What the hell

The Mt. Lebanon Commission meeting agenda for April 30, 2018 has been posted.

SS 1. Citizens Comments. (Limited to agenda items only)

SS stands for Steve Silverman. Citizen comments are limited to agenda items only. 

But just twenty minutes later, the Commissioners will be discussing

Engaging and informing residents as well as expanding volunteer opportunities to include both one-time and project-specific efforts and connecting residents to them...

Steve, you can't limit our comments to agenda items only. Especially before a discussion meeting where you will be talking about engaging residents.

What the hell????????

Interesting connections, observations, and more mail UPDATED with link

It looks like we are off to the races, that is the commission and school board director races. Readers continue to send me particulars about candidates running in the May Primary.

Craig Grella (D), Ward 4 candidate handled Mt. Lebanon Democratic Committee chair, Michelle Zmijanac's digital campaign.

Craig supports lethal culling methods. White Buffalo president, Tony DeNicola is now recommending non-traditional lethal methods which include trap and bolt, the most inhumane way to kill deer. Craig rents his home and lives next door to a neighbor who has fruit trees. We will all pay the price to have the deer, who are attracted to those fruit trees, killed.

Steve Silverman's Accomplishments Steve believes he has improved Pedestrian and Vehicular Safety by voting for killing deer with high powered rifles in our community 30 minutes after our elementary school children are dismissed from school. Pedestrians continue to get hit in cross walks, DUI's are on the rise, and supports breathalyzer tests for people on bicycles while showing his support to the Friends of the Library. His Facebook page, Vote Steve Silverman features photos from the Beer Bashes and Brews held at the library. He is also taking credit for our Fire Department achieving an ISO Class I rating and Spring Hill Suites opening. Steve also supports taking grandmothers on Social Security to Common Pleas Court to appeal the PA Office of Open Records decision. Silverman tends to leak private emails, within a few hours, to his friends. The friends, in turn, pay an unannounced visit to the homes of those same grandmothers on Social Security. You will see many of Steve's yard signs on every corner in Ward 2.

Anonymous letters continues to show up in my mail box. The ones I got this week include a suggested political sign for the Timmy Ticket, as well as more "scoop" on Birks and Cappucci.

"Unethical" is printed in yellow ink.

Click on "scoop" link above for scanned image.

Will we get any more information on former school board president and newly appointed Girls' Volleyball Coach Joe Rodella and the Timmy Ticket's' association with PA Cyber? Federal judge sides with prosecutors in unsealing Trombetta case records

Manager's numbers are out of whack!

Keith McGill sent this table to the commission, the assistant manager, and the person who requested this information at the last commission meeting. I don't know where Keith got some of these numbers, but his records are not accurate.

Good afternoon,

At the meeting on Monday night there was a request to identify the number of deer removed since we put a deer management program in place and the associated cost. Here is what my records indicate:

Year	Deer Removed	Cost of Removal
2007	79	$19,900  (USDA)
2008	146	$50,837 (USDA)
2015	6	$3,000  (Wildlife Specialists)
2016	101	$15,460 (White Buffalo -Archery)
2016	114	$74,375 (White Buffalo –Sharpshooting)
2017	36	$9,000 (White Buffalo- Archery)
2017	55	$44,868 (White Buffalo -Sharpshooting)
Total	537	$217,440

Keith


There were 69 deer killed in 2007. The permit was for up to 75. http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8876

In 2008, USDA killed 146 deer, but only knew about 145 deer. The 146th was found dead, in a pool of blood, in someone's front yard on Lindendale. The permit was for up to 150 deer.

The 2016 Archers killed 104 deer. http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/13897 Goal was 100.

The 2016 "Sharpshooting" program killed 115 deer. We were told that the limit would be 150 deer.

The 2017 "Sharpshooting" contract was limited to 100 deer. 55 deer were killed.

The only time hunters reached their goal was in 2016. The goal was 100 deer. All the other years, hunters came in short of their goals. I have no idea where Keith is getting his numbers, but these are the numbers I found on the municipal website.

To take this a step further, the cost of killing per deer per year breaks down to:

2007 $288.41 per deer
2008 $348.20 per deer
2015 $500 per deer
2016 (archery) $147.24 per deer
2016 ("sharpshooting") $652.41 per deer
2017 (archery) $250 per deer
2017 ("sharpshooting") $815.78 per deer

Both Steve Silverman and Craig Grella want to continue doing business with that scoundrel, and will vote along with John Bendel and Steve McLean to keep Tony DeNicola. Killing deer causes collisions to increase, but they will continue to bring in lethal weapons because deer are scary.

Yes, it's true

Woman still fighting to learn details about Mt. Lebanon deer cull

Don't worry, Folks. I'm not wasting your tax dollars. It falls well below the cap that Mt. Lebanon and Buchanan Ingersoll have set. Commissioner Steve "It's free" Silverman will tell you that it isn't costing Mt. Lebanon anything. Maybe he will mention that during the next Commission Discussion about the Unity Rally.

I have not pushed my "gofund me" because I got quite a bit of criticism for asking for help with Mt. Lebanon's appeal against me in Common Pleas Court. 

One of the Trib commenters wrote "Elaine Gillen needs a job. 10 to 1 odds she gets unemployment, aid to dependent children, WIC, foodstamps, free obamacare, section 8 housing, etc." Mike, I say to you I wouldn't make any bets if I were you. It is expensive to get to the State Supreme Court, but the only government assistance I am receiving is Social Security. "Not really" joking about human culling requests is highly inappropriate. I'm surprised that the Trib approved your comment, while reporting thirteen innocent people were gunned down, killing five in the Ft. Lauderdale Airport.

Vuono: Kill 100 deer by archers AND 150 deer by sharp shooters UPDATED

Updated July 15, 2015 6:57 AM I changed the title to this post to demonstrate the venom my commissioner has toward deer. Linfante looks like Mary Poppins compared to Vuono. Coleen Vuono actually wanted to hire Wildlife Services, the bimbos from 2006-2008, to kill 150 deer by night AND, simultaneously hire DeNicola's White Buffalo to kill 100 deer by day. The last aerial survey showed 196 deer in and surrounding our six square miles. Commissioners also approved goats and guard mules for Bird Park.

I cannot believe what I heard tonight. I am still in shock, so let me start with what I said during Citizen Comments. 

I have been speaking against deer killing for ten years. I'm part of the Coalition for Coexistence because I am against violence. Firing weapons in our densely populated community is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

Repeatedly, I have been asking about the sterilization permit application. Steve Feller had said that it was going to be resubmitted in April. When I asked again, Tony DeNicola had helped fill out the application form . The PA Game Commission representative, Jeanine Fleegle offered to help with the process at the June 22 meeting. Yes or No. Has it been resubmitted? [The answer was "NO."]

On the White Buffalo website, there is a nice photo of Jody Maddock. He is a project manager for Tony DeNicola. Maddock was billed as working at Bryn Athyn College. Nothing was ever mentioned that he was the founder of Whitetail Associates. We were never told that there was a connection between the two "experts." Then we find out that tonight, you folks may approve a proposal submitted by them. Was an RFP advertised? Yes or No. [The answer was "NO."] By the way, that proposal was never publicized. 

Asking the hunters to produce the deer's right jaw bone as proof of delivery is the most gruesome and revolting thought possible for many of us. What is this? Medieval times? 

Did you ever play the game, "Whack a Mole" at Chuck E. Cheese's? You bop one mole and then another one pops up somewhere else. That's the game I feel we're playing regarding the reasons to kill the deer. We've heard the gardens are being destroyed, there's too much deer poop, the car accidents involving deer are increasing, we have too many deer, counts don't matter, Lyme Disease, you're against sharp shooting and then you are for sharpshooting, the Ecosystem is being destroyed, birds are disappearing and my favorite, deer are scary. As soon as we debunk one issue, you're on to something else. 

So what is it really? Car accidents or gardens? If it is car accidents, why are you focusing on 9% of the total accidents? You're forgetting the other 91% of the car accidents. What happens if the number drops 50% before five years? When does the tally start? 2012? 2016? 

If it is NOT about gardens, why was there so much emphasis placed on "ongoing deer management" at a former commissioner's home last Sunday? I emailed you the notices she was passing out and I put them on my blog, Lebo Citizens. She had been quoted as saying, "Well the deer are going to die anyway." I love the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Garden Tour. I am a big supporter of the Library and have attended ALL 25 years of tours. It is a shame that it was used as a political platform to kill deer. This isn't the first time that has happened. A few years ago, the Gentlemen Gardeners did the same thing. If it isn't about gardens, then why does this happen repeatedly? 

I was fascinated by the goats and mule presentation and how they eat invasives. Deer love poison ivy and English Ivy. Goats are good. Deer are bad. Goat and donkey poop is acceptable. Deer poop is not. 

I am having an especially hard time writing those checks to pay my taxes. This was once a stellar community. Now Mt. Lebanon provides comic relief during the news.

***********

So you may have heard by now, three commissioners are now opting for "sharp shooting" AND archery. Dave and Kelly are still opposed to sharp shooting, but John "I'm against sharp shooting" Bendel is now right there with Coleen and Steve. If Coleen could have started sharp shooting tonight, it would not have been soon enough. Let me tell you, they aren't sharp shooters. We're not talking Navy SEALS. 

For those Lebo Citizen readers who were not here in 2006-2008, you don't know the fear of not knowing who is outside ready to shoot when you have to let your dog go out in the middle of the night. None of us know what it will be like to see archers in the daytime. For all those people tonight, well, I guess it was technically last night, who were afraid to have their kids play outside because of the deer, will now have to deal with seeing wounded deer, archers trailing deer, dying deer, and arrows covered in blood and fur. 

There were people tonight who actually said that they do not want to coexist. I don't know what else to say tonight except I am deeply disappointed in the commission and the blood thirsty residents who spoke this evening.

Update July 15, 2015 7:49 PM Mt. Lebanon residents to get choice in allowing bowhunting on properties to cull deer

The plan was always more deer killing this Fall

Somehow I missed the minutes from the April 8, 2015 Community Relations Board meeting.

Commission Liaison’s Report: Commissioner Silverman recapped this year’s deer cull. He said there would be another cull next year, but not necessarily one using the same method. A lengthy discussion followed during which members shared some of the comments they heard about the cull from residents and debated whether the board should have any role in the deer issue. Dianne Wainwright suggested that the board limit its role to encouraging people to call their commissioners. Bob Taylor and Susanne Wagner reminded Mr. Silverman that the board previously had decided it could not take a position on the issue but would support the Commission if and when it made a decision. Susanne Wagner said that she does not think the board should have a role in a deer-related project.

Steve Silverman gave his report days after Merlin Benner left town. Also in attendance was staff liaison PIO Susan Morgans, who told the press days before the meeting, that there was going to be "a cooling off period." Some cooling off period. You also told us that both lethal and non-lethal options will be considered. It was always going to be lethal methods only. John Bendel, were you aware that Steve Silverman was not resetting the dialogue as you were quoted as saying in the PG's Commissioners lament 'divisiveness' of Mt. Lebanon deer culling debate? It is right there in the Community Relations Board minutes of April 8, 2015.

The next commission meeting will be on July 14. Just like the June 22, 2015 farce, the July 14 commission meeting will also be held at the high school. This is when we have an opportunity to comment on the deer killing plan. Not that it will matter since it was decided back in April, according to Steve Silverman, that there will be more deer killing.

Ordeal to getting Sandy Baker's report online

On June 27, 2015, I forwarded a comment posted on this blog to the Commission, asking for the Sandy Baker report to be added to the municipal website. (I also asked if my commissioner was going to stay in Ward 3 when she sells her house, but that is a topic for another time. I asked her again this morning if she plans to stay in Ward 3.)

The first to respond was Dave Brumfield.  He did not find the recommendations effective and/or feasible relevant to our stated goal.

Next, I heard from Kelly Fraasch. She ​felt all they discussed was the presenter's options on Monday and had little time to discuss much else.

This morning, I received this email from John Bendel. The Sandy Baker report is now available on the municipal website here.

I have not heard back from Steve Silverman or Coleen Vuono. It is only hearsay, but allegedly neither Steve Silverman or Coleen Vuono would sign the thank you note to Sandy Baker.

A Walk in the Park

I don't know why I bothered, but I picked up my latest copy of mtl Magazine. Starting with Susan Morgans' story on her former neighbor's garden, her home & garden guide, and then coming to Steve Silverman's commissioner's report, I had to stop reading.

Theoretically, the deer killing would have still been in progress, had J. Merlin Benner not ended his contract with Mt. Lebanon. What did Steve Silverman write about? How about we take a walk in one of Mt. Lebanon's passive parks? According to Steve, we have three passive parks: Bird Park, Robb Hollow, and Twin Hills. What about McNeilly Park? The Conservation District? I questioned the designation of those two areas during the deer killing. Was anyone harassed by Benner's boys or the corn patrol for being in either of those locations after 9:00 PM? Parks close at 9:00 PM, we were told. According to Commissioner Silverman and the Public Information Office which put together the magazine, we are now being told that there are only three passive parks in Mt. Lebanon. I'm so confused!

Does Mr. Silverman realize that residents were stopped by police for walking on the outskirts of Bird Park? During daylight hours! Yet, in his commissioner's report, Steve is encouraging us to visit one of our passive parks. Really, Steve? Are you in denial? How about you, PIO? Weren't you making residents out to be vandals, while they were being questioned by police and then asked for photo ID just for walking on sidewalks or in parking lots?

Is this part of the cooling off period? Is pretending nothing horrible happened in the parks part of your plan? Do you think we are stupid and will forget? Enough with the brainwashing! Thought reform in the People's Republic of China was a campaign by the Communists in the early 50's. In present day, thought reform can be found right here in Mt. Lebanon. Seriously, Susan, retire. Steve, very poor timing.

Consider the following

Tomorrow's protest will start at 5:30 in front of the municipal building, across from Sesame Inn. The Commission Discussion Session begins at 6:30. According to the Commission Discussion Session Agenda, Commission President Bendel has allotted himself another thirty minutes to discuss goals. At the previous discussion session, John scheduled forty five minutes to discuss goals and allocated a whole FIVE minutes for Commissioner Fraasch's presentation on non-lethal methods of deer management. He then cut her off because they were running short on time. Tomorrow's agenda is void of any deer discussions. In light of recent events concerning deer, John's lack of transparency has left many residents feeling outraged and unrepresented.

Those from both in and outside Mt. Lebanon who opposed the deer kill have lived a tough lesson in Constitutional Law. Threats of arrests and fines by the Mt Lebanon Police Department persisted throughout the culling period, for the sole purpose of suppressing activists’ civil liberties. John Bendel has denied non-residents the ability to speak during Citizen Comments, pulling the non-resident sign up sheet minutes before the last meeting. To Mt. Lebanon business owners, not living in Mt. Lebanon: You're out of luck. Mr. Bendel permitted non-residents to speak in two consecutive meetings prior to March 10, 2015. Non-residents have been permitted to speak on several occasions in the past. Cutting off Kelly during her presentation during the March 10 Discussion Session is unconscionable. Mr. Bendel, by pissing off residents over sidewalks, turf, reassessments, and now permitting a firm to inhumanely fire eleven shots to kill three deer, I predict that your chances of being reelected as a Ward 1 commissioner are bleak.

For the Public Information Office to decide what residents need to know is appalling. “We see no value to Mt. Lebanon residents of releasing daily reports,” said municipal spokeswoman [Public Misinformation Officer] Susan Morgans. She said officials worry about inflaming those opposed to the culling and don't want them to “put themselves in harm's way” to protest or disrupt the program. She continues to spew out unsubstantiated claims as to how many deer are in Mt. Lebanon, when Feller himself admitted he had no idea. The PIO perpetuates Benner's stories of vandalism to the media, yet quickly crushed Benner's accusation of Mt. Lebanon Police scaring off four deer. We are tired of your continual misinformation. Where is the LeboALERT announcing the end of the deer cull? Perhaps you should consider following Tom Kelley and Coleman McDonough's lead, Mrs. Stroyd Morgans.

Steve Feller, you've got to go. Lying to a commissioner by telling her that the corrals were being relocated, instead of reporting the end of killing, is grounds for a pink slip. You have been deceitful to residents and frankly, we've had enough of it. Surely, you can see the handwriting on the wall.

Kristen Linfante, please resign. You have done considerable damage to Mt. Lebanon. If you are too ill to serve, then resign. Flight attendants warn passengers, “In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above your head…” We are to take care of ourselves before trying to help others. Learn from that, Kristen. And no, I'm not into you. In fact, I have more than enough evidence to personally sue your sorry ass.

Dave Brumfield, you are a disgrace. You told us that you would never permit guns to be used on deer. Thanks to you, six deer died horrific deaths. For some strange reason, you permit Feller and Linfante to manipulate you. What do they have on you, Dave?

Steve Silverman, while we have you to thank for limiting Benner's fee to $500 per deer, it did cost taxpayers $15,000 for this yayhoo's "expertise." You claim that this was the number one issue when you were campaigning. I don't think what you approved was what your constituents had in mind. Do you think hearing reports of keeping deer trapped in corrals for an average of ninety minutes and then being tortured with multiple gunshots (eleven bullets to kill three deer) will make our Junior Commissioner proud? How about getting those twenty or so Deer Crossing signs sitting at Public Works installed? Open your mind to non-lethal methods for a change. At tomorrow's meeting, how about sitting up and looking at the public for a change. Directly answer a question when asked, for once.

Coleman McDonough, thank you for your years of service in Mt. Lebanon. I don't think guarding corn, allowing Benner to blame your police force for chasing away four deer, falsely accuse residents, who you are paid to protect, of vandalism, being manipulated by Kristen Linfante, and encouraging residents to have private hunts were the best decisions you ever made. You have turned Mt. Lebanon into a war zone. Unfortunately, this will be your legacy.

This cull has left our community deeply divided and will taint its reputation for years to come.

Where are the deer-killing sites, Steve?

From: Nita M. Fandray
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 9:18 PM
To: 'ssilverman@mtlebanon.org'
Cc: 'Edward Modaro'
Subject: FW: Location of Each Deer-Killing Site

Hello Steve---

I am writing to confirm that you did not respond to my emails of earlier today, both of which are incorporated by reference into this email and set forth below.

Eight corrals and the public does not know their exact locations. This project of yours is a disaster.

Nita

From: Nita M. Fandray
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 1:34 PM
To: 'ssilverman@mtlebanon.org'
Cc: 'Edward Modaro'
Subject: FW: Location of Each Deer-Killing Site

Steve,

It’s Nita, again. Ed and I will appreciate your supplying us with the below requested information before the end of this business day.

Steve, everyone knows that the municipality wants the public to know as few details as possible about Benner’s operations in Mt. Lebo. I have actually heard that Benner and the municipality (including the police) have suggested keeping the details quiet in the interest of SAFETY.  Whose safety?

It is absurd and illegal (for the commission, the MLPD, and the PA Game Commission) to only supply the important, relevant information to the Benner boys and other choice municipal employees. THEY HAVE THE GUNS. They can protect themselves (from what, I don’t know).

The children of Mt. Lebanon have been placed and are at high risk of harm by the very people whose jobs require them to act as the “ultimate guardian” of our children. (Phil Weis can tell you about Parens Patriae and its very strong public policy implications in PA.) 

Please comply with the below request so that the general public may have at least some information on which to base safety decisions this weekend and in the future, especially for the children. Stop keeping secrets. It only perpetuates the continual decline of Mt. Lebanon.

I look forward to hearing from you today.

Thank you.

Nita Fandray

From: Nita M. Fandray
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 10:43 AM
To: 'ssilverman@mtlebanon.org'
Subject: Location of Each Deer-Killing Site

Hi Steve----

My interest in the ongoing Mt. Lebanon deer-kill operation is primarily public safety. At the commission meeting this past Tuesday night, the municipal manager was less than forthcoming about the locations of the corrals that are being used to lure deer, trap them and kill them with some very powerful weaponry.

Spring has sprung. Like you, Steve, I am an on-hands parent. With the ever increasing amount of daylight in mid to late March, kids of all ages will be out in droves, visiting the public parks that were once viewed as safe havens in Mt. Lebanon. They are contaminated now and may be for years to come.

For the sake of our children, please let me know today the exact location of each of Merlin Benner’s corrals.

Update March 14, 2015 7:49 AM Mackenzie Carpenter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed me before writing "The DeerFather," a parody based on Mt. Lebanon deer-cull, will not be in theaters soon — if ever. Her intent was to write a lighthearted article based on how social media is reacting to the deer killing. In a phone conversation, she asked me to watch Fake Lebo's video and email my thoughts about the video. Here is what I wrote to her: 

Hi Mackenzie,

I watched Fake Lebo's video. I love Fake Lebo. "Many a true word hath been spoken in jest."
- William Shakespeare, King Lear

Definitely their best work. Did I laugh? No, I have lost my sense of humor over the commission's horrific plan. It is very sad. I can't even drive by the traps without crying.
Elaine Gillen

In a prior phone conversation, I did complain to Mackenzie about the PG's John Hayes, who wrote that we have THOUSANDS of deer in Mt. Lebanon. Instead, she wanted to focus on Fake Lebo's video. I tend to think that I have a good sense of humor, but I am not one of the ones laughing at the moment. No reflection on Fake Lebo. I love what they do.

March 15, 2015 6:08 AM PG's John Hayes is at it again. Mt. Lebanon deer cull begins, four killed 
According to Hayes, we have THOUSANDS of deer in Mt. Lebanon. Our commissioners have hired Wildlife Specialists to kill up to 150 deer. Mr. Hayes indicates that zero deer were killed on Night 5, with a total of four deer killed by five men, authorized by the PA Game Commission, in five nights. Hayes writes:

Now that pro-cull residents know that during deer hunting seasons they can legally waive safety zone protections and invite archers to hang tree stands on private property, some may take Mt. Lebanon deer management into their own hands.

Mt. Lebanon commissioners have hired an expert to kill 150 deer, Mr. Hayes. You have obviously been talking with Kristen Linfante, encouraging residents to take matters into their own hands.

For those who enjoy reviewing contracts

A full set of specifications for the Wildcat Turf Project was obtained through a Right To Know. The requester has graciously offered to share it with Lebo Citizens readers here. Vasco Full Set of Specifications

Anyone who has knowledge of contracts, construction, bids, etc., please review the documentation. Dave Brumfield told the requester that he never looked at it. Boy, does that have a familiar ring. Think Ewing and Kubit. Allegedly, Kristen Linfante and John Bendel reviewed it with Gateway. Kelly Fraasch was not privy to it. Nothing from Steve Silverman.

What better way to spend Thanksgiving weekend than by reading 555 pages of a Right To Know?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fraasch reads to commissioners UPDATED

Albert Turfstein has added another video. He writes:

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch goes through some of the hazards listed in the artificial turf MSDS sheets as well as uncovers the fact that the Zinc levels will be ABOVE state of California limits in contradiction to what Commissioner Linfante says. The "expert" in the room doesn't know how much zinc is in grass, doesn't know if flame retardants will be used and doesn't know if chemicals will be used to lessen static issues. Commissioner Silverman likens turf zinc to lozenges you might take for a cold. Really?

Watch Dave Bumfield. He is the only one who doesn't follow along while Kelly Fraasch reads the warnings from the MSDS data. He has never seen anything negative concerning artificial turf because he refuses!





Link to video: http://youtu.be/DWWSNKOJpZU

Updated November 6, 2014 9:30 AM Albert Turfstein has uploaded another video. In this video, Gateway's Dan Deiseroth discusses the non-issue of runoff. He also states that the NPDES permit will be in hand by Friday, July 11, 2014.

Note: With all the revisions to stormwater management required by the DEP, the NPDES permit was finally granted on October 16, 2014. No word from the commissioners on how many millions of dollars will be added to the cost of the project for these mandatory upgrades. Thank you to all of the public commenters, or else the ACCD would have not taken this seriously. The ACCD forwarded it to the DEP for review.




Link to video: http://youtu.be/aV3SOz878YI When the video is embedded into a blog posting, the actual views are not tallied on YouTube. The number listed on YouTube is always less than the actual amount of views of any video.

Hope to see you at the protest on Saturday!

UPDATE November 7, 2014 5:49 PM Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for artificial turf mentioned above

From the same people who bring you toxic turf, comes this FAQ for Newcomers UPDATED 3X

Mt. Lebanon has just issued this friendly Mt. Lebanon Assessment Appeal Program FAQ. They saved the best for last.

Q: Will Mt. Lebanon continue the appeals program next year?
A: The Commission has not yet made that determination.

What? Kristen Linfante bought her house in 2005. Steve Silverman bought his house in 2005. They stopped at 2006. They have not made the determination to continue the appeals program next year? No wonder Dave Brumfield was speechless when asked to define the word, "Fairness."

Mike Suley submitted this opinion piece to The Trib, Disclose appeal formulas. I have not heard anything about last night's Newcomer's Tax meeting, which was scheduled concurrently with the educational forum on artificial turf. Some may say that John Bendel left the educational forum early to attend the Newcomer's Tax meeting, but he left well before the start of the Newcomer's Tax meeting.

Newcomers, care to comment on your meeting last night? Would you consider signing a petition on say...halting spending surplus tax dollars on artificial turf voted by Kristen Linfante, Dave Brumfield, John Bendel, and supported by Steve Silverman? Keep in mind how President Linfante treated you at commission meetings. FYI, Dave Brumfield has wanted artificial turf for years and has found just the way to fund it.

Please sign this petition if you want to halt public funds for use of artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields.

Update May 2, 2014 7:01 AM Why is Commissioner Linfante's underassessed house on the market?

http://85roycroftavenue.howardhanna.com  

Update May 4, 2014 5:45 PM Newcomers, don't miss Susan Morgans' editorial in this month's mtl Magazine.

Update May 6, 2014 11:15 AM Assessment games: Allegheny County's failure to produce and maintain a fair and regular system of property tax assessments — and, in some instances, actively working to undermine that system — has produced what you might expect: local municipalities and school districts attempting to use the appeals process to engage in nothing less than spot assessment. This end around is dubious public policy and has the perverse effect of not only pitting neighbor against neighbor but perpetuating unconstitutional taxation. All of this nonsense must stop.

Municipality and (MTLSD?) raising non-municipal funds in corporate deal UPDATED

According to Minutes of the November 25, 2013 Adjourned Meeting of the Mt. Lebanon Commission, the Commission allocated $750,000 in municipal funds for the turf project, including $637,400 by action at the November 25, 2013 meeting. The remaining $112,600 will be considered in a separate motion at a future Commission meeting. In this month's issue of our municipal mtl Magazine, there is a three page article about field fundraising. The Public Information Office writes that the field sports organizations are to raise an additional $250,000 or 25% of the project. Volunteers are to contact Dave Franklin at his office, dfranklin@eckertseamans.com according to the municipal magazine article. But look who is doing the heavy lifting raising non-municipal funds.

As revealed in my January 24, 2014 Right To Know, the Sports Advisory Board (SAB) or field sports associations, isn't doing the lion's share of raising non-municipal funds. It is the Municipality!  Gateway, our municipal engineer has donated $4,000 in 2013, with promises of more in 2014. Gateway is also doing the engineering on the project and any traffic studies required; however, a major portion of the dollars required will have to come elsewhere. What I discovered is a sweetheart deal with...drum roll please...Dick's Sporting Goods. Orchestrating what should be something entirely by the private sector are Mt. Lebanon Commissioners, the Director of Recreation, MTLSD Athletic Director, and the Municipal Engineer creating the pathway for the SAB and the Turf Project Task Force (TPTF). 

Keep in mind that the RTK information requested was from November 1, 2013 to January 24, 2014. 

Steve Silverman, elected but not yet sworn in as Commissioner, started communicating with Tony Lombardo, V.P. of Dick's Sporting Goods (DSG) on December 5, 2013. Steve indicates, "I am hopeful Dick's will help Mt. Lebanon with our new Turf Field." 

On December 11, 2013, Steve followed up with Tony and brought Commissioner John Bendel, and Director of Recreation David Donnellan into the conversation. Steve suggested that Tony meets with the three of them.

A question arises as to what Dick's might do for the turf project and how Dick's would benefit is addressed in the December 19, 2013 email from David Donnellan to several SAB members, including Municipal Engineer Dan Deiseroth of Gateway, and MTLSD Athletic Director John Grogan. Click here --->THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EMAIL. <----- Is the School District aware of Grogan's involvement with this partnership? Does it conflict with Policy KGD Partnerships and Sponsorships? Why is Mr. Grogan involved with any fundraising project of this magnitude while MTLSD is trying to raise $6 million?

The December 20, 2013 emails indicated that Chip Dalesandro, representing Football, didn't like the deal. Donnellan thanked Silverman for reassuring Chip that no such commitment had been made. [Yet.] Silverman, using his mtlebanon.org address, is now aware and involved.

Donnellan copies Commissioner John Bendel on his December 19, 2013 message about Dick's, so Bendel is involved.

Mr. Lombardo indicated on December 20, 2013 his looking forward "to helping in any way.." and a meeting with his V.P. of Community Marketing on January 6, 2014  in a reply to a Donnellan message of December 19, 2013. 

The holidays slowed things down for a while until we find that another Dick's executive, Jim Famularo is contacted by Commissioner Silverman, and cc's Bendel and Donnellan about a meeting scheduled for January 30th when all will be present.

January 17th and 18th emails describe meetings and the very revealing Tim White message of January 18 at 9:48 AM sent to John Bendel, which states that "While they (Dick's) can stroke a check for a huge position on this, my understanding was they wanted some type of access to our constituency (defined as sports groups grant them access to email lists) and they want a contract for blanket procurement for sports products" found here. The "blanket procurement for sports products is still on after all. Bendel and Silverman are parties to this as well. 

So here we have it. The Municipality is doing the major "private fundraising" and a Municipal part time employee, Katherine Heart, doing fundraising for the "private" funding as well, as I revealed in Big enough for its own post UPDATED. Why isn't the Municipality working toward raising its balance of $112,600?

This stinks. It has been kept entirely out of the public knowledge. 

Meanwhile, this appeared in Pittsburgh Business Times on March 7, 2014. Dick's Sporting Goods launches campaign to fund youth sports "Every year we’re seeing more and more cutbacks in sports,” said Gruden in a prepared statement. “Budgets are being decreased, coaches are being eliminated, and fewer players are going out for youth sports. We have to do something about it!”

Update March 9, 2014 3:13 PM I scanned turf vendor correspondence and wish that my RTK was later than January 24, 2014. The responses to the turf vendor questions were either sent after the cut off date or they are MIA. I have also scanned the Field Analysis completed by Jordan Halter in May 2012.

Majority votes don't count.

Last night, the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners reorganized. Our new president is Kristen Linfante and John Bendel is our new vice president. Newly elected Steve Silverman and Dave Brumfield, serving his second term, were sworn in by Judge Alex Bickett of Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

Commissioners Fraasch, Bendel, Linfante, Brumfield, and Silverman

Joe Senko was appointed as the new treasurer for Mt. Lebanon Municipality and School District, replacing the late John Ferguson. Even though Jack Goldschmidt (R) garnered more votes, the commissioners selected Senko (D). Mt. Lebanon commissioners fill treasurer position

Treasurer Joe Senko