All this in one Google Alert

Mt. Lebanon is in dire straits!

FOX13 Memphis Mt. Lebanon police searching for Dollar General robber WPXI Pittsburgh Police in Mount Lebanon are hoping surveillance photos will help them find the person who robbed a Dollar General store Thursday night. Flag as irrelevant
	Increased police presence continues Friday at Mt. Lebanon High School Tribune-Review Police found more threatening graffiti Thursday at Mt. Lebanon High School, prompting officials to request increased police presence Friday at the ... Flag as irrelevant
	Tentative tax increase expected to get OK by Mt. Lebanon school board Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Mt. Lebanon school board members are expected Monday to approve a $94.7 million preliminary budget calling for a 0.8-mill increase in the property ... Flag as irrelevant

Do you EVER do any research?

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; repmiller <repmiller@pahouse.net>
Sent: Fri, Jan 15, 2016 7:52 am
Subject: Re: Do you EVER do any research?

Good morning Elaine,

Thank you for providing the information. I will discuss with White Buffalo and provide a response to everyone.

Keith

On Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 6:53 AM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Commissioners,

You never cease to amaze me at your lack of due diligence. Tony DeNicola will be charging us for processing fees of up to $100 per deer or up to $15,000 for 150 deer.

There are no processing fees if the meat is donated to Hunters Sharing the Harvest. http://www.sharedeer.org/support/

As announced last season, HSH is proud to continue with the elimination of the $15 co-payrequested from hunters in the past when donating a deer to the program. Hunters can now drop off a whole deer at one of our participating processors found closest to where you live or hunt. There is no fee, there is no charge to donate a deer thanks to major gifts from the natural gas industry along with the PA Game Commission and exceptional yearly support of major corporate sponsors, partners, sportsmen’s clubs and 1000s of individuals who have contributed financial over the years. When you donate a deer, all we ask is that you sign a receipt provided by the butcher so he/she will be reimbursed at the agreed to rate for processing the donated venison for the program. To find an HSH participating processor, please consult the by-county deer processor page for shop locations, or call our toll-free number for more information. That’s it.

The closest participating processor is: 

Allegheny

Kip's Deer Processing
Kip Padgelek
3 Saint John's Drive
Carnegie, PA 15106
412.279.6527

This is the same processor that Merlin Benner used.

Elaine Gillen

--

Keith McGill, AICP
Municipal Manager/Municipal Planner
412-343-3684
kmcgill@mtlebanon.org 

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.

Municipality's Expenditure List for November 2015

Check out Steve Feller's going away party and what we pay in cell phone bills. These were approved by the commission without even a glance by some.

ELEVEN O'CLOCK??!!

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: John <jbendel@mtlebanon.org>; Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; E.T. Gillen <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 14, 2016 12:29 pm
Subject: Re: confusion

Good afternoon,

Operations will be conducted seven days a week on private properties beginning no sooner than 4 p.m. and five days a week on public properties, Monday-Friday beginning at 6 p.m. Operations on both public and private properties are scheduled to conclude by 11:00 p.m.

PIO is in the process of updating the FAQ's on the program to include this and other program specific information.


Keith

****

On Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 12:03 PM, John <jbendel@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

Can you respond?


Thanks

***


Begin forwarded message:

From: "'egillen476@aol.com' via Commission" <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Date: January 14, 2016 at 11:42:35 AM EST
To: commission@mtlebanon.orgSubject: confusion
Reply-To: "egillen476@aol.com" <egillen476@aol.com> 

Commissioners, 

I am trying to find out when the shooting stops at the end of each day. I understand that shooting starts at 4:00 on private properties seven days a week and 6:00 on public properties five days a week, but I am getting conflicting answers as to when it ends. I have heard 9:00, 10:00, and after dark.  

Please clarify. 

Thank you. 

Elaine Gillen

--

Keith McGill, AICP
Municipal Manager/Municipal Planner
412-343-3684
kmcgill@mtlebanon.org

"Sharpshooting" is a go

The vote was 3-2. Bendel, Silverman, and McLean voted for "sharpshooting."

After the meeting, a resident asked Chief Lauth what we should do if we see or hear anything concerning that's related to this sharpshooting program. He said without a doubt call 911. Do NOT e-mail. He said he was very emphatic with his officers that any and all complaints that come in to 911 must be recorded. I know it's tempting to keep those complaints to ourselves, but please don't. Make the call.

Terms of the "sharpshooting" contract:

Private properties 7 days per week, shooting starts after 4 PM
Public properties 5 days per week, shooting starts after 6 PM
Public properties are McNeilly, Golf Course, Robb Hollow, and behind Public Works

[Didn't Keith McGill promise the Goddard School that there will be no sharpshooting?]

Apparently, Tony DeNicola was unaware of the Gun Free School Zone Act when he submitted his proposal. (Here we go again with our GPS equipment and Google maps.) He is looking for more private properties. Could my case be having a chilling effect? This might be an opportune time to mention this:



Baiting cannot start until after archery season is over. It is illegal to hunt over bait. Baiting will start January 24, 2016 and gunshots will begin February 1, 2016.

The PG reports Mt. Lebanon to use sharpshooters to cull deer along with this photo. Check out where this photo was taken.

Mt. Lebanon Commission approves sharpshooting program

Update January 13, 2016 9:56 AM My latest email exchange with the commission. Only received one response.

From: Kelly Fraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Jan 13, 2016 9:31 am
Subject: Re: Sled riding

It will continue along with sharpshooting beginning Feb 1st.

Kelly 

Sent from Kelly's iPhone, please excuse typos or auto-corrections. 

On Jan 12, 2016, at 4:29 PM, 'egillen476@aol.com' via Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

Commissioners,

Looking outside my window, there are around six kids sled riding in Rockwood 
Park. Sunset for today is 5:14 PM. Archery will be taking place at the golf course today until 5:44 PM. 

Are you going to continue archery at the golf course or are you going to act responsibly and end the archery program at the golf course now?

Elaine Gillen

Update January 13, 2016 8:26 PM

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Wed, Jan 13, 2016 8:21 pm
Subject: Re: Citizen Comments

Good evening Elaine,

Julie did tell me this earlier today. We were having some server issues last night. We almost delayed the start of the discussion agenda but Nick Schalles was able to correct the issue and then apparently during the 10 minutes you are referring to we had another separate issue.

The recording equipment for the Commission meetings was budgeted for an upgrade in this year's budget and the new equipment should be installed in the next week or two.

I am not sure if the audio can be recovered. I.T. is aware of the missing audio and is looking into if it can be recovered.

Keith

On Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 8:10 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Commissioners,

Are you aware that about ten minutes of audio are missing during the January 12, 2016 Citizen Comments? The sound died during Lourdes Castallanos' comments. About ten minutes go by before the audio portion of the meeting returns. 

Interestingly enough, I was not able to hear Jason Margolis call out Susan Morgans for intentionally misleading the public as learned through RTKs.

Are those comments lost forever? It is unfortunate that I was not there with my little recorder as I was on August 15 and August 17, recording Jody Maddock's archery infomercials and making the only podcasts available to the public.

Elaine Gillen

--

Keith McGill, AICP
Municipal Manager/Municipal Planner
412-343-3684
kmcgill@mtlebanon.org 

Don't want sharpshooting in YOUR yard? Call the Game Commission

I understand that we are to call the PA Game Commission and let them know if we do not want sharpshooting on our properties. All safety zones are waived unless property owners call and say they do not want sharpshooting on their property.

Chad R. Eyler, Chief

Special Permits Enforcement Division

Bureau of Wildlife Protection

Pennsylvania Game Commission

2001 Elmerton Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17110

717-783-8164

ceyler@pa.gov

Mt. Lebanon is making it a challenge

Fighting vitamin D deficiencies in kids during the sun-scarce winter months

Drinking milk and playing outside isn’t enough, research shows

But here in Mt. Lebanon, vitamin D deficiencies must be at an all time high. How can kids play outside around here when we have archers from September through January? The commissioners will be approving sharpshooting, extending the time through March. What about the folks who suffer from seasonal affective disorder? Even our dogs can suffer from canine cabin fever.

Mt. Lebanon has been kicking around the idea of putting in a dog park near Public Works. So when the weather is mild, like it has been so far this winter, families can take Spot to the killing fields at Robb Hollow. When there is snow on the ground, families can sled ride at the killing fields at the golf course.

So what is the solution? Do we ask John in the paint department at Rolliers if he sells light boxes?

Tuesday's vote UPDATED TWICE

The agendas have been published for Tuesday's commission meetings.

The commission discussion session agenda includes an hour discussion on deer with Tony DeNicola explaining his contract and the status of the sterilization proposal from the HSUS.

The vote for "sharpshooting" is on the Tuesday commission meeting agenda. Keith McGill got his way since there were three commissioners who backed him up. In the old days, the president or the manager would set the agenda. The commissioners will be authorizing Part 2 of the contract - "sharpshooting." Never mind the fact that the archery will be continuing for eleven more days. It doesn't matter that they don't have all the facts. There is no clarification on the contract where it was mentioned SPECIFICALLY that there will be no shooting from the back of the vehicle, yet DeNicola WILL be shooting from the back of a vehicle.  Forget that we don't know which public places will be hosting the killers. Who cares that there are almost 275 Not In My Yard signs in Mt. Lebanon yards with less than 20 properties who had archers killing deer? And finally, the new commissioner has already made up his mind that he was for sharpshooting prior to hearing what the costs were. And he's a CPA!!!!!!

January 8, 2016 7:09 PM Hey look! There is my name under "Litigation" during the Executive Session! My hearing is scheduled for February 26, 2016 at 9:30 AM in front of Judge O'Brien. Thanks to all who have helped me with my legal fees so far.

January 11, 2016 8:18 AM Here is the docket for the first case listed under Litigation. The agenda for the commission meeting indicates that a settlement will be awarded to Ms. Pedder.

Wait. What? UPDATED 2X

Email sent to Keith McGill and Commissioners at 5:29 AM this morning.

Keith and Commissioners, 

According to mtl Magazine, the archery program has concluded. Are you aware of that? This is the best news I have heard in a while. I hope it is true. 

Elaine Gillen

What I didn't question from the article:

There were residents who were injured or damaged. I, for one, couldn't look at a covered pickup truck without wondering how many dead deer were under the cover. I lost a huge amount of sleep. I had to go on antidepressants. I know I am not alone.

The woman cited for trespassing never tried to stop a hunter from removing dead deer carcasses. Can this be mentioned in the article, if the case is being appealed? I don't know since I am not a lawyer.

Are the commissioners really going to continue evaluating non-lethal means of controlling deer?

Lie, Lie, Lie. All lies.

Update January 8, 2016 9:46 AM OMG I guess it CAN get worse.

Keith,

Apologize for any confusion?I'm sorry, but you have to do better than that. What are you or the PIO going to do to eliminate the confusion and correct this extremely irresponsible oversight? 

Elaine

-----Original Message-----

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>

To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>

Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Susan Morgans <smorgans@mtlebanon.org>

Sent: Fri, Jan 8, 2016 8:12 am

Subject: Re: Wait. What?

Good morning Ms. Gillen,

The archery program is scheduled to conclude on January 23, 2016. The article you attached is from the January/February issue of the Magazine. In retrospect a better choice of wording would have been to simply reference the January 23rd date.

While I did not write the article, as the publisher of the magazine, I am ultimately responsible for review and approval of the content.

I apologize for any confusion.

Keith

On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 5:29 AM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Keith and Commissioners,

According to mtl Magazine, the archery program has concluded. Are you aware of that? This is the best news I have heard in a while. I hope it is true.

Elaine Gillen

--

Keith McGill, AICP

Municipal Manager/Municipal Planner

412-343-3684

kmcgill@mtlebanon.org 

Update January 8, 2016 1:54 PM

Good afternoon Ms. Gillen,

I wanted to provide you with an update on this issue. As of this email Ms. Morgans indicates as follows:

1) I rewrote the article on Lebomag.com (and included a lot of new information we did not have at the time we went to press. I then placed a post on Facebook directing people to the new and correct information on Lebomag.com and also provided a link to the reports on Facebook.

2) I had IT place a Clarification under Deer Management on the home page, noting that the magazine article was not correct and the the hunt would continue through the 23rd. I also directed people to the updated Lebomag story and the reports on the municipal website.

Thank you,

Keith

RTKs and the PA Game Commission

Contrary to a comment made in my previous post, it is our right to file RTKs with government agencies. The PA Game Commission has a dedicated page to the Right To Know Law. I encourage Lebo Citizen readers to exercise your rights.

More, as promised

I wrote my check for $67.75 today and already complained to the commission, not that it will do any good.

Commissioners,

In good faith, I wrote my check for $67.75 and handed it to Bonnie Cross this afternoon. In it, I found three copies of White Buffalo's 10 page Archer Application Packet, none of it was redacted. Thirty pages @ 25¢/page, was billed to me.

I also received and was charged 25¢ for spam from a classic car company.

And finally, more inappropriate comments about me from Susan Fleming Morgans, where she calls me a witch. For some reason, Steve Feller overlooked Susan's behavior toward me. I hope with the new sheriff in town, this inappropriate and unprofessional behavior is dealt with in a timely matter, with copies placed in Ms. Morgans' file. I am still waiting for multiple apologies from Ms. Morgans from the past. I am paying 25¢ a copy to read her trash. In addition, I am attaching an email that she sent to Mr. Takach, which is horrifying.

Elaine Gillen

What I hadn't included in my email to the commission, is this gem.

A response from Steve Silverman to Mr. Sohn, who wanted the deer eradicated from Mt. Lebanon.

There are still more emails to sift through, but I have had enough for one day.

Update January 5, 2015 6:10 PM Keith McGill's response:

From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Bonnie Cross <bcross@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Jan 5, 2016 6:04 pm
Subject: Re: RTK that was paid for today

Good evening Elaine,

I apologize if you were inappropriately billed regarding the RTK request that you reference in your email. I am copying Bonnie on my reply and asking her to work with the Finance Department to issue you a refund in the amount of $7.75 which I believe is what you were charged in error based on your email.

Regarding your reference and attachment where you indicate that Susan Morgan's called you a witch I do not see where you are specifically called or referred to as being a witch.

As to the Takach email I have read that exchange and I will discuss the sentence that reads "and I do not need a lecture about my responsibilities" with Ms. Morgans and handle this as a personnel matter.

Keith

--

Keith McGill, AICP
Municipal Manager/Municipal Planner
412-343-3684
kmcgill@mtlebanon.org 

Death toll as of January 4, 2016

101 deer
Deer "Harvest" Information as of January 4, 2016

(saved in Google Docs)

Archery season ends on January 23, 2016. Keith McGill has placed the sharpshooting vote on the January 12, 2016 agenda. Keith has figured out that he has more power than one or even two commissioners combined. It will take a vote from three commissioners to change the set agenda.

The commissioners will be voting, based on the numbers collected NINETEEN days before the archery season is over.

Is this payback over the turf project?

Dave Franklin wrote to John Bendel and Dave Brumfield, to ask for their support in moving forward with the appeal. The one in which the Office of Open Records ruled in my favor.

Dave had blamed me for the delay of the toxic turf project, when in reality, the delay was because of Gateway's blunders.

I guess payback is a bitch.

Lost dog found on Flint Ridge