Are MTL Commissioners and Michalina now felons?

Act 10 – a new lease on life for pets and animals – signed into law 

I recently co-sponsored legislation to update Pennsylvania’s animal abuse statutes and increase penalties for abusing animals. The legislation, Act 10 of 2017, was signed by Governor Wolf on June 28th.

The new law has been praised by the Pennsylvania SPCA as the most “comprehensive animal protection bill in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Among other provisions, the act breaks down cruelty to animals into three categories, based on the egregiousness of the conduct, rather than different penalties for different animals as was the case before Act 10. The three categories under the new act include:

• Neglect of an animal, which includes denying an animal necessary food and potable water, clean and sanitary shelter, or necessary veterinary care. This is a summary offense and becomes a third-degree misdemeanor if the violation injures the animal or places the animal in imminent risk of serious injury.

• Cruelty to an animal, which includes intentionally, knowingly or recklessly ill-treating, overloading, beating, abandoning or abusing an animal. This is a second-degree misdemeanor.

• Aggravated cruelty to an animal, which includes intentionally or knowingly torturing an animal or causing serious injury or death to the animal. This will be a third-degree felony.

The new law has additional provisions dealing with tethering, reporting, and forfeiture. For a copy of the new law, call my office at 412-928-9514 or go to my website at www.pahouse.com/deasy.

As always, if you have any questions, comments and/or concerns, my offices are here to help. Please do not hesitate to call or reach out. We’re here for you!

A win for fairness!

Scott Livingston announced late this afternoon in an email to The Newcomers that he and Mt. Lebanon Solicitor Phil Weis had agreed to an 84% of Full Market Value (FMV) settlement, which would apply to all people who had an appeal pending at the BOV and who had asked Scott to represent them (which he did for free); and would likely be offered to others as well who would soon be at that stage in the appeals process.

Congratulations to Adrian Soriano and Scott Livingston, and to all the people who stood together with them and fought for fairness and transparency. 

Mt. Lebanon Municipality had held the line at 85%. That 1% difference represents that the Mt. Lebanon commissioners were wrong. The commission targeted constituents unjustly. I am embarrassed that our commission treated you so poorly. The commissioners went after a large group of the taxpayers who worked together and democracy prevailed! How refreshing! 

Congratulations Newcomers! I hope this brings peace back into your lives and optimism to the rest of us.

How will they vote?

Tomorrow's Commission meeting includes an action to enact Bill No. 20-12, establishing a Sports Advisory Board. 

KL 5. Public hearing and consideration of Ordinance (Bill No. 20-12) establishing a Sports Advisory Board.

The proposed advisory board will:
 Review and assess all sports-related facilities and services in Mt. Lebanon. Recommend possible changes and improvements to sports-related facilities and services.
 Assist in the continued safe provision of athletic opportunities to Mt. Lebanon residents.
 Receive and consider public comment and other public input regarding sports facilities and services.
 Support, promote and/or provide programs and services to assist athletes and coaches in Mt. Lebanon.
Membership of the board will consist of staff from the municipality and school district, a representative from any sports organization recognized by the municipality, a representative from the parks board and a commission liaison. The school district will also provide a liaison and may request participation by other staff or groups. This ordinance was introduced November 13, 2012.

Who will be the Commission Liaison?
Will it be President Dave Brumfield, who is with Lacrosse and came up with this idea?
Will it be Vice-President Matt Kluck, who was not welcomed to attend the Joint Discussion Session?
Will it be John Bendel, who wants to look at turf again at Mellon?
Will it be Kelly Fraasch, who wants the sports groups to pay for turf and whose husband was crucified while on the school board?
Or will it be Kristen Linfante, blogger on Real-Lebo?

I found an interesting comment posted on Real-Lebo, dated January 2, 2010 at 3:05 PM by Kristen Linfante. It sheds some light on her views on sports in this town and the rifle range at the high school.

I personally don't give a hoot about a 6-lane pool, 8-lane pool, or even a pool at all. A rifle range seems like a joke to me, as does a football field that looks like Heinz Field....and tennis courts that could host the US Open - not of interest to me either. However, it has become very clear to me that many in this town put sports at the top of the list. I am not one of those people. However, I do recognize and even respect the fact that many, many sports people in the community have come forward and demanded that the board listen and include all of the sports "bells and whistles" in the new design. http://www.reallebo.com/2009/12/high-school-renovation-takes-big-step.html#comment-form 

Kristen has come a long way. She is the biggest supporter of shooting in this town, as well as introducing and moving to enact Bill No. 21-12.

I hope this is tabled. The School Board has a full plate with change orders and the renovation, parents up in arms over the math program, not meeting AYP for a group at the high school, dances, and substance abuse. Did I miss anything? It would be nice if their focus was on education, not fields or construction.

New Voter ID Law UPDATED

While I am experiencing a high volume of hits today, I would like to take this opportunity to share the following Voter ID information.

From the Municipal website:

Voters will be required to present IDs in order to cast ballots in the November election. Your ID will be accepted it if "substantially conforms" to your voter registration. For a short summary of what sorts of IDs are acceptable and what to do if you don't have a proper ID, visit www.VotesPA.com and click on the red Voter ID link for information. To read a comprehensive guide to the new law go to http://www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/PhotoID/GeneralFAQ.pdf. Copies of the short version are available at the customer service center in the municipal building. If you do not qualify for a PennDOT driver's license or ID., you can get the new Department of State Voter ID card from PennDOT at a drivers license center. For further info about how to apply for the new ID and to locate the driver's license center nearest to you, visit www.dmv.state.pa.us or call 1-800-932-4600.

If you have already registered or are not sure whether you are registered here, you can confirm your registration status.

September 13, 2012 9:00 PM On the morning of Saturday, September 22, our commissioners will have printed information regarding how to obtain a voter ID for those who might need one, so that everyone can vote in the November elections. Look for them at the following places: Dave Brumfield, post office/ Galleria; Matt Kluck, golf course; Kristen Linfante, library; John Bendel, Beverly Road, and Kelly Fraasch, Uptown at the municipal building/Rolliers.

Public Safety Building Update

A follow up to the Public Safety Building repairs, as described in I have pajamas older than this!, the Commissioners met in executive session yesterday to discuss construction issues related to the Public Safety Building. I hope they can resolve this so that we can recoup some of the $250,000 it is costing us to correct the problem.

Robb Hollow Park update and stormwater fee update

It looks like the Solicitor for the Municipality is keeping busy.  First, the Trib had instructions on how to declare the stormwater fee as unconstitutional. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/s_754811.html

Also, the Friends of Robb Hollow Park sent out an update which I am printing below.  To grind or not to grind (and I am not talking about skateboarding here,) that is the question. Please read to the end of the letter.  I love the last two paragraphs.

Last night Friends of Robb Hollow Park’s Core Group were pleased to attend a meeting of the Parks Advisory Board. We shared information from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources regarding the violation of Project 70 regulations limiting the use of Robb Hollow Park solely to recreation. This was apparently the first the Parks Advisory Board had heard of the violation.

 

Commissioner Brumfield informed the attendees that Mt. Lebanon has turned the matter of grinding in Robb Hollow Park over to their solicitor. Mt. Lebanon’s response to the DCNR’s letter is to try and pass this activity off as “conservation”. It is clear that our elected leaders are planning “business as usual” at this industrial production site in the Park.

 

The board members listened to our concerns about the health effects of the smog emitted by the Beast. They expressed frustration that many of the needs in the parks have been put aside due to a lack of money.

 

We heard a good bit of discussion regarding the proposed 3 Million dollar bond issue to create playing fields in Mc Neilly Park. We listened as Commissioner Brumfield spoke emotionally and sincerely about not wanting to be in the position of telling little six year old girls that they cannot play a sport this year due to a lack of availability of sport fields.

 

We wonder why the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners are comfortable telling our children that they cannot have the same quality of clean air that all other neighborhoods in Mt. Lebanon enjoy?

 

Mary D’Angelo

for Friends of Robb Hollow Park

62+ days until Election Day

Steve Diaz, guest writer on this blog, has submitted another post. This time, it is out of respect for the 4,000 people who signed the petition to cap the renovation project at $75 million. The following pledge is for school board members, commissioners and candidates.  Since no one seems to be campaigning with just 62 plus days to go, this pledge written by Steve Diaz might be a good start.  And for the incumbents, the current poll shows 67% of voters feel that ALL school board directors should resign. Only 25 votes (13%) out of 186 total voters feel that the school board is doing a fine job.

A Pledge for Public Service:

As an informed citizen, I hereby call upon every elected official of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon and the Mt. Lebanon School District, and all candidates for such office, to publicly agree to be bound by the following principles of open representative government:

MT. LEBANON OFFICE HOLDER/CANDIDATE PLEDGE OF RESPECT FOR CONSTITUENTS

As an elected official of the Mt. Lebanon School Board, or of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, or as a candidate for a seat on the Mt. Lebanon School Board or the Council of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, I pledge that my public service will be dedicated to the following principles:

1.  It is my duty to give due and patient consideration to the substance of constituent sentiment on all matters of policy and taxation.

2.  It is my duty to provide a civil, respectful, and thoughtful response to every constituent communication, whether or not I agree with the points of view expressed by my constituents.

3.  It is my duty to be forthright, complete, honest, accurate, and fair in every communication I have with my constituents.

4.  It is my duty to be clear and consistent with my constituents as to my position on all issues, and to be honest, forthright, and timely when I deem it desirable to change my position on public matters.

5.  It is my duty to conduct myself at all times in an open and transparent manner, avoiding meetings with other public officials in circumstances that are likely to hide from public scrutiny my actions and purposes.

6.  It is my duty to assure that meetings at which public business is conducted or decided are open, transparent, duly noticed, and scheduled so as to maximize the opportunity of the public to attend, observe, and/or participate.

7.  It is my duty to fully disclose all information that I reasonably believe is of interest to my constituents and to assure full disclosure and full public knowledge of how official business is conducted.

8.  It is my duty to assure that intergovernmental meetings and coordination are fully open and transparent in a timely manner to my constituents.

9.  It is my duty to seek redress from appropriate authorities for all acts of fraud, waste, abuse, or unethical, illegal, or improper conduct by public officials and employees in the course of my official duties.

10.  It is my duty to consider and avoid any unnecessarily negative impact on the economic welfare of my constituents, including taxation.

11.  It is my duty to speak out against and to actively oppose all attempts to limit diversity of opinion by official policy or action, formal or informal.

12.  It is my duty to insist upon compliance with these principles by the body to which I am elected, and to hold my colleagues accountable to these principles as well.

I ask each person holding or seeking public office in this Municipality or this School District to subscribe to these principles by giving their written concurrence, thereby indicating their commitment to constituent service and respect.  I would hope that all members of the Council and the School Board, and all candidates for seats on these bodies will subscribe to these basic democratic principles now and in the future.

Respectfully.  Steve Diaz

Two commissioners commenting within 24 hours!

Thanks goes out to Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.  Two of them took time out to comment on this blog. Thank you for the open dialogue, Dave and Dan. We may not agree, but it is refreshing to see open and direct responses from our elected officials. This is the way government should work.  Thank you!

On the bright side...

The Commissioners are considering broadcasting the Commission Discussion sessions beginning April 25, 2011.   The Commission began broadcasting its regular and adjourned meetings in the spring of 2009.  I was hoping you would start this since I was the only one recording the discussion sessions for lebocitizens.com. Thank you!!!  Government transparency at its finest.  Municipal agenda for April 12, 2011.

We couldn't bring up costs.

During the Shared Parking Agreement Hearing, residents were not allowed to bring up any issues concerning costs.  We tried to bring up the fact that we are paying from the same purse, but the Commissioners were making their decision on what is best for the Municipality.  I don't believe the Zoning Hearing Board and the Planning Board made any exceptions for the School District.  The Commissioners are now weighing the possibility of waiving the $587,000 inspection fees for the high school renovation.  As Steve Feller said in the Trib this morning,

"There's no doubt this fee is significant, but this is the most significant project we have and the most significant burden on the inspectors."

Let's be consistent.  Why should the School District expect the Municipality to have their inspectors work at cost, when they approve increases for the Administration without blinking an eye? 

Read more:  Mt. Lebanon High School inspection fees create impasse

Dear Mt. Lebanon government

Lance: To Mt. Lebanon government. The board of commissioners this week gave final approval to a zoning change that paves the way for a more than $113 million high school renovation project. The project already has resulted in a 10 percent-plus increase in school taxes with more on the way. What will the school board and commissioners do when there's no more money to underwrite their follies?

Read more: Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/s_722305.html#ixzz1DfSghXG4

T-R-A-N-S-P-A-R-E-N-C-Y part 2

This appeared in this week's Almanac.  Peters Township holds annual joint steering committee meetings that are ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!!  Ahem.  Do I need to repeat that, members of the School Board and Commission?  WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?

Feeding from same trough

Twelve Peters Township elected officials sat down at a U-shaped table Jan. 31 and talked. That's all they did - talk. No one yelled. No accusations were hurled across the room. No threats or "what's in it for me" were uttered. They just talked and, more importantly, they listened to each other. How refreshing for politicians to do such a thing.
Each year, usually at the end of January, members of the Peters Township Council and Peters Township School Board hold a joint meeting, alternating locations each year. This year council hosted the event in the municipal building. Cookies and pots of fresh, hot coffee were available. The meeting was extremely civil, yet casual. School board members sat next to council members. There was no assigned seating and the conversation flowed easily. Occasionally, there was a slight hint of laughter.
The meeting is always open to the public, but, unfortunately, few, if anyone, ever attends other than those who are supposed to be there. At the most recent gathering, there was only one township resident in the audience and nowhere on the agenda is there a listing for public comment.
No votes are taken even though all seven council members attended. No reasons were given as to why four of the nine school board members were absent, but the district's superintendent, assistant superintendent and business manager were there, as were the assistant township manager, township planning director and parks and recreation director. Neither group's solicitor attended. No lawyers were there, with the exception of two attorneys who are elected officials - Frank Arcuri on council and David Hvzidos on school board.

Even though the school district's administration offices and the township offices are almost across from one another along East McMurray Road, communication is not necessarily a constant. The annual meeting is a fantastic chance for everyone to come together to discuss upcoming traffic projects that will affect school bus routes, to learn the number of new building permits for residential houses that may impact future school enrollments, and to learn more about what plans the school district has to help the two entities share athletic facilities.
The only hint of discord came at the end of the 90-minute gathering when the township asked the school district to help in the cost of installing a planned warning track at the township-owned baseball field. The township may own and maintain the facility, but the school district is the main user. The discussion never became heated, just not as amicable as the previous topics. Both groups decided to solicit financial quotes in order to determine how much the total cost may be.
How civil.
Perhaps the purpose of the meeting was summed up by Council Chairman Robert Atkison who said that while both groups had different agendas, diverse needs and varying future projects, "We all (feed) from the same trough."
How true.
And wouldn't it be nice if the rest of the country's politicians could take note of the civility expressed in Peters Township, and understand that they, too, feed from the same taxpayers' "trough."

http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/02-02-2011-editorial

Updated 10:29 a.m. Oh wait!  There is more!!! On the PT blog, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9071530993756028699&postID=5902649752791057377, it seems that sports is ruining that community too.  One reader writes, "It is not about the common good for all citizens, children and community anymore. It is nothing but arrogance, greed, entitlement and self satisfaction."  Does this sound familiar, Mt. Lebanon?  The president of the township council is also the president of the football boosters.  I apologize. Things are bad in Peters too, they're just more transparent about it. 

Hold that thought.

Last night, the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners approved a tax decrease.  Mt. Lebanon reverses tax increase During the Citizen Comments portion of the meeting, residents spoke about the need for increased services, which would not occur with a tax decrease. 
"At some point maybe a tax increase needs to be done, but right now is a tough time for a lot of people," Commissioner Joe DeIuliis said. "We've already had an increase in school taxes. Piling on at this point is not what's needed."
Yes, it is a tough time for a lot of people.  But our community is deteriorating as a result of the increase in school taxes.  Maybe the Commissioners will hold that thought when it comes time for the final vote for the High School renovation project.