Taylor,

What you are describing sounds like a violation of the Sunshine Act. Actually, asking people to fill out a form for council to review seems like something out of Nazi Germany. Why doesn't the South Hills Record or Tribune Review bring a Sunshine Act lawsuit against Council? What they are doing is keeping non-agenda items out of the public and away from the media. It sounds like the Gestapo will keep tabs on those filling out forms. At every public meeting I have attended in most communities where I lived or visited, public comment was always allowed at a public meeting. Brentwood's solicitor must be a dunce to let this go on. I suppose they want to force the residents or newspapers into a lawsuit. I say give it to them.

I am not sure if meetings can continue, I dont think council chambers are certified as an official daycare center.

Taylor, as someone who attends Brentwood Council meetings on a regular basis the meetings have been far worse in the past. The current council whether one agrees with them or not is trying to conduct this meeting in a cordial and professional manner. The personal attacks do nothing to enhance the meeting they only make for good press. This has been a long time coming!! I think you should not come to conclusions until you have some perspective from attending more than just one meeting.

Taylor,

You have hit the nail on the head. There wasn't a good reason to have a prayer at the meeting. A moment of silence would have been more appropriate to remember Viginia Tech. (Separation of church and state)
It was stated from council that the meeting was a BUSINESS MEETING and would be conducted as such. The person that made the statement forgot that those in attendance were the BUSINESS OWNERS and they should have a right to have the meeting conducted in their best inrterests; i.e. speaking at the end of the agenda items and committee reports.
Those taxpayers that want to speak before the close of public meetings will have a chance to voice their concerns to the present council on May 15, 2007 which is the primary election day.

For Brentwood Council members and their solicitor:

Section 710.1 Public participation

(a) General rule. Except as provided in subsection (d), the board or council of a political subdivision, or of an authority created by a political subdivision shall provide a reasonable opportunity at each advertised regular meeting and advertised special meeting for residents of the political subdivision or of the authority created by a political subdivision or for taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority created by a political subdivision or for both, to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the board or council prior to taking official action. The board or council has the option to accept all public comment at the beginning of the meeting. If the board or council determines that there is not sufficient time at a meeting for residents of the political subdivision or of the authority created by a political subdivision or for taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority created by the political subdivision or for both to comment, the board or council may defer the comment period to the next regular meeting or to a special meeting occurring in advance of the next regular meeting.
(b) Limitation on judicial relief. If a board or council of a political subdivision or an authority created by a political subdivision has complied with the provisions of subsection (a), the judicial relief under section 713 (relating to business transacted at unauthorized meeting void) shall not be available on a specific action solely on the basis of lack of comment on that action.
(c) Objection. Any person has the right to raise an objection at any time to a perceived violation of this chapter at any meeting of a board or council of a political subdivision or an authority created by a political subdivision.
(d) Exception. The board or council of a political subdivision or of an authority created by a political subdivision which had, before Jan. 1, 1993, established a practice or policy of holding special meetings solely for the purpose of public comment in advance of advertised regular meetings shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (a).

I believe it says from your e-mail that the audience is allowed "to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the board or council prior to taking official action". If you would like to complain about personal issues you have with our council maybe you should call for a Town Hall Meeting in which you can ramble on about anything. As for the rest of us who are interested in what roads are being paved and what improvements and going to be made to the park and the rest of the borough we really are sick and tired of listening to idle chat about things that have NO BEARING on what my tax dollars are paying for. I am sick and tired of the public comments about personal attacks wasting everyone's time at these council meetings. It's immature and disgusting and unproductive.

If you thing you can do better, why are'nt you sitting on council? It's easy to complain when you are sitting in the cheap seats is'nt it?

Catalyst,

Since you are online looking at this blog. Please go over to the Allegheny County website and try and find a house in Baldwin, Whitehall, or Bethel Park that you would say is comparable to yours. You will find that they have a higher Assesment yet lower Millage. If you calculate it out Brentwood taxes are not excessively high. The millage is excessive but the Assesments are low compared to other communties. I will tell you this as a life long resident, I am sick and tired of this argument. When the county finally fixes the assessment mess the millage will work itself out. The level of taxes has not changed with the new council so that is a non issue. What is Everyone's real problem with the council and the Mayor's way of running this Boro?

You are "sick and tired" about a lot of things. Way to go, Lifelong. It didn't tske you very long to blame somebody else. Blame the county. Blame the State. Blame George Bush. Blame everyone except those in your own backyard.

The issue of taxes a non-issue? Get real. Taxes and the burden that they are placing on those on fixed incomes is ALWAYS an issue.

"Everyones' problem" with the way they are running the borough is simply that they are trying to stifle public opinion at public meetings and trying to keep things from the Press. This is the Land of Freedom. You are trying to keep a cork on a bottle and you are going to find that the cork will eventually pop.

As I stated before you evaded my question... What is your real problem with how the borough is being run... I did'nt blame anyone for anything.
Blame the site?? When did I do that? Blame George Bush?? When did I do that? Blame who is in my backyard?? When did I do that?? And what am I blaming them for??? Not sure what you are talking about. If you mean the county, I am not blaming them. The assessment issue is no one's fault. It was laid down by a Judge not by a politician. We just have to suffer for it.

It is a FACT that taxes in Brentwood are not High as you say. Yes if you own property everyone has to pay taxes on your property. That has always been the way of our great land of the free. My grandparents owned a home and yes they had to pay property taxes. They were also on a fixed income. Do you want to fund your schools and borough services? Do you want your road plowed in the winter? If so you must pay property taxes. These are the laws of the land you see.

What is so difficult about this? And why when a question is asked you dodge it? I believe in freedom of speech, "Say what you want to say and MOVE ON". Why do the same exact complaints have to be aired at every single council meeting. Over and over again. How is this productive? Say your comments at the beginning of the meeting and be heard. I did'nt hear anyone on council say you could not speak or be heard in fact I have gotten up and voiced my opinion from time to time and was treated with the utmost respect by council. The fact of the matter is that Brentwood is a great place to raise a family and it could be better if everyone would put their energy into being a positive influence instead of always bringing our borough down. Again, our council and mayor were elected by the residents of the borough to do borough business...Let's give them the opportunity to do so.

The reoccurring request by residents is the amount of taxpayers' dollars that are going to council's solicitor. The residents were getting an answer every month that "we are about the same as previous years" without an amount being given. It's just plain suspicious, that's all. That stopped with council not taking any questions except those on the agenda at the March public meeting.

That started another issue that involves Brentwood Residents' right to ask questions of our elected officials in a public forum. Only President Bush does not take questions that are not scripted. Is that what our council wants, to align themselves with the worst president in modern history?

In closing, our primary election is May 15 and that is when the residents can send a message to council that they want to be heard.

Thank You Observer,

I agree with that. The Solicitor's and Administative and Finance report is always on the agenda. If the council would refuse that question, that would be indefensable. I think we have a duty to ask how the money is being spent. I would go to bat for anyone who questions how our taxes are being spent. I will not however defend people calling for removal of elected officials because they think they are not fit. That is what an election booth is for. I remember from a previous meeting, the Council stating that anyone can request the bills from the Solicitior from the Borough Secretary.

I do not know how George Bush's name entered this discussion. That is an even more hot button issue than the Council and Mayor. No thanks!!

Taylor,
I thank you for your worthless opinion. From somebody who writes for such a biased web site, I would expect nothing less from you. I think I saw you at the meeting. Were you the one that was so far up the Mayor's rear end that we could only see you when he smiled? I am sorry that you found the prayer offensive. Would you also like the Council to remove "One Nation Under God" out of the Pledge Of Allegiance that starts most meetings off? I didn't feel that the prayer was necessary, but I surely wasn't offended by it. I have heard the President of the United States pray on many occasions, do you criticize him for that also? I am sure if the powers that be asked you to, you would.
As for the reasoning of the Agenda Items Only rule, it is because of the political and personal attacks that seem to be the main point of discussion each meeting. If these were allowed to go on each and every time, the agenda items would never get discussed. Either that or meetings would last 4 hours. The form that you have to fill out is an excellent idea. It is not to track people or ignore their questions. It is to get the question, comment or complaint to the appropriate committee. This doesn't mean you will never get heard. From what I understood, it means that Council would either give it to the appropriate department for a solution, or put it on the agenda for a future meeting. It is meant to keep things organized and efficient (something this borough greatly needs).
I have seen many intelligent replies in this blog (for a change), and agree with several of them. You should have a right to question Council, but they, in turn should have a right to question you. If you want to stand up and say your peace, then everybody should have a right to know if you have a hidden agenda behind your questions. If you want to air out Council's dirty laundry, or the Mayor's for that fact, then you should be prepared to have your's aired also. Maybe this will stop some of the unnecessary questions. I agree with a town hall meeting. Let's get everything out in the open and see what needs to be done to stop the excessive BS that seems to be going on in our community. Maybe if we all got our concerns out in the open, we might be able to come to an understanding and start working together, instead of against each other.
Let's all remember that Election Day is the 15th. When voting, do the investigating on your own. Don't trust all the rumors being spread around this site, or anywhere else. Just because somebody writes it, doesn't mean it's true. Look at the incumbents, as well as the new candidates. Research each one, and make your decision on who you think is going to best serve this community. Don't vote one way just because of rumors being spread around by the opposition of each party. I thank you for your time, and hope that this borough get's itself back on track soon, before it's too late.

Taylor,

I am truly appalled and embarrassed by the inappropriate behavior of the responses you received to your blog. I’m sorry you had to experience it.

I made the same observations as you at the meeting. You were simply reporting the facts. Your statement about the inappropriateness of prayer was justified showing that at least our young people are appropriately learning to be aware of diversity issues.

What I observed and heard at the meeting were citizens who felt their freedom of speech was being taken away. While citizens feel their right to speak is unjustly being taken away, in fact Council is well within their right. The Sunshine Act Section 710.1 Public Participation states that Council “shall provide a reasonable opportunity . . . to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before Council prior to taking official action. ... Council has the option to accept all public comment at the beginning of the meeting.” I question however if we were given a “reasonable” opportunity having nothing to review prior to comment.

The Sunshine Act also states “the public may object at any time during the meeting if it is perceived that Council is in violation of the Act.” However, one citizen exercising this right during the time allotted for public comment was removed from the meeting as he was returning to his seat.

Before I would even know if I wanted to comment on an agenda item, I would want to review it first. I want to know who, what, when, where, how, why and, most importantly, how much. Where is the funding coming from, who is being awarded a bid, what are our other options? Unfortunately, these details were not on the agenda.

It was stated at the meeting that citizens could be made aware of agenda items by reading the minutes from the previous meeting. However, there were no minutes distributed prior to their approval at the meeting. Since the minutes can only be picked up during Borough office hours, I suggest the minutes be made available to citizens prior to the Council meetings. In this day and age, they should be made available online. Yet the minutes have not been updated online since January 2007. I want to know why but it was not on the agenda.

It was brought up that the Borough's Administrative Assistant is not permitted to do any work for the Mayor for Borough business without first getting permission from Council. I want to know why Council would intentionally obstruct Borough business. But it was not on the agenda.

Throughout the discussion of agenda items, I had questions but I was not permitted to ask. Our Borough could do a much better job at keeping the public well informed.

Overall, I observed much sarcasm and disrespect among our leaders, which makes me question their integrity. I believe that we should respect and support our leaders, regardless of whether or not we voted for them and regardless of what we personally think of them. And in return, the leaders should respect and support the citizens and the other leaders in the community, i.e., Council, Mayor, Police Chief, etc. Let’s all be civil – work together for the greater good of the community rather than against each other.

To those responsible for the name-calling, mud slinging, and inappropriate outbursts in your blog responses to Taylor, I say, SHAME ON YOU. I saw only “adults” at the meeting and adults should be setting a good example.

Keep up the good work, Taylor. Remember, stay strong and “never take it personally.” Even if you learned nothing else from your experience, at least you learned how NOT to behave. Definitely do your homework before you vote. SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!

Just the facts... Let's talk about the facts. The FACT of the matter is it's worrysome to me who is running for council. Has anyone read the South Hills Record??? Some people want to improve our borough and keep us competitive with other communities, and some want to run it into the ground by acting like children. Please, Brentwood for the sake of the borough--research all of the candidates. Read what each one stands for. Be careful who you cast your vote for. Check out these people who are running. It's not about who does'nt like who and personal vendetta's it's about our tax dollars at work.

I have attended meetings now for almost two years and the lies that are being spread are unbelievable. If you treat our ELECTED officials with respect you get respect in return. I have addressed our council with respect and got nothing but respect in return. These are human beings who are just like you and me and they are unjustly being villified. It's really a shame. For once I see great improvement in the borough. There is now a road program. There are going to be improvements at the park, and at the borough building. Brentwood Medical is expanding, and hopefully we will get something done with the old Henke Fair site. There are new restaurants popping up. There are REAL signs of progress WITHOUT taxes rising. It's a wonderful place to be.

More people need to get involved--go to the meetings and see for yourself what is REALLY going on. It's really enlightening.

Also, I would like to say, to anyone who would like to know what is being voted on at a particular meeting--this information is discussed at the AGENDA meetings. That is the whole purpose of the AGENDA meeting, to let everyone know what is coming up at the next general meeting. You have TWO WEEKS to ask questions or contact our council in the meantime.

About your questions on the secretary--what is behind this??? Is the mayor abusing his position to do personal things??? Maybe there is a reason why the mayor is being watched so closely. I don't know for sure I am only speculating. I know from working in an office environment that secretaries are often asked to do personal tasks. Maybe, just maybe there is a reason for concern.

While I am on the issue of the Mayor, why does he not go into executive session with our council to find out what is going on in the borough? I guess he does'nt want to know. There is a lack of communication and it starts with the mayor. He needs to get involved instead of passing out note cards before the meeting. Our chief was never informed of a new police car???? Is'nt his boss the mayor??? How did his boss not know???Just wondering.

SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.

In the past 2 days I have personaly had 2 conversations which trouble me. My neighbor has a red and white council sign in her front yard. I asked her if she knew any of the canidates on the sign and if she could tell me more about them. Her response was, "I am friends with the mayor and he asked me to put it there for his friends". If this is how our residents vote at an election we are all in trouble. Passing another home, I asked the same question to a person in front of the house. The response was that they did not know the canidates, but the public works department was working in the area and asked if the sign could be put in the yard. Why are our borough employees putting political signs up while working for the residents of the borough?? I do not feel that I should be paying for someone to put up signs for canidates I do not know anything about. What favors will need to be repaid to borough employee if canidate is elected? What I do know is the fact that Mr. Wenzall was part of the old regiem which ran the borough into debt in the first place. It is also Ironic he throws a fit at a council meeting to the point where he is asked to leave while running for council. How many times was his question answered? Was that the best platform he could run on? I never heard of the sunshine platform before. Was this a political stunt for attention?? How would he be able to work with council if elected again?? What I feel the borough needs is new blood in office, but how do I learn about them ? Who is even running?? If filling out a paper for questioning council is the biggest problem this borough had, we would be in great shape. I guess I missed somthing along the way.

Donkey Slayer,

I hope I can give you some insight into who is running in this election.

I agree with you on Mr. Wenzel. He has already been on council and was voted out. That speaks volumes to me. I have heard that Mario Richards may have some things in his past to research, but it is heresay so I have no comment. I do not know who Boyko is, I only know she has something to do with the 5K race at the 4th of July and is a friend of the mayor.

When it comes to the other three--Mr. Bender is a Brentwood resident who has been in the borough for a long time, I have seen him at the Brentwood meetings for a couple of years now. I feel he wants to get involved for the good of the borough, he does'nt seem to be a politician, just a very concerned citizen. He just voted on the road program to move forward, as did Dr. Pasquantonio. Dr. Pasquantonio by the way seems to have a very good hold on what is going on with the Administrative and Finance committee. He has served on both the Brentwood School Board and council. He seems to be very intelligent and poised at the meetings.

If anyone has anymore information on these people, please let us know. Truths would be nice.

As for our public works. It does'nt shock me to know they are out putting up signs. Take a look around the borough. It speaks for itself.

Another Blight on Brentmoods Council... Check out today's Post Gazette ONLINE front page article (06/08/07) !!!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07159/792545-53.stm

Hummm... Who's next ???

Finally! Who or whatever finally brought the criminal past of borough council to light, thank you! It's unfortunate for her children but the leadership in this borough needed this. Maybe the officials in this borough will finally be able to do their jobs without going through council president first! Let's start here with restoring Brentwood to the community it once was.

I agree and let's make sure we get rid of ALL the corruption. We should make sure EVERYONE left gets checked out too!! Only honorable people should have the priveledge to represent the people. Let's not stop with the council president...keep going. Let's clean up this borough and make it respectable.

Apparently some windows were broken at the Dytko household today! Kudos to those who started the ball rolling on getting this corrupt person off of the council presidents chair and into her nice jail cell where she belongs! I personally have watched her attack people and their livelyhoods who have done nothing but try to do their job! Those out there that support this awful person should be ashamed of themselves! ALL of you that voted for this awful person should have done your homework! It was out there in writing and in comment! I totally agree about investigating the rest of council and getting all of her corrupt followers out of there too! Her running mates HAD to know of her past and they should be impeached for allowing her to run without blowing the whistle on her! She is nothing but a liar, a cheat and a troublemaker! Brentwood residents deserve better! NOW maybe some good things can begin to happen for Brentwood without the dictator imposing her ridiculous rules! NEW council go back to the ways of Mayor Joyce! Back when we all got along, council meetings didn't have this "I'm better than you" attitude, council didn't dictate who could walk into certain parts of the BOROUGH building, the police road around and actually smiled and waved to EVERYONE and best yet there was no fear of a job well done would get you fired because council didn't like you!!!! DING DONG THE WITCH IS GONE, THE WITCH IS GONE, THE WHICH HAS GONE TO JAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all that think this is a game or joke, you need your head examined. This does nothing but creates more negative impressions on a once great small community. For all those who want to brag, jump for joy, and celebrate need to take a look at what you are doing. You make the entire community look very imature. What was done is not acceptable yet those starting the party should not quit here. Were previous tax debts diclosed by the Mayor? Were consecutive DUIs by a new elect disclosed on paperwork? Were up coming court dates filed on paperwork?. The entire borough needs to be looked over from top to bottom. This is somthing that I stated a long time ago. All aspects of current borough employees and representatives live should be gone over with a fine tooth comb. Do we stop with just one, or do we clean up the entire borough?? Acording to some on this site we should be selective. Maybe the local investigative reporters on chanels 2,4,11 need a phone call to start this up and clean up the borough for good.

How many of Brentwood politicians have not paid taxes,have not made full financial disclosures,have not lied to the public,have not operated on their own agenda for their own personal reasons, have not used their public office for their own personal gain,have not attacked their opponents with lies or misleading statements,have not taken things that did not belong to them,have not tried to take someones dignity from them. Has the time come for all of Brentwoods politicians to be looked at with a fine tooth comb.