Tuesday is Coleen Vuono's last meeting - her last meeting to stick it to us. There will be a public hearing concerning the budget, and then the final vote. A neighbor of mine called Coleen on the phone to bring up the Rockwood Park improvement, which was bumped up (above the line) in the budget. Coleen had no idea what he was talking about. The abandoned parking lot is used for illegal activities and has been neglected for over thirty years. The plan is to cover up the parking lot with grass and fix the pathway. Coleen told her constituent that since there are two paths, we should only use the better one. Here is the link to the Manager's 2016 Recommended Budget. The amendments to the Recommended Budget can be found on the Commission Agenda.
Additionally, a gift will be presented to Coleen, outgoing commissioner. I should say gifts. I understand that the commissioners pitched in and bought her another "L" for her name. Additional parting gifts include a case of Prestone Antifreeze for her veins and a year's supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat.
Seriously, Tuesday's meeting is very important. Not only will the commissioners be passing the budget, they will be adopting the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as well as the 2016 Comprehensive Fee Schedule. I don't know if they will be voting publicly to take my RTK appeal to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, or if that will be done in Executive Session.
Oh, and they are going to consent to the Ninth Amendment to an Agreement of Sale and Purchase with Michael G. Zamagias Interests, LTD. What bullshit.
That is just what is going on in the Commission meeting. In the earlier Commission Discussion Session, Magistrate Blaise Larotonda and Lisa Borelli Dorn will be providing an overview to a proposed mediation
program involving the District
Magistrate and the Community Relations Board. Just a heads up, Susan Morgans is the CRB municipal liaison. I don't think any of the above mentioned should be involved in any mediation program.
I thought that deer sterilization was going to be discussed at this meeting. What happened to that?
Elaine, how many times have they renewed a consent order with ACHD regarding sewage?
ReplyDeleteThis is a riot. They bought her an additional (and appropriate) "L" for her name as one of the parting gifts. Good one. Wasn't she a disaster? And you know who we have to thank for her presence on the commission. Yes, the four other commissioners who unanimously voted for her to take the vacant seat.
ReplyDeleteRemoving sterilization from the agenda is one of their oldest tricks in the book. People won't bring it up during Citizen Comments. Out of sight, out of mind.
ReplyDeleteNot only will they be approving $100,000 for deer "management" tonight, they will also be amending the budget to show the carryover of "management" funds from this year. Don't bother looking at the agenda, because MTL's server is down. The total funds will be close to $140,000! For sharpshooting, not sterilization. $140,000. No aerial survey. No education. No signs. No sterilization. Sharpshooting.
I still have no voice. Well, I never did have a voice, but I mean literally now. I won't be able to speak during citizen comments. Plus it would be a little tacky for me to even go to the meeting since they will be taking me to Common Pleas Court.
Elaine
Is the meeting TONIGHT? I have it on my calendar for TOMORROW NIGHT.
ReplyDeleteAnd, whenever it is, we can't afford to let the sterilization program go out of sight, out of mind.
Lastly, I don't want a dime of my tax money going to the purchase of that "L"! Coleen is employed again/still/whatever... She can certainly afford to purchase her own "L"!!!
The commissioners blew sterilization months ago.
ReplyDeleteThe commission meeting is tomorrow. Tuesday, December 8, 2015
ReplyDeleteElaine
*Correction to my comment at 11:24 AM. The carryover amount for deer "management" is $30,970. The commissioners will have $131,000 to play with, not $140,000.
ReplyDeleteThe website is back up -mtlebanon.org.
Elaine
I just want to make sure I'm reading the budget correctly. Where is the $100,00 coming from? I see the $30,970 carry over but don't see a line or amendment for anything else deer related.
ReplyDeleteLook on page 51 of the budget. It is under Public Works, numbers 3,4, and 5.
ReplyDeleteElaine
The link to the budget is in this blog posting.
ReplyDeleteElaine
OK, I may be delusional, but it looks like they aren't getting everything they wanted. It looks like 3 and 4 made it, but number 5 didn't make it. $70,000 is going to deer "management" in the 2016 budget with the carryover of $30,970. A total of $100,970. Oh too bad. So sad.
ReplyDeleteI am having an anxiety attack. I just got off the phone with someone who thinks I need to speak during Citizen Comments tomorrow night. I am facing an appeal that is going to cost me THOUSANDS of dollars, in addition to three outstanding RTKs. I run this blog and I run the website. And I need to speak tomorrow night. Maybe this person can get one of the 32,998 who don't speak.
Elaine
9:57, on page 51 of the budget there are 3 service levels:
ReplyDelete#3 = $40,000
#4 = $30,000
#5 = $30,000
Plus carryover of $30,970
I believe I'm correct on this as I'm still learning.
Nick M.
Forgot to say that six more Not In My Yard signs were distributed in the last two days.
ReplyDeletePlease don't ever tell me that I need to speak during Citizen Comments.
Elaine
Yes, Nick, those are the amounts. But #3 and #4 are above the line. #5 didn't show up in the amended budget. So 3 and 4 made the cut.
ReplyDeleteElaine
My post was meant for 9:44, not Elaine at 9:57. Sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteI do see that service level 5 is not included.
Like I said, I'm still learning too.
Nick M.
I know, Nick. No problem. Our comments came out at the same time.
ReplyDeleteElaine
If Colleen (she needs an extra L) had bothered to look at the crumbling pathway at Rockwood Park she'd realize that it's the ONLY path from Rockwood accessible from a sidewalk. Kind of important for people in wheel chairs or with strollers. Given that people regularly clock over 45 mph, you'd think she wouldn't want to force people onto the street to access the park using the other pathway. I'm disgusted.
ReplyDeleteHysterical. Love the antifreeze for her veins. I hope it helps.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the commissioners voted during an executive session to appeal the state's ruling on my Right To Know. I don't know how the commissioners voted, except that at least three of them voted to take it downtown. Here is the beauty of it all. Phil Weis, the solicitor from Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney works for a flat fee. It won't cost taxpayers (except this one) any money to appeal the case. Steve Silverman loves this because it is free. So if I win AGAIN in the Court of Common Pleas, they can appeal it to a superior court and it costs them nothing AGAIN. So this grandma, who is on Social Security, may win the battle each time, but ultimately loses the war.
ReplyDeleteThere are no words to describe how I am feeling.
Elaine
Elaine @ 12:05 am. I *cannot* understand this at all. Do you have to get an attorney now... is that why it will cost thousands of dollars?
ReplyDelete-Refugee, sympathizing with you about this horror, looking into dual (international) citizenship
Refugee, you're one of the lucky ones. Celebrate! Yes, I will have to get an attorney now.
ReplyDeleteElaine
from what I see/hear.. the deer issue is basically a class warfare in Lebo..
ReplyDeletethe wealthy landowners will do anything to rid our town of deer and it's not for environmental reason.. it for selfish reasons.. how can you impress your rich friends if the deer are munching on your expensive plants...??
these wealthy landowners ALSO don't want their names released to the public even though it PUBLIC information...what hypocrites..but since they have $$ and power,,ie Jon Delano..on their side.. it's going to be a tough battle to fight..
Jon Delano is publicly and crassly dissing the deer. There are some other media people in Mt. Lebanon who are pro-kill, but don't come out publicly and disgrace themselves and their employers. I wonder what KDKA knows of Jon's ignorant, low-class comments?
DeleteElaine has power on her side right now: she has the Office of Open Records decision coupled with a Commission that continues to take unlawful actions.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thealmanac.net/article/20151208/OPINION02/151209960
ReplyDeleteWho is Mary McFarland and why is she perpetuating the same jibberish of too many Mt. Lebanon residents who are too stupid to grasp the dangers of bow hunting in our highly dense community. They've all been drugged.
ReplyDelete