where are those hookers? and beer bottles?

I was wondering the same thing, Dave. I have NEVER seen a prostitute on any corner. As for drugs and possible beer bottles, around Beggs Snyder park is getting rather disgusting.

The police are not permitted to post what actually goes on in Dormont on the police blotter. Walk around Potomac Avenue after 10 pm if you dare and observe what goes on for yourself.

To Dormont Council: The majority of you sit up there meeting after meeting with such a miserable look on your faces that I have considered in the past calling 911 because you must be in some kind of considerable pain. You bicker and fight at a level that is below my kids fighting, and you act like you are below my kids at times. It appears that you vote with more of a personal aganda (or vendetta) more than you do logically. You snap out and yell at poeple in the crowd, specifically speaking of Drew Lehman and president Kim Lusardi, that you must have a policy to check professionalism at the door before you come in (you signed up for politics, you have to act professional no matter the circumstance). Screaming at the crowd to be quiet shows no class at all (you have a gavel, smack it and ask for order, that is how it is done). If I were going to buy a house in a community, I would first attend a council meeting to see how things are done. What do you think a potential new tax paying resident would think if they came to any one of our council meetings???

I was at the meeting last night and all I have to say is this coucil is an embarrassment to the community. They have completely dismissed the NO COFINDENCE letter submitted to them from most of the full time employees against the manager. I disagree with cutting public safety and I think most people would agree . Hopefully Chief Ross is able to put aside this harassment and concentrate on his health. It is completely out of line to do this when this mas is recovering ...You all should be ashamed of yourselves! Citizens of Dormont there are 3 council member that may be running for election again as their term expiresin 2012 (Lehman, Maggio, and Lusardi) Let you voices be heard on election day!

So, you started off last year attacking the highly decorated Fire Chief. Hmmm, after a few meetings, how did that go for you? You continued your trend last year by slashing public safety spending and staffing. The feedback that you get regarding this from your tax paying residents and all of our absolute objection to your actions regarding public safety apparently falls on deaf ears, except for Joan. Joan, your voice of opposition, although just one, is appreciated. So now you decide to enter 2011 with another target on your radar in highly decorated Police Chief Phil Ross. How do you think this is going to go for you??? Chief Ross may have committed some serious crime (we all know he has not, just making a point) to warrant a demotion, but you refuse to answer questions from the very tax paying residents who voted you in. You hide behind your solicitor and his advice, which is making you all look really bad. Let me remind you that this is not a dictatorship, this is a DEMOCRACY! I feel bad for you and the backlash that you have brought upon yourselves that is coming your way.

I own a home here, wife and I in our 30's, have several kids in KO schools, and am actively involved with Dormont on many levels. I am a prime example of what Dormont cannot afford to loose. I hate to stoop to this level, but after last nights meeting two things have crossed my mind: throwing up and moving!

WOW... Thanks Council, let's seee how much this brilliant move costs the Borough and further erodes the morale on Hillsdale Ave..

Its amazing that the only thing printed in this article is about the police Chief, nothing about the letter of no confidence from the emplyees about Gino Rizza,(wasnt it Drew who didnt know of any disgruntled emplyees) maybe it should have been for most council members also, for it appears they are going to sweep it under the catpet and hide behind executive session as usual, well elections are coming up and its time for residents to act. If they wont act in the best intrest of the residents maybe its time to elect some that will.

Dennis: I noted last night that a separate article is coming on the letter. It will be up in a few minutes.

Last year it was the fire chief who had a disagreement with Gino Rizza, he was fired by council! This year Chief Ross had a disagreement with Gino Rizza, he was fired by council! Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but what is the pattern here?

Hey Council and you Mr. Lehman, what will be done about Gino? We want answers! Drew you called me out on the patch and said you doubt every employee was disgruntled. Well guess who was right? You don't talk to the employees so you would not know. I hope last night was a wake up call!

As a 20yr community member & one point a small business owner in Dormont on Patomic Ave. I never seen prostitutes on corners but did see alot of late night crap that the Dormont Police DO WORK hard at keeping under control. Under Chief Ross I seen the officers actually WALKING THE BEAT. Which put them in touch with the people & business owners, some comfort that they were close by for what ever arives. I always say people who put them selves on top of the pedal stool (Gino Rizza & Co. ) sooner or later someone comes along and kicks a leg out & on your ass ya GO. This is a democarcy if you can't do the job RIGHT you will be voted out. This is a small community & WE all deserve a answer from YOU COUNCIL WHO WORK FOR US DORMONT RESIDENTS YOU OWE US THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I frequently walk my dog around Dormont later at night (between 11 p.m. & 1 a.m.) and have never had any problems or seen anything that would make me feel unsafe. Yeah, you might see the occasional drunk walk by acting like an idiot, but that's about it. I've lived in several different towns in the Pittsburgh area and have never seen the frequency of patrol cars driving by that I see in Dormont. The police and the chief are doing an excellent job and don't deserve the treatment they are receiving from the current borough leadership.

It's very disappointing that people can't make an intelligent comment without making a personal attack on someone else. Stick with the facts or your perception of the facts to actually make a difference. I do feel quite confident that said "proposition" was a joke. Unless it was the offspring of Anna Nicloe Smith propositioning the 70 yr old man, it seems highly unlikely that is was serious. If so, you may find many more 60-70 yr old men in search of these 2 scantily clad young woman with a pocket full of $ and from maybe from our bordering communities as well.

It concerns me of as a former Dormont resident with family still in the community that Dormont has stooped this low (expect you Joan). The police are an integral part of the community. They know what is happening and know the families in the community. They actually care about the families in the community and I applaud them for their effort.

Dormont Council members that have not listened to out Governor's budget address should listen. He stated public safety is a number one priority and we should not be consildating or cutting these positions. I know budget times are tough but police patorlling is an essential service. Regardless if there are prostitues walking the streets, it is on our homes on the computers. I gurantee if council does not address other issues we will see more of prostitues walking the streets. These other issues that we need to address is the herion epidemic. I am sure almost all members of Dormont has had a freind, relative, or know of someone who has problems with herion. What are we doing to address these issues? Get the herion out of the community.

Council it is time to think outside of the box, this is when you have to start thinking.... (except Joan) Look at other programs or models from other counsels. What about community watch groups, block parents, where have these type of programs gone. While you are all fighting about the police and how to make them more efficient, you are letting your community fall apart. Wake up.

Public Safety is the number one concern and will continue to be so. We will be issuing a statement however we are not permitted to discuss personnell matters until it has gone through the legal processes. It is not council hiding behind anything. This community has been falling apart for years and we are trying to make it a better community. I grew up here and would like to see it go back to its better years. I am sorry if the decisions do not make everyone happy. Hopefully with positive results in the future, the community who is against certain actions will come to see that they are really positive in the end.

Make a right decision now and cure the cancer that is about to eat this boro, remove Gino from office and hire a manager that will listen to all sides to make decisions not his arrogant my way or the highway attitude, remember you were elected to be a voice of the residents not your own agendas

Being a Police Chief is so much more than beer bottles laying on the ground and traffic stops. Scheduling, to maximize a strained budget, studying incident trends to implement an effective enforcement plan and prioritizing quality of life issues is what running a department is about.

One can be a great cop but a poor Police Chief…

The community is not in a decline and it was not very much different than when you and I were children. Many issues that were in Dormont in the 70's and 80's remain as in many other communities. This forum for public discontent and some of the viral comments that are made is much different. We are in a different world now, and our financial challenges need a greater and deeper thinking representaive to prepare for the immediate backlash that will inevitably occur. Our housing values have appreciated at rates higher than all of our neighbors, including ML and USC, since 2000. There is a much better appreciation of what this community has to offer young professionals and families alike around the region. To quote the infamous Dave Herrman,"Dormont Borough is the geographical center of the universe", everybody has either lived here, been here, had a friend here or something similar. The days of large ethnic families with 4,5,6 children needing these large early 1900's homes are gone. Working professionals with employment Downtown or near the subway(T) lines is far more common. 6 figure incomes are commonplace and those individuals want,need and deserve adeqate public safety,infrastructure and a municipal government who welcomes residential/commercial development and related improvements without extrodinary obstacles to completion, as do the single mom's and younger white and blue collar workers.

We need our Council,Mayor,Borough Mgr , Solicitor, and Officers to pay attention to the needs first, then the wants of the Borough of Dormont !

Our Mayor Tom Lloyd does pay attention to the needs or his residents. Maybe for once council should follow in his footsteps. Why to you think our mayor has been reelected year after year? He at least hears what we have to say!

A Police Chief does do nore than collect beer bottles and make traffic stops. It is a shame that the boro council and manager have stripped this department to the point that the Chief cannot even send his men to any type of training. There are officers that would like to do more but have been denied or won't even ask because they know the answer and because the manager does not see value in it. Really, the manager decides what training, equiptment, and even what police vehicle should be ordered. The Police Chief was not given the opportunity to do what he thought was best for his men and his department because in my opinion the boro manager was setting him up. Give me a break. How long did it take for the manager to "decide" that the cameras in the police cars needed fixed.I will tell you it was months. And by the way the new vehicle that the boro manager ordered, well , the back door handles were not disabled and YES a prisioner did let himself out of the vehicle. Nice Job! Public / Officer safety issue. Oh ya of course it was not the managers fault, he blames the co. he ordered it from. These guys work hard for this community and they have been treated poorly.

Heather could you or any other member of council please cite some specifics about how you do support public safety? Explain to us what is being done that shows us that Public Safety is your number one concern? Can you cite some factual examples of how the community I reside in and have choose to raise my kids in is "fallng apart?" Can you cite examples of how it was better when you were a kid? What positive impacts does this council wish to make?

Please start stating facts and helping us with answers! We are all tired of the political talk. Facts please facts!

That is not too much to ask is it?

Yes, when the borough manager ordered a new patrol vehicle he ordered a taxi cab package to save money. I guess he did not know that people are in fact allowed to let themselves out of a cab but a police car? Well that's not good!

Yes a serious safety issue!

I have lived in Dormont for more than 30 years. My husband and I raised 2 children here and were proud to say we live in Dormont. After attending last nights meeting and wittnessing first hand the discontent within Council I am starting to rethink staying in Dormont. Things are not the same and the borough is in decline. I used to be able to go out at night and exercise, no more. I used to be able to leave my door unlocked and visit with the neighbors, no more. I used to be able to walk out the front door and not see drug deals going down, no more. We need the police in full force more now than 20 years ago. Council has to set priorities and think about the residents of this borough. If they cannot do that then it is time to move on.

Diane, I feel your frustation. I too am deeply dissapointed by the lack of respect the majority of council showed their voting public last night. I also find it odd that some council members choose to answer or attack on this blog rather than answer questions that were raised last night. I fully support our Chief of Police and the rest of the police force along with all the other boro employees who work so hard in our community. Needless to say, I do not and will not support the members of council who are up for re-election and I urge others not to as well. Diane, it is not time to move, it is time to VOTE for people that are willing to stand up for the good of our community and its employees.

When you( members of council) go home after the meetings aren't you embarrased to be a member of this council or do you tell your families and friends it's not your fault so and so is the problem? I mean come on you are the most talked about council in 50 yrs. You guys are never going to get along so we all will suffer. The ones that are up for election just do whats right and move on surely you can see this is not your calling. And Gino you should do what any self respecting person should do and resign. Didn't you hear the applause when Joan asked for your resignation? If you truly care about Dormont then walk away so we can have our boro employees back and productive. Go on your terms cause I got a feeling Jan 1st 2012 it won't be. Your smart enough to see how this will unfold. No way the ones that are up for elections will win.

I agree with u totally. If I was disliked that much I couldn't even show my face at work the next day. Come on people lets get rid of these inexperienced uncaring council members. Except u joan

One more thing Phil Ross took a pay cut to be promoted to chief. Now with the borough concerned about the "budget" you just gave our senior officer a raise. The chief recieves salary. Sargent's do not. Do u have any concept of finances council members. This is not why I am upset of Phil being demoted. He is an asset to this community. But it is something to think about. I believe he was demoted because he did what in his heart and experience he knew was right and would not be councils puppet.

Please hang in there Dormont Police, especially Chief Ross. We are behind you!

Clearly the council got the solicitor in their back pocket. No intelligent solicitor would recommend opening up the borough to numerous lawsuits.

I wonder what they have up their sleeve re: zoning issues since for no good reason at all they abruptly replaced the loooong-term zoning solicitor without notice to even the people on the zoning board.

VOTE REPUBLICAN IN NOVEMBER! The Dems have shown they are self-important morons! Joan is the only Republican on council. She can't do it alone...

Dormont council need to be voted out!!! Anyone can run and win a seat at this point.
Being someone who worked with the police and who lives in Dormont, I know that Dormont is one of the best places to live because of the dedicated police force. This police force knows how to handle every situation, without having the coming to a stop, unlike other towns that have three times the amout of officers on duty at a time. Dormont officers, INCLUDING POLICE CHIEF ROSS command respect and they get it. They deal with real crime, and the council members in Dormont have absolutely NO CLUE what goes on in the real world. I constantly walk in Dormont, in the last hours of the night, and I have NEVER had a problem, over the last 20 years. If I did, I know that a Dormont police officer would arrive in about 10 seconds after I called for one.
Whatever Councils issues are with the Public Safety departments in Dormont, they need to get over them, get an understanding how Government works, and move out of town. There is no room in this town for ignorance.

To Drew, the arrests and police blotter are public information. Just like the officers pay, that council posted recently. Dormont police do not hide anything. The keep crime down by doing their job. To the person who said just walk Potomac Ave after 10 pm to see crime, i live on Potomac Ave and work until 11 pm. Then i walk. I have never seen crime.
To the person who said everyone in dormont knows someone who does drugs, i don't.

Heather, Dormont has been falling apart for years??? Then were was I 12 years ago when I moved here and my wife who grew up here. Never were there issues with council and management at the level they are now. Sounds to me like you are saying that to try to take unwarranted credit for something, but really just making up for a pretty big mess that you all have stirred up and trying to take credit for fixing something. What have you fixed???????

Please do not take our police force from us, look elsewhere for cuts. Maybe start with the borough manager

to dormonter..so is this a just a Democratic, Republican thing to you. is that the easy answer?

People voted out the last Council b\c they didn't like what was happening, so lets just do it again. But who is running against them? i just hate when we label it a Dem and Rep race. Every Politician has there agenda! I do want to say i do, and will support the Dormont Police and Fire Department 100% and feel that is Priority.

SOME people voted for the last council members. Not all. I really hope everyone turns out on primary election day because in local elections like this you can see how your vote really counts! If you haven't take a look at the returns some time. The main reason several of our current council members were elected was the single issue of the pool. Voters need to see the bigger picture. Unfortunately, there has been alot of damage.

The pool was an issue. They wanted to close it or change it, the people did not agree with that and felt there were other alternatives.

Although I do not live in dormont, I grew up very close to it. I have heard Dormont property taxes are some of the highest around. Yet, Dormont is drowning in it's own waste. It is a haven for drug addicts, and I have known of many in the community whom have died. Most of the people I know from high school days that still lived in Dormont are dead. You definately need your police force and some sort of drug counseling available in the community. With it being such a small community, why even have all these council people, and a mayor on top of it? Seems to me , like in all areas of this country government needs to be scaled back, lots of money to be saved by cutting some of these positions, which could then be used for more important things. By the way, I am truly glad that Dormont pool was saved, as it has great memories for me, and is truly an important part of the South Hills area I do believe.

Haha! There is a whole apartment full of Russian prositutes living on Potomac Avenue. There have been prostitutes living in the apartment buildings across from the Post Office behind the savings and loan. What we don't want to see we don't see.

I have lived in Dormont since 1992. We were active and community oriented in every aspect. My husband and I raised our children here to adulthood and the police force was ALWAYS supportive those years. Times are changing and we need to know who we labor and live among. Can we be careful how we approach these objectives.

How very true teresa. It's going on not only in Dormont but everywhere in this country. People turn a blind eye to what they would rather not see. I hope that things turn around in Dormont for the better, as I always thought it was such a lovely little community.

So here we are on November 11, 2011 and alot of your pleas were answered. It is quite amazing to see the changes that the group with their personal vendettas has done since this article was posted. Vince that stool you talked about now has 2 less legs and in January at least two more will be removed leaving only a few more to be removed in the elections or 2014(if they don't resign by than) so that Dormont can restore itself to the once proud place it once was. Can't wait to see the fireworks in January.

By the way, I don't see anymore comments from councils biggest supporter "LEE". Must be in hiding after his friends lost the election.

It would just be nice if people would start posting positive items, Dormont will not move on until EVERYONE starts trying to be part of the solution, Who cares who is gone, who cares who is not posting, lets work to fix the many problems we have