On Tuesday's Commission Agenda: Dave Brumfield will be introducing an ordinance that will be the financial ruin of Mt. Lebanon.
Introduction of Ordinance (Bill No. 7-15) amending the Charter to change the number of commissioners required to incur debt.
On January 7, 2014, the Ad Hoc Home Rule Charter Study Committee recommended various changes to the Charter.
Currently, a simple majority of the Commission is authorized to make decisions regarding expenditures, capital programs, budgets, and setting of tax rates. However, the Charter requires a super majority of the Commission to make decisions regarding debt. This ordinance would change the Charter regarding the number of commissioners required to incur debt to promote uniformity in financial decision making.
The proposed ordinance would place the issue on the November 3, 2015 general election ballot.
Recommended Action:
DB 1. Introduce Ordinance (Bill No. 7-15).
JB 2. Set the public hearing for June 9, 2015
This will be the financial ruin of Mt. Lebanon if this goes through. Our Home Rule Charter now requires four affirmative votes to incur debt. This is also referred to a "super vote." It was put in place as a checks and balances system to prevent an election year like this one where Wards 1, 3, and 5 elect their commissioners. It is not going to happen, but let's say that no incumbent wins this year. There would be three newbies in office. They would not need to rely on the advice of the Ward 2 and 4 commissioners. Wards 1, 3, and 5 hold all the cards.
Consider this. Bendel wins. He is proturf. Brumfield and Silverman are proturf. The three of them could incur debt to replace all the municipal fields with artificial turf. They could turn McNeilly into a new recreation center and our bond rating would plunge.
I have been told that this blog is toxic. I maintain that all I am doing is documenting the toxicity. This is really bad for Mt. Lebanon's future.
54 comments:
4. 53 Pa.C.S. 2901 et seq.; Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law.
The Home Rule Charter laws for PA
A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the conduct of the commission's business, and the law further requires the recommendation of the commission to be adopted by a majority of the whole number of the members of the commission. Workshop sessions, research activities and committee meetings can be conducted with less than a quorum of the full commission
Taxpayers stay oblivious, don't get involved and by all means don't show up in the voting booth.
As Mt. Lebanon contemplates an action that has a host of both intended and unintended consequences, the Reason Foundation has released the following (22 May 2015):
"A recent study by Erick Elder and Gary Wagner at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University, examines the nexus between investment returns and pension funding levels for Pennsylvania’s two largest public pension plans, Pennsylvania’s Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS). Having assets of more than $75 billion, the two plans are unfunded by as much as $100 billion under market valuation."
The study is available by clicking HERE.
...and Mr. Gideon, now armed with that information just what are you suggesting we do.
Allow the Home Rule change to eliminate the super vote needed for the municipality to incur debt or should we stand for fiscal responsibility?
This change will make it easier for commissioners to spend more money, our money. And when they spend more for their wants, our taxes will go up. The rec bond was all spent on the swimming pool. It wasn't supposed to be spent entirely on the pool. The commissioners couldn't get four votes to turf a field (remember, they didn't even know which one) so they robbed the unassigned funds, which only needed three votes, and caused our bond rating to drop.
Is this what Mt. Lebanon really wants, eliminate the super vote so we can go deeper in debt?
Elaine
EG:
Precisely! Unfortunately, our commissioners are playing a numbers game based on a house of cards. I would advise Blog readers to read the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) covering calendar year 2014, and released a short time ago. The CAFR paints a rosy picture of Mt. Lebanon - as one might expect for a government generated "self-critique" - as a kind of "Bagdad by Painter's Run," and much of what is presented is undoubtedly true. However, note the following at the bottom of page 16: "At December 31, 2014, the Municipality had $30.2 million of debt outstanding. This represents an increase of $1,805,000 or 6.4% from the previous year. The amount of outstanding direct debt per capita increased from $857 to $911." Our benighted citizens would do well to pay attention to such figures, and our elected officials and civil servants should "get back to basics" by concentrating on the essential services of local government, and not the ancillary amenities that appeal to a select few.
Thank you Mr. Gideon for the follow up, and now I understand the point more clearly in your 3:10 comment.
A few years back our commissioners floated a $2 million bond to "repave" a mile or two of municipal roads. These weren't new road construction projects.
One would think that maintenance of those roads would be covered by taxes collected. Or at least one would think you don't build stuff you won't have the means to maintain.
Such is the case with the artificial turf. In 8-10 years it will need to be replaced. Probably in the neighborhood of $700,000 to $1 million dollars.
How will they do it... why of course, with a simple majority vote, incur more debt! They'll have used up tax money they already collect on $75,000 deer maintenance that will have done nothing but keep a few select deer haters happy.
Think about it, not spendinding $75,000 over 10 years would pay for the turf replacement.
Could the push to make it easier to incur more debt be the initial move to build an indoor sports complex?
When you talk about municipal debt remember there are two properties, Twin Hills and McNeilly, commissioners bought for about $2 million. Are you enjoying them? Did they improve recreation for any MTL resident?
10:43 AM, that was one of the reasons for the pledge. The responsibility goes back to the residents and out of the hands of the government. TAXES WILL GO UP IF DEER MANAGEMENT BECOMES A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET. But those with money to burn don't care if their taxes go up. One of the arguments for PAYT is that our taxes will go down. I don't see that happening because our taxes didn't go down with the stormwater fee, did it?
This is just another nail in the coffin. But "this blog toxic."
Elaine
Have you ever seen taxes go down. Once they do away with the super vote they'll have almost unlimited ability to live on a credit card.
Not that it matters, since taxpayers can't even get off their duffs to vote.
How much that debt does the municipality currently have?
11:25 AM, have you signed the pledge? People can't even do that. All I hear is "organize, organize, organize" and a group got together for residents to take responsibility, and 24 people besides myself made the effort to push a button. For that I have had a couple of people come to my door to say how toxic the blog is, how I polarize, how I signed the deer's death certificate, just to name the printable things.
The referendum to make it easier for commissioners to fund their pet projects will go their way. People will continue to bitch and complain, doing nothing to change the way things have become.
The school district raised our taxes and nobody gives a damn.
This isn't fun anymore.
Elaine
To answer honestly, Elaine, no I haven't signed the pledge.
For me it is too narrow in its scope seemingly to deal strictly with the deer issue.
On top of that I've been involved in a number of these "group" start ups. The same people show up, they bitch and moan and finally determine somebody should do something... though they never quite determine what that something is.
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being labelled a crazy trouble maker.
See? I can't win. Everyone has an excuse. Do something. And when a group organizes, there is no support. Just keep putting in a full day's work into providing you entertainment. People have the option of not making their name public.
I am so done with this blog.
Elaine
There are approximately 32,000 people living in Mt. Lebanon.
What... are they all dependent on 24 people changing things?
Maybe most of the 32,000 people are happy with the way things are, and the 24 or so are actually the minority.
Yeah, 4:42 PM, you want to see it easier for the commissioners to spend money on your wants.
Elaine
Exactly. And the other 32,999 don't need a blog host to tell us what's right and wrong or how to vote. In fact, we managed pretty well for 100 years without this blog and we'll manage just fine for 100 more without it. Happily I might add.
5:01, for most of those 100 years MTL didn't have a propaganda magazine, artificial turf, two mortgaged plots of land, solvent pUblic pension funding and street maintenance and storm water handling were taken care of through taxes.
So put that in your pipe and smoke it.
For those of you who think the "majority" of residents in Mt. Lebanon are happy with the way things are - what is your proof? If you point to election returns then you are correct - but only for the people who went to the polls. There are currently 24,949 registered voters in Mt. Lebanon, of which 21,352 are registered as either Democrats or Republicans (a drop from last year when there were 21,990). Since this last election was a Primary, how many of those 21,352 voted? - exactly 4,299 - or one out of five.
One person voting does not represent the opinion of the other four who did not. To say that it does is not only a logic "fail," but it's embarrassing.
5:01 If Elaine's blog is so mundane and unnecessary, why are you taking the time and energy out of your holiday weekend to put it down? I know why -- because she continues to touch on salient issues for the community and you find that a threat to your special interest.
Richard, I agree with your 6:52 comment, but the big issue isn't whether those one in four are the majority.
The question should be, why aren't those four of five not voting or getting involved.
Are they content or just plain complacent?
If they're content then 5:17 is right, we don't need Elaine's blog.
If they're complacent, then I suspect things don't look good for Mt. Lebanon's future.
When will people figure out the whole "gender neutral" language referendum was just a ploy to find out if the supermajority referendum would have a chance?
Our leaders had to find out if the supermajority referendum would be a slam-dunk. They found out this: whatever referendum is put on the ballot will pass by the sheeple voters. The voters who think our government must know what is best for us, so just go with it.
Correction at 7:04.
If they're content then 5:01 is right... Not 5:17.
7:04 AM, it is all about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Any action suggested on this blog is either too big or too small. It is never just right.
For sure, you don't need any posts about the turf or about the super vote. The trolls have told me so.
You don't need any prodeer posts because Kelly's inner circle have ripped me a new one. Sandy Baker recommended that we get together as a community, but clearly, that isn't possible. Even deer resistant signage is considered too political.
Elaine
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20150519/OPINION02/150519950
"In 1975, Mt. Lebanon was one of the first communities in Pennsylvania to adopt a Home Rule Charter. Since then, there have been a number of reviews made to recommend changes. I was a member of the non-partisan Ad Hoc Home Rule Charter Study Committee working over the period2012-2013. Our committee made a number of recommendations aimed at improving governmental efficiency, increasing transparency and to bring the Charter in step with current technology and conditions. Each recommendation made by the Committee had unanimous support of the membership.
Of the recommendations made, there was none that related to changing the number of votes by Commissioners required to raise taxes. We did make a recommendation to reduce the limit on the amount that the Commission could raise property taxes without voter approval back to the levels established when the Home Rule Charter was adopted."
IF THIS LETTER WRITE IS HONEST, THEN THE QUESTION MUST BE ASKED-- WHO IS PUSHING FOR THE CHANGE ON THE NUMBER OF VOTES REQUIRED TO RAISE TAXES?
Elaine, sorry to disagree, but I think it's something bigger that a Goldilocks syndrome.
If you look at the deer cull protest there were probably more peole involved from surrounding areas than MTL residents.
I get the feeling that residents are afraid... to speak up... to get get involved. So they just tune out, grin and bear it until their kids are through school. Then the smart ones or those that can afford to, get out.
Elaine, sorry to disagree, but I think it's something bigger that a Goldilocks syndrome.
classic.
7:39 AM, I never said it was to raise taxes. sigh. It is to incur debt a.k.a. take out a bond a.k.a. borrow money a.k.a. get a loan.
If this is what Steve "don't get me started about Elaine" McLean is saying, he is mistaken or misinformed.
Elaine
I found The Almanac's Voters Guide online. Here is what is written for Steve McLean.
"Steve McLean - Commissioner Ward: 3
McLean, 52, of 285 Orchard Drive, is a practice administrator for Everett & Hurite Ophthalmic Association and has a bachelor's degree from Mount St. Mary's University.
"I believe that I have the foundation of skills to enhance the governance and management of Mt. Lebanon. I hope to: keep the Home Rule Charter intact with regards to incurring debt and raising taxes (the current commission wants to change from 4 out 5 votes to 3 out of 5 votes to raise taxes); discontinue the "Newcomers Tax" in which our township is suing it's constituents' over their real estate assessments; restore fiscal restraint and the appropriate stewardship of tax receipts to expenditures; and re-establish respectful decorum and communication between the commission and residents."
Elaine
If the commissioners vote to incur more debt more easily, that will eventually end with having to raise taxes.
It's real simple take your credit card, pile more debt on it and watch as the monthly minimum payment rises.
Another issue is that the Fed keeps threatening to raise the cost of money. While it's cheap now it won't always be that way.
Someone is pushing to make it easier for the commission to continue their spendthrift ways.
Trouble is there is no such thing as a free lunch! The public pension crisis should have shown everybody that reality.
How does McLean propose to be fiscally conservative while on the other hand I'm told he supports turf (about an $80,000 annual increase in maintenance and replacement costs) and deer maintenance (a $75,000 annual maintenance costs) that didn't exist before?
One of the mysteries of life, 12:25 PM.
I asked Steve on May 19 at Foster School about those two issues. He is happy that the toxic turf is going in.
He supports lethal methods of deer management in Mt. Lebanon. Pro turf and pro violence. I guess he doesn't need any density numbers to make his decision.
Does Steve know that Mt. Lebanon is not a township?
Signed,
"Don't get me started about Elaine"
Turf, dead deer, no Newcomers Tax, no tax hikes... and a chicken in every pot!
Republican McLean sounds just like a democrat.
It'll be nice to read how he and every other candidate intends to perform this magic show, but we'll be shocked when we discover next year it was all talk.
Steve McLean's website states:
"Supports culling [killing] and management of deer via humane methods"
So Steve, please tell us how humane killing works? What method of killing do you support that you feel is humane?
Steve, what is your definition of "humane" killing?
Since your position of "humane" killing is in opposition to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), please explain why you are right and they are wrong?
Steve, is the 50% wounding rate of bow hunting humane? Do you support bow hunting in Mt. Lebanon?
Are you concerned with families and children being traumatized seeing wounded deer die in their yards? Are you concerned about wounded deer running into the roads causing accidents?
Steve, is trap and bolt humane? After the deer are trapped in a clover trap a hired contractor collapses the trap on the deer and attempts to steady the deer while another contractor fires the bolt gun -- a 4 inch retractable steel rod -- into her skull. Since the deer are inadequately restrained and are strong and heavy, they frequently manage to move. The bolt-gun is then misfired into their eye, jaw, ear or nose. The contractor must reload the bolt gun before trying again. Death from the bolt-gun is often not immediate, adding more prolonged suffering to already terrified animals.
Steve, do you believe that blowing the brains out of a pregnant doe with an AR-15, and then suffocating any remaining live deer by putting a plastic bag over their heads to smother is humane?
Steve, please explain why you believe that turning our parks and neighborhoods into a private hunting club, and a shooting gallery is the best solution? Do you think using lethal weapons in our community is safe? Do you think shooting AR-15 semi-automatic assault weapons in our parks and neighborhoods is safe? Please elaborate?
So Steve, what is the scientific basis for your disagreement with Laura Simon, HSUS' wildlife biologist? We know that your credentials are an accountant, and practice administrator for an Ophthalmologist, but please explain to us why you think Laura Simon is wrong, and you are right. Since you are voting to allow lethal weapons into our community, we're sure you must have a scientific basis for your support of killing deer in Mt. Lebanon, and how that will resolve the deer-human conflicts.
Steve, please explain why compensatory reproduction and the University of Florida study referenced below doesn't apply to Mt. Lebanon and your logic? "The study found that the incidence of twins being born to a pregnant doe was higher on hunted land than on non hunted land. The study found the incidence of twinning was 38% on hunted sites and 14% on nonhunted sites. No twinning was observed among pregnant fawns or yearlings from nonhunted areas, whereas...18% of the pregnant yearlings and...33% of the pregnant fawns from hunted areas carried twins."
Steve, please explain to us why you disagree with Sandy Baker, gardening and deer expert, who says that the major problem in Mt. Lebanon is the smorgasbord of flowers that it plants in it's 52 public gardens, and that residents plant in their yards, which draws deer into the community to browse, and that the solution is to reduce this voluminous food attractant, i.e. implement a deer-resistant gardening strategy. This strategy can reduce the majority of deer-human conflicts, inc. car-deer collisions, and won't increase the safety threat to residents with using lethal weapons. Why do you disagree with Sandy Baker, and support the use of lethal weapons?
Steve, please respond to these questions, so that voters in Ward 3 understand why you support bringing lethal weapons into our neighborhoods and parks.
7:46 is right. Lebo is ALL about flying under the radar. when my 10 year old was being horrendously bullied at school my then 8 year old said to him "you need to learn to fly under the radar, that's what people do here." Neither my wife nor I had ever stated that before so I asked him why he said that. "Everyone says that at school dad."
In my opinion, people learn that on their own...either the easy way or the hard way like my family learned it. We were fortunate, we had the means to get ourselves out.
The interesting thing was once people knew we were on our way out we had about 20 people say how lucky we were. I was amazed when people said things like "I've been here for 30 years and have never been happy." When we reflect on our time in Lebo, we realize we met some really nice people. But we also realized that there is an insular culture of nastiness and pettiness (bordering on flat out bullying) that exists in town. I'm not sure why, but it seems deeply engrained in the culture. So newbies learn to fly under the radar to survive.
3:30 PM, Dan McNichol is also for humane killing. Isn't that an oxymoron?
Elaine
Yeah, you're right. I won't publish your comment, 4:08 PM, but thank you for providing me with Steve's website. www.mcleanforcommissioner.com
Elaine
PS I agree, 4:08 PM! ;)
Notice 3:30, that Steve McLean doesn't mention anything about fees!
Does this omission leave him and every other candidate that promises to hold the line on taxes?
I'msurprised that none of the commissioners have suggested imposing a "deer maintenance fee" or perhaps they'll call it a "safer roads fee" to pull the wool over our eyes.
Down the road we'll get a "field sign protection" fee and a "recreational users" fee since everyone doesn't get a pool pass or use the golf course.
So everyone was beating up the sitting Democrat Commissioners for their pro-kill mentality. So now we see the alternative Republican double-speak talking points in Ward 1 and 3, i.e. "humane culling"
Gee, how coincidental that they came up with the same position. Hey, we'll use "humane", people want to be humane, and we'll use the euphemism "culling", because no one likes to hear killing.
I guess "humane culling" is Mt. Lebanon's version of "compassionate conservatism".
I posted previously, that there is no difference between the Democrat and Republican Committees in Mt. Lebanon. Both parties offer the same old political hacks with few exceptions. If these candidates are going to be TRICKY DICKS before they get elected, what are they gonna to be like once elected?
BTW, that one exception is Bill Hoon (R) in Ward 5, who is not a political hack or puppet, and will opposed the use of lethal weapons in Mt. Lebanon. No disingenuous or misleading talking points.
We need to vote for the individual and not the party. That's the only way we will get change in Mt. Lebanon.
Hoon appears to be a breath of fresh air.
3:42 I agree with you. There is cruelty in Mt Lebanon and its quite significant.
Elaine ever think that the MAJORITY of people in Mt Lebanon are in favor of deer control? I know I am. So are my neighbors. But the talk today at our neighborhood cookout was mostly about the new indoor sports complex. The neighbors that have kids in lacrosse are all for it. The rest against it. Another big topic was the crime increase in our neighbor Brookline and will it spill over into Mt Lebanon. Are Mt Lebanon police wearing personal cameras? The changes to the charter will be voted on in November correct? Time to use Social Media to block it. I think if you give people in Mt Lebanon reason to vote they will. That's why our wonderful, honest School Board members had to lie through their rotten teeth to keep the High School project away from the voters! They KNEW it would have been voted down!
12:57 AM, when you say "deer control," do you mean killing deer? Because the personal pledge is made up of non-lethal methods of "deer control." You are concerned about crime in neighboring Brookline, but you are fine with violence in Mt. Lebanon. OK, I get it.
What do I need to do to give people a reason to vote, 12:57 AM? I have been blogging for four and a half years now. Have I not given people a reason to vote? At some point, "people" need to take responsibility. Yes, 12:57 AM, the changes to the Home Rule Charter will be on the ballot in November. You say it is time to use social media to block it. Would you please be more specific? Do you mean that I should, perhaps, blog about...uh...I don't know, the financial ruin of Mt. Lebanon if the super vote is eliminated? That it would only take three votes to go deeper in debt for a sports complex? It would be helpful if you could give me examples, 12:57 AM.
Elaine
AJ, I do apologize for not calling you by name. I just saw that you signed your name to your 12:57 AM comment.
Elaine
A.J., sorry to disagree, but we are seeing notably less deer in our neighborhood. The talk at our neighborhood cookout was the direct correlation between the reduction of deer and the Deer Doctor's counsel.
The Deer Doctor is another unwelcome unappreciated outsider.
The Deer Doctor was not unwelcomed or unappreciated as much as she was redundant and unnecessary. Her recommendations were already known by most of us. This isn't rocket science.
Or, to put it another way, the deer "doctor" made no startling revelations.
5:38 PM, it was much more than just talking about deer resistant plants. The Deer Doctor talked about deer behavior. I learned some cool tips which I had never heard of before.
No, it isn't rocket science, but it was necessary since some have had trouble understanding how to coexist with the deer. There are some who believe it is just easier to spend tax dollars and kill them. Bring in lethal weapons where we have almost 5500 people per square mile living here. Something as simple as a single strand of fishing line can keep deer out of your garden, but you already know that, 5:38 PM.
Elaine
Ms. Gillen: This is 5:38. I'm sorry if I came across as disrespectful. I guess what I should have said was that those who know the least about deer behavior and deer-resistant plants weren't listening to the deer doctor. I don't know about fishing lines. But I don't care if the deer camp out in my yard.
I agree with you totally that lethal weapons are very dangerous in Mt. Lebanon where there are 5500 people per square mile. I don't know why the commissioners have not come to that same conclusion.
No problem, 5:38/7:15 PM. Thank you.
Elaine
5:38, here's the sad part. The taxpayers shelled out $12,000 for a deer management plan that consisted of 16 pages of unnecessary and erroneous information, much of it cut and pasted. I say unnecessary because most of us already knew what the plan consisted of. On the flip side we paid roughly $1600 for Sandy Baker to come in for educational purposes and we learned a whole lot more for $1600 than we did for $12,000. The million dollar question is whether the commissioners will follow some of Sandy Baker's advice. The first test I believe is whether or not deer resistant plants will be used in the flower beds.
Nick M.
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