Do you think your state representative should be protesting against a congressman?
Showing posts with label State Rep. Dan Miller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State Rep. Dan Miller. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Monday, March 6, 2017
Dear Pass Time and groad 570 UPDATED
John Hayes has yet another deer story about Mt. Lebanon in yesterday's paper. Mount Lebanon, Michigan town have different approaches to deer problem The usual commenters to John Hayes' biased reporting include pro-kill Pass Time (we all know who that is) and anti-kill groad 570. Both read my blog. So this post is for the two of you.
My buddy, Pass Time, reminded us of this letter sent by the PA Game Commission to Keith McGill on February 5, 2016. The letter came as a complete surprise to State Representative Dan Miller and Commissioner Kelly Fraasch because of the positive meeting Dan set up with Mt. Lebanon and the PA Game Commission. I kept this voice mail on my phone for over a year, waiting for the right time to share. I believe the time is right.
I am also addressing this post to groad 570 since he had the following to say:
So Pass Time, rest assured that you will continue to get deer killed in Virginia Manor. John Hayes had this as his final statement.
Update March 6, 2017 3:29 PM Keith McGill continues to give Nick Meduho one word answers. The cost of the 2017 "sharpshooting" program was $44,868.50. Fifty five deer were killed for $44,868.50. That comes to $815.79 per deer. Of those 55 killed, 22 were fawns, which would have not been born had we sterilized the deer. The foundation was going to pay for the sterilization and would have cost us a minimal amount of money, but the deer haters convinced the commission to continue killing deer at a much higher cost.
My buddy, Pass Time, reminded us of this letter sent by the PA Game Commission to Keith McGill on February 5, 2016. The letter came as a complete surprise to State Representative Dan Miller and Commissioner Kelly Fraasch because of the positive meeting Dan set up with Mt. Lebanon and the PA Game Commission. I kept this voice mail on my phone for over a year, waiting for the right time to share. I believe the time is right.
I am also addressing this post to groad 570 since he had the following to say:
I'm sure if the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners stood together as one and demanded that they be allowed to implement a safe approach to deer mgt in their community, and requested the support from their state representatives, that the PGC would grant them their request.groad 570, as you can hear above, our state representative and commission did stand together as one and asked for sterilization, but it got us nowhere. When the Game Commission has John Hayes and Susan Morgans working with them, nothing can stop the PA Game Commission. They will NEVER approve sterilization because no deer are being killed. Literally, the PA Game Commission is calling the shots here.
So Pass Time, rest assured that you will continue to get deer killed in Virginia Manor. John Hayes had this as his final statement.
In the coming months, commissioners in Ann Arbor and Mt. Lebanon will vote on including the cost of deer management in their 2018 budgets.What will the deer management be? According to Tony DeNicola's final "sharpshooting" report,
The Commission will need to decide whether to emphasize added non-traditional lethal management activities in very tightly developed areas or transition to sterilization in these areas of the community.What are non-traditional lethal management activities that Tony DeNicola uses?
- Live capture followed by euthanasia (More trap and shoot. Think Merlin the Magnificent).
- Non-hunting participants scaring deer toward tree stands using ATVs. Deer seeking refuge were dispersed to hunters in tree stands by non-hunting participants on foot or in off-road vehicles to increase the likelihood of harvest.
Update March 6, 2017 3:29 PM Keith McGill continues to give Nick Meduho one word answers. The cost of the 2017 "sharpshooting" program was $44,868.50. Fifty five deer were killed for $44,868.50. That comes to $815.79 per deer. Of those 55 killed, 22 were fawns, which would have not been born had we sterilized the deer. The foundation was going to pay for the sterilization and would have cost us a minimal amount of money, but the deer haters convinced the commission to continue killing deer at a much higher cost.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
The best commission president ever UPDATED
I have always been a Dan Miller supporter. I Heart Dan Miller He is a huge advocate of government transparency. Dan has had two informational sessions on government transparency and the PA Sunshine Law. I appreciated how he kept up his blog during his tenure as Mt. Lebanon Commissioner. (He deserves a capital C.) Joint steering committee meetings ended with the school board because they were not open to the public. Dan took control of the municipal budget with his series of commission financial reforms. He was totally engaged during all commission meetings. I voted for Dan on May 21, 2013 in the special election to replace Matt Smith as State Representative. I have voted for Dan Miller in every election since then. With that being said, I have not always agreed with Dan on every issue. His opinion piece in The Almanac is one of those times.
Yes, I reprinted Dan's opinion piece on Monday, January 23, 2017 here, but it wasn't until I saw the actual newspaper, that I had second thoughts. Three quarters of the page in The Almanac was allocated to Dan's opinion piece. I agree that sounds trivial, but I have never seen Dan publicly disagree with our present commission, when he had many opportunities to do so.
Dan was commission president when he tore into USDA Wildlife Service's Craig Swope over shooting deer in Mt. Lebanon. He argued that once a bullet leaves its chamber, there is no control over that bullet. Dan was very passionate about counting bullets. Yet, when constituents, including myself, went to Dan about the deer killing, he said that he couldn't do anything about it. Now, we have commissioners who don't want to know anything about the deer "management" program. They have hired killers to take care of everything and refuse to even learn what kind of bait is being used. Have a problem with the deer? Don't come to us, they say. Contact White Buffalo. Brumfield had the nerve to say in today's The Almanac, “We are not trying to keep internal municipal discussions private,” ironically printed on the back of Dan Miller's guest column.
Our commission has taken a 180ยบ turn since Dan Miller left office. There is no transparency. There is no financial reform. Commissioners do not blog regularly, keeping constituents informed. Commissioners give carte blanche to anyone holding a weapon. It has all gone to hell.
Transparency, financial reform, safety, and education for children with disabilities are all important issues, but the only one that Dan felt compelled to write about was Trump's choice for Secretary of Education. Nothing is ever said about his commissioners. That is disappointing.
Update February 10, 2017 8:53 AM Rep. Miller should focus on education standards here
Monday, January 23, 2017
Opinion: Trump's Ed secretary has no IDEA about education UPDATED
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, during my term as your state representative I have done my best to prioritize disability and mental health issues. Working in this arena has been tremendously challenging and rewarding, and I have greatly benefited in this endeavor from the help of many across the political spectrum.
That being said, I wanted to share with you a letter I recently sent to the press detailing my strong concerns regarding the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be our next U.S. Secretary of Education. To be clear, while she is not someone I would have nominated, I do tend to believe that the incoming Administration should receive a degree of deference in appointing people who are consistent with the incoming president’s positions. That, though, presupposes that the nominee has an understanding of the intricacies of the office, as well as the related federal law and its impact on the states.
In Mrs. DeVos’ testimony I found her understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to be shockingly limited, and since the IDEA is widely considered to be the most important and successful federal law on education in the last half-century, I felt compelled to pen the following:DeVos doesn't understand Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Betsy DeVos should not be Secretary of Education. I say that not because of her lack of personal experience as a student, parent, educator, or administrator in the public school system -- although those are short-comings to me. I say that not because of her blanketed condemnation of our public education system -- although such rhetoric discounts the hard work and success of many. And I say that acknowledging a degree of deference to the incoming Administration and admitting that I disagree with much of her previous work. That being said, Mrs. DeVos should not be Secretary of Education because she doesn't understand the importance and impact of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The IDEA is the result of a decades-long, bipartisan effort to improve the education, experience, and future for children with disabilities. Before its passage, the education and outlook for many such kids was abysmal. Often sent far from home to be “educated” in asylums more than schools, entire generations of typical students grew up with little to no contact with students with disabilities, especially those with developmental disabilities. While many caring professionals did the best they could in such circumstances, they were often underfunded, under-supported, and kids were warehoused more than encouraged to be all that they could be. Even for those with less severe disabilities, the lack of support in the traditional classroom setting often contributed to risk-taking behaviors, increased dropout rates, and a future more of limitations than opportunities.
The IDEA – and its predecessor, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act – started changing all that in 1975. Through federal requirements, more and more kids with special needs are now being educated sitting next to their typical peers in a mutually beneficial experience. Parents now have a larger role in advocating for their kids, and classroom teachers are given more supports, often including skilled paraprofessionals. Although the federal government has struggled to meet its financial promises, local school boards and states have largely stepped up to the plate to comply with the IDEA, knowing that graduating as many kids ready for employment as possible helps us all. While disagreements between schools and parents still exist, and there is more work to be done in every state, the IDEA has created a framework countless kids have relied upon. It has helped move our country toward a more perfect union.
Unfortunately, all this seems lost to Mrs. DeVos. For many families with a loved one with a disability, her confirmation testimony was either shocking in its degree of ignorance or frightening in its vision to unwind the federal requirements that have lifted up so many.
In today’s times it is incomprehensible to have someone nominated to be the highest ranking education official in our country who is “confused” by the IDEA. In answering a question regarding the enforceability of the IDEA on schools that receive “taxpayer funding,” her answer that it is a “matter best left to states” is only minimally correct at best. This would apply to only a small fraction of students who are educated in schools that receive only state “taxpayer funding.” The vast majority of students of course are educated in schools that receive federal and state “taxpayer funding,” which obviously triggers IDEA compliance. However, she further complicated the situation by saying that the applicability of the IDEA even where federal dollars are used is something “certainly worth discussion.” Her later admission that she could have been “confused” on the matter does little to assuage concern, especially given how she refused to address the practice in some states of requiring students to waive their IDEA rights as the price of admission to voucher programs.
Whether through design or error, Mrs. DeVos positions and comments regarding the IDEA are deeply troubling. A first year education student would have provided better answers. The IDEA is arguably the most important and successful piece of education legislation Congress has passed in the last half century. A step backward is unacceptable.
That being said, I wanted to share with you a letter I recently sent to the press detailing my strong concerns regarding the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be our next U.S. Secretary of Education. To be clear, while she is not someone I would have nominated, I do tend to believe that the incoming Administration should receive a degree of deference in appointing people who are consistent with the incoming president’s positions. That, though, presupposes that the nominee has an understanding of the intricacies of the office, as well as the related federal law and its impact on the states.
In Mrs. DeVos’ testimony I found her understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to be shockingly limited, and since the IDEA is widely considered to be the most important and successful federal law on education in the last half-century, I felt compelled to pen the following:DeVos doesn't understand Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Betsy DeVos should not be Secretary of Education. I say that not because of her lack of personal experience as a student, parent, educator, or administrator in the public school system -- although those are short-comings to me. I say that not because of her blanketed condemnation of our public education system -- although such rhetoric discounts the hard work and success of many. And I say that acknowledging a degree of deference to the incoming Administration and admitting that I disagree with much of her previous work. That being said, Mrs. DeVos should not be Secretary of Education because she doesn't understand the importance and impact of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The IDEA is the result of a decades-long, bipartisan effort to improve the education, experience, and future for children with disabilities. Before its passage, the education and outlook for many such kids was abysmal. Often sent far from home to be “educated” in asylums more than schools, entire generations of typical students grew up with little to no contact with students with disabilities, especially those with developmental disabilities. While many caring professionals did the best they could in such circumstances, they were often underfunded, under-supported, and kids were warehoused more than encouraged to be all that they could be. Even for those with less severe disabilities, the lack of support in the traditional classroom setting often contributed to risk-taking behaviors, increased dropout rates, and a future more of limitations than opportunities.
The IDEA – and its predecessor, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act – started changing all that in 1975. Through federal requirements, more and more kids with special needs are now being educated sitting next to their typical peers in a mutually beneficial experience. Parents now have a larger role in advocating for their kids, and classroom teachers are given more supports, often including skilled paraprofessionals. Although the federal government has struggled to meet its financial promises, local school boards and states have largely stepped up to the plate to comply with the IDEA, knowing that graduating as many kids ready for employment as possible helps us all. While disagreements between schools and parents still exist, and there is more work to be done in every state, the IDEA has created a framework countless kids have relied upon. It has helped move our country toward a more perfect union.
Unfortunately, all this seems lost to Mrs. DeVos. For many families with a loved one with a disability, her confirmation testimony was either shocking in its degree of ignorance or frightening in its vision to unwind the federal requirements that have lifted up so many.
In today’s times it is incomprehensible to have someone nominated to be the highest ranking education official in our country who is “confused” by the IDEA. In answering a question regarding the enforceability of the IDEA on schools that receive “taxpayer funding,” her answer that it is a “matter best left to states” is only minimally correct at best. This would apply to only a small fraction of students who are educated in schools that receive only state “taxpayer funding.” The vast majority of students of course are educated in schools that receive federal and state “taxpayer funding,” which obviously triggers IDEA compliance. However, she further complicated the situation by saying that the applicability of the IDEA even where federal dollars are used is something “certainly worth discussion.” Her later admission that she could have been “confused” on the matter does little to assuage concern, especially given how she refused to address the practice in some states of requiring students to waive their IDEA rights as the price of admission to voucher programs.
Whether through design or error, Mrs. DeVos positions and comments regarding the IDEA are deeply troubling. A first year education student would have provided better answers. The IDEA is arguably the most important and successful piece of education legislation Congress has passed in the last half century. A step backward is unacceptable.
State Representative Dan Miller
2016-17 Session Member of the House Education Committee,
Minority Chair of the Subcommittee on Special Education,
Co-Chair of the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Caucus
Parent advocate
Former public school teacher
2016-17 Session Member of the House Education Committee,
Minority Chair of the Subcommittee on Special Education,
Co-Chair of the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Caucus
Parent advocate
Former public school teacher
*************
Opinion: The foolish Democratic crusade against Betsy DeVos
Update January 24, 2017 12:08 PM Dan Miller's original submission is included in the email exchange below. Thank you, Dan and Sheryl, for the clarification!!
Email to The Almanac
Update January 24, 2017 12:08 PM Dan Miller's original submission is included in the email exchange below. Thank you, Dan and Sheryl, for the clarification!!
Email to The Almanac
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
A Rally for Unity! UPDATED December 19, 2016
As you may have heard, there has been several identity-based or hate-related incidents recently in and around our community. These actions have marred our town in the public eye and have made people feel less safe, less welcome, and in one case, led to a person being physically assaulted. These incidents need to be condemned for what they are- completely at odds with the shared values of inclusion and acceptance that so many of us cherish here in Mt. Lebanon.
Accordingly we are very proud to host a Rally for Unity designed to bring our community together on Sunday, December 18th at 4:30pm at the Mt. Lebanon Rec Center plaza.
We are very excited that this burgeoning effort has already drawn the support of the Mt. Lebanon School District and the Municipality, as well as several local religious institutions, elected officials, and concerned citizens from across our area. It is our hope that on the 18th we will have many local residents and families present, as well as representatives from every local organization that helps make up the fabric of our community. While everyone is welcome, please keep in mind that this is not a political event. Party labels and attacks on individual leaders will only dilute our message.
Quite simply, we believe it is important to reaffirm that bigotry and hate in any form have no home here.
More information about our program will be coming soon, but please feel free to share this event. Additionally, if any local group or organization would like to be listed as a partner, please be sure to contact Rep. Miller's office at 412-343-3870 ASAP.
Update December 9, 2016 5:17 PM An open letter to State Rep. Dan Miller.
| From: | egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com> |
| To: | repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net> |
| Cc: | commission <commission@mtlebanon.org> |
| Subject: | Unity Rally |
| Date: | Fri, Dec 9, 2016 5:10 pm |
| Attachments: | 1020CD16_12-9-16 Commonwealth Decision.pdf (326K) |
Hi Dan,
I wanted to let you know that I will not be attending your Unity Rally, but want to thank you for organizing this rally. It would be hypocritical of me to attend knowing that the hateful commissioners, who thrive on divisive issues, will be in attendance.
I have attached the Commonwealth Court affirmation to this email. The commissioners spent our tax dollars and hired Tony DeNicola so that they can wash their hands of any responsibility to their actions. In my mind, I do not see how permitting bloodshed in our community is anywhere close to promoting unity in Mt. Lebanon. Just read the haters' comments in the PG about my case. It is really sad.
Good luck and I hope that your good intentions have a positive effect on Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine Gillen
Monday, November 7, 2016
Had enough of her ineptness yet?
State Representative Dan Miller is going to love this.
Mt. Lebanon is now promoting Levi jeans.
Go to:
and click the 42nd state legislative district link.
But wait. There's more!
Bad link to the school board.
Bad link to the League of Women Voters.
And a bad link to the Allegheny County Elections Division website.
That trip to New York City sure is paying off!
Update November 8, 2016 9:42 AM The links have been corrected. I wonder how much we are paying in total salaries for IT and the Public Information Office.
Mt. Lebanon is now promoting Levi jeans.
But wait. There's more!
Bad link to the school board.
Bad link to the League of Women Voters.
And a bad link to the Allegheny County Elections Division website.
That trip to New York City sure is paying off!
Update November 8, 2016 9:42 AM The links have been corrected. I wonder how much we are paying in total salaries for IT and the Public Information Office.
| From: | egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com> |
| To: | kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org> |
| Cc: | commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>; philip.weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>; |
| Subject: | Re: Tired of her ineptness yet? |
| Date: | Tue, Nov 8, 2016 9:34 am |
Keith,
I'm happy to report that all of the links have been corrected. With today being Election Day, I am relieved that your Election page is up and running. Donald Trump is getting quite a bit of press saying that the Election is rigged. At least in Mt. Lebanon, we can be proud to say that everything is working just fine here.
Elaine
-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>; philip.weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 8, 2016 9:03 am
Subject: Re: Tired of her ineptness yet?
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>; philip.weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 8, 2016 9:03 am
Subject: Re: Tired of her ineptness yet?
Hi Keith,
I am well aware of what causes a broken link. I also know about pasting in a web address still left on my clipboard. In fact, it happened to me. I was shopping for Levi jeans while I was working on my blog and accidentally pasted the link to my shopping page. It was pretty embarrassing. That is why I always check my links as I am writing, just to make sure they are the right links. I also test for broken links too. But what do I know? I'm not the professional. I'm just a volunteer with no professional training; a blogger who will be starting her seventh year at the end of this month. It would be so nice to have a team to help me, but I get by.
Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Rep. Dan Miller <repmiller@pahouse.net>; Philip Weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 8, 2016 7:52 am
Subject: Re: Tired of her ineptness yet?
--
From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Rep. Dan Miller <repmiller@pahouse.net>; Philip Weis <philip.weis@bipc.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 8, 2016 7:52 am
Subject: Re: Tired of her ineptness yet?
Good morning Elaine,
Broken links are not uncommon as I am sure you are aware. There are multiple causes as identified by a quick google search:- External websites that have gone offline
- An orphaned link which points to an old page on a site that no longer exists on the server, usually caused by changes in file name or structure
- Misspellings in the link
- The person maintaining the website made a mistake
More importantly just because someone makes a mistake it does not make them inept, it makes them human. Ms. Morgans is well respected in her field and the municipality is fortunate to have her in her position.
Keith
On Mon, Nov 7, 2016 at 11:08 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:
Oops! Three more bad links.That trip to New York City sure is paying off.Elaine Gillen-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>
Sent: Mon, Nov 7, 2016 10:37 pm
Subject: Tired of her ineptness yet?State Representative Dan Miller is going to love this.Mt. Lebanon is now promoting Levi jeans.Go to:and click the 42nd state legislative district link.Elaine Gillen
--
Friday, September 16, 2016
Good turnout for RTK Session
Last night's Right To Know Session at Mt. Lebanon Library had a good turnout. I saw lots of familiar faces, including Mt. Lebanon Manager Keith McGill. He was the only one representing an agency. There was no representation from the MTL School District or from any other local government.
The evening began with State Representative Dan Miller introducing the Executive Director of the PA Office of Open records Erik Arneson. Erik began with a PowerPoint presentation, followed by an update from Dan on proposed current legislation, including Senate Bill 411.
Dan and Erik took questions from the audience up until the very last minute the library was open. One of the questions that sticks out in my mind was the question about attachments in a Right To Know. Here is the background. ORO Bonnie Cross would not include the attachments in a RTK which Nick M. requested. She felt that Nick needed to specifically request attachments. Seriously. I'm not joking. I don't know where she gets this stuff. Erik said that the attachments must be included with the requested public records. I hear that she is going to attend an Open Records event next week. I did hear that the assistant manager, Ian McMeans is the back up ORO. I hope he attends too.
I want to thank Dan Miller's office for sending the presentation, as well as thank both Dan Miller and Erik Arneson for a very informative session.
The evening began with State Representative Dan Miller introducing the Executive Director of the PA Office of Open records Erik Arneson. Erik began with a PowerPoint presentation, followed by an update from Dan on proposed current legislation, including Senate Bill 411.
Dan and Erik took questions from the audience up until the very last minute the library was open. One of the questions that sticks out in my mind was the question about attachments in a Right To Know. Here is the background. ORO Bonnie Cross would not include the attachments in a RTK which Nick M. requested. She felt that Nick needed to specifically request attachments. Seriously. I'm not joking. I don't know where she gets this stuff. Erik said that the attachments must be included with the requested public records. I hear that she is going to attend an Open Records event next week. I did hear that the assistant manager, Ian McMeans is the back up ORO. I hope he attends too.
I want to thank Dan Miller's office for sending the presentation, as well as thank both Dan Miller and Erik Arneson for a very informative session.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Save the date
Save the date for this very important seminar. When State Rep. Dan Miller was a Mt. Lebanon commissioner, he treated all documents that were not from executive sessions as public information. Go to the podium and ask a question. If Dan had a copy of the information at his fingertips, he would walk the copy to the speaker. Those days are long gone.
Now, we have a commission who appeals the Office of Open Records final determinations. Our commissioners appealed TWO of the OOR final determinations that were granted in my favor.
My case is now going before Commonwealth Court. See the sidebar for more information.
Through another RTK, Tony DeNicola admits to Susan Morgans that anything that goes to the municipality is public information by default. Except. In. My. Case.
Please plan to attend this very important seminar. I hope to see our public officials there. They need it the most.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Very sloppy work
Getting a Right To Know request granted in the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon is becoming a joke, at the requestor's expense. A RTK was filed for all 2016 block party applications received from June 11, 2016 through July 20, 2016.
The 30 day extension was applied so that personal information could be redacted. Typical.
The requestor was charged 25¢ per copy and had to be paid up front, even though it would have been $5.00. Not so typical. Most agencies waive the fee if it is under $25.00. To pay less than $5.00 upfront is ludicrous. Only Mt. Lebanon does that.
Fee was paid, but the RTK was not available after the thirty days. Not typical, in fact, illegal. It was MIA. A letter had to be sent to the manager, commissioners, and Open Records Officer (ORO) questioning the process. Not the first time this had to be done.
The information was emailed, even though it was requested in hard copy. Again, not typical. Commissioner Brumfield objects to scanned copies, when it suits him.
Finally, the information was released and available here.
Reviewing the RTK, I was happy to see that Rudy caught the one scheduled for Halloween and rejected it. Not typical. Last year, there was one in Mission Hills. Our former police chief had advised that all Halloween block parties not be permitted for safety concerns.
I do see that one application was reviewed and accepted for a collector street. They even requested a barricade for a Castle Shannon street. Sadly, this too, is typical. A Sleepy Hollow resident appeared at my door last year and told me to mind my own business regarding their two block parties.
State Representative Dan Miller's Right To Know event on September 15, 2016 can't come soon enough. I just hope that representatives from the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon attend Dan's event.
The 30 day extension was applied so that personal information could be redacted. Typical.
The requestor was charged 25¢ per copy and had to be paid up front, even though it would have been $5.00. Not so typical. Most agencies waive the fee if it is under $25.00. To pay less than $5.00 upfront is ludicrous. Only Mt. Lebanon does that.
Fee was paid, but the RTK was not available after the thirty days. Not typical, in fact, illegal. It was MIA. A letter had to be sent to the manager, commissioners, and Open Records Officer (ORO) questioning the process. Not the first time this had to be done.
The information was emailed, even though it was requested in hard copy. Again, not typical. Commissioner Brumfield objects to scanned copies, when it suits him.
Finally, the information was released and available here.
Reviewing the RTK, I was happy to see that Rudy caught the one scheduled for Halloween and rejected it. Not typical. Last year, there was one in Mission Hills. Our former police chief had advised that all Halloween block parties not be permitted for safety concerns.
I do see that one application was reviewed and accepted for a collector street. They even requested a barricade for a Castle Shannon street. Sadly, this too, is typical. A Sleepy Hollow resident appeared at my door last year and told me to mind my own business regarding their two block parties.
State Representative Dan Miller's Right To Know event on September 15, 2016 can't come soon enough. I just hope that representatives from the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon attend Dan's event.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Erik Arneson Tweets from the OOR
- Tweets
- Tweets & replies
- Media
-
- Tweets
- Tweets & replies
- Media
Erik Arneson Appeals Filed in the First Half of 2016
A total of 1,146 appeals were filed with the Office of Open Records in the first half of 2016. Here’s the monthly breakdown:
- January – 122
- February – 317
- March – 184
- April – 141
- May – 198
- June – 184
That’s the second-busiest first half of the year ever at the OOR. Here’s a comparison of appeals filed in the first six months of each year the OOR has existed:
- 2016 (Jan. to June) – 1,146
- 2015 (Jan. to June) – 1,181
- 2014 (Jan. to June) – 1,017
- 2013 (Jan. to June) – 1,129
- 2012 (Jan. to June) – 1,064
- 2011 (Jan. to June) – 908
- 2010 (Jan. to June) – 601
- 2009 (Jan. to June) – 560
State Representative Dan Miller is hosting a seminar with Erik Arneson on September 15, 2016 at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Save the date!
Monday, May 16, 2016
Right To Know Information Session
State Representative Dan Miller has invited us to a Right To Know Information Session. For those of you who are not on Facebook, here is the information:
Dan sponsored an event similar to this a few years ago with Nathan Byerly, also from the PA Office of Open Records. Nate made an excellent presentation. It was well attended by people from all over the area. This time, the Executive Director will be speaking with us. Mr. Arneson is quite familiar with Mt. Lebanon. I am looking forward to meeting him in person.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Winding down
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>
Sent: Sun, Apr 17, 2016 1:18 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait
To: repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>
Sent: Sun, Apr 17, 2016 1:18 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait
Hi Dan,
Please consider doing another Office of Open Records forum in Mt. Lebanon. According to my latest RTK, corn is proprietary. The mechanism to distribute the corn is now proprietary. Response to RTK about bait
I have included an email exchange that I had with Keith McGill, Tony DeNicola, Aaron Lauth, and ultimately sent to the commission. The Health Department got involved because ground baiting is illegal in Allegheny County. Tony will not disclose the method he used nor the type of bait he used. In articles to the media, Tony made reference to bait piles and accusations that someone tried to incriminate White Buffalo.
Bait piles are illegal in Allegheny County, but Mt. Lebanon is permitting Tony DeNicola to hide behind the excuse that the information is proprietary. The commissioners will not respond. I am being ignored again. I could file another appeal with the OOR, but then will be forced to hire another attorney if the OOR grants my appeal for the third time and Mt. Lebanon decides to appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.
I quoted Merriam-Webster because Buchanan Ingersoll cited Merriam-Webster in their case against me.
The commissioners are under the impression that going to the Court of Common Pleas costs Mt. Lebanon taxpayers nothing. I have asked for Kelly's help, but she has been ignoring me for a year now.
Can you help?
Elaine Gillen
Mr. DeNicola said one person tried to frighten deer from a bait pile by repeatedly yelling “murderers.” More disturbing to him, he said, was what he called an attempt to incriminate White Buffalo.
“[Police Chief Aaron Lauth] got a call a few days ago from someone saying we were violating the 1,000-foot school radius at McNeely Park,” Mr. DeNicola said. “The bait was not ours — it was nowhere near where police knew we were stationed. Somebody put a pile of corn in a field and called in and said it was us. Unbelievable.”
The commissioners are under the impression that going to the Court of Common Pleas costs Mt. Lebanon taxpayers nothing. I have asked for Kelly's help, but she has been ignoring me for a year now.
Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 3:45 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 3:45 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait
Commissioners,
I am forwarding this to all of you, since I rarely get any response. From any of you.
Now, bait is top secret. Love the transparency in this municipality.
Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kfraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 2:17 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kfraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 2:17 pm
Subject: Fwd: Bait
Kelly,
I have attached Bonnie's response to my latest RTK. I asked for the type of bait and how it was being distributed. Please read the email thread below that I had with Tony. Tony was going to get back to me, but then he changed his mind.
I also shared with you, previously, photos of piles of corn at the golf course and at McNeilly. Here they are again.
McNeilly
Golf course
As you may remember from last year, the Allegheny County Health Department told us that it is illegal to do ground baiting. Tony claims that he didn't do this, yet will not divulge what method he did use to bait the deer.
Both he and Bonnie Cross say that it is proprietary information. As the practice seems to be here, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary is the gold standard for definitions. Here is the definition of proprietary:
- 1: one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something; specifically : proprietor 1
- 2: something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker; specifically : a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
- 3: a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization
Tony DeNicola does not hold exclusive rights to apples and corn. The formula to Coca Cola is proprietary, not apples or corn. Tony needs to prove to you and the rest of us, that he did not violate any health department codes. Can you intervene? It is ludicrous for me to file an appeal for this too.
Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Mar 8, 2016 5:32 pm
Subject: Re: Bait
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Mar 8, 2016 5:32 pm
Subject: Re: Bait
My findings are not public information.
On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:
On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:
SECOND REQUEST
Tony,According to Susan Morgans, all the baiting has concluded in today's article in The Almanac. http://www.thealmanac.net/20160308/details_for_mt_lebanon_sharpshooting_limited_for_safety_reasons"“The baiting has concluded,” Morgans said."As of February 28, you were going to give it another week to sort out the best method for baiting and what type of mechanical feeder you are using to distribute the bait. I understand that it is an art, rather than a science. You were going to get back to me. Keith was going to get back to me.I have also asked Manager Keith McGill and he was going to ask you. I hope he has followed through. Now, I read that the baiting has concluded. What kind of bait have you decided to go with and what type of mechanical feeder did you use?Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: tony.denicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sun, Mar 6, 2016 12:54 pm
Subject: Re: Bait
Tony,
It's been a week since we last exchanged emails. Any news on what type of bait and what type of mechanical feeders that you are using? According to the permit, you have had six weeks to bait so far. Are you still sorting out the best method?Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sun, Feb 28, 2016 7:53 am
Subject: Re: Bait
Elaine,
No problem at all. I am still assessing how well our mechanical feeders are working at timing deer arrival times with some different baits. We are trying to get the deer to come predictably after dark, so that is very difficult.I will give it another week or so. We still have plenty of time before the permit expires at the end of March.Tony
On Sunday, February 28, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:
Tony,
I did a quick search and found this on Field and Stream's website. http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/quick-tips/if-you-want-deer-bait-will-drive-deer-crazy-try-grape-kool-aid-guy-dnr-gave-me-ti"They also like peanut butter, apples, syrup, and pretty much anything else you would feed a five year old according to other posts. Good luck with the kool-aid. I'm sticking with corn."We were told that you started baiting over a month ago. I'm am trying not to sound snarky, but sincerely, I would think you would have some idea as to what bait has worked and what mechanism you are using to distribute it by now. Do you have an estimate as to when you will have it sorted out? This week? Next week?Respectfully,Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Sat, Feb 27, 2016 5:59 pm
Subject: Re: Bait
We are still sorting out the best method. Once we have better data I will let you know.
Tony
On Saturday, February 27, 2016, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:
Yes, thank you for your response, Tony. I can understand that bait is a regional thing. From what I've learned at commission meetings, Mt. Lebanon deer are not picky eaters. So what did you end up using here? Also, what method of distributing the bait are you using?
Thanks in advance for your clarification.
I had originally made a mistake typing Aaron's email, so I have added his correct (I hope!) email address. Sorry about that, Aaron.Elaine Gillen
-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony DeNicola <tony.denicola@whitebuffaloinc.org>
To: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; alauth <alauth@mtebanon.org>
Sent: Fri, Feb 26, 2016 8:01 pm
Subject: Re: Bait
Keith,Baiting is more of an art than a science. We use a multitude of options depending on what the local deer seem to prefer most, what is available, and relative cost. It can be apples, deer feed, corn, alpha pellets, etc. We place bait out at each location where we are active, primarily on private properties throughout the municipality typically several weeks in advance of getting started whether it is for capture purposes or for lethal management programs.I hope this helps,Tony
Anthony J. DeNicola Ph.D. | President | White Buffalo Inc.
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 2:35 PM, Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org> wrote:
KeithGood afternoon Elaine,Aaron did provide a response and indicated that someone from White Buffalo would be a better source to provide a response. I am copying Tony DeNicola on this response. I'm sure Tony can provide a response.
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 2:27 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:
Keith,
Were you able to get in touch with Aaron or Mike concerning my bait questions? What kind of bait and how is it being distributed?Elaine Gillen
--
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Amen to that, Dan!
From State Representative Dan Miller's latest newsletter:
Dan writes that Harrisburg is broken. I believe that Mt. Lebanon is broken. Zone 1, which includes Virginia Manor, had the highest count of deer killed on private property. As I have said repeatedly, I am not rich enough to hate deer. Then we have those pushing for more toxic turf fields. I am too poor to want toxic turf fields too. Our commissioners seem to respond to special interest groups only or those who can contribute to political campaigns. Remember this? And this?
We definitely need to get behind House Bill 50.
Campaign Finance Reform I am co-sponsoring House Bill 50 which mirrors federal campaign law in placing contribution limits on municipal and statewide candidates in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is currently one of only 12 states with no limits on campaign contributions, allowing too much potential for special interests to influence elections. Public officials need to be accountable to voters, not large campaign donors.
Dan writes that Harrisburg is broken. I believe that Mt. Lebanon is broken. Zone 1, which includes Virginia Manor, had the highest count of deer killed on private property. As I have said repeatedly, I am not rich enough to hate deer. Then we have those pushing for more toxic turf fields. I am too poor to want toxic turf fields too. Our commissioners seem to respond to special interest groups only or those who can contribute to political campaigns. Remember this? And this?
We definitely need to get behind House Bill 50.
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