Commission Meeting Agendas for Tuesday UPDATED 2X

Tuesday's meetings will be action packed. For starters, here is what is in store for the Commission Discussion Session starting at 6:30 PM: 

1. Deer topics:
a. Presentation on roadside detectors – Edward Mulka, JAFA Technologies
b. Conference call regarding sterilization – Enid Feinberg, Wildlife Rescue

6:55 P.M.
2. Wildcat/Middle Field Improvements Project:
a. Bids
b. Funding sources
c. Environmental tests
d. Maintenance
e. Other

7:15 P.M.
3. Review MS-4 and plan for TMDL stormwater. 

I really don't know what Item 3 is about, but the Commission has set aside 25 minutes for this agenda item.

But wait, there's more!

At 8:00 PM, the real fun begins. On the Commission Meeting Agenda: 

First, Senator Matt Smith and State Rep. Dan Miller will be presenting a citation to Mt. Lebanon for being an Allegheny League of Municipalities (ALOM) Banner Community. 

After recognition of a Mt. Lebanon volunteer, Citizen Comments begins. Citizens have five minutes to speak on any topic. Please sign the sheet as you enter the commission chambers if you wish to speak at this time. This is NOT for the Public Hearing.

Agenda Item 5 is the Public Hearing on Capital Investment. There will be a separate sign up sheet for the Public Hearing. This is when you can speak about the list of possible projects discussed so far:

1. Wildcat/Middle field remaining allocation
2. School safety signage
3. Recycling cans
4. Robb Hollow park improvements
5. Deer sterilization and other deer management practices
6. Traffic pedestrian upgrades
7. Bird Park and Twin Hills trail signs
8. Iroquois fill and grass
9. Church Place concrete pad
10. Rockwood Park concrete pad
11. Other park improvements
12. Consultant to develop design guidelines and HARB ordinance
13. Golf course pavilion
14. Firing range improvements
15. Public Works facility improvements
16. Private street contribution
17. Expanding street reconstruction and maintenance
18. Prescription drug incinerator
19. Sidewalks at tennis center
20. Other capital projects listed in the 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Program

First item on the list will be approved. See Agenda Item 14. We will get to hear from the sports people to please assign funds toward the turf project, even though it is already on the agenda. Deer people, here is your chance. PAYT people, time to speak up. Want more money for Tom Kelley's Public Works facility and parks improvements? Get in line. Sidewalks at the tennis center? Sign up. Live on a private road which needs attention? Tell the Commissioners all about it. Kelly Fraasch has been trying to talk about a prescription drug incinerator at all the Commission Discussion Sessions, but the commissioners would always run out of time. See where her possible project is on the list? Almost at the end. I know this will never happen, but it would be nice if the people who want artificial turf, would let the others speak, since it is already an agenda item. If not, I can see this being an after midnight meeting again. 

That was only Agenda No. 5. Items 6 & 7 are Home Rule Charter amendments for the November election.

Still with me? Let's skip to No. 12. Usually, Maher Duessel is appointed as an independent auditor annually, but this year, they will be getting a three year contract. This firm has been our independent auditor for the Municipality and the School District for YEARS! The commission wants to appoint Maher Duessel for audit years 2014, 2015, and 2016. 

But Items 14 & 15 are what most people are interested in, of late. 

14. Consideration to assign funds for athletic field improvements.

At this time, the Commission would like to assign an additional $162,600 for this project.

Use of Funds Amount
Base Bid $ 859,000
Add Alt. 6 (filtration) 21,000
Add Alt. 9 (fountain) 8,000
Professional services 122,000
Contingency 40,000
Total $1,050,000

Source of Funds Amount
11/25/13 Assignment $ 637,400
7/13/14 Assignment 162,600
Non-Municipal Sources 250,000
Total $1,050,000

The original amount to be assigned was $112,600. November 25, 2013 Commission Meeting Minutes

15. Award of bids for the installation of turf at Wildcat/Middle fields

On July 8, 2014, the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners will award the contract to Vasco Sports Contractors for Base Bid 1 - Blended Turf with Thatch Zone with Sand and Rubber Infill ($859,000)
Add Alternate 6 - Storm Filtration System ($21,000) and
Add Alternate 9 - Water Fountain ($8,000)
for a total price of $888,000, subject to:
a) Receipt of the NPDSS (?) permit,
b) Receipt of $250,000 of non-municipal funds, and
c) Review and approval of all contract language by the Solicitor and Municipal Manager.

Number 16 has been top secret. The Commission had been speaking of a turf maintenance agreement with the School District, but we never would get any details. No. 16 is to execute the turf maintenance agreement with the School District.

And if there hasn't been enough controversial topics, the Commission will consider parking issues on Academy Avenue. 

Finally, Agenda Item 18 is moving the parking on Cedar Blvd. near Wildcat and Middle Fields, from the north side of the road to the south side of the road.

What the commissioners have managed to do is pack as many hot topics as possible into one evening. The only issue missing is the dog park. That could be under Robb Hollow park improvements.

And in case you missed it, Charlotte Stephenson wrote an excellent Letter to the Editor in today's Post-Gazette. "Newcomer tax and turf unnecessary"

Update July 4, 2014 11:02 AM Please visit newly created "Mt. Lebo Residents Against Child-Health Risks of Artificial Turf" on Facebook.

Update July 6, 2014 5:53 PM Mt. Lebanon, PA Residents Against Artificial Turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields Petition here.

The day after the 100 year Lebo storm

What a night! I didn't get home until midnight.  The original Discussion Session was to begin at 6:20 PM. The revised agenda listed a start time for 6:30 PM. As usual, the executive session ran late and I believe the Discussion Session didn't start until 7:00 PM. The only reason why White Buffalo was presenting, was because Kristen Linfante wanted them there. Guess who was out of town for last night's meeting? Kristen.

Dr. Anthony DeNicola was MIA. Instead, a technician, Mr. Maddock (didn't catch the first name) made the presentation. Mr. Maddock started off by clarifying that he was not a wildlife biologist as the agenda portrayed him to be.

I want to thank Kelly Fraasch for asking about the video that was originally posted here about suffocating deer. Maddock had heard about the video, but never watched it. I wonder why he never did. He said that the deer was dead and that the moving legs were just a reflex. They bag every deer's head, to avoid the scent of blood, causing other deer to leave the area.

We have the same situation as we did for the last two cullings. A company determines that a deer culling is necessary and the same company would be hired to do the culling. (Sounds amazing similar to the feasibility study done by PK, doesn't it?)

I had to leave the room at that point. It is recorded and will be uploaded on to lebocitizens.com as well as posted on the municipal website.

A very long discussion about Brafferton Field with bids coming in too high. Dave Brumfield and John Bendel thought that it would be better to turf an existing field. Of course. Dave wants Mellon and John wants Wildcat. Blah blah blah. You can hear it on the recordings.

Steve Feller will be recommending another bond issue for next year. I was so punchy that you need to watch the meeting for more details.

Academy Avenue parking issues and traffic options were discussed ad nauseum. Bottom line is that the commission will not making Academy Avenue one way.

PAYT was an interesting discussion. I sat next to Andrew Behrend, not sure of the spelling of his name, during the Discussion Session. He was never introduced when he spoke about PAYT, but I understand he is a member of Environmental Sustainability Board. Kelly and Andrew spoke about Cranberry's successful program. It seems that someone from Cranberry will be attending the next commission discussion session. Evidently, SHACOG has now placed a deadline in the middle November, if Lebo wants to switch to PAYT. I get the feeling that Steve Feller and Tom Kelley are not thrilled about PAYT. Dave said that the cost will double for residents. Steve said that if there is a problem with collection, then the municipality will need to pick up the garbage. Andrew told me during the meeting that containers are problematic, while Kristen and Kelly are leaning toward containers. Andrew wants to sell them on the idea of PAYT and then work out a hybrid program for Mt. Lebanon. I had mentioned to Andrew that everyone is NOT paying the same for trash collection since it is based on our assessments.  I am not thrilled about this idea.

By the time all this was over, we moved into the commission chambers and the first resident comment (mine) was at 10:10 PM! Many people left because they were tired of waiting. I didn't get home until midnight. What a night.

The 100 Year [Lebo] Storm

Tuesday's Commission meetings should go down as the most controversial meetings of our 100 year history. Here is the agenda for Tuesday's Discussion Session:

Discussion Session – Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Open Discussion Session (Room C)

6:20 P.M.

1. Deer: 

• Wildlife biologist with White Buffalo

6:45 P.M.

2. Brafferton Field bids.

6:55 P.M.

3. Financial planning review: 

• Financial trends 

• Overview of municipal debt 

• Proposed CIP for 2014-2018 

• Proposed user fee schedule for 2014 

• Proposed equipment replacement schedule

7:15 P.M.

4. Update on Academy Avenue parking and traffic.

7:25 P.M.

5. Pay as you throw.

7:35 P.M.

6. Dog park.

7:40 P.M.

7. Invasive species in parks.

7:45 P.M.

8. Commission liaison activities.

7:50 P.M.

9. Review of Regular Agenda.

Citizen Comments will begin at 8 PM during the regular Commission meeting. The Commission Meeting agenda is here. It's is going to be a late night.