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The business discussed is equally troubling. Included, at the Mayor’s request, in Altmire’s “ear marks” (pork barrel items attached to the appropriations bill) is some $200000 in grants to Murrysville. The two $100000 earmarks seemed to surprise members of Council and were known only to the Mayor. What is that all about? The Mayor answered my query with “One is for a system “The Chief [of police] is looking at…. that will allow any police car to access surveillance cameras, i.e. at the school.” The other is for emergency communication”. For $200,000 that is pretty vague. This is another in a long series or escapades of the Mayor funding her pet administrative projects with off the books money, then springing it on Council for acceptance. In the euphoria of accepting such gifts no one questions the merits, or the future costs to maintain them. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? The Charter, § 3-25. Intergovernmental relations states, “ the Mayor shall have the authority to meet with other governmental agencies and to negotiate, subject to the ratification of Council, such intergovernmental agreements as may be beneficial to the Municipality. Has Council already discussed what is beneficial and the Mayor received ratification? Might want to be sure the “gift horse” is not a Trojan horse. Despite the scandals driving the state to more open government Murrysville Government either thumbs their nose at the “Sunshine Act” or they have a blind spot. Council has yet to act to assure televising of ALL meetings. I hope we will do better during the CIP and budget hearings before we are gifted out of home and privacy. “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.”, (Justice Brandeis).
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