Plum Borough, PBAA to Resolve Issues in Court

Though some tried to avoid it, Plum Borough Council and the Plum Borough Athletic Association will hash things out in court on Tuesday.

Borough officials and the PBAA will go before Plum Magistrate Linda Zucco at 9 a.m. to determine the status of the organization's lease on eight borough-owned ballfields along Ross Hollow Road. The PBAA leased the ballfields for $1 a year.

Some in the borough had tried to prevent the two entities from going to court by acting as a mediator, forming a new athletic association and appointing a new PBAA executive board.

The series of events began in September when borough that they no longer would have rights to the ballfields, citing several permit violations.

Since the first effort to terminate the PBAA's lease, a detective with the Allegheny County District Attorney's office charged former PBAA president Richard Claypoole—he resigned last month along with the —with theft by deception; and misapplication of entrusted property and property of government or financial institutions for allegedly making payments to himself and his business, Richmar with PBAA funds between 2008 and 2011. The association also is being investigated by the DA's office for misuse of funds, as well as the county Attorney General's office.

Earlier this week, former state senator Sean Logan—also a Plum resident—between the two Plum athletic groups, the PBAA and the newly-created Plum Baseball and Softball Association.

Some on borough council stated they would like the two entities to merge and form a new association in an effort to dissolve the now "tainted" PBAA.

Logan was to sit with the two organizations to come up with a possible solution. However, Logan said on Thursday morning his efforts were not successful.

He said he reached out to both the PBAA and the PBSA, and while the PBSA was willing to meet, the PBAA declined.

"I respect their decision, but I don't agree," he said. "I'm concerned. Dating back to my days as Monroeville mayor, I've always found it to be helpful to get all parties in a room.

"Youth sports should never be decided by a judge. That doesn't send a good message to the kids ... we had more than 100 hours to devote to this before the hearing."

New PBAA President Bob Schmidt said that while the the PBAA and the PBSA met to discuss forming a new third entity, proposals of operation exchanged between the two organizations were too different.

"It is the opinion of the PBAA board that given the list of required considerations and concessions from both organizations, that mediation will not bring about an expeditious resolve," he said. "Both teams appear to have significant vested interests and believe their approach toward moving forward is the optimal solution. A merger of two organizations with different ideas of how to
manage the facility and structure a board of directors is, in our opinion, a recipe for a dysfunctional organization, which is something I think we all can agree our children and community do not deserve."

Councilman Mike Doyle, who was in favor of both athletic organizations coming together, thanked Logan for his effort but said he is disappointed at the outcome.

"I'm angry," he said. "This clearly isn't about the kids anymore. We tried to get a disinterested, respected man to help, only to have the PBAA to thumb their noses at him. What does that say?

"I'm frustrated. It's ridiculous, and it's a real shame. Who knows what is going to happen."

Schmidt said the issue at hand currently is between the borough council and the PBAA over a lease agreement—not a merger with the PBSA.

"The focus is on our lease and getting the teams on the field again," he said. "We believe we have the proven framework to move ahead. The past is the past, and we are moving forward."

Logan said a way to end this fast is to have each party agree to let Zucco's ruling be final.

"Will it be over on Tuesday? Who knows," Logan said. "There are always appeals. I was going to suggest that everyone agree to not appeal. That's something I would have pushed for—let Tuesday be the end of it. My fear is it won't."