Dormont Over Budget for Special Legal Fees
Councilwoman Hodson seeks grant money for conflict resolution
Labor negotiations, a string of suspensions and tumult throughout the borough have exhausted Dormont’s budget for legal fees.
Mayor Tom Lloyd said the borough is $6,000 over its $30,000 budget for legal fees, dolling out more than $18,000 during the spring.
“It’s only July, and we’re already in the hole,” he said.
Council Vice President Laurie Malka said she still anticipates a balance at the end of the year. “When one area is over budget, others are under,” she said.
Borough Manager Gino Rizza said most of the money has been spent on disciplinary actions.
“The money shouldn’t have been spent in the first place,” Lloyd said. “There have been problems all year.”
Those problems were discussed during Tuesday’s council meeting when two police officers were demoted. Officers James Burke and Phil Ross were both demoted to patrolmen.
Conflicts have also developed due to ongoing tension between the mayor and borough manager.
“All problems of this borough will go away the day council has enough nerve to terminate the borough manager,” Lloyd said.
“Council has the ultimate authority in the borough,” Rizza said. “Council does the hiring and firing.”
Councilwoman Joan Hodson recommended the borough seek grant money available for conflict resolution programs.
“Instead of paying labor attorneys, we should apply for grants,” she said.
Leah Petrilli
6:13 am on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Oh my gosh Ms. Hodson how dare you!!!! From what Ive been reading ONLY the Boro Manager is to apply for grants(unless of course the assistant boro manager finds the money first)! Becareful!! You will be GPS "chipped" and demoted before you know it! :O
Or ..how about the people on council that love to create the attorney fees pay for them out of their own pockets? I would bet there would be nary a lawyer in sight if certain members of council that had to use their own brains and creativity to properly mediate the situations created by the boro manager. Oh..wait...nevermind.
Ed M
7:42 am on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wait a minute! Isn't one of the reasons Ross was demoted because he didn't apply for grants?
Go Dormont
8:34 am on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
that's actually not a bad idea from ms. hodson - the borough manager can apply for those grants, right? Dormont's over budget in that area but the Borough saved $30K from reducing the minimum police on duty requirement - I think I read that on here somewhere. The solution is not to give up and go back to what was happening before, that's how Dormont got into this mess in the first place. None of the commenters on here were crying when the overtime fund for police was much further over budget - where was the Mayor then?
Gina Simon
9:18 am on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
If you think the legal budget is over now, wait until the two demoted officers file their lawsuits and Dormont has to defend them! You are all naive to think that this won't happen. Mrs. Malka better make sure that the other departments don't use anymore of their budget because she will need the money to defend the lawsuits.
Mary Beth Kovic
11:35 am on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Gina, you are absolutely right. This is just the tip of the firestorm of legal fees about to come - thanks to Rizza and his friends on council. The borough will be suffering financially from their actions for YEARS to come. Does anyone remember why they fired Tom Ayoob, the prior well respected and EXPERIENCED borough solicitor? They , including Lehman, Maggio, Lusardi and Malka, said his legal fees were too high! Mr. Ayoob kept Dormont out of litigation by providing GOOD counsel and making council adhere to procedures. He saved the borough a lot more money than he ever cost. Legal fees are now higher than they've ever been and will continue to grow. Fortunately, the community has the opportunity to clean house in November.
Leah Petrilli
6:11 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Legal expenses: $6,000.00 over yearly budget by July.
“Acting” Chief of Police: $5550.00 per month
Non Allegheny County GPS units: $2500.00
Bonuses to Boro Manager: $12,500.00
Multiple Attorneys on Taxpayer’s dime: $160.00 per hour EACH
(the meter is still running folks)
Uncashed check laying around in Boro safe for 3 months: $600.00
Fiscally Responsible Boro Council in Dormont: Nonexistent
Dormont 2012
6:28 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Leah,
Don't forget the monthly service charge of $169.95 that is listed under the police dept budget line item 01-410-430 for those GPS units. Yes there is a monthly fee as well! June budget report is on the borough's webiste under administration. Left side shows budget reports and warrant lists. Warrant lists shows the vendor as Teluware for $169.95.
Leah Petrilli
6:31 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Whoops! Mybad! Thank you for pointing that out to me Dormont 2012. ;)
Mary Beth Kovic
9:35 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Leah, the uncashed check was given back to the person that wrote it. Apparently they exchanged some brilliant ideas with the manager on how to rent the rec center out more often in exchange for their free use of the rec center for 2 days ($600 value). But, the manager insisted this was not bartering! According to him it was "negotiating" because the information provided was worth $1,700! Anyone care to sell some swamp land to the borough? We can continue to add to your list of wasted money....consultant for inexperienced manager $12,939., PR person to try to make the manager and council sound better $10,000. It just goes on and on.
Leah Petrilli
9:38 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Hmmm..very interesting..and finally an answer! I wonder what laws have been broken here and what that will eventually end up costing the tax payers of Dormont? Thank you for the information Mary Beth. Like you said..put it on the tab!
Kyle
9:49 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Hey Go Dormont, there wasn't an issue with any of this before the current council members took office. They're solving the problems they themselves created. That doesn't make them an effective council.
Leah Petrilli
6:03 am on Thursday, July 7, 2011
You hit the nail on the head there Kyle. This hot mess is council’s creation. And I am wondering from what “area” that is under budget is Ms. Malka planning to “rob Peter to pay Paul”. I, as a taxpayer would like to see specifics. Why should other “areas” be penalized so to speak? Also, while Ms. Hodson’s suggestion to seek to obtain grant money to alleviate conflict resolution is a good one, why in the world should public money (and I include my tax dollars) be utilized? The people that feed this fire should have to pay out of their own pockets for conflict resolution and you watch how fast there is suddenly no conflict to resolve. I, for one as a taxpayer think that Gino Rizza has cost this community far too much in terms of actual money spent and in reputation and integrity of this boro. He has cost this community far too much in the awful contention that has spiraled out of control here. And certain members of this council have fostered this environment. I keep reading articles about how bleak the job market is for new college graduates. As a resident, Id be willing to take a chance on new graduate with less experience but one with good communication skills as well as good people skills,one that doesn’t need GPS to spy on other employees, one that doesn’t need a cast of characters at high rates to perform his or her job.
Mary Beth Kovic
1:01 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
FYI - This council (Maggio, Lehman, Schmidt, Barilla and Malka) claimed they were going to reduce legal costs. Last year they were $20,000 OVER budget for special legal fees and they are on track to FAR exceed that overage amount this year. This group has created problems everywhere. Unfortunately, the taxpayers will suffer the consequences and expenses for a long time to come.
Drew Lehman
3:25 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Mary Beth, Did you ever have a tax increase during your time on Council?
Just Mom
5:06 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Mr Lehman, Can you please provide the facts supporting your statement accusing the police of watching tv? Who and When? Still waiting, very bold statement and yet no facts to support it.
Ed M
7:19 am on Friday, July 8, 2011
You won't get an answer to this because there are no facts to support the statement! it's politics!
Taxes aren't the only thing the people in the Borough care about, Drew! They care the Borough is becoming a laughing stock!
Kyle
5:37 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Drew, their tax increases went to things like paving roads, not paying legal fees because Fuhrer Gino got butt-hurt about not having power over the police force and dictated their suspensions to council.
Mary Beth Kovic
5:50 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Drew, you know the answer to that question is yes. That’s old news and never was a secret. In fact, it’s why you came into office with a budget surplus that your group quickly spent. However, unless you are trying to change the subject, I fail to see what a tax increase during my time in office has to do with your ineptitude now. As Kyle pointed out, we had a road paving program in place and a plan to keep police vehicles in optimal condition, among other things that were assets to Dormont. Nevertheless, if you believe the tax increase wasn’t needed and you are opposed to it, you certainly had the option and opportunity to decrease the taxes since you have approved 4 budgets since taking office.
Go Dormont
11:01 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
i was wondering why dormont has such high taxes - thanks to the logic of mary beth kovic. the current council hasn't raised taxes a dime and i'm thankful for that.
Leah Petrilli
11:03 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Go Dormont the next council will have to clean up the mess created by this council.
dormonter
10:04 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
There you go again Mary Beth, confusing the sore loser Lehman with facts. Really, aren't we all better off with our tax money lining the pockets of scheister lawyers? Political hack schiesters? Won't we all be better off if little Gino gets more of our tax money in a closed-door negotiating session for a raise? Maybe the 4 council members can appoint Gino as Police Chief/Boro Mgr. He always wanted to be a cop. Since now the police chief doesn't need to actually be able to perform police duties I say he might just get that badge one day after all!
Kyle
12:15 am on Friday, July 8, 2011
I would rather have my taxes raised and see the borough being improved than keep taxes where they're at and subject the citizens of Dormont to the circus we're currently in. Mr. Lehm- I mean Go Dormont, if you're happy with this nonsense, then I think you've seriously misplaced your priorities.
time for a change
1:33 am on Friday, July 8, 2011
I can admit when I'm wrong but I was wrong this entire time guided by some bad information. It's " Go Dormont " not the other person that I was thinking of that was arrested by sergeant Burke for Public intoxication. I hope this Go Dormont guy never gets on council he might hold a grudge and demote Burke and speak badly of the police every chance he gets and then he might rubber stamp waisted attorney fees because of his distain for the police. I wonder if this Go Dormont person ever wants to make a run at Mayor? Maybe Go Dormont can run for council in November as a write in?
BORN & RAISED IN DORMONT
6:15 am on Friday, July 8, 2011
Gina I couldn't agree with you more you hit the nail on the head. Go Dormont way to throw your real name in their to make a comment. Time For A Change I think it would be a cold day in hell befor anyone from this boro would vote Go Dormont in as mayor. Not being on the Novembe ballot should tell him what he needs to know write in or not he should know by now how the people of Dormont feel about him????? Go Dormont you all ready know why Dormont has such high taxes why keep playing this game? How many public apologies are you going to need to make befor you quit sticking you foot in you mouth? Mr Lehman, Can you please provide the facts supporting your statement accusing the police of watching tv? Who and When? Still waiting, very bold statement and yet no facts to support it. Yes I think alot of us would like to know the answer to this you were so quick to throw this out their so why no response? Then again if you respond we might figure out who you really are hiding behind that smoke screen!!