Sports Advisory Board November meeting minutes finally posted

On Monday, I wrote to the commission asking about the SAB meeting minutes being posted. At that time, the June 2014 meeting minutes were the most recent ones available. I received this response from President John Bendel:

Elaine,
Meeting minutes are posted after they are approved. Therefore, the postings have at least a one month delay. In the case of the SAB, they met on June 14, November 6 and January 15. The November 6 minutes were approved a few days ago at the January 15 meeting. They should be posted shortly.  

Maybe the questions to Mr. Bendel should be, "Why does the board with the largest budget ever recorded in Mt Lebanon history have gaps of over five months between meetings? If the board's needs are so essential, why the long vacation?"
The November minutes have been posted. Minutes of the November 6, 2014 Sports Advisory Board meeting

Mr. Franklin suggested that the policy be adjusted to reflect any changes to the field signage ordinance. He added that he doesn’t anticipate a great deal of interest from corporate sponsors.

In April 2012, Lebo Fields' Dave Franklin had insisted that we must change the sign ordinance.  Franklin on sign ordinance

Ideally, the municipality or the various sports associations will be permitted to sell tasteful sponsorship signage at the municipal fields (picture signs on the outfield fence at Dixon). These funds can then be applied to field maintenance and improvements. I think the first proposed amendment has a few problems, but we also need to encourage the commissioners to stay focused on getting the amendment right so that we can capitalize on this much needed source of additional revenue.

The Sports Advisory Board met again on january 15, 2015. At approximately the 32:19 minute mark of the video, Dave Franklin was blaming the delay of the construction on those who wanted to stop the project. All it did, according to Dave, was cost the municipality more money and "it was much ado about nothing." Last I read, the Allegheny County Conservation District and the DEP would disagree with you, Dave. Gateway had to comply. The NPDES permit wasn't granted until October 16, 2014. Gateway told you that it would be the beginning of July. Don't blame us for it. Blame Gateway. Thanks for giving us so much credit, but we had nothing to do with it.  Our protests were on October 26, 2014 and November 8, 2014. Construction was due to start August 1 and didn't begin until late October.

By the way, SAB, I guess this is "more ado about nothing."

Rep. Steve Israel Blasts Feds for Failing to Probe Synthetic Turf

A New York congressman is demanding the feds probe whether a type of synthetic turf used on thousands of kids' playing fields could cause health risks, saying that environmental officials have "whiffle-waffled" about the potential dangers. 

Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island has sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking for a second look at the recycled material known as "tire crumb."...The EPA has said it does not have any plans to re-examine the risks.

"The EPA has just whiffle-waffled on this and they owe us a straight answer and they owe us that answer now," Israel said.

Senator Introduces Bill to Investigate Turf Safety UPDATED

New bill calls for study of crumb rubber turf safety

SAN FRANCISCO -Artificial turf made from recycled rubber tires may save water, but there are growing health concerns among parents, activists and now legislators about these athletic fields that could pose a health risk. 

Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) will introduce legislation on Wednesday calling for a new, more comprehensive study of crumb rubber synthetic turf amid growing concerns that the material is linked to cancer.

This won't stop the toxic turf project on Cedar Blvd. already protested TWICE here in Mt. Lebanon, but may impact the school district's plan to turf the Rock Pile and Franklin's desire to turf Mellon.

Another unhappy camper may be the EPA. According to the EPA's website, the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) Scrap Tire Workgroup formulated an action plan in 2007 to promote increased use of ground rubber made from scrap tires. See pages 7-10.

Calvin Young, Chairman of the RCC, is still selling crumb rubber! Grant Program Overview Tire-Derived Product (TDP) Grant Program The EPA is pushing this through grants as late as August! August 19, 2014 Presentation.

Between exposing children to toxic turf and the possibility of the children witnessing the killing of God's creatures, it is very difficult for me to be in the Holiday spirit. Thank you, Commissioners, for your personal agendas. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas.

Update December 20, 2014 11:09 PM Yet another article about turf safety. Here is a bedtime story for you to read, Dave, Kristen, John, and Steve. Scrap Tire Playgrounds Lighten Landfills, But Raise Cancer Fears

In the wake of the recent alarm, some schools and municipalities have canceled plans to install crumb rubber turf. Lawyers, such as Connecticut's Ed Jazlowiecki, who called crumb rubber "the next asbestos," are collecting names for class-action lawsuits. And citizen-advocates are pushing their local governments to change policies.

No crumb rubber for kids under ten

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams ran a follow up story tonight on the use of shredded rubber tires on playgrounds. Some parents are not permitting their children on these playgrounds. Dr. Philip Landrigan, dean of global health at New York's Mt. Sinai Hospital and a top expert on the effect of chemicals on children believes that children under ten shouldn't be anywhere near it.

The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that more studies of crumb rubber need to be done, and has retracted an earlier assurance that crumb rubber turf is safe. Both the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, however, recommend and promote rubber mulch.

Here is the video link to the NBC Nightly News Investigation Report.
http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/are-recycled-tires-used-in-playgrounds-a-health-risk--366304835835

Brian Williams reported that towns all across the country want to remove their artificial turf. Here in Mt. Lebanon, our defiant commissioners and staff are turfing on!

Appeasing a select few?

I wanted to take a break for a couple of days, but I want use of my dining room table again. So here is another chapter from my mother of all RTKs.
Elaine

On  November 6, 2013, Dave Franklin writes:
"My primary concern was that the proposal seemed to place a particular emphasis on the organic product. I didn't want to let that horse too far out of the barn, and then have a difficult time pulling him back in."

In his email, Dave knocks GeoTurf's endorsement by the Green Energy Council. Dave continues with the cost of GeoTurf being significantly higher than traditional synthetic surfaces. He feels that Mt. Lebanon can't afford a more luxurious surface. Dave "doesn't want to rain on the organic parade, but I am [he is]  troubled about driving the cost up even further just to appease a select few in our community, especially when nearly every other community, School District, University and other turf customer is content  to use the traditional surface. In our efforts to satisfy this vocal minority, we may really just be buying a pig in a poke." He quotes an article written about renovating a football field in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Lebo's space would be much larger.

The Geo-turf field is expected to cost $1,721,969, about $310,000 more than the cost of a synthetic field with recycled tire infill and about $1.2 million dollars more than a new grass field.

John Bendel answered Mr. Franklin.with:

I get the rationale if the cost is significantly higher for organic fill, but don't know why the endorsements are in question. The product is used in other countries and I spoke with the public works director in San Carlos,CA. I called him because their project was almost identical to ours. The PW Director endorsed the product and told me they may use it on another field. Last year, the Geoturf vendor quoted a price that was in line with the YSA proposals. Dan Deiseroth's opinion of cost assumed organic fill.

If it costs about the same, and performs well, why not use it? If the price is significantly higher than other options then that's a different story. l'd like to wait until the bids come in to decide.

Good question, John. But then Kelly Fraasch's November blog post hit on November 13, 2013.

The icing on the cake is right here. SAB chair and Turf Project Task Force member Tim White wrote this to Kristen Linfante on November 19, 2013:

As is always the case, K Fraasch has us concerned - she is on record with some folks that she wants more information, wants to make sure the turf is the organic product (not the rubber product) and that she is proposing to use the Brafferton money (only).........usual BS

Obviously, Tim didn't read Kelly's November 13 blog post very carefully. She was pretty transparent on her position. Why shouldn't she want more information? This is a major project. She is concerned about the environmental and health issues related to artificial turf. That is BS? I wish we had four more commissioners concerned about the environment and the health and safety of our young athletes.

But Kristen summed it up with "No worries! We only need 3 votes, and we have them! It's a go for sure! Thanks for all your work on this!" Wasn't the vote on November 25, 2013? You know, the night that Kristen lied about the ESB's position on artificial turf?

Poor Dave Franklin. My blog post, "Whoa," says the EPA. came out on January 13, 2014. David P. Franklin, Esq., Eckert Seamans fired off an epistle to the commissioners on January 14, 2014. He encouraged the commissioners to review the actual 2013 EPA report (attached) rather than relying upon "position pieces written by those on either side of the debate." I wonder why the formality.

David Donnellan got in the act. He sent a 2010 turf report provided by J. T. Sauer and Associates on January 15, 2014 to members of the Turf Project Task Force. Sauer is the landscape architect involved with the turfing project.

So Parents, that is a little more background on the organic vs. synthetic turf debate. Are you part of the select few who demand a safe playing environment for your children? ESB and residents on Cedar Blvd., do your concerns for the environment make you the vocal minority? Have you reached that breaking point yet?