Culling expert thinks we need more culling

Deer control expert to Mt. Lebanon says culling still a possibility

Tony DeNicola will be coming back to speak with the Commission on June 22. Tony DeNicola, president of White Buffalo, Inc. is the one who told then Commissioner Linfante that the 2014 aerial survey was inaccurate and estimated that there are 400-600, and even over 600 deer in Mt. Lebanon (number varied depending on the source). I have not seen many deer for some time now. Certainly not 600 deer in 6.06 square miles, or even 400 deer.

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch, who pushed for surgical sterilization of deer, said DeNicola's numbers are estimates. One deer count, using an airplane and infrared cameras in 2013, put the population at more than 340. A count a year later showed fewer than 200.
“We have no idea how many deer there are in the municipality,” Fraasch said.

Click on the link to Mt. Lebanon that is on White Buffalo's website. You will see "Deer Doctor" Sandy Baker's photo. Her recommendations are listed on the pledge below.

For a hard copy of the pledge, click on:

Take the Pledge

Please mail completed forms to:

Elaine Gillen

P.O. Box 14873

Pittsburgh, PA 15234

New sign on Summer Place

More photos of Summer Place on the post Private street goes public UPDATED.

Apologies to The Coalition for Coexistence UPDATED

My apologies to The Coalition for Coexistence for taking so long to upload the hard copy version of the pledge. Folks have been asking me to draft something that can be circulated among neighbors. Here it is:

Take the Pledge

Please mail completed forms to:

Elaine Gillen
P.O. Box 14873
Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Wristbands arrived!

Update May 29, 2015 1:46 PM This group has a sense of humor. I just received this from the group.

The Coalition for Coexistence will be jumping over their table at First Friday as seen in this clip. http://tv.yahoo.com/video/intern-todd-jumpin-tables-david-033835195-cbs.html
                                       -The Comic Coalition for Coexistence (Bringing fun back to Mt. Lebanon.)

Throwback Thursday

Back when it was called Mt. Lebanon Community Magazine, there was an article in the October 1995 issue called "Lean and Green."

Mt. Lebanon started a program where residents would adopt a green space and keep it free from litter, debris, and weeds.

Since we lived next to Rockwood Park, it was only natural to adopt the Park. We had been doing that unofficially for ten years. My husband and I would clean up litter, pick up sticks and fallen branches, rake leaves, clean off the picnic tables, remove bird poop from the swings and slides, provide bandaids to kids with scraped knees and elbows, and before cell phones, we called the police for frantic parents whose children were injured. Any park related issues were reported to Tom Kelley and his predecessors, Mike Rudman and James Harrod. I have even used my grass edger and edged the front of the park along the street. We cooperated with MTL police to allow a police officer camp out on our porch to catch the person that kept vandalizing (setting fire) my back neighbor's car back in the late 80's.

We kept our promise these past thirty years. We also had a good working relationship with the public works directors. Three dead trees were cut down along the edge of the park with no questions asked.

Until now. There is a dead tree along the edge of Rockwood Park, in line with the other trees that were cut down and now I am being told that I have to maintain that area since it is a paper street. The paper street is part of the park. 

Rudy Sukal came to look at the tree and said that his GPS shows that since it is on the paper street, I am responsible for maintaining the area. We have been doing that for thirty years. 

I just want the tree removed so that I can replace it with bushes or trees, not sure which, but they would definitely be deer resistant. I am not asking for the tree to be replaced. I would take care of that part.

Here is the tree. Rudy doesn't want to start a precedence, even though this will be the fourth tree that died in a row. The three others were removed by Mt. Lebanon. I guess this goes along with what Kelly Fraasch told me. There are consequences to my actions. Exposing the crap in this town has cost me. Retaliation is alive and well in our lovely community known as Mt. Lebanon. This is just one of several consequences that I am facing. 

This is why people don't go to commission meetings and are afraid to sign peaceful pledges. Payback is a bitch.

State Sen. Matt Smith resigning to become chamber president

State Sen. Matt Smith resigning to become chamber president

State Sen. Matt Smith is leaving office this week to take a position at the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, State Sen. Jay Costa announced Wednesday. 

Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, will become the president at the chamber, which is the advocacy arm of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, according to Costa' announcement congratulating him on the appointment. 

“I would like to thank my constituents for entrusting me to be their advocate in the district and at the state level, and want them to know that even as I leave public office I will continue to work to make our region stronger and prepare our workforce to compete in the 21st century economy,” Smith said in a statement. 

Smith's resignation will take effect by the end of June. No decision has been made on plans to fill his seat.

Read more: State Sen. Matt Smith resigning to become chamber president

Highlights from the commission meeting

I didn't go to the commission meeting last night, so I am relying on Matt Santoni's Twitter feed and callers who attended part of the meeting.

1. Matthew Santoni ‏@msantoni  12h12 hours ago

   #MtLebo sets June 9 hearing for shorter public notice for debt, removing 4-vote supermajority for borrowing. Would get Nov. referendum.

   12 hours ago
2. 
   
3. Matthew Santoni ‏@msantoni  12h12 hours ago
   .@MtLebanonPolice Deputy Chief Aaron Lauth is promoted to McDonough's position, unanimously confirmed by commission.

I hope the super vote issue is a dead issue. I will be watching out for that one when the video is posted this afternoon.

Congrats to Aaron Lauth, who will be our new chief of police! Dan Miller and Matt Smith honored Coleman McDonough, retiring police chief.

PAYT is being recycled again. All the comments were about PAYT. Only one spoke against it. The pro PAYT folks will be counting on Chief Lauth and his force for becoming the trash patrol, moving up from corn police.

The one anti PAYT resident had concerns about all the apartment buildings in the area. Many have seen that TV sitting on Kenmont for weeks. Kelly Fraasch, the remaining commissioner who is for PAYT, assured everyone that she lives near apartment buildings where leaving furniture and other large items has never been a problem.

As one pro PAYT resident assured the anti PAYT resident, the police don't have anything else to do. Definitely. There are no drug issues or speeders to deal with in Mt. Lebanon. 

Where were all the PAYT people when the commission approved toxic turf at Middle and Wildcat Fields?

Mt. Lebanon Flower Bed Installation Project UPDATED

The Mt. Lebanon Flower Bed Installation Project was not advertised but Gateway sent out bid requests to seven firms and five firms responded. Attached is a copy of the bid tabulation form and the purchase order.

Fourteen flower beds are being planted by Littles Landscaping out of McDonald, PA for the amount of $36,895.88. Gateway's fees were not included in the cost of this project. I am hoping that deer resistant plants were used this year, another recommendation made by Sandy Baker. The biggest deer salad bars, she noted, were planted by the municipality. Deer would cross roads to get to these gardens contributing to deer/vehicular accidents.

Update May 27, 2015 4:20 PM The bid tabulation form was difficult to read. This copy is easier to read.

Ball Field Signs on Cedar Blvd.

Through a Right To Know, four vendors have purchased signs for the ball fields on Cedar so far. They are:

• Giant Eagle
• Saloon of Mt. Lebanon
• Oxford Landscaping
• Concordia of the South Hills

The receipts are available here.

Just documenting "toxic"

They're baaack UPDATED

Sure hope we get a warranty on the concrete work:

                Middle field about 20 feet up from the backstop on the right side.

Update May 29, 2015 8:31 AM Gateway's May 7, 2015 Project Status Report

The financial ruin of Mt. Lebanon

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.

Private street goes public UPDATED

From the Tuesday Commission meeting agenda:

Consideration of a petition by residents of Rosbury Place to improve their private street and change the status to be a public street. 

On November 24, 2014, the Commission approved a Private Street Policy. The residents initiated the process by submitting a petition and deposit to pay for engineering costs. The Commission then directed staff to prepare an initial review sufficient to obtain a preliminary cost estimate. The Engineer has prepared preliminary plans and cost estimates, and the Municipal Manager has recommended the maximum level of financial contributions by the Municipality.  

Recommended Action: Move to (1) approve the recommendation that the street will qualify as a significant level of public use for a 75% municipal contribution for improvements to the physical cartway of the street, (2) direct the Solicitor and Engineer to prepare formal right-of-way and waiver documents and bid specifications, (3) ask that the property owners abutting the street formally indicate their willingness to pay the contribution, complete the appropriate waivers, convey the right-of-way and other legal acknowledgments contained in the private street policy.

Will residents waiting to have street improvements be bumped behind Rosbury Place? Will Rosbury Place now be at the top of the list? These are questions being asked by Mt. Lebanon residents.

Update May 25, 2015 6:45 PM Photos added

Rosbury Place - no signs

Summer Place

Summer Place

Summer Place

Summer Place

Summer Place

Special School Board meeting UPDATED

From the Mt. Lebanon School District's website:

 School Board to Hold Special Meeting to Approve Bids for JMS Vestibule Project 

The Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors will hold a Special Meeting to approve the bid for the Jefferson Middle School Captured Vestibule project on Friday, May 29, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. in the Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theatre.

Update May 29, 2015 8:03 PM Podcast of meeting is available here.

Sign at Wildcat - "The Rest of the Story"

Here is "The Rest of the Story" on signs at Wildcat.

Hi, Elaine. Thank you for your interest in a sign for the ball fields. Are you advertising a business, or what type of sign did you have in mind?

The policy describes the process to obtain a sign, including the type of digital files that are acceptable. You would need to work with a sign company/printer to produce your sign. The printer would need to provide a proof of the proposed sign to me for approval prior to making the sign. I would be your sales representative. I would extend the term of the sign rather than prorating the fee. Repair or replacement of vandalized signs is the responsibility of the sign owner.

I've attached the policy/application form for your convenience. Let me know if you have additional questions.

David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org 

sign sponsorship program approved 021015

Mt. Lebanon, take the pledge

I am not a fan of petitions. See my post, Coalition for Coexistence. They only work if they support the elected officials' agendas.

The Coalition for Coexistence asked me to put together an online petition, as well as a downloadable hard copy on Lebo Citizens. I declined. After some discussions, the Coalition asked me to circulate a personal pledge instead. I accepted and posted it online. Pay no attention to the word "petition." I couldn't find a way to publish this pledge any other way. Please take a moment to read the pledge. If you wish to sign it, please click on the red button below.

I am a Mt. Lebanon resident who believes that the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Government, including its Commissioners, ("Municipal Government") should not be governing its residents through bloodshed. Further, I am opposed to violence, including the unnecessary and purposeful killing and wounding of deer within Mt. Lebanon. Regardless of its position on violence, I urge the Municipal Government to conclude that the high density of Mt. Lebanon's population prohibits it from initiating or supporting all efforts and/or programs, the purpose of which is the unnecessary killing of deer. I advocate a progressive and comprehensive non-lethal plan of action. For that reason, I pledge to:

• Observe all deer crossing signs.

• Take responsibility of my garden by planting deer resistant plants and using nonlethal methods of protecting my garden.

• Trim all bushes, shrubs, and trees to improve sight lines and create better visibility for both drivers and deer.

• Stop feeding deer directly or indirectly by way of bird feeders.

• Drive defensively at active times such as dawn, dusk, and during the Fall rut (mating season).

• Contact our Commission either by email (commission@mtlebanon.org) or during Citizen Comments and urge them to manage deer via nonlethal methods in our densely populated community.

• Pass along this peaceful message to my neighbors and friends in Mt. Lebanon.

By signing this personal pledge, I vow to coexist with nature in a friendly, cost effective, community wide and collaborative effort.

To spread the word, there will be a limited supply of these VERY classy wristbands available around May 28.

If you are interested in making a fashion statement, please let me know and I'll make sure you get one. I believe there will be a table at First Friday. If you signed the pledge, give your name at the table and a volunteer will be glad to give you a wristband.  For. Free.  

There are plans for yard signs in the not too distant future.

Thanks for your support.

It's Dave's Day

Tonight marks the end of an era. "Late Show with David Letterman" will air its final broadcast tonight. Yes, David Letterman's 33 years in late night television broke Johnny Carson's record by three years.

I have been looking at clips on YouTube. (Thank goodness for YouTube!) I thought about posting my favorites but there are just too many to post. I thought it might be kind of fun for Lebo Citizen readers to share a link to their favorite.

Someone sent me a Top 10 Mt. Lebanon version, and gave me permission to share on the blog.

TOP TEN THINGS THAT MT. LEBANON COMMISSIONERS

DO NOT WANT TO HEAR DURING CITIZEN COMMENTS

10.   “Are you serving any tasty sides with that main dish of bull crap?”

  9.    “I feel like I am sitting on a bar stool at The Saloon.”

  8.    "US Consumer Products Safety Commission no longer stands behind the safety of artificial turf with rubber tire crumb."

  7.    “And, then I saw a huge buck taking a big poop right there on the artificial turf. Talk about scary.”

  6.    “How Dare You?”

  5.    “The cops aren't paid to protect corn.”

  4.    “My pants are too tight to sit through this. It must be my crumb rubber.”

  3.    “Are you saying we elected you jerks?”

  2.     “A study conducted by Cornell University reported………..”

  1.     “Good Evening. My name is Elaine Gillen.”

School Board Unanimously Approves Teacher Contract

School Board Unanimously Approves Teacher Contract 
May 18, 2015

The Mt. Lebanon School Board unanimously approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Mt. Lebanon Education Association at the May 18, 2015 School Board meeting. This is a three year extension of the current contract covering July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. In his remarks, School Board President Lawrence Lebowitz stated, "I am very pleased that we have a new three-year extension of our Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLEA. This new Agreement is a "win-win-win" for the District, for the teachers and, most importantly, for our children. This is truly the essence of bargaining and reflective of the excellent working relationship which the District and the School Board has had and is proud to have with our teachers."

The highlights of the Agreement are as follows:

• This is a three-year agreement.

• The is a reduction of workdays from 197.5 to 195 but student days remains the same. There is no loss of student/teacher contact time.

• The reduction of workdays represents eight flex hours, one classroom management day and a four-hour evening activity each year through the term of the contract.

• The tentative Agreement adds no new money to the salary schedule utilized under the previous Agreement other than a small increase for the top step. The only additional funds are for those people on the top step, at the top of the salary scale, amounting to $400 in the first year, $700 in the second year and $900 in the third year, respectively.

• The overall increase for the entire term of the Agreement is 3.38%.

• There is an increase in health care contributions from the teachers including an increase in "caps," i.e., the maximum amount a teacher would be required to pay on a monthly basis.

• Based on an increase in salary for those at the top of the scale and the decrease in employer health care cost, the net increase to the District for the contract term is 3.17%.

• There will also be no increase in any other economic terms including EDR (Extra Duty Remuneration) rates as well as payments to teachers for additional work, e.g., lunch duty, playground, summer workshops, etc.

• There will be no loss of professional development time for teachers.

Update May 23, 2015 1:37 PM The Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Mt. Lebanon School District and the Mt. Lebanon Education Association effective July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018 

School Board Approves 2015-2016 Budget

School Board Approves 2015-2016 Budget 
May 19, 2015

At the Monday, May 18, 2015 School Board Meeting, the Board unanimously approved the Final Budget that includes a .40 mill increase with an operating budget of $91,643,749 at a millage rate of 23.55 mills. The Final Budget reflects a decrease from the .42 mill increase in the budget presented at the April 13, 2015 School Board meeting. The decrease in millage is the result of updated revenue and expenditure projections. This budget also requires the use of $750,000 of the fund balance and a reduction of approximately $500,000 in expenditures, including the reduction of three support staff positions. Additionally, the school district will not fill one support staff position and one teaching position due to retirements.

The 2015-2016 budget reflects a millage rate that is under the Act 1 Index limit of a .44 mill increase which is allowable according to inflationary guidelines. The cost of the millage increase to a homeowner is $40 a year more in taxes on a home assessed at $100,000.

Coalition for Coexistence UPDATED

In an earlier comment, I stated that I was going to post another petition, against my better judgment. I am not big on petitions, considering many of us were trudging through "goat paths" during Snowmageddon 2010. We collected almost 4000 signatures and were ignored. The prokill women have a 1400 signature advantage, even though some supporters had no idea what they were signing. We can collect 1401 signatures and the commissioners may decide to ignore our petition, as local officials have done in the past. The prokill women can collect ten more signatures and then say that they represent the majority of Mt. Lebanon. I'm not playing their game.

There is a grass-roots movement in the works. The group is called "Coalition for Coexistence." The Coalition represents Mt. Lebanon residents who believe that the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Government, including its Commissioners, (“Municipal Government”) should not be governing its residents through bloodshed.  Further, the Coalition is opposed to violence, including the unnecessary and purposeful killing and wounding of deer within Mt. Lebanon. Regardless of its position on violence, the Coalition urges the Municipal Government to conclude that the high density of Mt. Lebanon’s population prohibits it from initiating or supporting all efforts and/or programs, the purpose of which is the unnecessary killing of deer.

The Coalition for Coexistence advocates a progressive and comprehensive non-lethal plan of action. I understand that this group will be attending First Fridays. More to come. I promise.

Update May 20, 2015 5:21 PM Someone wants that taco!

Even with the moratorium, the PG keeps score

The PG reported in Mt. Lebanon plans June discussion on deer management

At Monday’s meeting, four residents addressed the topic during public comments, with three supporting lethal measures and one opposed.

Watching Tuesday's meeting, I also noticed that three residents talked about killing deer, even though John Bendel asked us "for the good of the community, we must try to reset the dialogue" while Susan Morgans referred to it as a "cooling off period." The one resident who spoke in opposition had not signed up to speak during Citizen Comments. Before the meeting had started, Susan Morgans saw that Barbara Sollenberger had not signed up and urged her to sign the sheet. Barbara declined. It wasn't until after she heard the three residents supporting lethal measures did Barbara decide to bring up her analysis of population density of Mt. Lebanon's contiguous communities and inquire about the status of the sterilization application. Her population density statistics, based on the 2010 Census, should be printed on T-shirts!

Again, Mt. Lebanon has 5468 people/sq. mile.

The killing fields:
Upper St. Clair has 1958.5 people/sq. mile.
Bethel has 2768.7 people/sq. mile.

Communities opposed to lethal methods:
Castle Shannon 5207.3 people/sq. mile.
Dormont 11,306.6 people/sq. mile.
Baldwin Township 3984 people/sq. mile.
Scott Township has 4277.4 people/sq. mile.

Just an FYI Fox Chapel has 690 people/sq. mile and they kill deer. Barbara said you could shoot charging rhinos in Fox Chapel because their density is so low.
If Peters is killing deer, their density comes out to 1077.3 people/sq. mile.

I hope the commissioners seriously consider density when they have their deer management discussion session on June 22. Hastings-on-Hudson, NY Mayor Peter Swiderski was quoted as saying, "You can’t walk around on quarter-acre zoning with a crossbow.” An FYI, a quarter acre property is 10,912.5 square feet. My lot is 5500 square feet.

Political statement or vandalism?

Forgotten

Deer Resistant Plantings + Educational Signs = Too Political

I think the Commission has officially lost it. From a previous comment submitted:

The commission has declined Kelly's proposal to do deer resistant plantings accompanied by educational signage in front of the municipal building as "too political". Yes, you heard that right. What is wrong with this town???

I was nowhere close to the Municipal Building last night, so I will have to wait for the meeting video to be uploaded later on today.

More to come.

School taxes increasing .40 mills

PDE-2028 - FINAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET
Fiscal Year 07/01/2015 - 06/30/2016

At the May 11, 2015 School Board Discussion Meeting, the Board discussed the Proposed Final Budget that includes a .40 mill increase with an operating budget of $91,643,749 at a millage rate of 23.55 mills. The Proposed Final Budget reflects a decrease from the .42 mill increase in the budget presented at the April 13, 2015 School Board meeting. The decrease in millage is the result of updated revenue and expenditure projections. This budget also requires the use of $750,000 of the fund balance and a reduction of approximately $500,000 in expenditures, including the reduction of three support staff positions. Additionally, the school district will not fill one support staff position and one teaching position due to retirements.

The 2015-2016 budget reflects a millage rate that is under the Act 1 Index limit of a .44 mill increase which is allowable according to inflationary guidelines.

The 2015-2016 budget reflects a millage rate that is under the Act 1 Index limit of a .44 mill increase which is allowable according to inflationary guidelines. The cost of the millage increase to a homeowner is $40 a year on a home assessed at $100,000. The vote on the Final Budget will take place at the May 18, 2015 Regular School Board meeting.

Meet the Candidates

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, registered Republicans and Democrats will have the opportunity to choose up to five School Board Directors. Additionally, those voters in Wards 1, 3, and 5 will be voting for their candidates to serve as Mt. Lebanon commissioners. Four years ago, Mt. Lebanon voters had more options, with several candidates running for the same seat. The League of Women Voters held a Candidates Forum, prior to the May Primary in 2011, which gave voters an opportunity  to learn more about those running for office. For this Primary, registered R's and D's must rely on social media.

The race for School Board Directors includes six candidates for five seats. Those running for School Board have the opportunity to cross file.

Running on both tickets are:

Incumbent Elaine Cappucci
Incumbent Larry Lebowitz
Incumbent Bill Cooper
Hugh Beal
Sarah Olbrich
http://www.leboed.com/

Running on the Republican ticket only:

Matt Kluck
No website for Matt Kluck

For the Commission:

In Ward 1,

Incumbent John Bendel (D)
http://www.votebendel.com/

Dan McNichol (R)
http://votemcnichol.com/

In Ward 3,

Andy Reinhart (D)
http://www.andyreinhart.com/

Steve McLean (R)
No website for Steve McLean

In Ward 5,

Kelly Fraasch (D)
http://www.kellyfraasch.com/

William Hoon (R)
No website for William Hoon

If voters are dissatisfied with the actions of our School Board, this Primary gives registered R's and D's a chance to vote out one incumbent. The General Election in November will give all registered voters an opportunity for change in leadership (the majority) within our Municipality.

Final Budget, Change Orders, MLEA Contract Extension Discussion Tomorrow UPDATED

The Agenda for the May 11, 2015 School Board meeting includes:

Approval of 2015-2016 Budget – The final budget for the 2015-2016 School year will be discussed with the Board. Final approval will be at the May 17, 2015 meeting.

Change orders for May 2015:

Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – The change orders for this month total $97,020 from the contingency and $6,620 from insurance claims as follows:  

a. GC-113-279 to Nello for $93,720 for masonry, steel, elevator issues, ceiling and duct work, walls, concrete and curbs,
b. FP-07-280 to Simplex for $3,300 for sprinklers, and
c. IN-13-15 to Nello for $6,620 for weather damage repairs.
The superintendent recommends approval of these change orders

MLEA Contract Extension – The Board will discuss a proposed 3-year collective bargaining agreement with the Mt. Lebanon Education Association.

Update May 12, 2015 6:15 PM
Mt. Lebanon school board announces pact with teachers

The extension calls for salary increases to remain the same as in the current contract, with the exception of teachers at the top seniority step. 

In addition to the already-negotiated increase, teachers will receive an extra $400 the first year, $700 the second year and $900 the third year. 

The extension also calls for increased contributions for health care. Taking those into account, the net additional cost to the district is 3.179 percent, said Lawrence Lebowitz, school board president.  

While the extension reduces the annual number of work days for teachers, from 197.5 to 195, the number of days with students does not change, he said.

Mt. Lebanon SB plans Monday vote on new teacher contract

With most of the language identical to the five-year agreement expiring June 30, the new contract with the Mt. Lebanon Education Association would not include any increases in salaries along the 16 and a half “steps” each teacher follows up the pay scale as he or she gains seniority, except for an increase at the top level of $400 the first year of the contract, $700 the second year and $900 the third year, said Board President Larry Lebowitz.

Mt. Lebanon school board to OK budget, teacher contract

The Mt. Lebanon school board indicated at its May 11 discussion meeting that the board will likely approve a $91 million 2015-16 budget with a .40 millage increase, or $40 more in taxes for a property valued at $100,000. The board also indicated it would approve a new three-year teachers contract at its May 18 voting meeting.

Toxic turf project to resume by May 26 UPDATED

 The PIO puts a different spin on it:

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. 

Wildcat/Middle fields improvement project to resume by May 26, if weather cooperates. Read report at: http://mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=2199

The May 7, 2015 Project Status Report is available here.

Baseball has requested substantial completion by July 4, 2015. A start date of May 26, 2015 will allow this date to be met according to the contractor “if all goes well”, meaning weather

Fake Lebo is wondering, "Is it me or did the municipality hire the construction company from Hotel Tyvek to work on Wildcat and Middle fields?"

In other news, Canon-McMillan is redoing their turf field at a cost of over $1 million. Temporary fix to Big Mac Stadium turf considered a failure

A couple of updates:

CPSC no longer stands by safety of artificial turf

There are two new field signs at Dixon Field. The Saloon and Oxford Landscaping have wrinkled plastic signs on the outfield fence next to the Concordia sign. They're more of vinyl banners than signs.

Update May 9, 2015 7:10 AM Through a Right To Know, invoices for work performed at Wildcat Field.

May 9, 2015

Update May 9, 2015 10:04 AM A Lebo Citizens reader saw this article on Huffington Post this morning. Toxic Turf? Movement Grows Against Synthetic Turf

Mt. Lebanon 16 yr. Old Male FOUND!

MLPD is attempting to locate a missing 16 yr old from Mt. Lebanon... is described as 6' tall, 170lbs, and was last seen wearing a black shirt & black jogging pants. He left his residence on Academy Ave at approx. 7:30pm on May 4th. Call 9-1-1 with any information related to his whereabouts.

UPDATE: The young man was found safe in Wilkinsburg.

In honor of Star Wars Day, May the Force Be With You UPDATED

Today is May the 4th. Get it? Star Wars fans know that "May the Force Be With You" is said to mean good luck or to protect someone from danger. The Force can enhance natural physical and mental abilities, including strength and accuracy, according to the Star Wars movies.  (Urban Dictionary)

With that said, I had filed a Right To Know of all the emails to and from the pro-kill women in 2014 and 2015. My request yielded 325 pages for a total amount of $81.25, which I picked up this morning from Steve Feller's office. As I have done with other large Right To Knows in the past, I will be sharing this RTK as I go through it.

In Behavior Lesson by the Mary Larsen Party of Six, Mrs. Larson and "five other Mt. Lebanon residents" wanted to comment on the behavior of some of the people, especially those opposed to the deer culling as proposed. Below are emails, as I go through the RTK, from the Dark Side. May the Force Be With You, Mt. Lebanon. 

Barbara Logan helped circulate John Bendel's nomination petition. No political favors there.

Marilyn Narey was working with Kristen Linfante and Susan Morgans to post documentation of their group's "civic action" timeline to the municipal website. Morgans is ticked off at the perception of lack of transparency.

Marilyn Narey on her friend Carrie Steel/Carrie Doe. She coaches John Bendel on how to handle the "protest group" and grandstanding commissioners. Read what she says about permitting TV cameras at meetings.

Comments about a particular anti-cull blogger, obviously graduates of the Mary Larsen School of Behavior.

Negative comments on the Deer Proofing Seminar. Read about the waste of taxpayer money, deer feces, and complaints about a commissioner.

As with all large Right To Knows, this is a work in progress. More will be posted.

No to public surveys

The pro-kill movement is politically driven. Tony DiNicola is doing a little back-stabbing too.

Criticism of an anti-deer cull person questioning the deer meat not going to food banks. We know that the deer meat was donated to a cyberspace Christian ministry in N. Huntingdon this time.

Barbara Logan on proper dress for commission meetings, sterilization, Ward 1's stance on sharp shooting vs. Ward 4's stance, late starting times, former Pittsburgh Steeler, judges and former commissioners sharing her views on killing deer, neighbors hiring sharpshooters, Twin Hills, a commissioner taking the podium in a self-serving manner, scolding her commissioner for being against sharp shooting, Dan Miller wasting time with citations, junior commissioners wasting time at meetings, banning flower pots and signs at commission meetings, a commissioner spouting nonsense about sterilization and lots about deer feces. Valedictorian of the Mary Larsen School of Behavior.

LEBODEER is always respectful, civil, courteous, and fact-based.

Miscellaneous letters to the Commission with more examples of LEBODEER running the commissioners.

Kristen Linfante had quite a working relationship with members of LEBODEER. She invited them to concerts, would forward commission emails to them, coordinated the pro-kill petition, and more emails about the crazies, the insane, nasty (and clearly not well-wrapped) people, Elaine Gillen and her cronies and how Kristen has been attacked all these years.

Update May 6, 2015 3:59 PM 

The origin of the deer incident report. Report sightings of deer and the incidents increase. Counts mean nothing to the Game Commission. God help us all if Kelly pushes for another aerial survey. All fact-based.

Kristen Linfante talks about bullets. All fact-based. Marilyn Narey suggests bringing in the most expert in the case of the safety of deer culling, our police chief.

Survey says... Barbara Logan's survey shows that more than 90% of the residents favor sharp shooters. All fact-based.

Marilyn Narey wanted the chronology of her group posted on the municipal website to dispel the current belief that the commissioners are doing this behind closed doors with the elitist gardeners. By the way, here is my cell phone number, John.

LeboDeer Press Release on March 10, 2015 "Both the municipality and the PGC are working to make sure that the cull is being conducted properly."

LeboDeer feel unsafe in their homes and at meetings. (Yes, they can remain calm at these meetings because they are heartless. They are getting their way. We, on the other hand, are afraid of weapons being discharged in our densely populated neighborhoods and/or upset that animals are being killed for these cold-blooded people. We cannot be emotionless like LeboDeer folks.)

Not only was Kristen Linfante forwarding all commission emails to the LeboDeer people, Steve Silverman would give documents, bypassing the Right To Know process. That's just lovely. Prodeer people, we never had a chance.

Update May 9, 2015 9:39 AM Someone sent me this photo of a deer standing by a Kelly Fraasch sign.

School districts wait for reimbursements for renovation projects

School districts wait for reimbursements for renovation projects

Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed 2016 budget would reinstate a moratorium his predecessor imposed on applications for reimbursement and leave the funding level at about $306.2 million for projects in the system. Lawmakers had allowed the moratorium to expire in September and increased the budget for payouts under the 11-step approval process for the “PlanCon” program.

We have reached PlanCon Part H in the high school renovation project. What does that mean for Mt. Lebanon? Presently, the State owes the District $2.4 million. That number will increase to $3.1 million if the State doesn't reimburse the District by the end of the fiscal year. Lebo Citizen readers, when is the end of the fiscal year? June?