Burning Bridges

This is what Foster School looked like for the Primary 2018.

The infamous Republican bulletin board has nothing on it. You may remember, if you have been a Lebo Citizens reader since 2011, Jim Cannon and I were not permitted to hang any signage on that board during the May Primary in 2011. How embarrassing...for Republicans. 

Last night, there was a fundraiser for Keith Rothfus and Guy Reschenthaler. How do I know this? 

Matt Kluck sent this email to a bunch of Republicans and me.

Sent: Sat, May 19, 2018 4:02 pm
Subject: Republican Committee of Mt. Lebanon-Spring into Summer Party

Dear Committee and Associates of the RCML,

It is getting close to the biggest fundraiser that the RCML will hold this
year and we need to have your support at the event. Keith Rothfus and Guy
Reschenthaler will be in attendance so we will have some great guests who
will be running for a couple of important seats that we must do everything
in our power to prevail! 

Please extend this information to your friends, neighbor, family and I
encourage you to attend. It is at a great venue and will be an outstanding
party.

Please see all the information below or give me a call with any questions
you have regarding any issue.

Warm regards,
Matt Kluck
RCML Chair


Spring Into Summer Party
June 3 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm $100.00
Please join the Republican Committee of Mt. Lebanon for our Spring Into
Summer party!
St. Clair Country Club, Crossroads Room
2300 Old Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241
Sunday, June 3, 2018, 6-9 p.m.
Heavy hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, beverages.
Elected officials invited.

Please RSVP by May 26, 2018 with the following information to:
Republican Committee of Mt. Lebanon
PO Box 14525
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Please make checks payable to RCML
$100 per person
Name(s) ____________________________________
Email Address ________________________________
How many people will be attending_________
I am unable to attend; here is my contribution_______

I just had to reply, sent on May 20, 2018 replying to all.

Matt,

How I wish I would have gotten some communication from you back in October when you were inviting folks to the MLRC meeting. I was working so hard on my blog, lebocitizens.blogspot.com to sway voters away from Democratic candidates vying for seats on the commission, and never even got a hello on the night of the General Election to attend the very dismal after party. My eyes were opened.

I have been a Republican since 1972. I am a super voter.  I have been active in the community since 2010. I was abandoned by my party in 2011, when you all were supporting the guy with the For Sale sign in his yard and had told the press that he was moving far away from Mt. Lebanon. I supported you when you were on the Commission, Matt. I supported you when you ran for school board. In fact, I supported all but one of you on this list who ran for office, and that one was because of the ticket she ran on.

The photo below is from the May 2018 Primary at Foster School. It shows the very board I was not permitted to use in 2011 by your predecessor. It has nothing on it. That is pathetic.

If you had been reading my blog, which is the longest active blog in Mt. Lebanon, bringing the TRUTH to the community, you would know that I am now an official card carrying Democrat. That still gives me chills when I write that, since I have been a Republican for 46 years. But as one very active Democrat said to me, "I guess pigs can fly." We both laughed.

This email serves as my Dear John letter to the MLRC. Please remove me from your email list.

Elaine Gillen

Oops! I see that I was supposed to extend this information to my family, friends, and neighbors. I guess I forgot. 

Meet the Candidates

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, registered Republicans and Democrats will have the opportunity to choose up to five School Board Directors. Additionally, those voters in Wards 1, 3, and 5 will be voting for their candidates to serve as Mt. Lebanon commissioners. Four years ago, Mt. Lebanon voters had more options, with several candidates running for the same seat. The League of Women Voters held a Candidates Forum, prior to the May Primary in 2011, which gave voters an opportunity  to learn more about those running for office. For this Primary, registered R's and D's must rely on social media.

The race for School Board Directors includes six candidates for five seats. Those running for School Board have the opportunity to cross file.

Running on both tickets are:

Incumbent Elaine Cappucci
Incumbent Larry Lebowitz
Incumbent Bill Cooper
Hugh Beal
Sarah Olbrich
http://www.leboed.com/

Running on the Republican ticket only:

Matt Kluck
No website for Matt Kluck

For the Commission:

In Ward 1,

Incumbent John Bendel (D)
http://www.votebendel.com/

Dan McNichol (R)
http://votemcnichol.com/

In Ward 3,

Andy Reinhart (D)
http://www.andyreinhart.com/

Steve McLean (R)
No website for Steve McLean

In Ward 5,

Kelly Fraasch (D)
http://www.kellyfraasch.com/

William Hoon (R)
No website for William Hoon

If voters are dissatisfied with the actions of our School Board, this Primary gives registered R's and D's a chance to vote out one incumbent. The General Election in November will give all registered voters an opportunity for change in leadership (the majority) within our Municipality.

My meeting with Rep. Miller

Yesterday, I met with State Representative Dan Miller, Commissioner Kelly Fraasch, and former Mt. Lebanon Commission President Matt Kluck. The topic was transparency in Mt. Lebanon. I had attended Rep. Miller's Right To Know Information Session in November and know that transparency in government is very important to Dan.

I am extremely frustrated with what is happening within the Municipality. Just trying to get an email to the Planning Board was an ordeal. I sent an email to Municipal Planner Keith McGill asking him to forward my email to the members of the Planning Board. On the subject of the Planning Board, the meeting last night was in the commission chambers and was not video recorded, even though a staff person was paid to sit there and video record it. Here is an email exchange that I had with Commissioner Fraasch and Keith McGill. Kelly has had a difficult time getting all the boards and authority meetings videotaped. No consistency whatsoever.

I suggested that the boards get their own email addresses, such as sportsadvisoryboard at mtlebanon dot org. It is ludicrous that we cannot reach the boards via email.

Another problem that I have is the lack of transparency when it comes to personal emails and text messages for RTK requests. A Right To Know was granted to me yesterday, after my meeting. My RTK was:

All communication to/from Commissioners for March 11, 12, and 13, 2014 pertaining to turf, Castlegate, Newcomer's tax, and/or about residents or guests who spoke at the March 11, 2014 meeting during Citizens Comments.

I filed an appeal today with the Office Of Open Records over an email exchange from that RTK request in which Kristen Linfante had with Kelly Fraasch. Kristen had sent an email to the commission and copied staff about a citizen who challenged the turf project during Citizen Comments at a commission meeting. The reason why I appealed the RTK is because her personal email, sent by a constituent, was not included in the RTK. I also challenged the RTK because I never get any text messages included in any of my RTKs. I am still waiting for a final determination of a previous appeal that was sent to the OOR for the very same thing.

I couldn't believe I was saying this at Dan's meeting yesterday, but the MTLSD website does not list phone numbers of the school board members, only email addresses in their contact information. The municipality should follow MTLSD, and adopt the same policy. (I know! Can you believe that I said that??) By including phone numbers, residents are encouraged to text message or call commissioners and makes it virtually impossible to access that information for Right To Know requests.

I also raised questions about the turf project. There seems to be a lot of secrecy when it comes to this turf project. Even fundraising has raised flags. I want to share an email exchange that came to me today over the fundraising email sent out by the Recreation Department's Sandy Kyper.

From: Stephen Feller [mailto:sfeller@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 2:57 PM
To: A Concerned Resident
Cc: David Donnellan
Subject: your question

I am told that the email was sent to the addresses on the recreation program notification data base and that this includes over 8,000 addresses that have asked to be notified about recreation programs and facility updates. Some of these folks do not live in Mt. Lebanon. 

OVER EIGHT THOUSAND ADDRESSES? The “recreation program notification database” solely belongs to the Municipality for Municipality specific use and it was used to benefit the Soccer Association, the Lacrosse Association and the Endowment, which are all third party independent organizations.

Finally, I would like to share an email exchange, which was a followup to Rep. Miller's meeting. I do hope changes are made as a result of my meeting.

Since Susan is busy,

I thought that the amended 2014 Manager's Recommended Budget should be published SOMEWHERE before Tuesday's Commission meeting. It is not on the Municipal website, other than on Tuesday's Agenda.

Amendments to the 2014 Manager's Recommended Budget

The final public hearing on the 2014 Budget will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. According to the Commission Agenda, the commissioners will be approving the new budget on the same night.

This is our last opportunity to voice our opinions (not that it matters) about artificial turf and any other Commission revisions to the Manager's Recommended Budget.

Tuesday will be President Matt Kluck's last meeting as a commissioner. He is such a gentleman. I hate to see him go. Good luck, Matt.  Thank you for all your hard work and efforts to keep the Commission grounded.

Pay As You Throw Still A Go?

As of today, PAYT is still a possibility. It certainly got Waste Management's attention. On October 15, Waste Management looked at this blog EIGHTEEN times. There seems to be some conflicting information. WM told me that Cranberry does not have PAYT. Kelly Fraasch disagreed. When I spoke (briefly) with Kelly today, she said that she is working on a blog post, and will post it soon.

Matt Kluck wants to have a discussion as to the pros and cons of PAYT. He asked Tom Kelley to present them at the October 28, 2013 Discussion Session.

PAYT, contrary to the anonymous comment indicating otherwise, may still become a reality.

Something is up UPDATED

I feel like something is not right in the municipality. Monday's meeting is set for the reorganization. According to the agenda,

John Bendel 1. Nomination and election of Commission President for 2013.
Recommended Action: Move to nominate and elect Matt Kluck as Commission President.

Dave Brumfield 2. Nomination and election of Commission Vice President for 2013.
Recommended Action: Move to nominate and elect __________________ as Vice President. 

Why the lack of transparency for VP? Who is the mystery person? It will be one of three people, listed in alphabetical order:

• John Bendel
• Kelly Fraasch
• Kristen Linfante

It is not up to us to decide, unfortunately. Sadly, it isn't up to the president either. It is done by majority vote. It also has nothing to do with qualifications or how engaged the commissioner is.  In this situation, all three are Democrats, so it isn't a party thing. It might have something to do with musical abilities, but I can't be sure. 

Who would you want to be VP? Remember, commissioners serve four years, so not everyone gets a turn.  My vote goes to the one who is respectful of residents, someone who is engaged with the community, someone who truly listens to constituents. Sorry, but my commissioner does not fit that bill.

Update January 5, 2013 2:15 PM When the comments turned to talk of a rotation, I tried calling Kelly Fraasch this morning for verification. I then emailed her this:

Kelly,

Would you by any chance know who was president and VP of the Commission by Ward? I have only been involved for the last couple of years. Is there a rotation?
Thanks.
Elaine Gillen

Here is her response:

Hi Elaine,

Happy New Year!

I apologize for not answering the phone earlier today but I was in a meeting.
I requested the listing a couple of days ago from our Municipal Manager.
Please see the attached document.

I don't find a solid rotation. One area that I do find consistent is everytime a "freshman" Commissioner's Ward comes up for President they don't take that spot.
For example, Dan Miller in 08, he did not get to be President. Dale Colby (Ward 4) took the spot as President and John Daley (Ward 2) as VP. When John Daley (Ward 2) was President, Raja (Ward 1) became VP and when Raja (Ward 1) was President then Dan Miller (Ward 5) became VP. Dan Miller was President and Joe (Ward 3) was VP last year so since Joe was not elected Dave Brumfield took the spot of President and Matt Kluck as VP.

I hope that is what you are looking for, if not, feel free to call me or email me with further questions.

Kelly Fraasch
Commissioner, Ward 5

"...it's not to make their taxes as low as possible" UPDATED

As you all know, the Commissioners passed a $29.84 million operating budget on Tuesday. In the Trib article, $29.84M budget passes*, Matt Kluck told the Trib that:

"...he opposed the budget because of the increase in tax revenues, given that the municipality had raised property tax rates last year and instituted a stormwater fee, and because the budget raised personnel costs with raises and new hires."

In the PG's Calculations to come Dave Brumfield was quoted as saying:

"We have a duty to residents, and it's not to make their taxes as low as possible...It's to make Mt. Lebanon the best community it can be."

Don't miss Bill Matthew's quote.

"We have to shut the spigot off," he told commissioners. "If that means we reduce the number of services, then so be it."

Kelly Fraasch posted Budget...and what I have learned. on her blog. Kelly learned five lessons from this year's budget process.  Having a Finance Advisory Board and a list of options to consider for deduction from the budget in addition to an add listing are just two of the lessons listed.

Kristen Linfante was silent, even though she got her deer survey ($12,000) and an additional $1,000 for Outreach added to the budget. Here is what is on her blog. In my own words...Mt. Lebanon, my home.... She mentions several times that she is a musician.

John Bendel had no comment.

*Article not available online

Update December 16, 2012 2:05 PM Kristen Linfante posted 2013 Budget on her blog. (and you say you don't read this blog, Kristen.) When she wrote, "As many of you know," I thought she was going to tell us that she was a musician; instead it was about deer. She also wrote:

I was pleased to successfully rally the support of both Commissioner Bendel and Commissioner Brumfield to get a deer survey included in next year's budget.

What Kristen fails to admit is that Kelly Fraasch also approved the budget, therefore supporting a deer survey. What Kristen may not know is that Kelly had reached out to residents on both sides of the deer issue. She spent countless hours writing emails, making phone calls, and meeting with constituents from all wards trying to come up with some sort of compromise on this controversial topic. Has Kristen done that? After all, she collaborates, cooperates and communicates. Sure she does.

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.

Keeping It Real

At tonight's Discussion Session, two items were removed from the agenda because they were added prematurely and needed to be discussed and reviewed. These were Items 1 and 4a. Discussion Session Agenda for July 23, 2012 Item number 5 (Matt Kluck Turf Information) was given additional time and was presented by James Cannon III when the Discussion Session reconvened after the regular meeting.

"Keeping It Real...The truth behind artificial surfaces in Mt. Lebanon" is a response to the artificial turf proposal and can be found here. This 32 page presentation will be available on the municipal website. The podcast is available here and runs just over thirty minutes. It would have been less, but Dave Brumfield kept interrupting James, almost to the point of arguing with him until Matt Kluck stepped in by asking James to continue and to save questions for the end.

Houston, we have a problem UPDATED

It seems as though President Brumfield is only allowing Matt Kluck five minutes to speak about turf. Here is the agenda for Monday's Discussion Session. Yet when the deadbeat YSA gave its presentation, they were allowed three times that. June 25, 2012 Discussion Session Agenda Mr. Brumfield, care to explain the difference? Or are you going to continue the discussion after the regular meeting is over? I hope whatever Mr. Kluck is presenting will be posted on the municipal website, just as the YSA was able to have its proposal published.

Update July 21, 2012 PM 1:19 PM
The link to the YSA Proposal podcast is here.  It starts at 13:00 minutes and ends at 43:37 minutes.  In my pea brain and never one for math, it appears that the YSA spoke for 30:37 minutes. Why does Matt only get five minutes?  This place is so corrupt.

What? Not everyone wants artificial turf?

I almost missed this.  Thanks to the reader who alerted me to this article in the Almanac. ML residents oppose turfing fields (Saved in Google Docs) I was at the meeting when Ann Stanton passed out photographs of the horrendous traffic congestion on Cedar Blvd. I am willing to post those photos, Ann. Not only do people park illegally on Cedar Blvd. and Cedar Lane, but kids are dropped off on Cedar and run across the street. It is an accident waiting to happen. So let's "add more slots" by adding artificial turf which, in turn, will increase traffic congestion and create more parking issues. Since the artificial turf will permit more games played after rain storms, where will the cars park when Cedar is flooded?

Monday's meetings should be interesting.  Maybe YSA will present their check during the commission meeting public comments, so that they may clear their name of past debts.  Only then should they pick apart Matt Kluck's turf information which will be given during the discussion session.

Kelly's and Matt's plan reduced to this

On April 19, 2012, the Commission held a special meeting to get input on parks/rec maintenance, and improvements. Link to special meeting. Unfortunately, the applause tends to get annoying.  According to the rules, applause is frowned upon and discouraged.
On April 23, 2012, the Commission held a public hearing on the unassigned fund balance for certain capital projects. Link to the Manager's Recommended Ranking of Potential Capital Improvements Kelly Fraasch and Matt Kluck put together a plan which was picked apart by Dave Brumfield and Kristen Linfante. It included a mower for the golf course to replace the broken one.  It was eliminated!  Turf war? includes a letter from Kelly Fraasch explaining the plan.  Dave Brumfield's plan is to turf Middle and Wildcat fields, which are the Municipality's finest fields. Here is what is left of the ordinance which will be voted on at the next meeting. http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8935
May I remind everyone of an event which will be taking place in October? Plein Air Comes To Town October 2- 7; artists will be coming from all over to Mt. Lebanon neighborhoods to paint over 200 pieces of art and sell them. We will be able to request locations, in hopes that an artist chooses it. Do you think we should be spending money on artificial turf for fields that are already in great condition? That money will go far in beautifying our community for this event. Or we could spend it all on artificial turf. Your choice.  Please vote accordingly.

2012 Commission

Tonight, The Honorable Alexander Bicket administered the oath for the swearing-in ceremony.  With right hands raised and left hands on the Bible, John Bendel, Kristen Linfante, and Kelly Fraasch were sworn in as our new commissioners.  Dave Brumfield is the new Commission President for 2012 and Matt Kluck is the new Commission Vice President for 2012.  Congratulations to all.

Repeat after me: "It's going to be great for our community."

Repeat after me:  "It's going to be great for our community."

That was Dr. Steinhauer’s great thought after last night’s meeting.  It didn’t matter that they had to lie, fool with the numbers, raise our taxes astronomically, focus on construction and litigation rather than education, and ignore what the majority of citizens of Mt. Lebanon wanted.  I looked around in that meeting room that holds eighty people and saw the smiling faces of the proponents of the High School renovation.  I thought to myself, "These are the people who wanted it.  They’re all in this small room."  

Repeat after me:  "It's going to be great for our community."

I went downtown yesterday and paid my county taxes.  I had to wait for the man in front of me to remove his shoes before going through the metal detector.  That gave me time to take off my coat and place it and my purse on the belt.  I felt sorry for him.  The County taxes are the “easy” ones to pay. 

Repeat after me:  "It's going to be great for our community."

Dan Miller was trying to cap the amount of parking spaces in the Discussion session.  His point was that you can’t put ten pounds of potatoes in a five pound bag.  It didn’t matter if they were Russets or sweet potatoes (or students or faculty.)  It was a basic concept, which couldn’t be grasped by Raja, Dave, or Joe.

Repeat after me:  "It's going to be great for our community."

Matt Kluck quoted “The Mt.Lebanon Comprehensive Plan” which can be found at http://pa-mtlebanon.civicplus.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=13 . He reminded his peers of the community development objectives that were identified as the vision for the Comprehensive Plan as printed on page 1-3.   This Plan also identifies “Rising school taxes” as the number two threat to Mt. Lebanon.

Repeat after me:  "It's going to be great for our community."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_722033.html