Shooting in our neighborhoods UPDATED 06.12.19

Our commissioners promised us that it would only be for five years or until the deer/car collisions were reduced by 50%. Gee, is anyone even tracking that now? I haven't seen a report of its kind in several years.
-Elaine

Subject: Shooting in our neighborhoods - Give Public Comment This month, June 11th 8PM
From: a Mt Lebanon Resident for Safe Neighborhoods

Good afternoon Everyone,

I hope this message finds you well.

As you are all aware, the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners have voted annually to spend tax payers’ money to receive a SHOOTING Setback SAFETY WAIVER from the Pennsylvania Game Commission so that they can discharge guns in unknown locations in our parks and in private yards through out our community.  If they don't hear from citizens against it, they will likely blindly continue the program.  Commissioner Fraasch has been the only one over recent years to vote against this program because of the obvious Safety Issue it presents and this is her last year on the Board.

The topic of Deer Management is currently scheduled for the commissioners discussion meeting on June 11th at 6pm.

There is no place within our densely populated community that qualifies under the Game Commission's 150 yards set back safety requirement to shoot guns at animals; Our commissioners request and receive a permit from the State to WAIVE THE HUNTING SAFETY SETBACK REQUIREMENTS so that they can hire outside contractors to shoot rifles without any Safety Setbacks in our public parks and in private yards with permission from only the yard owner!

Use of our tax money to discharge high powered rifles to kill deer around our homes is an accident waiting to happen - Human Error with a gun can happen! 

Further, isn't it ironic that the same company that says Mt Lebanon should shoot deer, gets PAID to shoot deer?  Where's the Oversight??

Other organizations who have suggested alternatives to shooting have been ignored.

Moreover, while they will have you believe that shooting deer is the answer to everyone's issues who complain about seeing deer, science has proven that the rebound effect is real; i.e. once you reduce a population unnaturally, the deer have more food and will have multiple births; i.e. more deer - further other deer just infill where the others were shot.

Let the COMMISSIONERS know you're against the continuation of this Dangerous, Expensive program - They assume everyone is happy with this program ... let them know you're not!  We also have one newer commissioner, Craig Garella, who replaced Dave Brumfield last year.  Let him know what you think of the program.... DON'T LET YOUR VOICES GO UNHEARD!

Please Speak during public comment  at 8:00 pm at the upcoming Commissioner meeting on June 11th.

Commission Chambers, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Rd, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228

Email your Commissioners:

commission@mtlebanon.org

jbendel@mtlebanon.org

smclean@mtlebanon.org

ssilverman@mtlebanon.org

cgrella@mtlebanon.org

kfraasch@mtlebanon.org

Call them too:

https://mtlebanon.org/28/Commissioners

Thank you for your attention to this grave matter.

Update: June 12, 2019 8:21 PM Review of deer management presented in Mt. Lebanon

Another strike against the charlatan, Tony DeNicola

You want a cull, Commissioners? Use real hunters says the PA Game Commission. https://www.outdoornews.com/2018/07/09/pennsylvania-game-commission-looks-to-force-towns-to-use-hunters-in-deer-culling/

You can no longer hide behind police officers to do your killing. You must use hunters, another blow to the guy who charges us $1352.81 per deer. You know, White Buffalo, a 501(c)(3).

Some have done so in a “robust” way, Raup said. Others meet the public hunting requirement using members of one particular sportsmen’s club. A few open things up to hunters passing a proficiency test.

Those situations are all acceptable, he said. Elected officials hiding behind a handful of police officers – so as to not to face opposition from anti-hunting constituents – is not, he added.

I hope you are finally waking up, Commissioners. Tony DeNicola was laughing all the way to the bank and made you guys look like fools. Oh, and no more hiding, Commissioners.

Game Commission: Semi-automatic weapons next year for PA woodlands and Lebo

Pennsylvania will be the 49th state to permit semi-automatic weapons during deer hunting season next year. Governor Wolf signed the legislation last month.       http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/11538937-74/automatic-semi-board

The board will decide which types of game can be hunted with a semi-automatic rifle, any limits on ammunition and when the rules will go into effect. 

Commission spokesman Travis Lau said the board has its first quarterly meeting in January and could formally approve new rules as early as April. The board will meet Monday in a workshop-style session. 

“We do expect them to begin the discussion on semi-automatic rifles for any hunting or all hunting,” Lau said.

This change could be helpful to older or disabled hunters.

State Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-Murrysville, said the change can be beneficial to hunters who are older, disabled or have difficulty manually reloading. 

“I think we should be adult enough to allow people to do that,” he said. 

Additionally, air- and gas-powered rifles are permitted for hunting as part of the amendment. Semi-automatic shotguns for hunting certain species are permitted in designated areas of five counties in the state, including a portion of Allegheny County.

Don't you all feel better that our governor signed this legislation?  People who have trouble with vision or mobility will benefit and be able to participate in killing deer in Mt. Lebanon next year. Thanks Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.

Shooting began last Thursday

PA Wildlife Conservation Officer Douglas E. Bergman called a resident this morning, after she contacted the PA Game Commission out of frustration with the Mt. Lebanon Police. The Mt. Lebanon resident had been reporting sounds of gunshots to MLPD and was continually being told that she was the only one who reported gunshots. She was even told that it may be a transformer or a loose manhole cover that makes a sound when a car drives over it.

Bergman is listed on special use permit here. http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/11354 I found his contact information here.  http://www.peoplebyname.com/people/Bergman/Douglas/Sutersville/PA 

Mt. Lebanon Police have been telling residents that DeNicola is using silencers. However, Bergman said that they are using "High powered supersonic rifles" which are hard to silence. We were told that bullshit ten years ago, when they were killing deer next to my house. It was VERY loud.

Bergman said that they have been shooting every night, that the "high powered ammunition" they are using is only muffled slightly by the silencers, and that he has been getting calls every night about shots being fired. He told the resident that the police are probably tired of getting calls and are telling people no one else is calling. He said that they (killers) have to call him every day before anyone shoots and they have been calling him every day.

Shooting started last Thursday (February 24, 2016) and will continue "until they reach their goal."

"Euthanized deer will not reproduce."

Those haunting words came from the PA Game Commission in their February 5, 2016 letter to Mt. Lebanon.

PA Game Commission Response re: Deer Sterilization Research Project

In a conversation that the PA Game Commission had with our state representative, the PAGC said, if you're going to capture the deer to sterilize them, you might as well kill them. They also told our state rep that it is a waste of money. Dan, not so gently, reminded them that it wasn't their money!

The Botsiber Foundation sent a letter to the Municipality on January 28, 2016 saying, "It's been fun, but we're done."

Botstiber Foundation letter re: Deer Sterilization Research Project

Close to three weeks later, MTL decided to post the letter and the PA Game Commission response on the website.

As usual, the PG's John Hayes leaked this out yesterday, before it showed up on the MTL website today.  Foundation pulls out of deer sterilization plan in Mt. Lebanon 

Finally, I received a response from someone at the municipal building about LeboALERTs. We don't want to share too much information with MT. Lebanon residents, now do we? I love how I heard nothing from the commissioners, but I did see that Kelly wished Nick a good day. How sweet. 

*****

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kfraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>; nschalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 11:25 am
Subject: Re: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

Yes, Nick. Thank you for responding to my email.

Elaine

-----Original Message-----
From: Kelly Fraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
To: Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

Thanks Nick for answering the question.

Have a good day!

Sent from Kelly's iPhone, please excuse typos or auto-corrections.  

On Feb 17, 2016, at 10:20 AM, Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

yes, we try to limit the character count to 160 characters. This is to allow 1 text message instead of several. Unfortunately some carriers split the texts anyways which is out of our control.

Nick

On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:54 AM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Hi Nick,

This is my second request, so I figured I should just email you directly, since the commissioners tend to ignore most of my emails.

Is there a limit to the number of characters (such as Twitter) when sending out LeboALERTS?

Thanks in advance.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2016 4:55 pm
Subject: Fwd: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

Commissioners,

Are LeboALERTS limited to so many characters, such as Twitter?

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: LeboALERT <noreply@mtlebanon.org>
To: EGillen476 <EGillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2016 4:05 pm
Subject: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.

Deer culling utilizing sharpshooting will be conducted in February and March. Please visit http://www.mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?nid=2114 for more info.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas Schalles
Manager of Information Technology
Mt. Lebanon Municipality
710 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
(412) 440-2049 - Office
(412) 343-3456 - Helpdesk

RTKs and the PA Game Commission

Contrary to a comment made in my previous post, it is our right to file RTKs with government agencies. The PA Game Commission has a dedicated page to the Right To Know Law. I encourage Lebo Citizen readers to exercise your rights.

Pennsylvania Game Commission cutting staff

Pennsylvania Game Commission cutting staff

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials warned late last summer without an increase in the cost of hunting licenses, there would be consequences.

They have arrived. It is the agency's employees who are feeling them first.

Commission press secretary Travis Lau confirmed Monday the agency is furloughing two full-time employees as of Dec. 31. They are Bob Wesoloskie, chief of the marketing, merchandising and outreach division, and Theresa Alberica, the Project WILD coordinator who worked with teachers on wildlife curriculums.

Another four-to-five employees in “limited-term” positions — or seasonal jobs — also are being let go at the end of the year, Lau said. He did not have details on those positions.

The layoffs might be just the start. Commission leaders are reviewing whether to lay off another four-to-five limited term employees at the end of the fiscal year June 30, Lau said.

They also have identified 69 other positions that could be vacant as of July 1.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/outdoors/9704746-74/commission-increase-positions#ixzz3w2S096tP 
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

The Cold War in Mt. Lebanon

It was 1962. I was in second grade at Jefferson Elementary. It was common practice to have air raid drills. I will always remember lining up on the bottom floor of Jefferson much like what is in this photo.

One day, we were told to walk home as quickly as we could, as part of the air raid drills. With a pain in my side and completely out of breath, this little second grader ran along Bower Hill Road, not knowing what was going on. I will never forget that. In fact, I still have the dog tag that we all received in elementary school.

All these memories came back to me today when I read a comment about having a curfew during the month of February.This was a suggestion as a response to The PA Game Commission permit  published on the Mt. Lebanon website, along with some answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Being a deer cull survivor, I have seen several PA Game Commission permits in my day. The latest one is unique. There are no locations listed - public or private. The method of killing is not listed. The names of the killers are not listed. Compare this permit to the one from February 2015. The Mt. Lebanon website doesn't appear to have a copy of the contract. All I see are the Request for Proposals and White Buffalo's Response.

The FAQs are very confusing to me. The sharpshooting phase, according to the FAQ, is from February 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016. Yet, the Deer Management Update shows During Phase Two, scheduled to run from February 1, 2016, to March 1, 2016, White Buffalo Inc. will conduct a deer cull using trained sharpshooters on designated public land and on donated private properties. Do we really know how long people will be shooting rifles in Mt. Lebanon?

The hours are baffling. Shooting will take place in late afternoon and after dark. What does that mean? 4:00 PM to 6:00 AM? Wouldn't it be easier to say that there is no killing taking place between the hours of 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM? Fourteen hours of shooting?

The locations are not provided. I don't suggest asking for that information. You will end up going to the Court of Common Pleas, if you do. The FAQ tell us that Various parties will be notified by letter, email or phone call, as was the case with the archery hunt. What does that mean? What about visitors from out of town? Should Hotel Tyvek inform guests not to explore the area, for fear they stumble upon a deer being killed? Perhaps they should include a map to Blaise Larotonda's court room on every night stand.

Which brings us back to the Cold War in 1962. We will have to tell our kids to come home right after school. We will not be able to tell them the areas to avoid. We won't know which public properties will be used for killing. We certainly won't know which private properties will be [ahem] "donated."

Does Mt. Lebanon need to institute a curfew? They will not tell us anything. Should we have a curfew from February 1-March 1 or February 1-March 31? Nobody on the streets or in our parks for 14 hours a day?

Welcome to the Cold War in Mt. Lebanon.

So much for the Mt. Lebanon Bureau of Tourism

On October 5, 2015, a visiting Cambridge woman decided to take her dog for a walk. Amy Castor had no idea what she was about to walk into. A hunter had just killed four deer and was loading them into his silver Chevy Suburban parked on Thornwood. The details and photos were posted on this blog under  Four deer killed on Shady Lane UPDATED.

The media picked up this story a month later and had it under "Breaking News." Through the comments, someone was able to run the license plate (I guess) and the hunter was Aaron Gander, from Upper St. Clair. Amy was cited by Mt. Lebanon Police and again by the PA Game Commission. Mt. Lebanon gave her a $120 citation.  Days later, the PA Game Commission cited her for interfering with a hunt which carries larger fines plus jail time. John Hayes wrote about it on November 18, 2015.

Amy's hearing is coming up this Thursday, December 3 at 8:00 AM before Blaise Larotonda. John Hayes couldn't even get the date right in his article. I don't know if Amy will have legal representation; I'm assuming that she is flying in from Boston, but I can't be sure. The hearing is public.

The news outlets have already reported Amy’s “wrongdoings.” They read the Mt. Lebanon police blotter. Of course, it was all spun against Amy, at least by the PG's John Hayes. That is why people on the side of justice need to try to set the record straight. This is about the misconduct of the MLPD. Please come to Amy's hearing. Some showing of support at the hearing and in the press would be, well, just. I abhor injustice and I have seen my share of it. We all have.

Stacking the deck UPDATED

Tomorrow evening, Mt. Lebanon residents have been invited to observe the deer "management" meeting at Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theatre. Doing a search of one of the invited experts, Jeannine Fleegle, I came across this article on the United Sportsmen of Pennsylvania website.

DEER MANAGEMENT SERIES, NO. 6: STACKING THE DECK
PGC Hired Three Deer Biologists who were all Trained at Chesapeake
Farms to Eliminate Deer Impacts by Eliminating Deer
By John Eveland
June 18, 2014 

Historically, foresters and environmentalists have long sought to dramatically reduce Pennsylvania's state mammal. It was always understood, however, that their goal was nothing more than a wishful dream. That is, until 1998 when the Green Certification circumstance removed deer management from the realm of science and made it a political issue that could financially benefit DCNR. Realizing the reality of deer reduction, following the departure of Gary Alt, PGC's chief of wildlife management quickly stacked the deck with a like-minded next-generation of deer biologists. In 2010, PGC's Board of Commissioners requested that the author of this article investigate this rumor. The following facts were uncovered.

PGC's Chesapeake Farms Connection. The Pennsylvania Game Commission lists three staff deer biologists (Chris Rosenberry, Bret Wallingford, and Jeannine Fleegle,) who report to Calvin DuBrock, Director of the Wildlife Management Bureau; and Robert Boyd, Bureau Assistant Director. It can be no coincidence that of the myriad accredited university degree programs throughout the nation which regularly produce thousands of professional wildlife biologists, that all three deer biologists employed by the PGC attained their graduate degrees from the same college (North Carolina State University), were mentored by the same NC State advisory staff members, and conducted their thesis deer research at the same small 5-square-mile Chesapeake Farms agricultural demonstration area on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Their principal advisors were Richard Lancia and Mark Connor, Director of Chesapeake Farms, who lists his research interests as "population ecology and management especially white-tailed deer, management of crop damage by deer, and wildlife in agro-ecosystems".

At Chesapeake Farms, PGC's three deer biologists were trained in a deer management philosophy called Quality Deer Management—reducing deer impacts accomplished by increasing antlerless harvests toward decreasing herd size. Whereas students from most university wildlife degree programs are educated to view deer as an asset to the natural ecosystem and society, PGC's three deer biologists were trained in a setting that views deer as a negative impact-causing element with little to no emphasis placed on the value of deer, the tradition of recreational hunting, and sportsmen. Hence, PGC's deer biologists brought with them from Chesapeake Farms a wildlife management philosophy that was better suited for private organizations such as Audubon and the Sierra Club than for a traditional state game management agency.

Fleegle wrote in her thesis, "More than any other wildlife, deer are perceived to cause the most damage to crops." In like fashion, Rosenberry wrote, "Balancing white-tailed deer impacts is the fundamental issue affecting a majority of Pennsylvania's deer management decisions." Former Executive Director, Carl Roe, epitomized the deer team's negative view of deer and sportsmen when he told the Governor's Council for Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation that hunters are of no concern in deer management.

Conclusion. It is not likely that Calvin DuBrock could have succeeded for over a decade in decimating the Commonwealth's deer herd if he had not hired like-minded staffers to perpetuate the action. The three deer biologists and those in the PGC who hired them have adopted the deer reduction philosophy of Chesapeake Farms (eliminating deer impacts by eliminating deer), and appear to be using Chesapeake Farms as a template to systematically convert the state to this system. It is, therefore, evident that PGC's deer biologists were not hired to manage Pennsylvania's deer herd in the best interest of the resource or sportsmen, or to pursue the PGC's mission for recreational hunting as prescribed by state law. Instead, it appears that they were specifically hired to decimate the herd. This they have achieved.

Continuing my search, I found this article on Outdoor News' site. Agency’s article about deer insulted some state hunters. 

At their recent quarterly meeting here, commissioners heard a complaint about the story, authored by Jeannine Fleegle in the August issue of Pennsylvania Game News. 

Randy Santucci, president of the Unified Sportsmen, claimed the piece was “disrespectful” and “essentially spit in the face of sportsmen.”

Once again, we have hunters and PETA on the same side!

Back to Google. Deer hater and former commissioner Kristen Linfante did a radio show, Oh Deer! Deer Overpopulation,with Jeannine Fleegle back on August 2, 2012. The topic was deer overpopulation. Deer hater Kristen Linfante resigned in the spring from the commission citing health problems and was replaced by deer hater and former commissioner Coleen Vuono.

John Hayes, chief deer population estimator of thousands, interviewed Ms. Fleegle in 2010. He also reported that Upper St. Clair ended their deer culling operations in 2009. Can we believe him? He is as misinformed as our PIO. I believe that is a prerequisite to be a member of Morgans' media circus. Former public works director and "too old for this bullshit" Tom Kelley hated deer. He made John Hayes' article. He's gone too.

Come on, Mt. Lebanon. See what is being presented to us. The commissioners have no idea how many deer we have. They are relying on "experts" whose livelihood is killing deer. Our tax dollars are paying deer haters, both commissioners and staff. They are hiring deer killers with our tax dollars. I have nothing to gain by this. I am not being paid. We don't know how many deer we have. The commission has never proven that we have a deer problem. They have resorted to a bogus deer "incident" report containing erroneous information. There is something definitely wrong when hunters and PETA are on the same side.

And as John Hayes said today, leave your signs at home when you observe tomorrow's farce.

Update June 22, 2015 9:51 AM There will be a protest in front of the high school tonight at 5:30 PM. Bring a sign. Then take it with you to the deer killing meeting. It is your constitutional right, Folks.

An open letter to the PA Game Commission

Charlotte Stephenson, Mt. Lebanon resident and Lebo Citizens reader, sent the following email to the PA Game Commission. Thank you, Charlotte!

From: Charlotte Stephenson
To: pgccomments pgccomments@pa.gov  
Subject: Mt. Lebanon PA Deer Management, Southwest Region
Date: Wed, Feb 4, 2015 11:52 pm

To Whom it May Concern of the Pennsylvania Game Commission:

I am a resident of the Mt. Lebanon Municipality in Pittsburgh where a permit application has been submitted to bait, corral and shoot deer. I cannot obtain any detailed information from our local Commissioners regarding the specific plan for this in terms of where, when and exactly how such activity will occur. I live near one of the main parks and have noticed deer over the years. They are not a nuisance to our family. I have not seen as many deer this year as I did a few years ago. I do understand the deer population issue in general, but I do not believe that it is as problematic here as it has been stated by our community leadership.

Our neighboring park is visited frequently by my family, grandson and neighbors who enjoy walking their dogs there or simply enjoy the nature trails and creek all year round.

I am deeply concerned that when I, my grandson or other residents encounter the trapped deer knowing that they are doomed, it will have a lasting emotional impact. As you know, we don't all share the same perspective when it comes to animal rights or hunting. Hunting in Pennsylvania is permitted in areas where it makes sense, but permitting such activity in our densely populated community has the potential to frighten and disgust anyone who believes that this is an inhumane idea. Here is a possible scenario: Child asks "Mommy, why are those deer in that fence jumping around and why can't they get out?". Mom says "Well honey, they are a nuisance to our community so they are in a trap and will be shot and killed as soon as someone shows up to do it". Are we to avoid our public parks so we don't have to deal with this fallout?

Our municipality plants numerous flower beds throughout the community and the varieties they plant attract deer and yet the Commissioners passed an ordinance against feeding deer. There has never been community outreach to help residents understand what they can do to deter deer from visiting their gardens in terms of plantings or deer fences, nor has there been any instruction regarding specific locations or times of day when deer may be moving around or crossing roads for those who may encounter a deer on the road from time to time.

Our leadership is in disarray given the constantly changing direction regarding this issue combined with their actions that are in direct conflict with practical deer management concepts.

Please request that our Commissioners perform their obligatory due diligence to submit accurate information on the numbers of deer we have (this information has been incorrect so far), and demonstrate that other solutions have been fully investigated before permitting such a potentially unsettling program in our densely populated community to move forward.

Thank You,

Charlotte M. Stephenson

While I was looking on the PA Game Commission website, I stumbled upon the contact information of the PA Game Commission press secretary.

Travis Lau, PA Game Commission press secretary
717-705-6541
trlau@pa.gov

I also saw that the PA Game Commission was considering a hiking ban during hunting season. The plan has been tabled for now. Game Commission tables idea for hiking ban, permits on state game lands Here in Mt. Lebanon, our illustrious commissioners won't tell us where the hunting will occur. We will have to rely on reports from children, dog walkers, hikers, and neighbors to keep us informed.

Stop the deer culling! The petition now has 1,400 signatures. Thank you!

Just like Commission, PG is irresponsible

In today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, there is a correction.  Outdoors notebook: Hunting an option for Mt. Lebanon deer control

First, a correction. Mt. Lebanon's proposed Deer Management Archery Program on public properties -- suspended when Wildlife Management Unit 2B antlerless allocations sold out prior to the hunt -- included a provision stating, "Before an archer can harvest an antlered deer, he/she must harvest at least one antlerless deer." A December story wrongly stated that rule did not exist.

I am surprised that the troll cop from 9:16 PM who wrote this:

Also, Fraasch is incorrect about the need to seek Game Commission approval to hunt on private property.

sounds very much like:

"That's absolutely correct," said Mt. Lebanon police chief Coleman McDonough. "The Game Commission is accurate. If nobody is violating state game laws, hunting on private property is legal."

Do you suppose 9:39 AM from Lebo neighborhood has taken matters into their own hands and said:

Ok If you get it then stop whining about it. Also, before you or others get any ideas, It is specifically unlawful for anyone to interfere with or hinder a legal hunter while he or she is hunting.

And said:

The aformentioned law is what is to stop you.

knows Chief McDonough?  Why didn't 9:16/9:39 troll cop correct the PG when they made that statement?

The "good" news is now the PG is telling everyone that you can use any type of firearm on your property. Castle Shannon, Scott, Greentree, do you hear that? It isn't just in Mt. Lebanon. It is anywhere in the state. Feeling safe?

On the Tuesday, January 13 Discussion Session Agenda, there will be a thirty minute discussion on deer management.

6:30 P.M.
2. Follow-up on deer management.
Purpose: Review status of three applications for archery, trapping and sterilization to PA Game Commission and RFP for trap/euthanize services
Presenter: Tom Kelley, Coleman McDonough
Description: Provide commission with status update

I hope this will bring residents to the meeting. I don't know what else will.

Since the Chief and the PA Game Commission are advocating private hunting, I would like to see the $68,000 from the 2015 Budget and $12,000 from the 2014 Budget allocated for deer management removed and put into infrastructure. We should thank Kristen Linfante for dropping this bomb on us at the January 5 Discussion Session. We don't need funding anymore for deer management. Neighborhoods are taking matters into their own hands. Kristen, I know you wanted $100,000 set aside in the Budget for deer management. Thank you for being resourceful and finding a way to kill all of your deer for free.