posted by Joe Polk at 6:05 PM /
At the April 26th Commission meeting, the Commission approved a new solicitor for our town by a 4-1 vote. The firm of Buchanan Ingersoll now replaces Eckert Seamans - which I think has been our solicitor for decades. They also replaced our special labor counsel at the April 12th meeting. I don't recall the Commission ever bidding these items out before. Anyone know what happened?
I also heard rumors that the Commission was taking steps to consolidate the Parking Authority - and sure enough this item appeared on the April 26th discussion agenda. I was wondering if anyone attended the meeting and could enlighten me/us about what was talked about.
I also heard rumors that the Commission was taking steps to consolidate the Parking Authority - and sure enough this item appeared on the April 26th discussion agenda. I was wondering if anyone attended the meeting and could enlighten me/us about what was talked about.
Labels: municipal solicitor, parking authority
2 Comments:
The "business as usual" model was and is being deemed obsolete and no longer appropriate for Lebo in todays world.
The Matrix study of late 2008 and reviewed in further depth in early 2009, among other things, also suggested that an internal evaluation extend beyond the original Matrix scope.
It is widely accepted practice in the private & public sectors to evaluate and consider periodic changes in both Solicitors and Auditing firms. Eckert had been Lebo's Solicitors for 50 years...perhaps the Auditing firm will come under the microscope next.
The Mt. Lebanon Parking Authority was formed in 1954 following enactment of an PA law around 1947 or so. The Commission appoint the Authority board members, who serve at the Commission's pleasure. Beyond certain obvious parking responsibilities, the Authority has been used over several decades to acquire certain properties in behalf of Lebo for future development because PA law prevents local governments from such practice known as "land banking". During the past several years (10 or so) there have been a number of operating issues and questions...financial and legal...that have caused the Commission to now reconsider the need for a separate Authority to be responsible for parking. A preliminary and very superficial internal report was prepared by staff which the Commission is now discussing and asking for further data and analysis. The Commission can legally disband the Authority and either absorb the function into the local government, outsource it to a private entity or consider something in between.
Also, read the Commissioner's Report in this month's Mt. Lebanon Magazine. Dan Miller touched on these items. I appreciate our goverment representatives taking a fresh look at "that's how we've always done it".
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