Yes, Mr. Life Liberty. (I'll bet you own a dapper red, white, and blue tie of the American Flag, proud Jeffersonian that you are!) Yes, I also am truly amazed at the changes. One only needs to read the paper to see all of the changes - see link below.

Professional and respectful behavior is practiced only on those who agree with the current council majority, and if one expresses another view or looks sideways, one is called a clown and told to leave council chambers. Current council refuses to speak to the press when asked for explanations for their decisions. So much for free speech in Jefferson-ian Hills. If the new council is so much more professional than the "formal" council, when will the public be informed what Mr. Weber got as a result of the settlement of his lawsuit against the borough on whose council he sits? And when will the public be made aware of the details of all of the lawsuits being filed by the builders and developers that we are hearing about?

This council is so "business-minded" that they lifted the cap on legal fees and brought in a solicitor-out of the Sunshine(McKeesport Daily News 1/8/08)- at $40/hour more than the "formal??" solicitor because, in the words of our council president, "(t)oo much undue pressure is put on the solicitor to control fees"(McKeesport Daily News 1/25/08). And we would not want to control legal fees, now would we? I am also amazed at their sound "business-minded" judgment in "voluntarily" ousting a business manager without cause at a $25,000 cost(+ benefits & unemployment).

Click here for a montage of newspaper articles covering 4 long & painful months under the new regime - articles that document council's "professionalism," "respectfulness," & sound business (non)sense.

http://www.yoursouthhills.com/blog-entry/jefferson-hills-council-preside...

I am also amazed at the “changes” which have taken place since this new council began. If you define council working well together as being in agreement to advance their own agendas then by all means this current council fits the bill. According to President King, in his quote from the South Hills Record dated May 1, 2008, referencing his decision to rehire Mr. Arndt, “ I think he will share a vision that this council wants for the borough for years to come.” I was under the impression that elected officials represent the people and it should be the constituents' vision which Master King seeks. I remain disappointed and skeptical of this council majority who continuously governs in the shadows of deceit and deception. If you truly believe that this council is capable of “running the borough in a "business-minded manner,” how do you account for their first action as a majority block, which was to replace the borough's legal counsel with a duo who charges more per hour and who appears to lack the discipline to question councils chaotic actions. Having attended council meetings with Mr. Arndt during his previous tenure as Borough Manager, his response to direct questions concerning borough business lacked detail as well as adequate follow up. How unfortunate that Mr. Shepherd, whose competent experience and professionalism when representing the borough of Jefferson Hills, posed a threat to this narrow-minded council.
You state that this council is “reaching out to its own citizens like never before.” Perhaps you have not adequately been following current events in the borough. This proposed “reaching out” has resulted in the abrupt removal of long-term members and competent residents who have voluntarily served on numerous Boards and Commissions, being replaced with, politicos, “running mates,” and unsuccessful candidates.
It is quite unnerving for this majority council to dictate their “vision,” which will affect Jefferson Hills Borough for years to come. I can only hope that their deeds and hapless actions do not cause permanent harm to our community.
And to clear the record, I have never benefitted from the “ former council’s favoritism.”

http://www.yoursouthhills.com/blog-entry/jefferson-hills-council-preside...

Now Councilman Jay Weber is as lucky as can be,
Sues the JH Boro over his home property,
Runs for council, uses mail anonymously,
Out goes Doc and Brian and our neighbor Denny.

If council is doing such a great job, despite a couple dozen complaints from a multitude of citizens that have blogged a freaking book about these issues, then explain to me why council is putting $20,000 into a website that doesn't look like it has even been touched moreless updated this year. Also, explain to me why there isn't one single regular meeting minutes posted on the site. They have been so busy head hunting and avoiding the press that they haven't had time to do anything productive, like update our supposedly "high priority" $20,000 website. They have managed to do four years of damage in four months of service, but in those four months they haven't had a chance to post the minutes? For a council that likes to meet as often as this one does (in secret executive meetings) and keeps talking about keeping the community informed, why aren't the minutes posted. My guess is they have to be rewritten now that King and the rest of council have people in place that share in their same "vision."

The President of Council issues a "no Comment" to the press with regard to the scenario of the resignation of Mr. Shepard..."No Comment". Well there should be a comment and a truthful, accurate and well defined comment on why a Manager resigned left a position of only a few months with a $25,000 serverence and full benefit package that the tax payers are footing. That type of money could had fixed a few roads, benefited children activities, expand the library ect, ect ect.

No, I get a no comment in the newspaper without any further explanation.

When in the past 4 months has this council reached out to the citizens or other communities? Otherthan insulting them in a public meeting or referring to them as clowns.

please answer me Lifeliberty..pleeaasssseee!

It appears that this council has its own agenda and is setting up things so that no one, no group, no outsiders can stop there goals. Is this the professional approach to take. Maybebe instead of Jefferson Hills we will be called Jefferzakhstan.

Mark Twain famously said that "if you don't read the newspapers you are uninformed — if you do read the newspapers you are misinformed". Alive today, he would certainly aplly this to all media forms!!

I'm baffled Life Liberty by what you mean by blatant obsturctionism. No, I don't mean by how you spelled obstructionism. I got that. What I'm baffled by is how you would accuse former council of preventing progress when this council is doing it right now. Youth football has been working hard for years to raise money, get grants, have land donated, all so that our children would have a real field of their own to play ball on. Instead of council giving the organization support in their efforts, the chief of operations for youth football was publicly called a clown in the council meeting. How the heck is that professional. Some of the same councilmen also desperately tried to block a fund raising concert with the Poverty Neck Hillbillies that was one of the best community events Jefferson Hills has seen in years and raised over $30,000 for the youth football program. Please do not speak to me about professionalism or obstructionism.

I happen to know that Chris King is one of a kind. He has worked hard to get where he is. I've never seen someone so determined to succeed. He has always been that way. And sure he can be rutheless and cut throat but its called politics people. Haven't you ever seen the tv show Survivor? Its not the nice guy who wins, its the deal making, double talking, and sometimes two-faced leader of the pack that takes home the cash prize. This isn't Dr. Phil, so I'm sorry if you're neighbor, or your best friend got their feelings hurt or they lost their precious position on some board or committee. Get over it. This is a dog eat dog world we live in and only the strong will survive. That's why we need a Chris King, a James Weber, a Jan Cmar, a Jeff Weir, even Reynolds and Khalil. What you all call rutheless head hunting, we call no nonesense politics. If you can't handle the heat get out of the kitchen and stop being such sore losing crybabies. You ever hear of the phrase if you can't beat em', join em. Maybe you all should think about that. You obviously don't have anybody who can beat them (or else they wouldn't be in power), so why don't you get with the vision and let's move forward.

Councilman Chris King also famously said, "NO COMMENT." Another King-King quote was "(t)oo much undue pressure is put on the solicitor to control (legal)fees"(McKeesport Daily News 1/25/08.

Alive today, I think that Mark Twain would be an avid blogger, and he would be thoroughly enjoying Tobywannabe's narratives.

JH Council would have provided Mr. Twain plenty of material for his political satire, if he were alive today; and we may well have seen this cast of characters depicted in one of his humorous books.

Viva Mark Twain!!

Well, the nex thing you know, Weber is home free
Gets his band of cohorts to do his work dirty,
As the others vote to move for him his easement line
And the Tailor takes the fall for the anonymous fines.

Well, you would know what he is:

"Ruthless," "cut throat," "not the nice guy," "deal making," "double talking," "two faced," "dog eat dog ..."

Your exact words, and you, more than anyone, would know.

I for one am relieved to hear that Chris King is “one of a kind.”
If his attributes are being “cut throat, ruthless, deal making, double talking, and two faced,” what can one perceive his faults to be.
How unfortunate that their( Weber, King, Cmar, and Weir,) perception of politics lacks character, ethics, and a commitment to the residents of Jefferson Hills. I am appalled that you have the audacity to refer to these unscrupulous traits as "no nonsense politics.” I am sure the State Ethics Board would be interested in your comments and your personal observations of this current councils actions.

Thank you for your insight that “we don’t have anybody who can beat them.” Perhaps we can then have them indicted, arrested, and removed from office.
That would surely eradicate our current dilemma.

McKeesport Daily News Article 2/12/08
Jefferson Hills resolves lawsuit with council vice president
By STACY LEE Daily News Staff Writer
slee@dailynewsemail.com
Jefferson Hills has resolved a law­suit with one of its council members. Council on Monday approved a set­tlement with council Vice President James Weber, who had filed suit claiming he was not notified of a 50­foot sewer and utility easement when he purchased his home on Shady Timber Lane in 2001.
The vote was 5-1-1, with Dominic Serapiglia dissenting and Weber abstaining.
“The recommendation of the bor­ough’s insurance company was that we settle, and the borough engineer also has suggested we settle,” council President Chris King said.
“This was a simple land use ease­ment line reviewed by the engineer, council and the insurance company,” Solicitor Michael Adams said.
“The recommendation was that the borough enter into a corrective deed. Without getting into all the details, I presume if the lawyer for the insurance company and borough engineer is recommending the bor­ough enter into a corrective deed, there was a situation that needed to be corrected.” Serapiglia motioned to table the vote on the settlement, but did not get a second.
“If there was a problem with the deed, or if this deed was tampered with, then we need to get to the bottom of why that deed wasn’t cor­rectly made,” Serapiglia said.
Weber was sworn onto council in January.
“Councilman Weber recused him­self from this matter,” Adams said. “He took no part in the discussion or deliberation of this matter with council, nor was he provided any documents through the borough or my office.” Weber sued the borough regarding the size of an easement when he and his wife Kristen purchased Lot 202 on Aug. 16, 2001, during Phase II of the development of a single-family real estate subdivision known as the Woods of Jefferson.
Developer Beams Run Ltd. con­tracted with Triangle Engineering to create a legal description of the property.
According to court documents, the description did not mention a 50­foot-wide sewer and utility easement, which Weber believes is affecting his property.
The lawsuit stipulates that Weber was aware of a 30-foot storm, sani­tary and utility easement.
The suit alleges that the borough has ignored requests to address the easement and has caused the instal­lation of new catch basins and con­struction despite his objections.
Also on Monday, council approved the adoption of an amended 2008 budget by a 6-1 vote, with Serapiglia dissenting because he believes a $90,000 cap on legal fees should not have been removed.
King said Adams, who was named solicitor last month, already has saved the borough almost $90,000 with his legal advice.
In other news, council gave the green light for the Jefferson Fire Rescue chief and three battalion chiefs to use two old police cars for borough-related emergencies and business, with the borough covering the yearly $932 insurance premium and gasoline.
Kathleen Reynolds was the only dissenter in a 6-1 vote. She said she never asked the borough to pay for anything as a volunteer for the Floreffe Volunteer Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary.

Real "professionals" DO NOT need their mommy and daddy fighting their battles. How can anybody consider Chris King a great leader when people are called clowns and disrespected in a public meeting run by him? Honestly here I know three year olds who handle situations better.