posted by Tom Moertel at 3:43 PM /
Updated 2010-08-28 15:57: linked to the P-G’s coverage of the protest.
Updated 2010-08-28 16:04: linked to moderator Anthony Moretti’s post on the meeting.
Updated 2010-08-28 16:34: linked to LeboCitizen.com’s audio recording.
Protesters gather outside of the municipal building
Panel members (left to right) James Fraasch, Matt Kluck, Eleanor Carpenter, and Frank Gamrat. (Moderator Anthony Moretti not shown.)
From 9:30 to 11:00 AM on Saturday, 28 August, 2010, a group of about 80 people filled the Mt. Lebanon municipal chambers for an invitation-only meeting styled after a town hall. The topic: the Mt. Lebanon economy and taxes.
Protesters were gathered outside, apparently under the impression that the meeting was some ploy to stop the high-school project. (The project was mentioned only briefly during the meeting and, even then, was described as mostly a done deal.)
Inside, a panel of four was presented to the community as having insight into different aspects of Mt. Lebanon’s economy. The panel members were James Fraasch (school-board director), Matt Kluck (municipal commissioner), Eleanor Carpenter (real-estate agent), and Frank Gamrat (economist and senior research associate for the Allegheny Institue). All panel members said they were offering their opinions and not acting in any official capacity. Anthony Moretti moderated the discussion, presenting questions from the audience and keeping the conversation moving.
The meeting was recorded and, I understand, will be viewable online early next week. (You can listen to it right now, thanks to the audio recording at LeboCitizens.com.)
If you want to know what happened at the meeting – or what all the fuss was about – I encourage you to watch the recording. My guess is that you will find it both informative and uncontroversial.
In any case, Matt Kluck, who expressed surprise at the large turnout, said he wants to hold at least one more of the town halls. Next time, he said, it would be in a venue large enough to hold everybody who wants to attend.
Read more:
Updated 2010-08-28 16:04: linked to moderator Anthony Moretti’s post on the meeting.
Updated 2010-08-28 16:34: linked to LeboCitizen.com’s audio recording.
Protesters gather outside of the municipal building
Panel members (left to right) James Fraasch, Matt Kluck, Eleanor Carpenter, and Frank Gamrat. (Moderator Anthony Moretti not shown.)
From 9:30 to 11:00 AM on Saturday, 28 August, 2010, a group of about 80 people filled the Mt. Lebanon municipal chambers for an invitation-only meeting styled after a town hall. The topic: the Mt. Lebanon economy and taxes.
Protesters were gathered outside, apparently under the impression that the meeting was some ploy to stop the high-school project. (The project was mentioned only briefly during the meeting and, even then, was described as mostly a done deal.)
Inside, a panel of four was presented to the community as having insight into different aspects of Mt. Lebanon’s economy. The panel members were James Fraasch (school-board director), Matt Kluck (municipal commissioner), Eleanor Carpenter (real-estate agent), and Frank Gamrat (economist and senior research associate for the Allegheny Institue). All panel members said they were offering their opinions and not acting in any official capacity. Anthony Moretti moderated the discussion, presenting questions from the audience and keeping the conversation moving.
The meeting was recorded and, I understand, will be viewable online early next week. (You can listen to it right now, thanks to the audio recording at LeboCitizens.com.)
If you want to know what happened at the meeting – or what all the fuss was about – I encourage you to watch the recording. My guess is that you will find it both informative and uncontroversial.
In any case, Matt Kluck, who expressed surprise at the large turnout, said he wants to hold at least one more of the town halls. Next time, he said, it would be in a venue large enough to hold everybody who wants to attend.
Read more:
- Mt. Lebanon residents protest commissioner's meeting (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- Open or closed? (Anthony Moretti’s blog)
Labels: economy, matt kluck, protest, taxes, town hall meeting
3 Comments:
The podcast from today's Town Hall Meeting is available on Podcast along with a handout from one of the panelists.
Elaine Gillen
Elaine,
Thank you for making the audio available to everyone.
John Kendrick- I have help from my friends. I haven't gotten their permission to mention their names here, but I am sure everyone knows who I am talking about. They go to every meeting. I would never be able to do this without their help. I was unable to attend yesterday's meeting. I listened to the podcast and I would like to get some things off my chest. To all the protesters out there: Shame on you!!!! Shame on you for bringing your children!!! Shame on you for your behavior!!! How many town hall meetings have you attended? How many town hall meetings have there been where you can hear a recording of the meeting with a video to follow? How many town hall meetings provide links to the handouts? You bring nothing to the table but disruption at school board meetings. You accuse us of being fear mongerers. A police officer had to be hired for this event and a lane closed on Washington Road because of you. How dare you!! I am so sick and tired of your behavior. I knew you would show your true colors at this event. I wish I got a buck for every time someone says to me, "I wish they would move back to where they came from." It would help to pay my taxes!! It isn't just about the high school renovation. Mt. Lebanon is at a tipping point. We are in a real mess. Maybe you should put your signs down and start thinking about constructive ways to get us back on our feet. We ARE living in a highly taxed community and all you can think of is to attack those of us who are trying to do what is best for the community. It isn't just about tuba elevators, turf, or million dollar bridges.
Elaine Gillen
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