Mt. Lebanon commissioners promote new police chief
State Representative Dan Miller and Senator Matt Smith, Mt. Lebanon Democrats, congratulate retiring chief Cole McDonough
Deputy Chief Aaron Lauth, an officer for 17 years in the department, was voted unanimously to be promoted to chief by the board of commissioners. Photo provided by Mt. Lebanon.
Chief Coleman McDonough is retiring after six years as Mt. Lebanon’s chief of police, making way for Deputy Chief Aaron Lauth to assume the leadership position. The board of commissioners unanimously promoted Lauth to chief after 17 years as an officer in the municipality.
Commissioners also approved at the May 26 meeting an amendment to municipal code easing residency requirements for up to six former volunteer fire fighters who have been regular members for over two years and live within 12 miles of the public safety building.
In other business, the board heard from nearly two dozen residents, all of whom except one urged the board to vote at its June 9 meeting to have current waste and recycling contractor Republic switch to a “pay as you throw” system that charges residents a per-ton fee instead of a flat rate. Manager Steve Feller said a July 1 deadline looms for any methodology change in the 2015 contract, which would then obligate change of service to run through 2018. Residents who spoke said the deadline shouldn’t be a white flag conceding that nothing can be changed under time constraints, and that the proposal to switch to a per-ton payment system is one that helps the environment that incentivizes recycling waste.
“The current system encourages you to put out as much trash as you can and not recycle. It’s archaic and backwards,” said Corey Flynn, of 1074 Linendale Drive.
Commissioner David Brumfield said the issue isn’t potential costs – the switch to pay as you throw would add $133,000 in up-front costs to the municipal budget, according to financial director Andrew McCreery – but the lack of awareness and engagement on recycling and refuse issues.
“My biggest concern is that so many people don’t know about recycling. I’m shocked, but I still don’t support this right now because I don’t think we could do the necessary outreach and education in a year let alone six months or less,” he said.
Suzanne Stamatov, of 240 Woodhaven Drive, is a member of Lebogreen, an environmental volunteer group. She told the commissioners groups like hers are willing to knock on doors to educate residents.
“Right now, for a senior citizen to put out a little bag every week, and then a neighbor doing a remodel with tons of garbage out – it’s not fair. The smaller contributors (of garbage) are subsidizing the bigger contributors,” she said.
“Do not kick this can down the road and into the landfill,” said Jonathon Edmonds, of Bower Hill Road, “because this could be your legacy.”
Alonda Edmonds said the board shouldn’t be swayed by media publications.
“There’s some hesitancy, I think, for the board to avoid bad press because of past issues, but the education and outreach process should start now,” she said.
The board also revised their June 22 meeting from a voting meeting to an all-discussion meeting on another contentious issue: deer management. The board also set June 9 as the public hearing date for two issues: amending charter rules to allow a simple majority of commissioners pass votes regarding debt, and to amend the charter to simplify required advertising of debt issuances.