Memorial Day

Two days of training for Borough Secretaries- Administrators ended on Thursday afternoon. I attended the last Westmoreland County Association of Boroughs meeting until September Thursday night.  I spent a several hours this holiday weekend reading back issues of the magazine Borough News.

The most important thing that is happening in Delmont is tomorrow 10:00 AM at Twin Valley Memorial Park. It is the service where we thank all who serve and especially honor the men and women who paid the ultimate price serving in the armed services to protect our Freedoms.  It really use to bother me when I see people disrespect, destroy, or burn our Flag because I always thought about those who gave their life for this Country, and those who put themselves in harm's way defending our way of life. Now, I just feel sorry that those people who engage in such activities are so ignorant that they don't realize they are destroying the symbol of all the people who fought and died to give them the ability to express these views publicly.

From the bottom of my heart a most sincere thanks to all who died that I may live in Freedom today: to the families that had to endure the loss of loved ones: and, those who have suffered great personal, mental, and physical losses in service to our Nation. Thanks to all who serve. God Bless you one and all.

Update May 24, 2016

I am waiting for the start of two day administration class.

I met with my advisor-Mentor for three hours last Wednesday. He gave me great advice.  I have started to act on some of it, but there is still so much to do.

I am going to the County Association of Boroughs tomorrow night. I am very interested in the speaker who is the Director of Emergency response. There have not been many comments or responses to the post I made about gas pipeline explosion.  I heard that there may now be ground water contamination. I can't wait to discuss some issues with the other County leaders.

I have been meeting with Scouting leaders about reestablishing Cub Pack. There is a new part to Cub Scout Program called Lions.  It is pilot program for Kindergarten age 5 boys. Not only looking into this piolet program but looking into having a special needs Den.

Responded to some residents on storm water issues, but haven't got the response hoping.

Any concerns, feel free to contact me. It is a pleasure serving you.

Gas Pipeline Explosion

Many of you who are citizens of Delmont Borough may be wondering why I would include this post under Delmont Council Activities.  I hope all of you are aware prior to my election to Council the Borough granted easements to Sunoco for the Mariner 2 Pipeline to pass through our Borough.  My original position is there is not much that can be done with pipelines because these are Federally Regulate and the transmission of oil and gas throughout the Country can be claimed a National Security issue.  When I attempted to attend the Town Hall Meeting in Salem Township when I arrived there was no room to even enter the building.  There was an activist there who tried to tell me that new lines could be fought because there is enough infrastructure to support movement now that the oil and gas companies just want their own lines so they don't have to pay to use what is there.  I have not researched enough to comment on that claim, but it was interesting.  I even talked a little bit with one of Keith Rothfus staff members about some of what you will find in this post.

When I went to the meeting I was not overly interested in what the Gas company was saying about the incident.  My personal belief is that the information would be rudimentary at best and most of the "information" would be Public Relations sophistry to convenience everyone of how safe gas and oil pipelines are.  I just wanted to formally request a copy of the official NTSB report that would have all the facts in it.  The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) is the Agency responsible for regulating the oil and gas lines.

Here is a list of my personal beliefs in case you feel that I am becoming too biased.

1. We all use either gas, oil, or both.  If we want these services the lines have to go somewhere. Nobody really wants them in their backyards.
2. In this incident the safety procedures worked well because the gas was shut off fairly quickly and there was no loss of life and limited damage compared to what could have been.
3. This incident should act as a wake up call to all the people who have fracking wells on their property or who are considering allowing wells on their property.  Yes, I know a transmission line is not the same as a fracking well but explosions and fires are possible at wells.  Why do you think they offer what seems like so much money when they are trying to start?
4. When any pipe is laid the company has a good idea of how long that pipe is going to last, but they make no effort to put money aside for replacement because they rather raise rates when the infrastructure needs to be updated.
5. Oil and Gas companies employ large numbers of actuaries to calculate the costs of damage and loss of life from accidents.  Sadly in some cases they may take the risk that leads to loss of life and property because it is so unlikely or would be cheaper to pay for it at some future time.
6. There is very little if anything that can be done to change locations of current pipelines.

I am not a big fan of more rules or regulations; however, when the bureaucracy is already in place and the life and property of citizens in our Commonwealth and Nation are in danger, it becomes necessary to make changes.  Yes, the gas and oil industry are in a bit of a slump right now, and some of the cost will probably filter down to us in higher utility bills because that is how the industry deals with cost increases.

Here is a list of points that I believe should be incorporated into Pennsylvania law at a minimum.  I would encourage all citizens to contact their State Senators and Representatives to push these initiatives.

1. If PA is going to be a major player in the Oil and Gas Industry the companies who are utilizing our resources ought to establish a HellFire response base somewhere in the central part of our state.  Gas and oil fires are special fire circumstances and beyond the capabilities of local fire departments.  We were lucky that the gas was able to be turned off.  Next time we may not be so lucky.  A lot of death and destruction is possible within the four plus hours it would take for the fire fighters to immobilize from Texas.  From a central location in PA it would be 2 hours max to respond to an incident within the State.
2. There should be accident scenarios developed for homes,farms, and business that could be damaged or destroyed by pipeline and well accidents to include worse case possible.  The results should be shared with the citizens that live in or have a business in those areas.
3. Gas and Oil lines are a necessary part of life.and they have risks no matter how small they may be.  In real estate transfers major pipe and well locations should be disclosed immediately along with the accident scenario so buyers can make informed choices if they want to assume the risk.  We make choices about risk everyday in driving and flying on airplanes.  Property owners have the same rights to make choices.
4. Gas and oil companies ought to be required to set monies aside for infrastructure repair to pipelines.  They know how much service life to expect.  Although these costs will eventually be passed on to the consumer, it will prevent the rate increases in the twelfth hour to ensure safe service.
5. The companies ought to be required to set up a found for people killed and property destroyed by pipeline and well accidents.  They may make safer decisions if they have large sums of their own money at stake instead of relying on insurance companies to pay all damages.

These are the points that I wanted to cover at the meeting.  Your comments are appreciated.
    .

Storm Water Post

Attention:  Residents of Delmont.  The weather has been wet and rainy.  Are you having trouble with storm water runoff?  The problems of interest include:  flooding basement (or large amounts of water in basement), water accumulation on driveways and sidewalks, and large amounts of water accumulating in yards.  The Westmoreland County Conservation District is interested in accumulating data and offering assistance in correcting these problems.  Delmont and some surrounding areas have been given a priority status because of development and location.  I have joined the Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP) Committee.  One task is to collect the address locations of problem areas in our Borough.  Depending on the severity of the problem, or multiple complaints in one area a representative of the Westmoreland County Conservation District will visit and give ideas of how to correct your problems.  There is no cost to you for the visit and advice.  You will also be provided a copy of the 25 page booklet  Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Homeowner’s Guide to Storm water: How to develop and implement a stormwater management plan for your property.  Please provide name, address or tax plot number, and a description of the problem.  Also, indicate if you want to try to set up an appointment with the representative of Westmoreland County Conservation District.

Please send information or direct questions to Councilman David Piper. E-mail david4delmont@gmail.com.  Send to the Delmont Borough Office: 77 Greensburg St. Delmont, PA 15626.  You can call (724) 552-9531.

Thoughts from Council Meeting May 10,2016

Sorry it took so long to write this but we had a visitor this week.  I am so glad that the Delmont Library lease was signed and project will go on without delay.  I was afraid that after the note was read we would be hit with a delay pending yet another meeting.  I wanted so bad to make the motion to approve the lease and move on, but I knew if the first motion came from me that would not happen.  That is why I jumped on and seconded it as fast as I could.  Other than this there was not a whole lot of issues that were very important that were handled.  I did want to ask the insurance committee if they even asked for a quote from Keystone Insurers Group.  One thing that I have learned from my trainings is this group is endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs and they provide free quotes.  Often they are less expensive because they specialize in Borough insurances.  If their quote would have been lower at least Delmont could have shown it to the group we choose and tried to negotiate a comparable rate.  But what do I know, I am the junior member.

There are many issues weighing heavily on my mind.  When the cheaper route is chosen the cost savings is immediate, but the potential future liabilities are much more costly.  The other thing that is bothering me is I am not sure whether our solicitor was just testing me or if he thinks that I am just ignorant about the law.  Sure he doesn't know that I took the LSATS or that I was considering being a lawyer at one point, or that I tutored Law students at the University of Maryland when I lived down in that part of the country.  I suppose I could spend the $200,000 to get the JD after my name, but I am going to spend $90,000 instead pursuing a Masters in Environmental Mgt/Public Policy that will be more beneficial to Delmont, Westmoreland County, and perhaps the State in the long run.  Especially in the issues of MS4, Stormwater, and sewage.

Fortunately, I am meeting with one of my advisers next Wednesday and hope to get insights on how to proceed.  Not only will these deficiencies increase cost on our budget, but it will alienate fellow council members and the Mayor.  I want so desperately to build a working relationship with everyone, but continuous operation outside the law carries a lot of potential liability for our community.  Furthermore, some of the areas were we have not been operating proceduraly  correct, don't carry legal and fiduciary consequences, but it has harmed our little community greatly.  It will continue to be detrimental if not corrected.  I am currently seeking funds, privately, that will address some of the deficiencies but there will be long term costs associated with it as well.

I would support a community wide meeting were all of the residents of Delmont could meet with the full council and vote on the services that we as a community feel our in our best interest.  Yes, there are some expenses that are mandated by laws (Sewage, Storm water MS4, Civil Service Commission with more than 3 full time officers), but there are other areas where, I feel, your voices should be heard.  However, everyone must understand the costs of providing services continues to increase and our tax base has remained fairly stagnate.  It is impossible to provide services without some sort of tax increases.  That is why I think it is vitally important for you to tell us how, and how much you are willing to pay for the services that are important to you and your families.  As you know from a previous post I am not a fan of paying higher taxes or fees either, but someone has to pay.  Cutting corners, keeping fees artificially low makes everyone happy today by the money that is being saved, but at some point somebody will need to pay.

I am going to make a post about storm water project that I am involved in and one about the piipeline explosion.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve.        

Sewer Rates Part 2

Sorry it has been so many days, I have been extremely busy in trainings and meetings to better serve you.  I will give a detail at some point if you wish, but I need to get back to the major post at hand.

I realize that 80% of you probably don't care about all the background information that I am putting into these blogs, but you have a right to know, because 100% of us are affected by increasing costs.

It is a sad fact that of all the taxes and fees we pay to the different government entities (Federal, State,County, etc) the most bang we get for our bucks is in local services.  In fact, one theme that was stressed repeatedly in many trainings is Local Government exists to provide services. Services continue to increase in costs and complexity thanks to many non-funded mandates that we receive on the local level.  For those who are not familiar with the phrase "non-funded mandates" these are laws and regulations that we must enforce that cost local governments lots of money, but no money is given from the Feds or state to pay for them.  The consequence more of your local money is diverted and you aren't seeing any service benefits.

Other trends that are happening throughout the County is many communities are hitting the wall.  I have heard many retired complaining about having to live on a fix income.  I can empathize with the sentiment, but a fixed income is what an individual is going to get when relying on Government to take care of them.  "Equally" dividing the pie does not take into account individual needs which vary greatly.  It may come as a shock, but local government runs on a fixed income as well.  It is called the local tax base and the citizens abilities to pay the taxes and fees.  Interestingly enough it seems the only level of government that gives relief in economic challenging times is the local governments.  Local governments are least likely to be able to afford it.  You probably forgot but several years ago the rates that Delmont was being charged increased, but Delmont did not raise the rates.  One year Delmont even cut back the rate.  This is very popular and the citizens are very happy. Nobody wants to pay more for sewage than necessary.  But this leads more to the way people think about money than charges for services.

Money is a strange thing.  Personally, I hate spending money on Social Security tax, and Unemployment tax, hair cuts, like to eat well hate spending on food, clothes and shoes wrap up the short list.  I bulk and complain a bit about $105 dues for an organization I love and will turn around and spend $125 for a music installment for kids lessons.  I don't mind spending money for Philanthropy, books, personal education and growth, good food and service at restaurants, travel with family.  The point is we all have our own comfort zone and likes about how we spend money.  I doubt taxes, sewage, or utilities would make anybody's list of favorite expenditures, but where would we be without them?

In 2013, I think was the year, that Gallop studied how many family's actually have a budget.  There finding was 1 in 3.  To me that seems like it might be a little high, but that means that three of your Council members ought to be good at budgeting.  Well, there is another list I didn't quit make, but I am learning.

I have come up with an analogy of our current sewer situation.  Delmont was not the only government entity that could be described by this scenario. It also describes what many sewer authorities have done.  It is this kind of thinking that I believe has lead to the bankruptcy of the Pittsburgh Serwer authority as well.   Nobody anywhere likes to pay for this service.  It must be viewed as just throwing money down the drain, but it is not.  Modern conveniences have spoiled us.  We set our garbage out and it disappears.  We flush our toilets, out of sight out of mind.

Now here is the analogy:  We passed an ordinance where we provide a Prime cut Steak for $2.00 a day as a service for our citizens.  We get a 25 year contract where the full price is paid at the end. Everybody is thrilled they get to eat stead everyday for only $730.00 a year what a bargain. For the first 5 years the cost is $2.00 a day but those in power decide it has been a good yer so to make the citizens happy they reduce the fee to $1.50 for the next 5 years.  The powers realize that the price is going up and there are only 10 years left rates need to go up.  After much fighting and public comment the fee is back up to $1.75.  There are only five years left.  The community is out raged but fee is raised to $6.00. To keep it simple we will say that the real cost of the stake to the government was $10.00 and did not go up a cent for 25 years.  Yes, this is totally unrealistic but it is sufficient to make the point.  The cost per person for the full 25 years is $91,250.00.  The total money collected to pay for it is $31,481.25.  The amount still owed would be $59,768.75 per person.  Where is that money suppose to come from?  Government's role is to provide the services not make up for any short falls.  Remember with proper budgeting and fee structures there would not be that big of a deficit.  Ideally, there is a zero balance or what is necessary for emergencies of some infrastructure a surplus. Very few residents would be able to pay the 59,768.95 in one year, so the powers that be would have to come up with a payment plan of probably another 25 years so that the residents could afford the extra fee in addition to current tax and fee obligations.  The steak fee would be $2,390.76 every year for 25 years and that would not be giving them new steak everyday.  Everyone enjoyed having that steak everyday, but who would want to pay for it for 25 years long after the memory of satisfaction is gone?  Fine people of Delmont, we have been "eating steak" so to speak for about 40 years and the bill is coming due.

I want to make a comment about "surpluses" when it comes to things like sewage treatment.  Many people think if there is money that is not being spent that tax breaks should follow.  For instance if I had $50,000 just sitting in the sewer account some people would be outraged that they were still paying so much for their sewage.  Delmont trying to make a profit at our expense.  The reality is equipment for sewage is extremely costly.  If a pump would go that "surplus" is only one third of what would be needed to replace it.  That's right sitting on $50,000 it still might be necessary to borrow another $100.000 just to keep sewage moving.

The realities I want to warn you about are we are going to probably need to borrow money to stabilize the budget with the upgrade that happened at the Pump station.  Secondly, sewage rates are probably going to need to be increased.  It is ironic that the Councilman with a whopping 5 months under his belt could have done so much wrong in such a short period of time.  I assure you that I have the same amount of accountability, responsibility, and culpability for this situation that I have for other situations in history like the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the sinking of the Titanic, and the Hindenburg disaster.  There are some who will try to get you to perceive otherwise.Please know that I am going to do my best to soften the blows that are on the horizon.  Believe me there are a lot more coming and I am spending about 3 hours a day trying to think through some of this issues.  I am not sure that all the money I am spending this year will give me enough information to solve all these issues, but it should give the basis for ideas.  I truly hope that I can encourage fellow council members to work cooperatively toward objectives that are truly good for Delmont.  My oppositions arise when I don't feel that the people of Delmont are not being heard or discounted, when the actions are against what constituents told me, or I believe that the action is for now and not the long term interest of our community.

As always feel free to contact me.  It is a pleasure serving you.