LETTER: Residents oppose Mt. Lebanon’s proposed parking ordinance UPDATED

LETTER: Residents oppose Mt. Lebanon’s proposed parking ordinance

As Mt. Lebanon taxpayers with a combined total of 53 years residency, we are offended and outraged by the newly proposed parking ordinance (“Mt. Lebanon continues to pursue parking crackdown” in March 21 edition). It is clear from the updated ordinance that poorer and more congested areas in Mt. Lebanon will be disproportionately affected. The idea of allowing “three requests per license plate per year” for on-street parking is ludicrous. Those homes and dwellings in Mt. Lebanon that do not have large driveways and/or garages need on-street parking for necessary life situations: work (which sometimes necessitates overnight shifts or early morning departures), visitors (such as family visiting for holidays, or friends caring for ill loved ones), and other unforeseen circumstances which are frankly no one’s business.

On the Mt. Lebanon website, the “Overnight Parking Changes” FAQ suggests that “Residents may purchase affordable parking passes.” These parking passes to park in lots located mainly in Uptown Mt. Lebanon cost $38-40/month – or $456–480/year – are not insignificant to many struggling families. Making residents pay to park in front of their own homes is an unjust hardship and seems like a deliberate tactic to disenfranchise.

To hear our commissioners belittle our neighbors’ needs to work and fit cars into their driveways, which is a very real problem with homes built in the early 1900s, frankly lessens their stature in our eyes. While clearly there are some individual cases and systemic issues that need to be addressed, there is no need to punish the entire municipality. Mt. Lebanon is neither a gated community nor a police state.

Amelia Baisley, Mt. Lebanon

Zanna Fredland, Mt. Lebanon
If residents have several cars, do not have garages or have very short driveway, what are they expected to do? Residents may purchase affordable parking passes in several municipal surface lots and zones, as well as in the north and south parking garages. Day, 24-hour and night permits are available.  A night permit costs $38 a month for a lot and  $40 for a garage. For further information, go to  http://www.mtlebanon.org/2056/Permits or call 412-343-3705.
Ryan Keeling, Mt. Lebanon

Update April 4, 2018 8:47 PM FAQ Prepared by Mt. Lebanon Public Information Office

I love this one:

If residents have several cars, do not have garages or have very short driveway, what are they expected to do? Residents may purchase affordable parking passes in several municipal surface lots and zones, as well as in the north and south parking garages. Day, 24-hour and night permits are available.  A night permit costs $38 a month for a lot and  $40 for a garage. For further information, go to  http://www.mtlebanon.org/2056/Permits or call 412-343-3705.

 If you don't have a garage or have a very short driveway, park in the parking garage and then take the T or bus to your home. Is that right? Good one, PIO.

Commissioners, please save Christmas for discriminating residents

I just read in The Almanac's Lebo commission mulls brick street policy the most stupid reason for keeping bricked streets in Mt. Lebanon.

It’s become a tradition for Yvette Yescas and her family to drive around various Mt. Lebanon neighborhoods during the holiday season to capture the Christmas spirit. From the variety of lights and decorations, Yescas, a member of the Historic Preservation Board in Mt. Lebanon, directs the route based on another allure to fully encapsulate the experience.

She and her family specifically choose brick streets in the community as the primary route for their adventure.

This isn't the first time the subject of brick streets has been discussed. Back in 2014, the commissioners voted to replace brick roads with asphalt, with Ward 1 commissioner John Bendel being the only commissioner voting against the policy. Mt. Lebanon residents opposed to loss of brick roads

The Historic Preservation Board also produced a remodeling guide at taxpayers' expense at the tune of $25,000, also for Ward 1's Virginia Manor.

If history repeats itself, the Historic Preservation Board will ask the commission to revisit their remodeling guide, as well. I wonder if there will be any recommendations for Christmas lights and decorations in their remodeling guide.

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 180º 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

Haters Gonna Hate

I just canceled my 20+ year PAID subscription to People Magazine. I want to be entertained by actors, not lectured.

Some may feel the same way about me, but my blog is free and admittedly biased, mixed with documentation and opinion. It is a private blog. Readers have the option of not reading Lebo Citizens.

When People Magazine ran a multi page story about Hillary Clinton prior to the election, I suddenly realized that I was being manipulated. It went downhill from then on. I canceled my 30+ year subscription to the Post-Gazette when I realized John Hayes was the PIO's puppet. I wish I could cancel my mtl Magazine subscription, because I do pay for that crap through my taxes, but I have no way to opt out.

The Almanac may be printing their article about my legal case on Wednesday. I am dreading that day because the anonymous, hateful people will be in full force, like they are with every other story that appears in the media. I do admit that my life has become more peaceful since I stopped the trolls here. The poster who used the name "Sylvia Plath" did so with my permission.

I knew I made the right decision to change my policy to comment here, when I received this anonymous comment, "You're just incredibly fun to mess with." 

Just a few minor details

I'm sure the Public Information Office is giving high fives for the new reporter from The Almanac. Luke Campbell has been covering Mt. Lebanon's meetings for a short time now, replacing Harry Funk. I know from RTKs that the Divine Ms. M had some issues with the reporters here, except the PG's John Hayes, the PA Game Commission's mouthpiece. Luke Campbell's Professor offers Mt. Lebanon commissioners affirmation on deer management delivered the message that the PIO wanted to get out. Except for a few minor details.

As I have written here before, but you won't read it anywhere else:

• Paul Curtis never stepped foot in Mt. Lebanon.
• Paul Curtis didn't know how big Mt. Lebanon is.
• Paul Curtis is in cahoots with Anthony DeNicola, president of White Buffalo, the "non-profit" organization hired to kill deer in Mt. Lebanon.

This will never be brought out to the unsuspecting public. Don't ya just love how Mt. Lebanon controls the media?

Keep It Coming

The only fair reporting by local newspapers covering Mt. Lebanon is The Almanac. Harry Funk has never missed a commission meeting that I am aware of. His coverage of Mt. Lebanon includes photos, linked documents, as well as videos online. According to the card tucked inside a recent issue, The Almanac has been producing, printing and delivering a weekly newspaper free of charge since 1965.

To continue free home delivery, you must take action. Just do one of the following:

1. Fill out the postage-paid reply card that was in your newspaper and mail it back to The Almanac.
2. Log on to www.thealmanac.net/keepitcoming and fill out the short form.

When I began typing this post, a LeboALERT popped in my mail box.

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. 

March issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine is online now: www.lebomag.com. Stories on zoning variances, Martha's Run, Opera at Markham, high school compositing.

It is not clear to me what "compositing" means. Is it a new class for writing compositions? Is it about composting? Or is it a new word meaning how to recycle compositions? I am glad to see that our tax dollars are at work.

Please support The Almanac.

It's not OK to withhold info and then say that silence is consent.

Following up on the claim that Mt. Lebanon was updating its website to include the hours of killing, I counted the clicks to the update page. Starting from the Mt. Lebanon home page, I had to click twice to get to the updated information. Home page>read on>additional info to find the January 13, 2016 update. There was no mention that killing will go until 11 PM seven days a week at top secret locations seven days a week and five days a week on public properties.

Kimberly Schevtchuk, public policy specialist, organic gardener and Mt. Lebanon resident has submitted an opinion piece to The Almanac, POLITICS OVER SAFETY & COST TO LEBO TAXPAYERS. I agree, Kimberly. Residents should be angry. I am seething.

Who is Mary McFarland and why...

The 9:20 PM comment under "Parting gifts and the budget: "Who is Mary McFarland and why is she perpetuating the same jibberish of too many Mt. Lebanon residents who are too stupid to grasp the dangers of bow hunting in our highly dense community. They've all been drugged." This is in response to the latest letter in The Almanac, Right to Know information not vital

In response to the article, “Mt. Lebanon resident granted right to know request, ” (The Almanac, Dec. 2-8) I have a question: Why is this information so relevant and important enough to be publicly disclosed? Just because a Mt. Lebanon resident (as a private citizen) sent an email to their commissioner (as private communication) offering to use their yard as part of the deer hunt doesn’t necessarily mean that that particular yard was actually used for the purpose of hunting. The White Buffalo representatives sent emails, made phone calls and visited homes to determine the safest and most effective places for them to use. Only then did they set up their base of operation. The deer population touches almost every yard in Mt. Lebanon, yet not every yard is a proper or safe hunting site. 

If Ms. Gillen is sincerely worried about where the actual hunting is taking place, then she should request that information from White Buffalo, not Mt. Lebanon. Having access to email and home addresses of people who contacted their commissioners in the context of private communication is none of her business. The actual deer cull has been going on for several weeks and so far there haven’t been any safety issues yet. Ms. Gillen insists that she needs this information for safety purposes and continues to ask for more correspondence from Mt. Lebanon. By the time she gets this (if she does), the cull will be over. Again, what good will this do? 

There are visible signs all over Mt. Lebanon with regard to hunting/ no hunting in the area. Anecdotal evidence so far shows that the cull is successful. I see fewer deer and I have not heard of any accidental human injuries. It would be interesting as well to see if there have been fewer traffic incidents. 

Mt. Lebanon is not the only community that has to cull it’s deer population. This activity goes on all over Allegheny County, as well as the entire state of Pennsylvania. Why has this become such an issue in Mt. Lebanon? 

Mary McFarland

Mt. Lebanon

The good news is that Mary McFarland doesn't think we need sharpshooting since she thinks the cull is successful and that she has seen fewer deer. The bad news is that Mary McFarland doesn't understand that communication to commissioners is public information. Agencies, such as Mt. Lebanon Municipality and School District are permitted to redact certain information such as Social Security numbers, health records, information about minors under 17, phone numbers, personal email addresses, trade secrets, autopsies, academic transcripts, executive session discussions, etc. There are 30 exceptions. Well, that's a lie. There are 31. The 31st is Susan Morgans is permitted to leak out executive session discussions if it suits her. Especially if it is about the commission appealing a state decision made in my favor.

Mt. Lebanon deer hunt out of control

Mt. Lebanon deer hunt out of control

As a resident of Mt. Lebanon, I have been watching this archery thing spin out of control. In the past two weeks, I have seen so many hunters in my community that I am wondering if they turned it into the State Gamelands. In addition, there are camouflage ATVs being used to chase deer as well. Last Saturday, I saw the ATVs on Cochran Road turning onto Cedar Boulevard. If that doesn’t pose a safety risk, I don’t know what does.

Two days ago, I went for a walk, and I have to mention, I have not gone for a walk since the archery started Sept. 19. Along Cedar Boulevard, there was a blood trail on the sidewalk that stretched from the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center all the way to Bird Park Drive on Cedar. Certainly if I saw this, kids on the way home from school saw it as well. The spatters of blood were about two-feet apart and went for about a mile, which would be consistent with a wounded deer running for its life.

I also have been hearing reports of people hunting at night, and on Sunday. I myself heard gunshots on the Friday night before Halloween, which woke me up. There is a paranoia that is developing among residents – people are afraid to leave their homes, afraid of what they might see, and with good reason.

At the Nov. 9 commissioner’s meeting, they indicated that they don’t know how many deer were in Mt. Lebanon to start with (and they are unwilling to do an aerial survey). They don’t know how many have been killed (they claim they won’t know that until January), and they don’t know how many archers, authorized or unauthorized, are in our community. Why isn’t anyone monitoring this? Just about every resident I have spoken to has said that they do not see any deer anymore. How can this be allowed to happen?

Lets be clear on this – this is not hunting. It’s a downright slaughter of tame animals. What type of person can stand there and shoot a deer that is looking right at them, not running away – entire families of deer, fawns. To cause them pain and terror is reprehensible.

Jan Seybold
Mt. Lebanon

Best Opinion Piece Ever

Deer responsible for Mt. Lebanon road work

Any keen Almanac reader will guess why every road in Mt. Lebanon is being mended at the moment. It’s all the fault of the roaming hordes of deer. Deprived of their usual feeding grounds when the township decided to replace all the grass in Mt. Lebanon with artificial turf, they have taken to eating the roads.

Michael Murtough
Upper St. Clair

The Almanac | Mt. Lebanon citizens are engaged

The Almanac wrote a nice editorial about Mt. Lebanon citizens today, Mt. Lebanon citizens are engaged.

The citizens of Mt. Lebanon are arguably the most engaged group of people in the South Hills. One need look no further than the front of the municipal building before a commissioners meeting, or inside the doors of a commissioners or school board meeting to see the evidence.

I can testify to that. With my decision to go with "Invitation Only," there have been a couple of naysayers, but the response that I have received is extremely favorable. Mt. Lebanon residents are engaged. Lebo Citizen readers want to know what is going on in Mt. Lebanon. They aren't buying what is coming from our public information office. When our PIO "scolded" The Almanac's editor, we wrote to the editor in support of The Almanac. Yes, readership will go down here, but it will be cathartic. No more trolls. No more public information officers. Public servants will have to work for a living, instead of relying on Lebo Citizens for information.

My thanks to The Almanac for recognizing that we are engaged. Thank you for going beyond what you are told to write by our public servants. Yes, we've noticed.

More lies from the "disreputable local blog"

From a Right To Know, our wonderful public information officer went after The Almanac over a Tweet when the deer killing stopped. 

Susan Morgans, always a delight, threatened the editor of The Almanac over a Tweet that I had posted here on Lebo Citizens. Susan feels that Lebo Citizens, is "filled with lies, insults and profanity, and misinformation and has served only to encourage the media to inflate the 'controversy' surrounding deer management."

"Deer management." Susan, call it what it is. Killing. Violence. Putting Mt. Lebanon residents in danger.

This morning, I approved a comment about you in an earlier post, "Just documenting "toxic."

"Until then, I would bet that the commission will continue to treat the 25 pledgees as personae non gratae." Why is that, exactly, 4:02? Casting our lot with the blog's author? You must be pretty well connected to make such an assertion, an assertion which is vaguely threatening. As a citizen with a voice in my community, a citizen opposed to gunfire in my backyard and violence in any form, I don't see how anyone could NOT get on board with promoting a little harmony in our dysfunctional little hamlet, regardless of the circulator of the pledge. Sycophant? Hardly. Furthermore, Susan Morgans has behaved more like a petulant child than an adult putting her foot down.

As a municipal liaison to the Community Relations Board, I would think you would "be on board with promoting a little harmony in our dysfunctional little hamlet." For this reason, the personal pledge to coexist is being circulated offline. Completed pledges are being mailed to me, Elaine Gillen, P.O. Box 14873, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. You should spend a little less time reading my blog, Susan, and more time at your job. For someone who doesn't read my blog, I find it interesting that you know that we call you the "Public Misinformation Office." 

Keep up the good work, Susan. We don't pay you over $100,000 per year plus benefits for nothing.

Brilliant MTL Commissioners and the Voters Violate State Law UPDATED

Mt. Lebanon residents vote to allow legal notices outside newspapers

Only 30% of us voted NO. The remaining 70% voted to permit Mt. Lebanon to use its own media for public notices. According to the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, Mt. Lebanon Media is not a reputable source since it does not meet the legal requirements. Karma's a b!tch, isn't it?

“This policy is inconsistent with both the Home Rule Charter and the Newspaper Advertising Act, which governs public notice advertising statewide,” said PNA attorney Melissa Melewsky, “because the Home Rule Charter... prohibits municipalities from exercising powers contrary to, or in limitation or enlargement of, powers granted by statutes which are applicable in every part of the Commonwealth.”

“Publishing in their own electronic distribution or in the municipal building does not meet the legal requirements. It has no legal effect. It has to appear in a paper in general circulation per the Newspaper Advertising Act,” she said.
Melewsky also said the Newspaper Advertising Act is the statute that supersedes the change to home rule charter.

It cost Mt. Lebanon residents to put this on the ballot. How much is it going to cost us, when it goes to court?  Maybe Feller and Gateway will find an answer to that too.

Read this op-ed. Mt. Lebanon charter change bad news I am really lovin' The Almanac.

And in the Post-Gazette Mt. Lebanon referendum would allow non-newspaper legal advertising

Update November 13, 2014 10:59 PM General Election 2014 Recap

Mt. Lebanon residents rally against artificial turf UPDATED

Mt. Lebanon residents rally against artificial turf

By Nick Lewandowski
For The Almanac
writer@thealmanac.net

Flanked by heavy construction equipment and mounds of earth, several dozen Mt. Lebanon residents gathered on Oct. 26 to rally against the installation of artificial turf at Middle and Wildcat fields, in the municipality’s main park. Members of the crowd displayed signs and punctuated speakers’ comments with enthusiastic rounds of applause.

Mt. Lebanon’s turf project has progressed quickly since its proposal in November 2013, despite vocal opposition from a number of residents. Opponents see artificial turf as a pet project of commissioners and sports groups, which are determined to complete it as quickly as possible despite significant cost and safety concerns.

“This process should have been open and inclusive,” resident Jeff Heiskell said. “The commission has ignored our concerns, and instead relied upon obscure studies from other countries and sales material from turf manufacturers for information. Our Public Information Office has assumed the role of spin doctor, referring to ‘field enhancements’ rather than ‘artificial turf.’”

Artificial turf of the type Mt. Lebanon is installing uses infill manufactured from recycled tires. The tire crumbs are known to contain toxic chemicals, including lead and black carbon. Turf manufacturers insist chemicals remain well within acceptable levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and that there are no studies proving a link between crumb rubber infill and diseases such as cancer.

The body of research on crumb rubber infill is fragmented and inconclusive, however. While there is no research proving crumb rubber causes cancer, there are no independent studies proving it is completely safe, either. Many studies feature limited samples sizes and differences in methodology that hamper comparability.

Most importantly, turf opponents say, there are no studies involving young children similar to those who will be playing on Mt. Lebanon’s fields. Young children are inherently vulnerable to chemical exposures due to their physiology.

A recent NBC News report added further fuel to the fire after noting a number of young soccer goalies playing on artificial turf have been diagnosed with blood cancers such as lymphoma. It sparked a call from New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone for an official study of artificial turf’s impact on athletes.

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch, the only Mt. Lebanon commissioner to vote against the turf project, echoed those concerns when she addressed the crowd. She accused the commission and municipal staff of moving forward without proper due diligence.

“I asked for a materials safety data sheet for both the turf bid we accepted, and for all the bids,” she said. “Ultimately our staff decided not to provide all the MSDS sheets because they didn’t feel it was relevant. I asked about flame retardants and static applications. When I asked questions, the response I received over and over was ‘I don’t know, I’m not a turf expert.’”

Fraasch said she asked for a roll call vote on the project so commissioners would have to “own” their decision. “I was not going to let them bully me into a yes vote,” she said, to an enthusiastic round of applause.

Fraasch urged rally attendees to get involved in the political process to shut the project down.

“Contact your county council person, your congressman. We need to stand firm on this issue as leaders, not followers. There is nothing wrong with saying ‘I might be wrong, let’s go back and make sure we’re right.’”

**************

I did a phone interview today for CBS Radio. Here is what we got from our Public Information Office.

From: LeboALERT <noreply@mtlebanon.org>To: EGillen476 <EGillen476@aol.com>Sent: Mon, Oct 27, 2014 1:03 pmSubject: LeboALERT: The Nov. issue of Mt... 

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. 

The Nov. issue of Mt. Lebanon Magazine is available at www.lebomag.com. Read
about dog parks, Fire Department inspections, RED gifts & being a freshman.

Update October 27, 2014 5:15 PM My Lebo Citizens camera man sent me this video. Looks like they are having trouble digging down more than 6".

WTAE is at the fields. Story tonight at 11,

Attention [Cedar Blvd.Residents] Flood Victims

A new law allows property ownsers to stave off potential floods without municipal authorities. Senate Bill 1255, which passed in May, allows property owners to implement stormwater management practices to stem the flow of runoff and the debris often carried in it. Communities such as Scott Township and Upper St. Clair have recently looked to their local governments for help, but have been tied up with months-long investigations--leading any potential solution to come next summer storm season.

Stormwater law frees homeowners to build infrastructure

A little lead is OK...UPDATED

I just received Addendum #3 from Gateway Engineers. The "safe"lead limits in the specifications are:


1. Changes to specifications:

1.1. Changes to Specification Section 02900- Artificial Turf, Section 1.4 Quality Assurance,

Item C. Lead and other metals. REQUIRED PRIOR WITH MATERIAL

SUBMISSIONS: Add 1. Lead content in synthetic turf fibers must be less than 8 ppm.


1.2. Changes to Specification Section 02900- Artificial Turf, Section 1.4 Quality Assurance,

Item C. Lead and other metals. REQUIRED PRIOR WITH MATERIAL

SUBMISSIONS: Add 2. Lead content in rubber infill must be less than 50 ppm.

2. Clarifications:

2.1. The synthetic turf materials are to be tested prior to delivery to the site and must contain less than 8 ppm of lead for fibers and less than 50 ppm of lead for crumb rubber. This limit falls well within the ASTM, EPA, and CDC threshold for lead levels.

Note to Commission and Municipal Staff: THERE ARE NO SAFE LEAD LEVELS

Update June 19, 2014 7:59 AM: The following editorial appeared in The Almanac on June 18, 2014. Keep Mt. Lebanon's field turf natural

Published Jun 18, 2014 at 6:34 am (Updated Jun 17, 2014 at 11:04 am)

I n November 2013, Mt. Lebanon commissioners approved a conceptual plan for the natural grass turf on Mt. Lebanon Park’s Middle and Wildcat fields to be replaced with artificial turf. The price tag is estimated at a cool $1 million, $750,000 of which would come from the municipality’s unassigned fund balance and the remaining $250,000 to be raised from private donations – ergo, this project should not result in a tax increase.

For months, a literal turf war has been going on in Mt. Lebanon, with those who oppose the project mainly concerned about safety. A recent meeting featured turf experts who were on hand to educate the public and answer their questions – questions that were not permitted to be asked vocally, rather, that were written on cards for the experts to address at the end of the meeting.

Chemicals in the crumb rubber turf – including alcohols, acids, ketones, esters, lactones and sulfur, to name a few – are one concern, while potential injuries from the harder surface are another.

The environmental impact is yet another issue that residents have been worried about from the time that the project was announced – they are concerned about the potential for flooding due to the removal of natural soil, and pollution from that runoff ending up in local streams. In early May, Dr. Tracy Bank, a geologist, told Mt. Lebanon commissioners that artificial turf cannot match environmental benefits of natural grass. “(Turf manufacturers) are basically strip mining the ground,” she said.

Truly, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Kelly Fraasch, the lone commissioner opposed to the project, hit the nail on the head when she said that “Artificial turf is an issue that’s evolving, with potential health concerns for children, pregnant mothers and adults. We can’t look back at years of use and say it’s safe because everyone is using it. There are numerous examples of items we thought were safe and clearly aren’t today.

To rip up perfectly usable natural fields and replace grass with artificial turf is just another example of the current trend of local communities wanting to “keep up with the Joneses.” It’s frivolous, unnecessary spending, even though those who are for the project site increasing the fields’ usability by 60 percent, because it will remain playable for longer seasons.

For years, sports have been played on natural grass fields. Leave paradise alone, and don’t pave a proverbial parking lot.

Lebo needs to demonstrate fiscal responsibility

Mt. Lebanon resident and Lebo Citizens reader, Bill Matthews submitted a letter to the editor of The Almanac. Here is the link to his letter. The letter is published below in its entirety.

Lebo needs to demonstrate fiscal responsibility

Mt. Lebanon School District is embarking on the second bond issue for our high school renovation. As currently planned, the financing will cost more than it should for three reasons: 1: The renovation is too big and expensive. 2: The financing plan is to �wrap� the bonds. 3: The plan includes capitalizing interest in the early years.

It will not change anything now to discuss the size and scope of the project; but we should never lose sight of the fact that our board, when they thought there was room in the budget, added amenities not recommended in the space plan prepared by our former superintendent, yet did not delete these upgrades when the initial building bids burst our bubble.

One could see the proposed bond wrapping coming years ago. Nevertheless, its primary purpose is not to soften the millage impact as alluded to by the board. The bonds are being phased in to provide for actual future millage increases up to Act 1 limitations. Between the demands of this financing, and normal operations, we can anticipate experiencing maximum allowable millage increases for the next few years.

The capitalized interest is, however, an opportunity to demonstrate some respect for Mt. Lebanon residents and taxpayers. The plan includes about two million dollars in borrowed money to fill out the interest expense in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The administration has acknowledged it has three million dollars that could be used to reduce the total borrowing, to which the board turned a deaf ear.

Here is a suggestion, in lieu of hoarding these funds the board could demonstrate some fiscal responsibility by at least paying the interest expense with the available reserves. Effectively, it would do two things: lower the overall cost of the borrowing and consequently, lower our go forward tax burden.

Our school board will be discussing the bond issue on Aug. 12, and possibly give direction to our financial advisor to sell the bonds; taxpayers with similar concerns or even better ideas should contact the board, maybe they will listen.


Bill Matthews
Mt. Lebanon

Updated change orders for May UPDATED 2X

The agenda for tonight's school board meeting includes an additional change order.

*j. GC-43-93 to Nello for $580 for partition wall with recessed shower and plumbing in Buildings J and K,

I updated the list with number 96 being the additional change order.

Speaking of change orders, $75,000 for winterization costs is getting Dan Remely fired up. The Almanac (Saved in Google Docs) writes:

“I cannot believe the contractor did not include any winterization costs for a four-year project,” said board member Dan Remely. He requested more detailed information about the change order or that it be removed from the agenda for the May 20 school board meeting.

Well, Dan Remely, it is still on the agenda for tonight. So much for trying to get the change order totals on the district website, Dan. At the January 21, 2013 school board meeting, you said that "the blogs" just have numbers for change orders. I guess we still have to rely on "the blogs," Dan.

This email is being circulated by Remely's campaign manager:

All,

Please feel free to share with all of your friends. This is the truth not the misleading misconception that Dan Miller put out in his mailer.

Dawn


When a Democrat tells you he’s the “low tax” candidate, be suspicious.
Look at what he’s done, not at what he says.

FACT: During Dan Miller’s tenure as a Mt. Lebanon Commissioner, taxes rose 14% - without any State mandates - and he still thinks taxpayers are getting a “bargain.”

Dan Remely Stands on his Record

FACT: Dan Remely was instrumental in cutting the cost of high school renovations by half.

FACT: Dan Remely has worked tirelessly to maintain quality education at the lowest reasonable cost.

FACT: Dan Remely has helped hold down school costs and has only voted to raise taxes when absolutely necessary to pay for State required pension contributions, unfunded state mandates and much needed high school renovations

NOW, Who do you think will keep taxes lower?

Vote for Dan Remely, the responsible choice for State Representative, he's made the tough decisions!

If anyone votes for Dan Remely for any seat, you are seriously misguided. Watch Dan vote against the budget tonight. He should have started doing this seven years ago, not the eve of the Primary!

Update May 20, 2013 12:04 PM  Here is a 2009 document that details much of the early direction from the board on the cost of the project. The project is about where the board wanted it all along - at the borrowing limit - no matter what.  I don't see where Remely made any difference.

Update May 20, 2013 5:23 PM Agenda has been updated today, but I can't tell what has changed.

It is all about pizza these days UPDATED

Still listening to the podcast from Monday night's school board meeting, but I see that a couple of documents have been added to the District website.

Proposed Budget Reduction Concepts for 2013-14 shows that the board will gain $5000 by increasing the student parking fee from $50 to $75 per year. Still yet to be determined is the student activities fee structure, but the cost of that line item is $50,000.  Still no mention of administration concessions.

The Proposed Final Budget of April 5, 2013 shows a proposed budget increase of .54 mills.

In The Almanac article, Mt. Lebanon Schools announce savings, look for more cuts, Bill Cooper wants the full .54 mill increase.

Board member William Cooper, on the other hand, advocated for the full proposed .54 mill increase, comparing it to “two large pizzas” on a $100,000 house. He laid the blame for the pension crunch on the state and individual school districts, which held back pension contributions in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis.

If that is the case, may I collect Little Caesars Pizza coupons and pay the increase with those? They could be used for Timmy's monthly pizza lunches with the kids. Speaking of Tim, The Almanac reports:

If the board would like to further reduce millage, and the superintendent is unable to make headway with the union on pay concessions, the best option would be to use leftover fund balance to rein in taxes.

How are those union concessions working for you, Tim? Have you offered to personally make concessions, along with the rest of the administrators? I am betting as I do every year, that you will be getting that tidy increase, instead of a freeze or concession.

Update April12, 2013 9:30 AM Mt. Lebanon school board still working to cut tax hike

Revisiting closing a school

Remember how Elaine Cappucci said that they will not revisit saving Building C?  Remember how nearly 4,000 residents felt that we should scale back the high school project since projections indicated a drop in student population, rising pension costs, a possible need to close a school or cut programming, and a decrease in state funding? Well, guess what?  WE WERE RIGHT! In today's Almanac (saved in Google Docs), Nick Lewandowski recapped Monday's meeting. The School District has realized they are in a quandary over the 2013-2014 budget.

Elaine Cappucci admitted that, “Closing a school is an option we should at least look at.”  Nuh uh.  Did you just realize that, Elaine?  We have been saying this for more than three years now. We were vilified by the VOICE people. (Gee, where are they now? Oh yeah, they are our elected officials.) We were trashed by local bloggers. (Huh...another elected official.) We hated kids. We were anti education. A school board director was humiliated. We were told to cut back on our lattes. Twenty five percent into the project and Elaine will now revisit closing a school.

Last year at this time, our illustrious school board decided to come up with a list of cost reductions.  We were never permitted to see the entire list.  Students were faced with parking fees, but the administrators all received nice raises. We were also told about a $30 million fundraising campaign to offset the second bond issue. The board has decided to stay with Pursuant Ketchum to raise $6 million.

We have two school board directors who will be running again, Mary Birks and
Dan Remely. Is Mt. Lebanon going to re-elect them just as we re-elected Elaine Cappucci, Ed Kubit, and Larry Lebowitz? Can we come up with some new blood?  Where is the RCML?