Amendments to the Municipal Budget

From lebomag.com:
http://lebomag.com/8604/proposed-amendments-to-recommended-budget/


After a month of budget hearings and discussions, commissioners formulated a list of amendments in the form of additions and subtractions to the 2013 Manager’s Recommended Budget. The final public hearing on the budget will be 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 in commission chambers. The budget vote will immediately follow.

Here are some highlights:

Changes to revenue include:

* Reduce real estate tax to meet the windfall cap (required under law during a reassessment year) — $60,000 decrease. The exact certified values of real estate within municipal borders for the 2013 tax year are not known as a result of the ongoing reassessment of properties in Allegheny County. The millage rate is currently 5.43 mills but this rate will be reduced by the commission after receipt of the final 2013 values.

* Addition of revenues from alternate sources, such as the Veteran’s Memorial fund and the Plein Air event — $21,360 increase

* Revenue from tennis court lighting: $6,000

Changes to expenditures include:

* Reduction in anticipated cost of health insurance: $53,700 decrease

* Fee for participation in the new regional earned income tax collection district: $4,790

* Increase in assessment from Medical Rescue Team South Authority: $16,210

* Addition of a development consultant to procure grants and outside funding: $35,000

* Reduction in cost of new management assistant position by waiting until April to fill: $22,000 decrease

* Purchase of artwork from the Plein Air festival to place in the Municipal Building: $1,000 (funded by contributions, as noted above); additional pole decorations for Beverly Road: $3,770 (with 50 percent funding by contributions).

* Add irrigation system to Veteran’s Memorial: $18,480 (funded by contributions)

* Debt service reduction: $62,030 decrease

* Add deer survey: $12,000

* Add streaming and indexing of public meetings: $13,100

* Increase to Outreach Teen & Family Services subsidy: $1,000

* Hire consultant to appeal under-assessed properties: $25,000

* Reduce swimming pool maintenance since pool items are covered in recent bond issue: $7,500 reduction.

The budget amendments also include a shifting of a position in the finance office to cover collections.

There are still several unknowns in the budget. The municipality is waiting to hear a final total for payment to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. Additionally, the commission will need to approve any budget carryovers for any items that were budgeted for 2012 but not yet completed.

Up for some entertainment?

On Monday, December 3, the Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors will be electing their new president and vice president during their Reorganization Meeting. The agenda has been published and can be found here.

My favorite reorg. meeting was held in December 2009.  Fighting, lying, name-calling - it had it all. I watched it on TV and could not believe what I was seeing. It was the first time I tuned into a school board meeting. Ahh, those were the days.

The following year, Josephine Posti got everyone in line and won the president's seat. That meeting was definitely a 180 from the previous year.

Posti won again in 2012.  Will she go for three? Will she leave kicking and screaming? Will Larry "I'm excited" Lebowitz steal the crown? Will Proud Mary be rollin', rollin' her way to the top? Will Vice President Cappucci go on to be president or will she end up being stunned as Josephine was on December 3, 2007 when Mark Hart was elected? Stay tuned...

Common Core State Standards

I was checking Center Court and Steinhauer's blog for anything that resembled a post on the new Common Core State Standards, and struck out.  Instead, I noticed that Josephine now has ads on her blog. Really, Jo? Not making enough at your day job? Or was this a recommendation made by Pursuing Ketchup?

While Josephine is blogging about charter schools and Timmy is blogging about pizza, pics, and post it notes, nothing has been mentioned about Common Core State Standards.

PA Common Core Standards

The State Board adopted Common Core Standards in July 2010. Since that time, the decision was made to craft a set of PA Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. A group of Pennsylvania educators created a draft set of PA Common Core Standards. These new standards mirror the content and rigor of Common Core, but reflect the organization and design of the PA Academic Standards.

Pine-Richland School District's website has a whole page dedicated to understanding the Transitions to Common Core Standards.

Eleanor Chute mentioned PA Common Core Standards in Monday's
Study: Pennsylvania students with access to full-time librarians do better

As school districts look for ways to save money, supporters of school libraries point to a recent study showing Pennsylvania students do better on state tests in reading and writing if they have access to strong school libraries.

The study found students with access to a better-staffed, funded, equipped, stocked and accessible school library are more likely to score advanced and less likely to score below basic on the state reading and writing tests.

Remember how our illustrious board cut staff in our libraries as listed in the
Cost reductions list totaling approximately $850,000 while twenty administrators received raises?

Ms. Chute continues:

Mary Kay Biagini, director of the school library certification program at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and an analyst for the study, said that 56 percent of public schools in the state didn't have access to a full-time school librarian in 2011-12.

With the economic conditions and resulting library cuts of the past two years, she said, "Students are getting even less of a chance to have access to library resources and information literacy curriculum."

She believes school libraries will be even more important as schools implement the new Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math that call for the curriculum to go deeper in fewer areas rather than skimming the surface in many.

When will this Board and Administration report on more pressing issues such as the transition to Common Core State Standards, 21st Century Education, replacing our fuzzy math program, and the like, instead of concentrating on sports, turf, fundraising, and charter schools? On the two year anniversary of Lebo Citizens blog, I can't think of one wise decision this Board has made.

More on TERC Investigations

Josephine Posti has to go. Surely, she should not seek reelection with this kind of attitude towards stakeholders.  Will the Board think enough of her to elect her to a third term as President next week? 

In the emails listed, identifying information has been redacted to protect the personal privacy of individuals discussed in the letters.

From: JPosti@mtlsd.net
To:  Stakeholder, Parent 1
CC: SchoolBoardEmaillist@mtlsd.net; Parent 2
Subject: RE: TERC Investigations
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:08:02 +0000

Stakeholder,
Your email is childish, disrespectful and counterproductive in addressing the concerns of parents with children in the District. Name-calling is beneath you and not an effective method of motivating the educational professionals charged with curricular responsibility.

Parent 1 and Parent 2,
Have you discussed your concerns with your [child's] teacher or principal? An understanding of those discussions would be helpful to Dr. Allen and her team as they evaluate how Investigations is being used in each building and within specific classrooms.

For the Board,
Josephine Posti
President
Mt. Lebanon School Board
 412.667.1479
 http://jposti.blogspot.com

Mission: To provide the best education possible for each and every student
________________________________

From: Stakeholder
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:03 PM
To: Parent 1,
Cc: School Board Email list; Parent 2
Subject: Re: TERC Investigations

Good going.....I hope parents organize and hound the SB and staff at meetings & e-mail to get off their "high horses" and do something about this....firing Steinhauer for his behavior know-it-all attitude plus Allen for her total incompetence would be good for starters....then give 12th grade PSSA, ACT & SAT math portion tests to all math teachers forcing them to use only this current flawed math teaching protocol.  Fire all who fail the tests!
 ---------- Original Message ----------
From: Parent 1
To: <schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net>
Cc: Parent 2
BCC: Additional Stakeholders
Subject: TERC Investigations
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:25:51 +0000

Good afternoon Board,
Have all of you actually reviewed the Investigations books that are actually used in the classroom? If so, what have you found?
Yesterday evening, ...I asked my [child] if...Seriously folks, would this have been acceptable for your children?
I honestly don't see how the entire board can just sit there while the mother of a 6th grader says during a public meeting her son cannot do long division. The parents of the children in our school district demand more. What are you going to do about it?

Here is a link to provide you more information:
http://www.wgquirk.com/TERC2008.html
Parent 1

I have received numerous emails complaining about Dr. Deb Allen's performance. Yes, I agree with the stakeholder.  Getting rid of Posti, Steinhauer, and Allen would be a great start.  Throw in Klein's retirement and we just might get the District back on its feet again.
   

PSSA math scores - a mixed bag

Richard Gideon prepared the following PDF showing PSSA math test results for Mt. Lebanon from 2007 through 2012. Thank you, Richard, for your analysis of the PSSA math scores.

MTLSD PSSA Math Scores 2007-2012

Mrs. Posti writes,

"If you look at the District's student achievement results since these program change proposals were approved, it appears to have been a wise decision that has resulted in academic success for our students and, anecdotally, an increased love of math that our middle and high school teachers have observed since its adoption."

The figures for PSSA math tests show a mixed bag - she is right in some cases and wrong in others.  I don't see how one can claim overall success for TERC based on these figures. There are too many variables to take into consideration with respect to these numbers. We know that students are coached prior to taking the PSSA's; but then a number of parents who haven't been thrilled with TERC have tutored their kids in basic math, or paid a tutor to do the job for them. We don't know how many teachers are supplementing TERC with more traditional techniques on their own authority.

Anecdotal evidence in math and the sciences is frowned upon by the pros.

Posti on TERC Investigations UPDATED

There has been a lot of interest in this particular thread. David Huston had an email exchange with Josephine Posti concerning TERC Investigations.  As with any email exchange, start at the bottom and work your way up. To avoid confusion, I separated the emails with ***.

RE: TERC Investigations math

From David Huston
To jposti@mtlsd.net
Cc gwensell gwensell@southfayette.org, schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net

Mon, Nov 26, 2012 4:15 pm

Ms. Posti,
Thank you for correcting me regarding Mr. Wensell.
You can understand my confusion because you never mentioned his first name.
Please see the attached booklet from 2009, when Mr. Wensell was employed by the District.

Mr. Wensell's presentation was:

Creating a Balanced K-12 Mathematics ProgramIs your school district seeking a balance between procedural and
conceptual learning opportunities for students? Come learn how
one district's approach led to the incorporation of both reform and
traditional resources.

Obviously, when Mr. Wensell recommended TERC Investigations, he
thought it was best to include traditional resources.
Now Mr. Wensell is using traditional resources along with Investigations at South Fayette.
The Mt. Lebanon School District is now using 100% TERC investigations,
which goes against Mr. Wensell's recommendation.
Who made the decision to go all TERC in our district?
I included Mr. Wensell so he can provide clarification beyond the spelling of his name.
David Huston

***

From: JPosti@mtlsd.net
To: David Huston, SchoolBoardEmaillist@mtlsd.net
Subject: RE: TERC Investigations math
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 20:35:26 +0000


Ken Wentzel is a retired high school physical education teacher so I'm not sure what report you'd be referring to. You may want submit a RTK request.


Josephine Posti
President
Mt. Lebanon School Board
412.667.1479
http://jposti.blogspot.com

Mission: To provide the best education possible for each and every student

***

From: David Huston
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 3:20 PM
To: Josephine C. Posti; School Board Email list
Subject: RE: TERC Investigations math

Ms. Posti,
The 138 parents signing a petition to scrap TERC in 2011 were not overly satisfied:
http://www.amherstbee.com/news/2011-04-13/Education/Parents_want_examination_of_elementary_math_progra.html

The man's name is Ken Wentzel, not Wensell.
Please provide Mr. Wentzel's report for the public to review.

David Huston

***
From: JPosti@mtlsd.net
To: David Huston; SchoolBoardEmaillist@mtlsd.net
Subject: RE: TERC Investigations math
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 20:11:41 +0000


Mr. Huston,
FormerSchoolDirector's rationale is the same rationale most Board members follow when making decisions about curriculum. With few exceptions, we are not educators and rely on recommendations of the District's educational professionals on curriculum decisions. This was no exception.


Mr. Wensell's recommendation was brought to the Board for our approval after he conducted research and evaluation of tools that could help better prepare our students for middle school math, was vetted within his department, shared with Curriculum Council and evaluated by our administration. If you look at the District's student achievement results since these program change proposals were approved, it appears to have been a wise decision that has resulted in academic success for our students and, anecdotally, an increased love of math that our middle and high school teachers have observed since its adoption. As with any part of our curriculum, if there are opportunities to improve it, we will pursue them. Our goal is to teach a balanced math program that meets PA common core standards and prepares students for success.


Regarding the information you shared below, did you know that Amherst Central School District continues to use Investigations as a core resource in elementary math and that when surveyed, parents were overwhelmingly satisfied with the math curriculum?


Thanks and best regards,

Josephine Posti
President
Mt. Lebanon School Board
412.667.1479
http://jposti.blogspot.com

Mission: To provide the best education possible for each and every student

****

From: David Huston
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 6:46 PM
To: School Board Email list
Subject: FW: TERC Investigations math

Hello Board,
Please see the exchange I had with a former school director 2 years ago.
Ms. Posti and Mr. Remely were on the board at the time and voted to approve Investigations.
Why did Ms. Posti and Mr. Remely approve it?

Also, the link below is informative.

From: FormerSchoolDirector
To: David Huston
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 17:37:46 -0400
Subject: Re: TERC Investigations math


I have no idea. Don't remember the discussion. Probably bc supervisor said to...


On Sep 7, 2010, at 5:37 PM, "David Huston"  wrote:

Former School Director,
Why did the 2007 school board choose TERC Investigations
for the Mt. Lebanon math curriculum?
http://amherstmathprogram.com/math/main.php

Update November 27, 2012 1:37 AM Josephine Posti updated her blog to include this post, More on Math.

If you look at our comparator districts in Pennsylvania, many of them use Investigations, including local districts like Baldwin, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair. 

But according to PG readers,  Meetings will discuss new math curriculum in Mt. Lebanon schools, USC dropped this years ago. Dr. Steinhauer weighed in on the subject in the PG article.  Josephine admitted that she is not an educator and relies on the educational professionals, yet the "educator" addresses more important issues such as Chinese proverbs and construction on his blog.

Dan Miller to run UPDATED

From Facebook:

Friends and Family -

I was recently contacted by the media regarding my interest in the upcoming vacancy in the 42nd state house district.  To keep it short and sweet, I will indeed seek my party’s nomination for that position.

During my term as Commissioner in Mt. Lebanon, I was honored to receive so much support and pleased to work in a bipartisan way.  We were able to make long-term investments in our community and increase government transparency while achieving greater fiscal responsibility. This is why a diverse coalition that includes Democrats, Republicans and Independents is already forming as I make these next steps.

The initiatives I spearheaded in Mt. Lebanon made our town stronger, bringing people together over common goals. I intend to fight for those types of issues in Harrisburg and remain a strong voice for education and quality jobs.  

Kim and I spent a lot of time discussing this step and I can assure you that I will not be away from my family to avoid tackling the challenges our state faces. I will seek compromise where I can, and work every day to move the ball on issues that strengthen and grow our middle class. I am not interested in gridlock and I have no intention on being a silent advocate for this community. If given the opportunity to serve again, you will know where I stand.

We will make a more formal announcement once the process actually begins, but I wanted you to hear this from me.

Hope you all had a great holiday!

Best,

Dan

Update November 26, 2012 5:15 PM  Lineup in 42nd District race may include new faces

How will they vote?

Tomorrow's Commission meeting includes an action to enact Bill No. 20-12, establishing a Sports Advisory Board. 

KL 5. Public hearing and consideration of Ordinance (Bill No. 20-12) establishing a Sports Advisory Board.

The proposed advisory board will:
 Review and assess all sports-related facilities and services in Mt. Lebanon. Recommend possible changes and improvements to sports-related facilities and services.
 Assist in the continued safe provision of athletic opportunities to Mt. Lebanon residents.
 Receive and consider public comment and other public input regarding sports facilities and services.
 Support, promote and/or provide programs and services to assist athletes and coaches in Mt. Lebanon.
Membership of the board will consist of staff from the municipality and school district, a representative from any sports organization recognized by the municipality, a representative from the parks board and a commission liaison. The school district will also provide a liaison and may request participation by other staff or groups. This ordinance was introduced November 13, 2012.

Who will be the Commission Liaison?
Will it be President Dave Brumfield, who is with Lacrosse and came up with this idea?
Will it be Vice-President Matt Kluck, who was not welcomed to attend the Joint Discussion Session?
Will it be John Bendel, who wants to look at turf again at Mellon?
Will it be Kelly Fraasch, who wants the sports groups to pay for turf and whose husband was crucified while on the school board?
Or will it be Kristen Linfante, blogger on Real-Lebo?

I found an interesting comment posted on Real-Lebo, dated January 2, 2010 at 3:05 PM by Kristen Linfante. It sheds some light on her views on sports in this town and the rifle range at the high school.

I personally don't give a hoot about a 6-lane pool, 8-lane pool, or even a pool at all. A rifle range seems like a joke to me, as does a football field that looks like Heinz Field....and tennis courts that could host the US Open - not of interest to me either. However, it has become very clear to me that many in this town put sports at the top of the list. I am not one of those people. However, I do recognize and even respect the fact that many, many sports people in the community have come forward and demanded that the board listen and include all of the sports "bells and whistles" in the new design. http://www.reallebo.com/2009/12/high-school-renovation-takes-big-step.html#comment-form 

Kristen has come a long way. She is the biggest supporter of shooting in this town, as well as introducing and moving to enact Bill No. 21-12.

I hope this is tabled. The School Board has a full plate with change orders and the renovation, parents up in arms over the math program, not meeting AYP for a group at the high school, dances, and substance abuse. Did I miss anything? It would be nice if their focus was on education, not fields or construction.

USC, Bethel, but not here UPDATED

A Lebo Citizens reader was kind enough to send me the following message from the Bethel Park School Board President, Donna Cook. http://www.bpsd.org/boardmessage.aspx

The take-away that I got from President Cook's message:

• All Bethel Park Administrators voluntarily took a wage freeze for the 2011-2012 school year.
• The  school board appreciates their constituents' attendance and participation in these meetings;  it has become increasingly difficult to sit silently while statements are being made that are simply not correct.

All BP's administrators voluntarily took a wage freeze for 2011-2012.  Upper St. Clair's top administrators took voluntary wage freezes. All of our school administrators got sizable increases. We have parents complaining about the math program. One parent's comments from Monday's meeting about our math program are spot on. Monday's presentation was illustrating a state wide comparison. Interestingly enough, the regional comparison is disappointing. Here is a page from the presentation comparing math SAT scores. We're ranked 18, while Upper St. Clair is ranked #8, North Allegheny 10, and Fox Chapel is ranked at 14. Dr. Deb Allen said that we must not rest on our laurels. I don't think we have "laurels to rest on." Our science scores are marginal.  While our super Super is blogging about Chinese proverbs and is "transfixed" while doing photo essays on the view outside of his window, our school board directors continue to spend money like there is no tomorrow.  If the Mayans are right, maybe there will be no tomorrow, but in the meantime, how about putting a cork in it, Josephine? Stop wasting our money.

The second point is for my commissioner's benefit.

Update November 23, 2012 2:45 PM Witte comment about MTLSD math program
Also available here:
Witte comment on Lebocitizens.com

No Peace on Thanksgiving

A special school board meeting has been called for Monday, November 26, 2012 at 6:30 PM. This is for another change order for the Fine Arts Building.

Change Orders for High School Project: RESOLVED, That the Board approves Change Order GC-15-28 to Nello on a time and material basis not to exceed $80,500 for the construction of walls and ceilings in Building F.

http://www.mtlsd.org/district/stuff/special%20meeting%20agenda%20112612.pdf

A resident sent the following to me:

$80,500 change order for Nello to build a wall in Building F.
The $72,000 change order AB-02-17 on Monday was related to GC-11-24.
Change order GC-11-24 was for demolition work in building F.
Why wasn't this brought up during Monday's meeting?
Is the $80,500 change order for the same wall that the $72,000 change order is for?

Why does this special meeting have to be scheduled during the Commission Discussion Session when the Joint Maintenance Agreement will be discussed?

Public Hearing for Sports Advisory Board

The agenda for Monday's Commission meeting has been posted.  We finally get to see the ordinance written for Bill No. 20-12,  The Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances to Establish a Sports Advisory Board. This bill was introduced on November 13, 2012 by Kristen Linfante, but was never posted since the link was incorrect. The public hearing for this new Sports Advisory Board, or as Josephine Posti likes to call it an ad-hoc committee, will be held on Monday evening.  It is number five on the agenda. Kristen will be moving to enact the ordinance after the meeting. Perhaps, this is how Dave suddenly changed his mind on shooting deer. The commission meeting starts at 8:00 PM.

In case you were wondering, the Joint Maintenance Agreement will be item number five on the Commission Discussion Session agenda.  That meeting starts at 6:40 PM.

I uploaded the podcast to the November Parks Advisory Board meeting.  I apologize for the quality of the recording.  The Director of Recreation recorded it for the purpose of writing the minutes of the meeting. Around the eighteen minute mark is when the voices start to get a little louder.  Dave Franklin is pretty easy to understand. I am reasonably sure he will be appointed as the Parks Advisory Board representative, don't you?

District/Municipal Collaboration

Wow! I can't believe it.  Both the President's November Report and the Superintendent's November Report have been posted on the School District website. I didn't have to remind them.  Just a little background, both reports were about six months behind on the website. While Dr. Steinhauer was blogging about fortune cookies and construction, his monthly board reports were MIA. Mrs. Posti decided to reprint her board reports on her unofficial blog instead of keeping them official on the website.  Nice to see some improvement.

By reading Posti's report from last night's meeting, I see that she is taking a more cooperative stand with the municipality.

Later this month, the Commission will be taking action on developing a new ad hoc committee designed to review Mt. Lebanon’s available fields as well as the needs that the various local athletic organizations have for field space. This committee will be made up of representatives from the Municipality, each of the field sport organizations as well as representatives from the District. Should this committee’s development be approved by the Commission, I’ve asked Mr. Grogan, Mr. Marciniak and Mr. Kubit to serve on the committee.

This is just one of the many ways the two local taxing bodies work together on a regular basis to realize cost efficiencies, share resources and provide support to each other. In addition to this committee, representatives from both taxing bodies serve on our Strategic Planning Committee, the Municipality’s Comprehensive Planning Committee, the Environmental Sustainability Board, our Safety and Security Committee and the Municipality’s Economic Development Council. Our staff work together to coordinate field maintenance, fuel purchase, winter maintenance, photocopying and printing, interoffice mail delivery, fire safety, police and fire training, pedestrian safety, drivers training, contracted services, recreation, parking and communication. We also work together on programs like School in the Park and Arts in the Park regularly and have realized cost efficiencies for things like joint elevator maintenance in the past when it was cost-efficient to do so.

Additional areas of potential cooperation might include contracting District employees for things like HVAC and Building Automation controls, janitorial services, shared purchasing and fleet management. As contracts are renegotiated in future years, these opportunities and others might be explored. We’ve worked with the Municipality over the years to realize cost and service efficiencies that benefit our residents and are grateful for such a collaborative relationship with their employees and elected officials.

Josephine Posti forgot to mention how she had cheerfully invited the commissioners to the school board community coffees rather than having a Joint Discussion Session.  She is much too busy and requires an agenda to determine if it is worth her time.  Josephine also failed to bring up how difficult it has been for the commissioners to discuss the Joint Maintenance Agreement with the board members.

Shop Small Saturday

During this make it or break it time of the year, newspapers are filled with circulars trying to get your business.  At one time, stores opened at 6:00 AM the day after Thanksgiving, known in the biz as Black Friday. This year, larger chain stores will be open on Thanksgiving, forcing employees to work instead of spending time with their families.  Cyber Monday is getting a jump start on Sunday. Small businesses don't stand a chance during this cut throat shopping frenzy. That is why I support Shop Small Saturday.

Last year, I encouraged readers to 'Shop Small" here. This year is no different. Mt. Lebanon has vibrant business districts on Beverly Road and Washington Road. They are the lifeblood of our community.  Help your neighbors and Shop Small this Saturday, November 24.

Read more: http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/official-sba-news-and-views/open-business/shop-small-saturday-november-24th-2012

The nightmares have started again UPDATED

Thanks to Kristen Linfante, the nightmares have started again. I am reliving those terrifying nights where I was not safe in my own house. Hearing the gunshots, seeing the white pick up truck with a shooter standing in the back of it aiming just feet away from me, afraid for my dog’s safety when he had to go out, remembering the encounter with the youth riding his bike through the park; it is all coming back to me.

Citizens have expressed their concerns; supporting their statements with facts. Ms. Linfante would dismiss their statements with, “That’s your opinion.” I have been alerting the commission to the dangers of deer culling since 2006. I have tried to verify the statements made in Ms. Linfante’s presentation and presented my findings only to have the minutes from the October 22, 2012 meeting show that I don’t “believe stories about a serious deer and vehicle accident in Upper St. Clair.” http://mtlebanon.org/archives/31/Minutes%2010-22-12.pdf

I have tried to document serious safety issues concerning the deer cullings in the past only to be interrupted, humiliated, and dismissed by Ms. Linfante at previous meetings. Others have shared the same experience. We have been presenting serious safety issues concerning a deer cull, yet Ms. Linfante cites unsupported “serious safety issues” to have a deer culling in the small parks and private property of Mt. Lebanon. Ms. Linfante continues to use Upper St. Clair as a prime example of a successful deer management program. She fails to consider that any USC cullings have been done in large, open areas and not in close proximity to people’s homes.

I have expressed my concerns of liability to the commission. Wildlife Services did not provide insurance. Mt. Lebanon had to assume all liabilities. Ms. Linfante asked a resident during Citizen Comments how they would feel as a commissioner, if someone was killed in a deer/vehicle accident. Would they feel a responsibility? I must ask the same questions to Ms. Linfante. Kristen, how would you feel if there were an accident due to a deer culling where you ignored our warnings?

Kristen, you reiterate your feelings about car accidents and how a deer culling will reduce the chances. Are you aware that the last two cullings did not include bucks to be culled? Are does to blame for car accidents only? How many of those deer/vehicle collisions involved residents who were texting, DUI, or were otherwise distracted? What precautions can I take when you allow shooting high powered weapons in our neighborhoods? Must I spend my nights in my basement half the year, in order to feel safe? Or am I forced to put my house on the market and take what I can get because of my close proximity to a neighborhood park?

In case you haven’t noticed, Kristen, I have not been able to attend deer management meetings. I have left during meetings when the subject of deer culling has come up. It has taken everything I have, not burst into tears at meetings when you sit and express how uncomfortable you are at the sight of a gun shell. Yet you have no problem putting others and me at risk IN OUR OWN HOMES for a deer culling. This will not be a one time event. Since you like to use Upper St. Clair as an example, let me say that they have been involved in deer management since 1997. That is fifteen years and counting. The Mt. Lebanon budget will be approved to spend $12,000 on a deer survey in 2013, with the possibility of spending another $51,000 plus expenses for 2014. Your plan will cost us $63,000 plus expenses for a minimum of fifteen years, to a tune of close to a million dollars. In addition, what are we getting for that? A false sense of safety for some, a real danger for others, and once again, Kristen, you are pitting neighbor against neighbor.

The nightmares have started again. The flashbacks are returning. My future is bleak. So what are my options, Kristen? Live in my basement or sell my house? I cannot spend another night not feeling safe in my own house. My destiny is in your hands. Thanks a lot.

Update: Here is Kristen Linfante's response, sent at 12:33 PM today.

Dear Ms. Gillen,

I will answer the questions you posed to me.

1. Surely, if someone were harmed or killed during a culling I would
feel an enormous sense of responsibility.  However, it is my job to
weigh the pros and cons of controlling deer population or not.
Statistically speaking,  the risk of being harmed or killed in a cull
is much less than the risk of being harmed or killed in a
deer/vehicular/human incident.  It is my job to try to keep our
community safe. There are never guarantees in life.  However,
statistically speaking, culling with guns is safer than culling with
cars.

2. Generally speaking, culling typically involves culling females
since they are the ones that give birth to more deer.  If one buck is
killed, that accounts for one deer. Period.  If one doe is killed, it
accounts not only for that doe, but for all future births she may have
had.  Therefore, killing does aids in reducing future populations.

3. No, does are not to blame for car accidents only.  See #2 for an
explanation about why does are targeted in culls.

4. I cannot answer your question regarding texting, DUI, etc.
However, I can assure you that since both texting and DUI are both
illegal, our police are actively enforcing those laws.  If you have
concerns about law enforcement, I suggest you contact MLPD. By the
way, a few weeks ago, one of our own police officers hit a deer in one
of our police cruisers.  I can assure you that they were not texting,
DUI, or otherwise distracted.

5. Only you can answer the question about what is going to  make you
feel safe.  If it is living in your basement, then so be it.  If it is
moving, then so be it.  Those choices and decisions are your own.  We
live in a democratic society, and we are a free society. Each
individual has his/her own comfort level in life.

6. Nobody is forcing you to put your house on the market.  Again, your
choices are your own.

7. This is a clarification.  I have never expressed discomfort in Mr.
Hoon bringing bullets to meetings.  A resident contacted us and
expressed concern, but I have not myself.  In addition, I did clarify
last week that our Chief of Police did volunteer to me that the
bullets Mr. Hoon brings, are NOT, in fact, the type of bullets used in
culls.

8. Your comment about cost is only a guess at best.  We are in
complete control of how we cull, with what firm, when, for how long in
any season, and at what cost depending on our budget.  Yes, costs
would be reoccurring.  The benefit would be a safer community with
fewer vehicular accidents, deer/human/pet  conflicts, etc.

9. You asked what your options are.  Ms. Gillen, we all have options.
Your destiny is not in my hands.  We are each responsible for our own
lives, destiny and happiness. Every human being is faced with choices
every day. I am proud and grateful to live in a country where freedom
exists.

In closing, I reiterate that I represent this entire community.  I
receive far more pleas to cull than I do about people having
nightmares and me taking over their free-will. In the end, after
weighing all information, it is my job to make choices that are best
for the community (regarding deer and a whole host of other issues).
I understand that I will not always have the support of every member
of the community.  I am ok with that. I am not trying to win praise or
friends.  I am trying to be true to my beliefs, and make the tough
choices that I have been entrusted by my community to make.

Regards,
Kristen Linfante
Commissioner, Ward 3

Municipal Salaries

While I was sitting through those soooo exciting budget meetings, I was looking through the 2013 Manager's Recommended Budget and realized that I had no idea of what kind of money these folks earn. It really isn't broken down.  So here is what I was able to find.  2011 and 2012 Municipal Salaries I do not have names listed, only by position. These figures do not include medical insurance costs, life insurance, vehicle allowances, worker's compensation, or bonuses.

Salary amounts will change in a couple of months when the new budget is passed.  The final budget hearing is scheduled for December 11, 2012, when it will be approved.