Late start? UPDATED 2X

It is highly unusual for the Commission Discussion Session to start at 7:00 PM. There must be some hot topics scheduled for Executive Session. Could it be lethal vs. non-lethal deer management discussions? Or how are they going to deal with PETA?

Or is it related to the lawsuit filed against the Commission and Steve Feller? United Police Society of Mt. Lebanon v. Mt. Lebanon Commission; Stephen M. Feller Marcia Taylor should have been fired.

How about hiring a new Public Works Director to replace retiring Tom "I'm too old for this bullshit" Kelley?  http://www.apwa.net/workzone/career/28231/Public-Works-Director-Pennsylvania-Pa-Mt-Lebanon

Will Dave Brumfield try to convince fellow commissioners that Zamagias deserves another extension? (Number 8?)

Since when does "Consideration of Ordinance (Bill No. 21­-14) amending municipal park rules" involve First National Bank? I thought it had to do with the use of guns in our parks.  Speaking of parks, perhaps the commission will be discussing the removal of crumbling toxic rubber tire pavers in Main Park, now that NBC Nightly News continued their investigations concerning tire crumb in playgrounds and artificial turf.

How about how the toxic turf change orders will be funded?

Or will the commissioners be celebrating the end of Kristen Linfante's term as president? I know I will be celebrating.

The deer must die!

Update December 7, 2014 12:59 PM This appeared in today's St. Bernard's Church Bulletin.

Update December 9, 2014 11:32 PM The commission voted 3-2 to extend the Zamagias agreement. A resident asked Dave Brumfield why he voted to extend the agreement and his response was something to the effect of "Do you want to waste $450,000 to buy back the property?" 

Comments on comments?

Last night's school board meeting was very interesting, as far as citizens' comments go. Topics included:

• Financial advisor 
• MTLSD does not take the preliminary budget seriously. We are the only school district that refers to it as a "fake budget."
• Trophy case
• Zamagias TIF
• Pool railing
• Pool locker room floor is slippery
• Meeting was not available for viewing last week.
• Agendas are not publicized before meetings
• Trouble with teacher at Howe School

Without naming names, I would like to hear more about the situation at Howe School. The mother was cut off at the knees by the president and solicitor when she was speaking. 

As far as the TIF goes, while one commissioner was removing her blog over the weekend, another commissioner posted this: Washington Park, corner of Bower Hill and Washington Road In December, Zamagias defaulted on their TIF loan. Mt. Lebanon has the opportunity to buy it back out of the Parking Fund, I believe. Please contact our commissioners, Senator Matt Smith's office, or Representative Dan Miller's office and share your opinion on this topic.

I would love to hear from Lebo Citizen readers about all these topics which were raised at last night's meeting. 

To listen to the meeting please visit Lebo Citizens podcast from MTLSD's January 20, 2014 meeting

Maybe moving to Dormont is a good idea

Look at what little old Dormont is doing. Developer negotiating to build apartments, parking garage near Dormont light rail stop

We have been fooling around with the hotel, waiting decades for Zamagias to develop property across from St. Bernard's, and nothing but talk when it comes to the TRID (Transit Revitalization Investment Districts) now being called something else, which I can't recall at the moment. Air rights?

Communities are passing us by, Folks. Just keep on thinking that we are number one on everything. I have been criticized for looking at Upper St. Clair. Now, I hope we can keep up with Dormont.

This is disgusting!

Remember how Zamagias planned to build $42.8 million worth of  luxury condos on the corner of Washington Road and Bower Hill Road and Mt. Lebanon agreed to a TIF in 2007? Well, it "ain't gonna happen."  

Downtown-based Zamagias Properties planned the $42.8 million Washington Park project for the corner of Washington and Bower Hill roads and Mt. Lebanon municipal and school district officials agreed in 2007 to a tax increment financing plan, or TIF, that allowed Zamagias to borrow money to buy the land and plan for construction. Part of the money from property taxes on the condos would go into a fund to repay the loans.

When the suggested condo prices of $300,000 to $1.1 million prevented enough sales to begin construction during the recession, Zamagias withdrew the project in 2010. That meant no tax money going into the company’s debt service fund to repay the $1.79 million it owes by next year.

Neither the municipality nor the school district lost any money on the project, Feller said. Both collect taxes on the value of the unimproved land; only tax money from any buildings would go into the debt service fund.

Zamagias bought the land from the Mt. Lebanon Parking Authority. (Remember them?)

Mt. Lebanon developer may avoid repaying tax-aided loan