October 6, 2022

Mayor Pauline Calabrese

Penn Hills Government Center
102 Duff Road
Penn Hills, PA 15235

Dear Mayor Calabrese,

This is to inform you that we are in receipt of your letter dated September 29, 2022, asking
that we cancel our current K9 fundraising efforts. I regret to inform you that we cannot
honor your request. We will not cancel an event on short notice. All fundraising decisions
are made by our Board and general membership, not by outside individuals or
government officials.

The contents of your letter were not factually accurate. Our fundraising plans were
discussed on more than one occasion with more than one municipal official. To that
extent, we received a letter dated August 8, 2022, where we were informed that funds
raised on the behalf of the K9 division would be used at the Municipality’s discretion. We
understand that the Municipality must use the money at the proper time. Respecting
those wishes, we created a separate K9 fund so that you can advise us when you are ready
for a new dog, at which point we will release the funds for that sole purpose. The letter
went on to thank us for our support and did not request we cease fundraising. Any
concerns should have been raised at that point to allow our organization adequate time
to plan accordingly.

Rotary Club of Penn Hills PO Box 17273 Penn Hills, PA 15235 pennhillsrotary.org
 In your letter, you suggest that our fundraising efforts are an attempt to circumvent the
budget process and the wishes of taxpayers, going on to say it is “unfair to residents.” This
statement is wholly inaccurate. The point of fundraising is to offset the future cost to
taxpayers by providing the Municipality with the funding necessary for the acquisition
and subsequent training of a replacement K9. What is unfair to residents is your blanket
denial of funding that is intended to assist in maintaining the existing level of public safety
services while not placing an added burden onto taxpayers.

For many years, the Municipality of Penn Hills has deployed a prestigious K9 program that
other communities envy. Rotary is proud of the first responders in our community and
looks to recognize and help whenever we can. The Municipality has frequently utilized
outside funding for the K9 program, including most recently from the Ben Roethlisberger
Foundation. A Penn Hills officer also partnered with the local McDonalds franchise owner
to organize a successful fundraiser - but that event was not a municipal event as you
alluded to.

The precedent for sourcing outside funds exists. Our fundraising efforts support several
local Penn Hills businesses. Our plans are grassroots in nature, allowing the community
to feel ownership in the ongoing work we are doing to raise money for a future dog.
Logically, the Municipality of Penn Hills should welcome outside funding that can be used
to offset the cost associated with a K9 division, as it has done in the past, and involve
citizens in that effort.

It has repeatedly been discussed at public meetings that Mayor and Council do not run
the day-to-day operations of the Municipality. Therefore, we did not see the need to
present this to you specifically. However, you recently voted to authorize the purchase of

Penn Hills Rotary (412) 712-7371 PO Box 17273 Penn Hills, PA 15235 pennhillsrotary.org
 several new K9 vehicles. You currently do not have enough dogs to staff those vehicles.
That’s where we hope our fundraiser can help.

The best interest of the community is always at the forefront of what Rotary does. Public
safety is paramount, and we believe a grassroots effort to support the K9 division is a no-
brainer.

If you would like to discuss future events and how we may work together, we would
welcome the opportunity to do so. Yourself, the manager and/or council members may
contact me to arrange a meeting with our Board.

Sincerely,

Tyler Tomasino
President, Penn Hills Rotary
info@pennhillsrotary.org
(412) 712-7371

Penn Hills Rotary (412) 712-7371 PO Box 17273 Penn Hills, PA 15235 pennhillsrotary.org