of sharpshooting has been taken off the table until after January 23rd when the archery numbers come in. There were so many amendments and suggested amendments, it was hard to keep track of what was what.

Kelly Fraasch and Dave Brumfield designed an amendment that made it a two-stage process requiring a vote ... So, they authorized the organization of the program. However, their amendment said that before implementation occurs, another vote must occur in late January. This is so that there is information on the success of the archery; more on the design of the sharpshooting program; and a response to a submitted RFP to HSUS.

Coleen Vuono was livid because she won't get to participate in that vote. That amendment passed 3-2. Bendel voted yes. However, there are many ways that sharpshooting may not occur, including new commissioners or new information.

Bendel also said YES in the next 3-2 vote where Kelly proposed that a comprehensive wildlife management program be developed by the municipal staff, including new, innovative methods. This is to be presented at the next meeting. It must include non-lethal, and education.