How to say "No," without saying "No" UPDATED 2X

From:	egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To:	kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc:	commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Subject:	Re: NextDoor, MTL home page THIRD REQUEST
Date:	Tue, Jan 31, 2017 6:08 pm

---

THIRD REQUEST

Will the MLPD be notifying NextDoor readers?

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>

To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>

Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Aaron Lauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>

Sent: Tue, Jan 31, 2017 5:58 pm

Subject: Re: NextDoor, MTL home page SECOND REQUEST

Good evening Ms. Gillen,

While you are correct that the permit issued by the Game Commission allows deer removal to begin as early as tomorrow, an actual start date has not yet been determined. The program will be following the same protocols and procedures that were utilized as part of last years program.

Keith

On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 5:48 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

"Sharpshooting" begins tomorrow, Commissioners. Will the MLPD be notifying NextDoor readers? 

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Mon, Jan 30, 2017 7:58 am
Subject: NextDoor, MTL home page

Commissioners,

In case you missed it, I posted Keith's letter to the district concerning your "sharpshooting" program in my post, https://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2017/01/bullets-never-cross-sidewalks.html Your announcements to this lethal program is always buried on the municipal website. 

I wonder if MLPD will be issuing the same suggestion in Keith's letter on NextDoor. Also, will his suggestion be posted on Facebook and other MTL social media?

Elaine Gillen

"Parents and teachers may want to tell children to avoid the designated parks after dark and suggest they use sidewalks/established safe walking routes instead of shortcuts through private properties."

Update February 1, 2017 10:12 AM Gee, how difficult was this? 

Update Feb. 1, 2017 4:42 PM 

From:	Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To:	egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Subject:	Re: NextDoor, MTL home page THIRD REQUEST
Date:	Wed, Feb 1, 2017 4:38 pm

---

Good afternoon Ms. Gillen,

Thank you for your input.

Keith

On Wed, Feb 1, 2017 at 4:31 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

I have attached a partial email exchange that is from NextDoor. Unfortunately, I am unable to make a pdf of an entire page of comments. As I have indicated, I had also copied the Mt. Lebanon Police Department. 

As I suspected, the prokill folks are attacking my announcement, while there are others who have thanked me either publicly or privately since they were unaware of this program. I don't think you are being "transparent enough."

I wish you would be more transparent with your deer killing program. It just may save a life. A start may be to include announcements on Facebook, Twitter, LeboALERTS, and even NextDoor. 

Elaine Gillen

Frequently Unanswered Questions (FUQ) UPDATED

I hope I won't be FUQ'ed again by the commissioners. I sent many questions to the commissioners this morning concerning the upcoming "sharpshooting" phase, which will begin on February 1, 2017.

Here is my email:

Commissioners, 

The archery season is to end on January 28, 2017. We're told that the "sharpshooting" phase with White Buffalo will run from Feb. 1, 2017 - March 31, 2017. http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/14630 Looking at the commission meeting calendar, the next meeting is January 23, 2017. When will the results of White Buffalo's archery program be released? Your next meeting won't be until the middle of February, two weeks into the 2017 "sharpshooting" program. 

What type of bait will be used for the 2017 "sharpshooting" phase? What type of feeder will be used to bait the deer? 

The 2017 contract has never been made public, but here is a link to the contract obtained through a Right To Know.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9r_1biKte_bWVVDZTBQbl9iVWc/view?usp=sharing When will you be putting that contract on the municipal website? The contract states that an aerial survey will be conducted. When will that take place?

Specifically, what will the hours be for the 2017 "sharpshooting?" All we were told is that it will take place late afternoon and after dark seven days a week. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Elaine Gillen 

Update January 19, 2017 11:29 PM Yep, I got Frequently Unanswered Questions from the commissioners. I never heard from any of them. Steve Silverman forwarded my email to Keith McGill without a word. Keith replied earlier this evening, but I just got a chance to post it.

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Jan 19, 2017 7:10 pm
Subject: Re: "sharpshooting"

Good evening Elaine,

I wanted to provide you with a response to your questions regarding the upcoming sharpshooting program. The report for the controlled archery hunt should be available by the February 14th Commission meeting. 

As was the case with last years program White Buffalo will determine the type of bait and baiting system that they believe will be most effective.

The approved contract and the notification letter that will be sent to the school district will be posted to the municipal website early next week. Regarding the aerial survey, I assume that you are referring to item 1 under sharpshooting protocols in the approved contract that reads: 

1. Prior to initiating any field activities the target area/s and surrounding properties are thoroughly surveyed using digital aerial images followed by field confirmation. By knowing the location of every occupied structure and areas of human use we are better able to work safely, discretely, and efficiently;

The digital aerial images would be google earth or something similar. This has already been done for all of the properties that will be used in this year's program. This information combined with field confirmation is done to ensure that the culling operation can take place safely.

The hours will be the same as last year. Sharpshooters will work seven days a week on private properties beginning at 4:00 PM and concluding by 11:00 PM. They will work in the identified public properties Monday - Friday beginning at 6:00 PM and concluding by 11:00 PM.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Keith

On Thu, Jan 19, 2017 at 5:55 PM, Steve Silverman <ssilverman@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

Steve Silverman

Commissioner Ward 2

ssilverman@mtlebanon.org

412-491-3794

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 'egillen476@aol.com' via Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Date: Thu, Jan 19, 2017 at 10:27 AM
Subject: "sharpshooting"
To: commission@mtlebanon.org


Commissioners,

The archery season is to end on January 28, 2017. We're told that the "sharpshooting" phase with White Buffalo will run from Feb. 1, 2017 - March 31, 2017. http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/14630 Looking at the commission meeting calendar, the next meeting is January 23, 2017. When will the results of White Buffalo's archery program be released? Your next meeting won't be until the middle of February, two weeks into the 2017 "sharpshooting" program.

What type of bait will be used for the 2017 "sharpshooting" phase? What type of feeder will be used to bait the deer?

The 2017 contract has never been made public, but here is a link to the contract obtained through a Right To Know. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9r_1biKte_bWVVDZTBQbl9iVWc/view?usp=sharing When will you be putting that contract on the municipal website? The contract states that an aerial survey will be conducted. When will that take place? 

Specifically, what will the hours be for the 2017 "sharpshooting?" All we were told is that it will take place late afternoon and after dark seven days a week.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Elaine Gillen 

The Municipality is off to the races

The Municipality has posted the FAQ for the 2017 "Sharpshooting" program.

Where and how will culling take place? White Buffalo, Inc. specialists will work on private property donated for the purpose, as well as in designated municipal parks.

The PA Office of Open Records will argue that no property was donated. Instead, access was granted by the private property owners. Unfortunately for residents like us who feel we have the right to know if high powered rifles will be fired in our neighborhoods, two courts have sided with the municipality.

Our incompetent PIO issued the FAQs on December 2,2016 with four broken links, no specific hours of killing listed, continue to use euphemisms for killing, provide no details on the type of bait or how it will be distributed, and no mention that safety zones do not apply to a cull.

As a political subdivision holding a valid deer control permit issued under section 2902 of the Game and Wildlife Code, Safety Zone requirements do not apply to the permitted activity.  Section 2505 (a) of Title 34 specifically addresses this exemption.