Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is replacing a city Stadium Authority board member who has criticized two North Shore land deals and an entertainment complex proposed by the Steelers and a Columbus developer.

Board Chairwoman Debbie Lestitian said she received word yesterday from the mayor's office that she was being replaced.

"I serve at the pleasure of the mayor and he has the right to replace me," she said during a brief phone interview.

Mr. Ravenstahl has appointed Michael Danovitz, a lawyer and CPA, to replace Ms. Lestitian, which has served on the authority board since 2006.

Although Ms. Lestitian said she had been reappointed by Mr. Ravenstahl in April 2008, the mayor's spokeswoman, Joanna Doven, said yesterday that wasn't so. She said Ms. Lestitian's term expired Dec. 31, 2007, and that she had not been reappointed.

Ms. Lestitian tied her removal to her opposition to the sale of parcels of land to Continental Real Estate Cos., which is developing the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park, and the Steelers, which is teaming with the developer to build a riverfront entertainment complex next to its stadium.

Last August, Ms. Lestitian voted against the sale of one parcel of land and portions of three others to Continental for $1.32 million for a Hyatt Place Hotel and the sale of a four-acre site for the entertainment complex to the Steelers and Continental for $1.37 million. Ms. Lestitian complained that the prices for the parcels were too low.

At an authority board meeting last week, Ms. Lestitian also criticized a proposed three-year delay Continental and the team were seeking to finish a brick courtyard associated with the entertainment facility and described the proposed complex as "ugly."

City Councilman William Peduto, who was removed from the Stadium Authority board last year by Mr. Ravenstahl, said that replacing Ms. Lestitian "sends a chilling message to all board members."

"After my removal and now Debbie's, if you question [issues or policies], you may not continue as a member of the board," he said.

He called Ms. Lestitian "very intelligent, hard working and independent. I couldn't think of a better person to represent the people of Pittsburgh."

Mr. Peduto said Ms. Lestitian's removal likely will come up as part of a public hearing being scheduled to discuss the North Shore master plan. Some North Side groups have complained about the lack of public input into the plan and Continental's refusal to support a community benefits agreement.