Pitcher Park president accuses Dormont solicitor of dirty tricks
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A brief and otherwise uneventful Dormont Borough council meeting last night was overshadowed by a public statement made by former Dormont resident Mary Pitcher, who accused the borough's solicitor of underhandedly attempting to have the Pitcher Park Memorial Foundation stripped of its non-profit status.
Mrs. Pitcher said solicitor Deron Gabriel, under the guise of a "concerned citizen," called and sent multiple e-mails to New Sun Rising, Pitcher Park's 501(c)(3) sponsor, to complain about signs displayed in the window of Mrs. Pitcher's antique shop along West Liberty Avenue.
One of the signs listed the seven Dormont council members and each one's expected vote on the much anticipated skate park measure, while the other sign satirically advocated the write-in of private resident Jeff Fabus for Dormont council over current council member Eugene Barilla. A picture of council president John Maggio's face superimposed on the body of Burger King's "The King" mascot also was framed and displayed in the shop window.
Mr. Gabriel said that he reported the shop's window signs because they represented a form of political campaigning -- an action non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations must avoid.
Mrs. Pitcher disputed that the signs had to be removed, explaining that her antique shop is not affiliated with the Pitcher Park foundation. She expressed anger that Mr. Gabriel did not identify himself as the solicitor of Dormont when he contacted New Sun Rising. She said she believes Mr. Gabriel's actions are in violation of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers.
Mr. Gabriel responded by saying that as an officer of the court, he is bound to bring legal infractions to light.
"This was done in an effort to protect Ms. Pitcher and New Sun Rising by allowing this 501(c)(3) an opportunity to comply with the IRS regulations prohibiting partisan political activity ... this was a legal issue which was brought to my attention by residents and it was simply forwarded on appropriately in an effort to stave off a formal complaint from being filed.
"I made it very clear to [Scott Wolowich, of New Sun Rising] that I was simply passing along to him evidence brought to my attention, but that the decision was solely his as to whether to take the signs down or not."
Amidst this brewing controversy, council will vote Monday to decide the future of the skate park. The proposal is headed by Mrs. Pitcher to honor her sons, Vincent and Stephen Pitcher, who drowned in July 2008 while on a camping trip in the Allegheny National Forest. Both were Keystone Oaks High School graduates and extreme sports enthusiasts.
First Published September 29, 2009 5:57 am
