A Work in Progress

For the second time in a month, the Century of Excellence Presentation was promised, but was removed from the November 13, 2017 agenda. It appears that we have entered a new Quiet Phase.

On October 16, 2017, Nick Meduho had asked about the Jo Posti reset presentation. His questions were not answered, so Nick had fifteen open Right To Knows with the School District when he passed away. I had to refile them in my name, as I had explained in an earlier post. The RTKs, all related to the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign or the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education (MLFE) are starting to come in.

I'm not sure how to go about this, so these will be in no particular order. I will continue to update with RTKs as I receive them.

1. MLFE 990's 2013-2015
2. "On November 8, 2017, the Mt. Lebanon School District (the “District") received your Public Records Request (“Request”), made pursuant to the Right to Know Law ("RTKL"), seeking: the most recent detailed statement by the Mt. Lebanon school board directors of any/all devises, bequests, grants, endowments, gifts, and donations, held and possessed by such school district (Mt. Lebanon), the proceeds thereof, the investments which have been made therewith, the income arising there from, the expenses of administration, and the purposes to which the income arising there from have been applied., Such statement shall be audited as hereinafter provided for the auditing of school finances." Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait.
3. A comprehensive financial report for the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2017.
4. Copies of all invoices pertaining to the purchase of stadium blankets which are being sold to benefit the MLFE.
5. Payroll records for Sloane Astorino from when she began employment in 2015 to present.
6. An absolute complete/comprehensive and accurate income/expense report for the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign for dates January 1, 2012 thru October 15, 2017 which will include all the following; #1 All revenues itemized including but not limited to dates, amount and source of each transaction being as specific as possible, I understand that specific donor names must be redacted. #2 All expenditures itemized including but not limited to date, amount, payee and category of each transaction being as specific as possible. #3 All balance of money whether they be in a bank account, the Pittsburgh Foundation, etc. as of September 15, 2017. #4 All itemized transfers of money with specific dates and amounts transferred back to and from the school district general account for the capital campaign account.                    The District has located, with respect to the Capital Campaign Fund, documents setting forth “Revenue Accounts” and “Expenditure Accounts” for the 2012-2013 school year, the 2013-2014 school year, the 2014-2015 school year, the 2015-2016 school year, the 2016-2017 school year and the 2017-2018 school year as of November 3, 2017. In addition, the District had located a document entitled “Mt. Lebanon School District Fund 27 Capital Campaign.” These documents provide you with your requested information. 
7. The agreement between the Capital Campaign and the Pittsburgh Foundation that was approved on November 17, 2014.
8. "Any/all documents in the form of contracts, agreements, disclosure forms, terms, etc. that each donor was either made aware of, agreed to and/or signed either when they donated any money to the Century of Excellence Campaign or have pledged." Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait. 
9. "On November 8, 2017, the Mt. Lebanon School District (the “District") received your Public Records Request (“Request”), made pursuant to the Right to Know Law ("RTKL"), seeking: The detailed statement for fiscal year 2012 by the Mt. Lebanon school board directors of any/all devises, bequests, grants, endowments, gifts, and donations, held and possessed by such school district (Mt. Lebanon), the proceeds thereof, the investments which have been made therewith, the income arising there from, the expenses of administration, and the purposes to which the income arising there from have been applied., Such statement shall be audited as hereinafter provided for the auditing of school finances." Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait. 
10. "On November 8, 2017, the Mt. Lebanon School District (the “District") received your Public Records Request (“Request”), made pursuant to the Right to Know Law ("RTKL"), seeking: The detailed statement for fiscal year 2013 by the Mt. Lebanon school board directors of any/all devises, bequests, grants, endowments, gifts, and donations, held and possessed by such school district (Mt. Lebanon), the proceeds thereof, the investments which have been made therewith, the income arising there from, the expenses of administration, and the purposes to which the income arising there from have been applied., Such statement shall be audited as hereinafter provided for the auditing of school finances." Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait. 
11. "On November 8, 2017, the Mt. Lebanon School District (the “District") received your Public Records Request (“Request”), made pursuant to the Right to Know Law ("RTKL"), seeking: The detailed statement for fiscal year 2014 by the Mt. Lebanon school board directors of any/all devises, bequests, grants, endowments, gifts, and donations, held and possessed by such school district (Mt. Lebanon), the proceeds thereof, the investments which have been made therewith, the income arising there from, the expenses of administration, and the purposes to which the income arising there from have been applied., Such statement shall be audited as hereinafter provided for the auditing of school finances." Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait. 
12. "On November 8, 2017, the Mt. Lebanon School District (the “District") received your Public Records Request (“Request”), made pursuant to the Right to Know Law ("RTKL"), seeking: The detailed statement for fiscal year 2015 by the Mt. Lebanon school board directors of any/all devises, bequests, grants, endowments, gifts, and donations, held and possessed by such school district (Mt. Lebanon), the proceeds thereof, the investments which have been made therewith, the income arising there from, the expenses of administration, and the purposes to which the income arising there from have been applied., Such statement shall be audited as hereinafter provided for the auditing of school finances." Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait. 
13. "On November 8, 2017, the Mt. Lebanon School District (the “District") received your Public Records Request (“Request”), made pursuant to the Right to Know Law ("RTKL"), seeking: An absolute complete/comprehensive and accurate income/expense report for the MLFE for dates January 1, 2014 thru October 15, 2017 which will include all the following: 1) All revenues itemized including but not limited to dates, amount and source of each transaction being as specific as possible. Donor names to be omitted. 2) All expenditures itemized including but not limited to date, amount, payee and category of each transaction being as specific as possible. 3) All balance of money as of October 15, 2017."  Another thirty days, on top of what Nick had to wait. 
14. District treasurer's reports from June 2013-December 2013
District treasurer's reports June 2013
District treasurer's reports July 2013
District treasurer's reports August 2013
District treasurer's reports September 2013
District treasurer's reports October 2013
District treasurer's reports November 2013
District treasurer's reports December 2013
15. The last RTK was combined with Number 13.

About those non-municipal funds...

To bring any new Lebo Citizen readers up to speed, Mt. Lebanon commissioners made an agreement with the Sports Advisory Board concerning the funding of the toxic turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields. 75% municipal funds and 25% non-municipal funds. The financial proposal was never put in writing in any commission minutes. It was stated in the mtl Magazine article, field fundraising underway, that the non-municipal share would be $250,000, not 25% of the project as originally proposed. Donations were held by the Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment for a small fee. The identity of the donors were never made public.

Earlier this week, Mayor Peduto came under fire when anonymous donations were made on a recent episode of "Undercover Boss."  'Boss' gifts to Pittsburgh employees from Peduto raise questions

“They should disclose the donors to reassure the public that (donors) won't end up getting grants and contracts based on their benevolence.

We know that Gateway Engineers made out well by donating at least $4,000 to the turf project. That's for another post. Stay tuned.

Peduto promises to disclose identities of "Undercover Boss" donors 

Barry Kauffman, executive director of Pennsylvania Common Cause, said Peduto is obligated to share the information in the interest of transparency. Even though the money is coming from private donors, it's being funneled through a public agency.

Lebo Citizen readers were made aware of missing Mt. Lebanon sports organizations' 990's in these posts about 990s.  I called for better transparency. I see that I am not alone. Watchdogs call for better transparency of nonprofits' IRS filings 

So, President Elect John Bendel and Sports Advisory Board commission liaison, when are you going to share the information in the interest of transparency?

This could complicate things UPDATED

Oops! Mt. Lebanon Baseball forgot to file their 990's for three consecutive years and the IRS is a little cranky. They revoked Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association's tax exempt status on May 15, 2014 with the Revocation Posting Date of August 11, 2014 (IRS posted notice of automatic revocation on IRS.gov).

Who are the officers of Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association?

So here is where it gets complicated. Mt. Lebanon Baseball donated $50,000 on June 29, 2014 to the turf project, after they lost their 501(c)(3) status. Does any of that money belong to the IRS? If any goes back, what happens to the $250,000 non-municipal funds obligation? Do the sponsors lose their tax deductions? Technically, any funds (revenues or income) including dues received after losing their tax exempt, non-profit status becomes taxable to them and any donations or gifts, money or goods, by donors cannot qualify for federal tax deductibility for the donors.  

On May 10, 2012, I had a visitor come to my door. At that time, I could mention his name. I happened to bring up 990's in the course of our conversation. Did we ever get to the bottom of the YSA Joint Maintenance Agreement payments? I see that the YSA is a 2014 Sponsor. So they ARE still around.

I wonder if any of the officers notified the commission. Speaking of the commission, on Tuesday evening, the commissioners will be voting to adopt the 2015 Comprehensive Fee Schedule. I see fees for block parties, Right To Know fees, stormwater fees, advertising fees for mtl Magazine, golf fees, swimming pool fees, yoga fees, tennis fees, ice rink fees, pavilion rentals, sanitary sewer fees, parking fees, Kennywood tickets, etc., but gosh darn it, no fees for Wildcat Field. Oh, and no fees for signs at ball fields. Why is that?

Update December 9, 2014 11:41 PM I asked about the fees for Wildcat and for signage. They were added to the 2015 Comprehensive Fee Schedule today since it was an oversight.

A closer look at the JMA, YSA, MTL, MTLSD, MTLH, MLAC, TBDC,and any other letters of the alphabet

Fascinating information is pouring in about these groups. I received this link from the July/August 2002 issue of mtl Magazine.  See pages 30 and 31 about fields and YSA. http://ebooks.mtlebanon.org/mtl/mtl-072002/files/31.html  There was talk about turfing Jefferson from the time Smartchan was superintendent ten years ago.  The JMA earned the PASBO (PA Association of School Board Officials) award of achievement, but it doesn't look like PASBO ever reviewed the 990 forms.  According to the article, drainage was already rectified. Lots of interesting information, including The Blue Devil Club and Marcia Taylor's involvement.

I also received more 990's. The Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club does a fiscal year, only their fiscal year is from 1 September to 31 August of the following year. Here are their 990's.
Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club 2008 990
Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club 2009 990
Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club 2010 990

The Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association also reports on a fiscal year basis starting 1 May and ending 30 April the following year. Here are their 990's.
Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association 2009 990
Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association 2010 990
Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association 2011 990

I'm intrigued with all these non-profit groups in Mt. Lebanon - especially the field sports groups.  No one group has $200,000 to contribute towards this scheme to carpet and light Wildcat/Middle fields.  The Soccer Association comes close, with net assets of $179,687 - and MLAC has $131,592.  YSA certainly can't come up with the $200K by themselves - they only have a net worth of $31,918!  They must be counting on contributions from other field sports groups to bring $200,000 to the table.

Another Country Heard From UPDATED

By now, you have received your 2012 letter from The Blue Devil Club. I am glad to see that they took some time to draft a new letter.  It is interesting to compare this year's to last year's letter. The 2011 letter "pitched":

• However, this continued success is even more impressive when you consider that our student-athletes also maintained a collective QPA in excess of 3.25!

• Over 91% of the total funds raised by and through the Blue Devil Club are spent specifically on the student-athletes.

 I hope it was an oversight, but those two statements would be worth repeating if they were true this year. In light of the Joint Maintenance Agreement, sports groups' 990's and the YSA, perhaps over 91% of the total funds were not spent on the "student-athletes." The 2011 letter also mentioned that:

ln the past, the funds were spent to upgrade athletic facilities and/or equipment, assist the Club‘s member sport teams meet temporary shortfalls in their ability to raise the funds necessary to meet annual expenditures, and to provide the “extra things” that help give our student-athletes a first class experience that they will never forget!

What annual expenditures? The YSA's inability to contribute $30,000 a year to maintain School District fields? Zero dollars are spent on Municipal fields. Yet, in the YSA's own words, the best baseball fields are Middle and Wildcat which happen to be Municipal fields. When will the Mt. Lebanon Scholastic Athletic Association, a.k.a. The Blue Devil Club, which includes the following varsity sports: baseball, boys' and girls' basketball, cheerleading, football, boys' and girls' soccer, fast pitch softball, boys' and girls' tennis, softball, volleyball and wrestling start contributing to the municipality for the use of their facilities? Why must the 78% of the households who do not have children in school be expected to fund this organization? Levels of support range from an individual or family membership ($25) to Blue Devil Champion ($1000 or more).

Update July 31, 2012 11:15 PM
Blue Devil Club 2009 990
Blue Devil Club 2010 990
Blue Devil Club 2011 990

Someone is lying. UPDATED

A little history...June 7, I posted this thread, NSF YSA Makes The Trib!

Then-school Superintendent John Allison dismissed the amount owed in 2008 because of the group's insufficient funds;

June 20, 2012, this appeared on Lebo Citizens. Another hole in Jan's story - Updated 2x - 990's added - Trib's correction This sums up the thread:

For the record, I never did see the statements from Jan Klein that Chip Dalesandro was referring to in the post, I had a visitor today...  How could George Wilson dismiss the amount owed when he wasn't even the superintendent? Who dismissed it? The School Board at that time? Or was it Jan Klein?

On June 20, 2012, I filed two Right To Know requests with the School District. I heard from Mrs. Szalinski on June 26 with this response and this response, both requiring extensions up to thirty days.

That brings us up to today. I heard from Mrs. Szalinski by email. Dr. Tim Steinhauer, Thomas Peterson, and Gavin Robb were cc'ed. Peterson and Robb are with Tucker Arensberg. I don't understand why two attorneys would have been involved. Double legal fees?

Here are the responses.

On June 20, 2012, you requested any and all communication regarding the dismissal/forgiveness/release/waiver of funds owed by the Youth Sports Alliance for the years 1998-present by any superintendent, financial director, school board director, or YSA member. Please be advised that the District is not in possession of any records responsive to your request. Official response

On June 20, 2012, you requested any and all communication between Jan Klein and Chip Dalesandro regarding the YSA payment schedule and funds received. Please be advised that the District is not in possession of any records responsive to your request. Official response

So no records of ANYONE dismissing YSA fees in 2008 or ANYTIME. No copies of records that Chip has in his possession from Jan Klein accounting for all of YSA's payments. Where are the records? If there is nothing, why were two attorneys involved? Why the extensions?

Update: July 20, 2012 3:10 PM An important seminar for the YSA:

501(c)(3) Status: Keeping it Legal with the IRS
	This full day workshop hosted by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management and presented by IRS Exempt Organizations specialists, explains what 501(c)(3) organizations must do to keep their tax-exempt status. Topics covered will include: Tax-exempt status Unrelated business income Employement issues Form 990 series Required disclosures Fee is $50 and includes lunch. This session will take place at the Robert Morris University Holiday Inn at 8256 University Blvd. Moon Township, PA 15108 on Tuesday, September 11 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.For more information go to www.stayexempt.org. Pre-registration is required. Register online or by calling Shelby Gracey at 412-397-6000.

Another hole in Jan's story - Updated 2x - 990's added - Trib's correction

None of this is adding up.  June 7 Trib article:

The forms show that the YSA paid the district $10,000 in 2010, $3,597 in 2008 and $26,000 in 2005 -- about $50,000 short of what it owed. But district Finance Manager Jan Klein said the forms don't reflect that YSA members did $4,000 worth of work in 2005 to the fields.[YSA Payments from 1998-present from today's RTK request] Then-school Superintendent George Wilson John Allison* dismissed the amount owed in 2008 because of the group's insufficient funds; [John Allison was hired in June 2007 and left in the summer of 2009.] and the organization paid the $20,000 balance for 2010 last year. [No payments are shown for 2011.] 

"The payments weren't always made on exactly the dates in the agreements... but our records are very clear," Klein said. "We've confirmed every one of the payments in their records, and we're completely in agreement."[I don't think so.]

          YSA 990-2008 Line 28 shows $3597 contributed towards agreement
          YSA 990-2009 Line 28 shows $30,000 contributed towards agreement
          YSA 990-2010 Line 28 shows $10,000 contributed towards agreement 

For 2011, which hasn't shown up yet in the online IRS records, the YSA paid $10,000, and will soon write a check for the other $20,000, Klein said. [Sorry, but that is not what is being shown on the RTK I received today.] The payment for 2012 will depend on renegotiation of the agreement. In all, the only outstanding payment is $20,000 for last year, Klein said. [I calculate over $100,000 according to the RTK.] 

For the record, I never did see the statements from Jan Klein that Chip Dalesandro was referring to in the post, I had a visitor today...  How could George Wilson dismiss the amount owed when he wasn't even the superintendent? Who dismissed it? The School Board at that time? Or was it Jan Klein?

I think this needs to be investigated, Folks. Nothing is adding up.

*The article now reads, "John Allison."

Yet another "story" about YSA's contributions

Remember what Jan Klein wrote to Richard Gideon in this post, YSA vs. MTLSD - Updated? Remember the YSA 990's that I linked to in the same post?

Then we have the Trib reporting in my post, NSF YSA Makes The Trib!

Then-school Superintendent George Wilson dismissed the amount owed in 2008 because of the group's insufficient funds; and the organization paid the $20,000 balance for 2010 last year.

Now we have Dr. Steinhauer reporting that the Joint Maintenance Agreement has served us well. In fact, the YSA had paid $30,000 in 2008.  Huh? Listen for yourself on the podcast.  It starts at approximately the 58 minute mark. June 11, 2012 School Board Meeting

How many more versions of the story are out there?  Someone is lying to someone somewhere!!!

I do want to thank those school board members who questioned Jan Klein and Dr. Steinhauer. It is appalling how we can't get a straight answer.

More on Youth Sports Alliance...Updated 2x

Four more years of YSA's 990's showed up in my email.  This is much better than what we are looking at from 2008 to January of this year, but they are still in the hole overall from calendar year 2004 to January, 2012.

YSA 990 2004 Statement 1 shows $30,000 contributed towards agreement
YSA 990 2005 Line 43a shows $26,000 contributed towards agreement
YSA 990 2006 Line 43a shows $30,000* contributed towards agreement
YSA 990 2007 Line 43c shows $30,000 contributed towards field maint. & improvements

Since the last batch of YSA 990's didn't all match the school district's numbers, I would be curious to hear what Jan Klein's records show.

From what I understand, YSA was not designated a 501(c)(3) until 2005. There are no detailed public financial records on the YSA prior to 2004.

*Corrected amount. See page 17 of the PDF file YSA 990 2006, "Statement 1 - Form 990, Part II, Line 43 - Other Functional Expenses."

Update May 18, 2012 8:25 a.m.

From: egillen476@aol.com
To: commission@mtlebanon.org, schoolboard@mtlsd.net
Cc: TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net, sfeller@mtlebanon.org, davefranklin4@gmail.com
Subject: Joint Maintenance Agreement
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 22:42:04 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Commissioners and School Board Directors,

I would like to bring to your attention several posts from the Lebo Citizens blog involving Youth Sports Alliance and the Joint Maintenance Agreement concerning maintenance of school district fields.

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/05/closer-look-at-fields.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-had-visitor-today.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/05/ysa-vs-mtlsd.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/05/more-on-youth-sports-alliance.html

Watching you agonize over cuts at the latest school board meeting, it might make sense to go after the low hanging fruit. Collecting YSA's outstanding payments could help eliminate some tough decisions for you.

Elaine Gillen


Update May 18, 2012 8:46 a.m.  Minutes from the 11-23-09 Commission meeting where Dan Miller asks some tough questions about the Joint Maintenance Agreement.  Note Bill Lewis' comments too!

I had a visitor today...

While I was on the phone today, there was a knock on my front door. It turned out to be Chip Dalesandro. He wanted to stop by to say that all the fees for the joint maintenance agreement are paid in full. They have been paid in full every year.

I explained that the 990's that I posted previously on the blog, in addition to here:

YSA 990-2008 Line 28 shows $3597 contributed towards agreement
YSA 990-2009 Line 28 shows $30,000 contributed towards agreement

YSA 990-2010 Line 28 shows $10,000 contributed towards agreement

show something totally different. Chip assured me that I could get statements from Jan Klein showing that they have been paid in full. If that is the case, then YSA has bigger problems than they think.  According to the IRS Form 990, their accounting is waaay off.  And as I said to Chip, "If you think I am tough, wait till you see how tough the IRS is."  Chip was polite and respectful.  He had paperwork at home showing that everything was paid in full. Hopefully, this can be straightened out. If there is paperwork that shows otherwise,  I would be glad to scan it and post it here.

By the way, I got zero feedback from the sports groups concerning the facilities spreadsheet that Charlotte Stephenson, Chuck Bachorski and I created. So much for working together.  

Just so you know...

Tonight, the Commissioners will be approving the sign ordinance which the Planning Board voted against. As explained in the eblast below, it could help the municipality OR YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS. We have already seen YSA's 990's.  In an earlier post, I showed how the YSA pays nothing for municipal fields. Here is a copy of the proposed ordinance. http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8864

Here is an eblast sent from Dave Franklin.  His wife is head of YSA.

From: "Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association - LEBO BASEBALL" <mtlbball2012@gmail.com>
Date: May 7, 2012 10:04:56 PM EDT
To:
Subject: MLBA - Field Signage Amendment Proposal

Friends:

Tomorrow night the Commissioners will vote on a proposed amendment to Mt. Lebanon’s current signage ordinance. The purpose of the amendment is to allow tasteful signs to be placed at our municipal fields, the stadium and at similar venues. This amendment will allow for the solicitation of sponsors (local businesses, larger companies, etc), who in turn will be featured on these signs. Importantly, these sponsorships will allow the municipality and/or the youth sports associations to raise much needed funds for field maintenance and improvements.

If you support this proposal, please take 3 minutes out of your day to send a short email to the Commissioners (commission@mtlebanon.org) expressing your support for an amendment to Chapter XX (Zoning) of the Mt. Lebanon Code, Part 8, Section 823.5 (Authorized Signs).

Thanks,

Dave Franklin
********

Here is my letter to the Commission.

Commissioners,
I see that you will be approving http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8864 tonight.  There is nothing stipulated in the ordinance that any revenue generated from the signage will go to the municipality. You are changing an ordinance to help the sports groups.  That is not OK in my book.
Elaine Gillen

Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World

One of my blog readers informed me that "Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World" by the late Andrew Breitbart is a must read. Breitbart, a self proclaimed Internet addict, was known to the world as a conservative blogger who was compelled to cover stories that the media wouldn't touch. He died in March at the young age of 43 of heart failure.

Breitbart believed that the left controlled the media and he wanted to take it back.  The Internet was his battlefield. Boy, can I relate. Here in Mt. Lebanon, we have mtl Magazine, inCommunity Mt. Lebanon, lebomag.com, and the Posti Gazette - both Center Court blog and the PG.  I want to do all I can to get the real story out there. Maybe it IS hate in my heart, but I am tired of being bullied in this community. Like Breitbart, I am an Internet addict. My epiphany was when the anesthesiologist had to take my iPad away from me before I went under the other day.

Like Breitbart, I get a rush when I can uncover the truth through sharing documentation with the community. I have to confess, I loved when "Batman" left those comments after I linked the sports groups' 990's. I am sorry, but I am tired of being pushed around. Now we have a special interest group led by our commission president, who feels that the unassigned fund should go to turfing a school district field. Yes, thanks to the high school boondoggle, the school district has a field shortage, but whose fault is that? It was the poor planning of our illustrious school board and Master Design Team. Following the logic, should the commission be responsible for building a rifle range and tennis courts too? Where does it end?

The Manager's Recommended Budget did not list turfing Mellon Field. Prior to the April 23, 2012 Capital Investment Hearing, the commission asked staff to put together a prioritized schedule of proposed capital expenditures. Those recommendations can be found here. I don't see Mellon Field listed in those recommendations. On page 54 of the Capital Improvement Program for 2012-2016, turfing Middle and Wildcat Fields is suggested as a solution to our field shortage by allowing for less stress on existing fields.  At the bottom of that page, note the last recommendation. In addition, similar improvements could be done at Mellon Field by the School District for an estimated cost of $1,120,640. Even an email from David Donnellan to the Parks Advisory Board (including the newest member of that board, Dave Franklin) and the Commission and Steve Feller https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9r_1biKte_bZFdUTDgxOHhxWGM has nothing listed for turfing Mellon Field in the Parks Advisory Board report.

Breitbart had a profound sense of right and wrong from a young age. In my mind, asking the municipality to correct a problem of the school district's own doing is wrong. The driving force is Youth Sports Alliance and our commission president;  the same people who have been referred to as NSF, deadbeat, and even the sports cartel. It is just wrong.