Jefferson Hills Council Shakes up its Committees
Submitted by Starship_Trooper on April 23, 2008 - 3:15pm.
Tags:
•Jefferson Hills
Jefferson Hills considering economy panel restructure
By STACY LEE Daily News Staff Writer
slee@dailynewsemail.com
Jefferson Hills council is considering restruc¬turing the borough's Economic Development Commission. The borough is in the process of changing an ordinance so that no public official, voting or non-voting, will have a position on the com¬mission.
Once again, I need some help understanding something. The new Jefferson Hills council has been "cleaning house," removing key individuals from committees and replacing them with others. Part of their reasoning is because they don't want elected officals being a part of these committees. I don't agree that being elected by the people of this borough, should absolutely exclude you from serving the community in other ways as well. I think character, effectiveness, passion, and purpose should be of primary concern. If an elected official lacks these qualities on a board or commission, by all means have them removed. But I firmly believe, the best men or women of our community, suited to serve, should be the ones sitting on these committees, whether elected or not.
Nonetheless, the article goes on to say that Shauna D'Alesandro was removed from the Economic Development Commission, despite the protests of many people on and off of the commission that said she was a huge asset to the commission's success. As a result, many resigned as well from the commission to further protest the decision. Now, despite my opposing views to councils on the matter, I would have at least respected them holding true to their convictions except for one problem. One of the new people appointed to the commision is none other than one of Jefferson Hill's ELECTED councilmen. Does that make any sense at all? Granted, they've given this individual a fancy title, but what happened to no public official, voting or non-voting, having a position on the com¬mission?

The same thing happened on the recreation board except the chair they removed wasn't an elected official. The man they removed is highly regarded and respected throughout Jefferson Hills for organizing successful event after successful event. Despite the pleas of a rec board representative for council to reconsider and reappoint this man, council refused. Instead, council appointed another councilman to the board with the same fancy title. I'm baffled and frustrated. Can anyone help me make sense of this all?

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Sense? With THIS Council?
Submitted by footballmom on April 24, 2008 - 5:48pm.
You are right on target. There's not a whole lot this council's been doing that makes sense. From what I've read and understand, they are "cleaning house" of folks they don't know, have no personal knowledge of simply because the previous council made those appointments. This seems spiteful and shortsighted. From Rich Beam to Shauna D'Allesandro. If Jefferson Hills residents thought previous council was a circus...they should attend this council's meetings. They should charge a fee for the entertainment value alone. I know folks in the borough wanted a change, but this wasn't the change we anticipated.

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The Circus Has Come 2 Town!
Submitted by crusader12345 on April 25, 2008 - 12:26am.
Yes,the Circus has really come to town on JH Council. I hear they have a p-nut gallery of council family members and hasbeen politicos who heckle the citizens. Do you think next month they'll be selling popcorn? Or p-nuts? No, not p-nuts. Someone might get hit with one and then the solicitor would have to charge more at the new higher rate to defend the p-nut thrower:)

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Best Comedy in Show in Town
Submitted by informedresident on April 26, 2008 - 6:46pm.
For a good laugh - attend the borough council meetings free of charge! Just be careful who you look at or you may be the next one to be called a clown or an idiot by the relatives of council.

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"The Jefferson HillBullies" - Verse 1
Submitted by tobywannabe on April 29, 2008 - 10:05pm.
Come & listen to our story bout a gal named Jan,
Cleanin house in Jefferson to fill it with her clan,
Lookin for some folks to fill the empty seats,
In retaliation for her husband's sound defeat .....

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Treat All Residences of Jefferson Hills With Equal Respect!
Submitted by Starship_Trooper on April 27, 2008 - 1:24am.
I was unable to attend the council meeting but I think I know what you all are talking about. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but the president of council, Chris King, refused to hear from a citizen and rec board member petitioning for Rich Beam (who they removed for no good reason) to be reappointed to the Rec Board due to their need of some help, especially a worker and leader like Beam. The council president dismissed him and refused to hear anything further about the issue. He even went as far as to order the resident of Jefferson Hills to leave the premises or else. Meanwhile, the president of council's mom and dad were in the audience and decided to take charge. The dad began getting loud and started calling people in attendence names. Specifically, he called someone an idiot and he even called the president of youth football a "clown." From my understanding the president of council did nothing about this. I don't agree with this double standard. If you are going to force a respectable resident to leave a council meeting because he protested a questionable council decision, then you should also force someone to leave if they are being hostile and demeaning to others, whether they are a relative or not.

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Jefferson HillBullies - Verse 2
Submitted by tobywannabe on April 27, 2008 - 10:08pm.
Now we got the likes a Jim, Kathleen, ‘n Lil’ Tracy,
‘Tendin’ to be lookin out fer lil’ ol’ you ‘n me,
But what dey really aim ta do is not really very nice,
Cus ther votin’ “yes” ta dem bad things without thinkin twice.

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Verse 3 - The Jefferson HillBullies
Submitted by tobywannabe on April 28, 2008 - 10:51pm.
Now the nex thing ya know, Lil’ Chris has the Big Chair,
With Reynolds, Cmar, ‘n Weber, they say “Bye Bonnie & Dare.”
Said ta Adams never mind a cap on legal fees
We’ll jus' bring Arndt in ta hide ‘em in “other” categories.

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Jefferson Hills council
Submitted by fishhead15025 on April 29, 2008 - 2:11pm.
Council's decision to no have elected officials be apart of a Commission is shortsighted and exclusivistic.
Ms. D'Alesandro is a "resident" of Jefferson Hills. She is a highly skilled, well educated, professional who brought to the Commission a wealth of information and guidance. Her background, resume and community involment is next to no else in Jefferson Hills. Please remember that the new Council's platform was to run the borough as "a business". So one of the first things they do was release the solictor and hire a new one with no a salary cap and nearly double the hourly rate as the former solicitor. For strictly political reasons (because Ms Cmar's husband was soundly defeated in the recent School Board election by Ms D'Aleandro) she uses the Economic Development Commission ordinance to have the most qualified member let go for personal/ political reasons. Sure doesn't seem like a smart busniess decision to me. Does it to you?

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The Beverly(Sorry,I Meant) Jefferson Hillbullies - Verse 4
Submitted by tobywannabe on April 29, 2008 - 10:04pm.
George the Tailor has been absent, legal problems, ah ya see,
Used by Jimmy & the others to mail cards anonymously.
Poor ol’ gent has been discarded now that all have been sworn in.
Maybe ol’ boy Ron ‘ll pay the fines when finally they come in.

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Anonymous Political Mail
Submitted by crusader12345 on April 30, 2008 - 3:33pm.
This was the big weapon they used in their battle for the "king"-dumb - political mail anonymously accusing incumbents of wrongdoing - cowards that they are - with no guts to identify themselves. Let's hope the court subjects realize that the emporers have no clothes, and that we are now subject to tyrannical rule. Off with our heads!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$

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Jefferson HillBullies - Verse 5
Submitted by tobywannabe on April 30, 2008 - 3:41pm.
Jus’ when we thought that we were dun with Ol’ Mary,
Unsuccessful candy-date fer district JP,
She shows up in da audience with good ol’ Vinnie
Hopin’ fer a bonus from her “R” committee.

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WOW
Submitted by footballmom on April 30, 2008 - 6:00pm.
so, what can be done about this? I know I have trouble attending all the meetings, especially the little "special" ones, but maybe we can encourage more residents to attend? Get our family and friends to go to let council know that what they are doing is not going unnoticed. I think we also need to take note that there is always 1 against in the votes--from Mr. Serapiglia. He could use some support from us.
They do espouse to want to be professional, yet they are anything but. Did they really think they weren't this transparent?

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tobywannabe...great lyrics!
Tobywannabe - Great Lyrics
Submitted by Pen Fanatic on May 1, 2008 - 1:49am.
You obviously know a lot of stuff about what's going on. Unfortunately, most peope don't and so I just hope everyone gets the depth of your lyrics. They don't know how all the current councilmen visciously attacked the former councilmen with eleven negative pieces of literature the week before the election that either misinformed, misled, or outright decieved the residents of Jefferson Hills. They did so under the umbrella of an eigty year old man, George Taylor's political group, and refused to take responsibility for the bs blitz. Now Taylor is facing legal problems and criminal charges for the anonymous mailers. When you've got friends like them, who needs enemies.

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Re John Shepard
Submitted by fishhead15025 on May 1, 2008 - 8:43am.
Please look at the South section of the Post Gazette for an article about the sweetheart deal to oust Shepard and bring back Mr. Ardnt. I hope bringing to light thses types of political games to set up the new Coucil's agenda will wake people up! How embarrassing it is to look at the 3 local papers and see nothing but negative press about this boro. It is a circus and it is becoming scary to observe how the new Council is playing this out.
We need to get persons at the meeting but also to challenge them on these issues. Lets step up and form a huge line at the podium and have them be accountable for their actions.
I love the Hillbullies song but you need to add in how good old Ron's wife needed a PFA against him because of some abuse issues..

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Verse 6 - Jefferson HillBullies
Submitted by tobywannabe on May 1, 2008 - 11:26am.
With Chris’s mom & daddy in the front row on the scene
With his gavel and a second vote from Godmamma Kathleen
If you dare ta mess with sonny boy, the woodshed you will see,
Lordy, Lordy, please bring back Doc, Brian & Denny!