Winding down

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>
Sent: Sun, Apr 17, 2016 1:18 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait

Hi Dan,

Please consider doing another Office of Open Records forum in Mt. Lebanon. According to my latest RTK, corn is proprietary. The mechanism to distribute the corn is now proprietary. Response to RTK about bait

I have included an email exchange that I had with Keith McGill, Tony DeNicola, Aaron Lauth, and ultimately sent to the commission. The Health Department got involved because ground baiting is illegal in Allegheny County. Tony will not disclose the method he used nor the type of bait he used. In articles to the media, Tony made reference to bait piles and accusations that someone tried to incriminate White Buffalo.

Mr. DeNicola said one person tried to frighten deer from a bait pile by repeatedly yelling “murderers.” More disturbing to him, he said, was what he called an attempt to incriminate White Buffalo.
“[Police Chief Aaron Lauth] got a call a few days ago from someone saying we were violating the 1,000-foot school radius at McNeely Park,” Mr. DeNicola said. “The bait was not ours — it was nowhere near where police knew we were stationed. Somebody put a pile of corn in a field and called in and said it was us. Unbelievable.”

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2016/03/11/Mt-Lebanon-deer-sharpshooting-program-ends-1/stories/201603100093

Bait piles are illegal in Allegheny County, but Mt. Lebanon is permitting Tony DeNicola to hide behind the excuse that the information is proprietary. The commissioners will not respond. I am being ignored again. I could file another appeal with the OOR, but then will be forced to hire another attorney if the OOR grants my appeal for the third time and Mt. Lebanon decides to appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.

I quoted Merriam-Webster because Buchanan Ingersoll cited Merriam-Webster in their case against me.

The commissioners are under the impression that going to the Court of Common Pleas costs Mt. Lebanon taxpayers nothing. I have asked for Kelly's help, but she has been ignoring me for a year now.

Can you help?

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 3:45 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait

Commissioners,

I am forwarding this to all of you, since I rarely get any response. From any of you.

Now, bait is top secret. Love the transparency in this municipality.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kfraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 2:17 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait

Kelly,

I have attached Bonnie's response to my latest RTK. I asked for the type of bait and how it was being distributed. Please read the email thread below that I had with Tony. Tony was going to get back to me, but then he changed his mind. 

I also shared with you, previously, photos of piles of corn at the golf course and at McNeilly. Here they are again.

McNeilly

Golf course

As you may remember from last year, the Allegheny County Health Department told us that it is illegal to do ground baiting. Tony claims that he didn't do this, yet will not divulge what method he did use to bait the deer.

Both he and Bonnie Cross say that it is proprietary information. As the practice seems to be here, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary is the gold standard for definitions. Here is the definition of proprietary:

1. 1:  one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something; specifically :  proprietor 1
2. 2:  something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker; specifically :  a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
3. 3:  a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization

Tony DeNicola does not hold exclusive rights to apples and corn. The formula to Coca Cola is proprietary, not apples or corn. Tony needs to prove to you and the rest of us, that he did not violate any health department codes. Can you intervene? It is ludicrous for me to file an appeal for this too.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Mar 8, 2016 5:32 pm
Subject: Re: Bait

My findings are not public information.

On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

SECOND REQUEST

Tony,

According to Susan Morgans, all the baiting has concluded in today's article in The Almanac. http://www.thealmanac.net/20160308/details_for_mt_lebanon_sharpshooting_limited_for_safety_reasons

"“The baiting has concluded,” Morgans said."

As of February 28, you were going to give it another week to sort out the best method for baiting and what type of mechanical feeder you are using to distribute the bait. I understand that it is an art, rather than a science. You were going to get back to me. Keith was going to get back to me.

I have also asked Manager Keith McGill and he was going to ask you. I hope he has followed through. Now, I read that the baiting has concluded. What kind of bait have you decided to go with and what type of mechanical feeder did you use?

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: tony.denicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sun, Mar 6, 2016 12:54 pm
Subject: Re: Bait

Tony,

It's been a week since we last exchanged emails. Any news on what type of bait and what type of mechanical feeders that you are using? According to the permit, you have had six weeks to bait so far. Are you still sorting out the best method?

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sun, Feb 28, 2016 7:53 am
Subject: Re: Bait

Elaine,

No problem at all.  I am still assessing how well our mechanical feeders are working at timing deer arrival times with some different baits.  We are trying to get the deer to come predictably after dark, so that is very difficult.

I will give it another week or so.  We still have plenty of time before the permit expires at the end of March.

Tony

On Sunday, February 28, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Tony,

I did a quick search and found this on Field and Stream's website. http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/quick-tips/if-you-want-deer-bait-will-drive-deer-crazy-try-grape-kool-aid-guy-dnr-gave-me-ti 

"They also like peanut butter, apples, syrup, and pretty much anything else you would feed a five year old according to other posts. Good luck with the kool-aid. I'm sticking with corn."

We were told that you started baiting over a month ago. I'm am trying not to sound snarky,  but sincerely, I would think you would have some idea as to what bait has worked and what mechanism you are using to distribute it by now. Do you have an estimate as to when you will have it sorted out? This week? Next week?

Respectfully,

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sat, Feb 27, 2016 5:59 pm
Subject: Re: Bait

We are still sorting out the best method.  Once we have better data I will let you know.

Tony

On Saturday, February 27, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Yes, thank you for your response, Tony. I can understand that bait is a regional thing. From what I've learned at commission meetings, Mt. Lebanon deer are not picky eaters. So what did you end up using here? Also, what method of distributing the bait are you using?

Thanks in advance for your clarification.

I had originally made a mistake typing Aaron's email, so I have added his correct (I hope!) email address. Sorry about that, Aaron.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; alauth <alauth@mtebanon.org>
Sent: Fri, Feb 26, 2016 8:01 pm
Subject: Re: Bait

Keith,

Baiting is more of an art than a science.  We use a multitude of options depending on what the local deer seem to prefer most, what is available, and relative cost.  It can be apples, deer feed, corn, alpha pellets, etc.  We place bait out at each location where we are active, primarily on private properties throughout the municipality typically several weeks in advance of getting started whether it is for capture purposes or for lethal management programs.

I hope this helps,

Tony

Anthony J. DeNicola Ph.D.  | President |  White Buffalo Inc.

M: (860) 790-0224  |  tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org

On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 2:35 PM, Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

Good afternoon Elaine,

Aaron did provide a response and indicated that someone from White Buffalo would be a better source to provide a response. I am copying Tony DeNicola on this response. I'm sure Tony can provide a response.

Keith

On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 2:27 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Keith,

Were you able to get in touch with Aaron or Mike concerning my bait questions? What kind of bait and how is it being distributed?

Elaine Gillen

--

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