Parting gifts and the budget

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?

Celebrate Rat Amnesty Day

At 5:30 tonight, the commission will be discussing Public Works and Recreation Departments line items in the 2016 Manager's Recommended Budget. During Tuesday's Budget Public Hearing, I asked specifically about Rat Control and Deer "Management."

Mt. Lebanon has decided to stop baiting for rats. They are taking a nonlethal approach by educating residents as to how to coexist with rats. Upon further investigation, Public Works has come to the conclusion that bird feeders are a contributing factor of rat infestation. Will our commissioners be banning bird feeders next? Since rat/car collisions are at an all time low and rat complaints are nonexistent with the majority of our commissioners, our commission has eliminated rat baiting from our budget.

Additional line items to be discussed tonight are the three line items for deer "management," totaling $100,000. There will be a carryover of $30,000 from 2015, which will give commissioners $130,000 to play with for deer management in 2016. For the record, Dave Brumfield will not spend $5,000 for an aerial survey to determine how many surviving deer are in Mt. Lebanon, after 4.5 months of archery.

Color away your stress

I read on one of my creative blogs today, that adults are taking up coloring. You know, with crayons? It is an easy way to escape back to simpler times. From Pinterest:

Coloring isn’t just for kids—it’s a way for anyone to overcome stress and get back to their creative side. Some people even consider it a meditative activity. That’s why adults are hooked on coloring books.

Over 2 million copies sold worldwide since its release in 2013

I might bring some crayons with me to Tuesday's Public Hearing for the 2016 Manager's Recommended Budget. The meeting starts at 8:00 PM.

mtl Magazine

Rockwood Parking Lot

Rockwood Parking Lot

There are three line items for "deer management" totaling $100,000. Replacing the Rockwood Park upper parking lot was bumped way down below the line. Rat baiting program is being eliminated.

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.