SNOW MUST GO It may be OK to binge watch TV during the cold and snowy days of Mt. Lebanon’s winter, but shoveling your sidewalk is definitely something you want to keep up with instead of letting it pile up.

Any time there is an accumulation of snow or ice of one inch or more, it must be removed from public walkways within 24 hours. This holds true for houses, apartments and even vacant buildings. Business owners must clear their sidewalks within four hours of accumulation between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

In addition, in the 24-hour period after a snowfall of one inch or more, there is no on-street parking between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. to allow snowplows and ice trucks the room they need to clear streets. When shoveling your driveway, please pile the snow to the left of the driveway (as you look at it) so the snowplow will not re-bury your driveway’s entrance.

If you have a neighbor who is sick, elderly or even one busy with a newborn baby, you might want to have your teenager pitch in and help.

We hate to talk about fines, but they exist and you don’t want them. Violators of the ordinance can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $1,000 based on how many offenses they have accrued (and each day you are in violation can count as a separate offense).

NEW METERS During the next several weeks, Duquesne Light will be replacing existing electric meterswith new digital models.  This is the first step of a multi-year program the company is undertaking to enable customers to use smart technology to better manage their energy consumption.

Customers will receive a notification letter detailing the utility company’s plans and will receive a reminder call three to five days before the day of the exchange. Since residential meters are on the outside of houses, you do not need to be home for the exchange to take place.

For residents who are home, an authorized installer will present a valid identification card. If you have any questions, call 1-888-928-8539 for verification.

In some limited cases, the meter replacement will result in a brief (approximately 10 minutes) interruption of customer’s electric service. After the exchange is complete, service will return to normal.

For any additional questions, visit the Meter Exchange Program section of DuquesneLight.com, email MeterExchangeInquiry@duqlight.com or call 1-888-928-8539. Press “1” and follow the prompts to reach a Customer Service Representative.

In some limited cases, the replacement will result in a brief (approximately 10 minutes) interruption of electric service. After the exchange is complete, service will return to normal.

For any additional questions, visit the Meter Exchange Program section of DuquesneLight.com, email MeterExchangeInquiry@duqlight.com or call 1-888-928-8539. Press “1” and follow the prompts to reach a customer service representative.

OPEN BOOKS If, like us, you love information and you love numbers even more, have we got a web address for you: mtlebanonpa.opengov.com/transparency. (You can also get there by going to www.mtlebanon.org and clicking on the OpenLebo icon on the middle of the screen.)

That’s the address for OpenLebo, our finance department’s new transparency portal. Want to see the municipality’s debt service, balance sheet or year-to-date budget including amendments? It’s all there, updated when appropriate. You can find official documents there, from budgets to annual reports. There’s even actuarial data for the municipal pensions and a list of all property assessments.

Expect more types of reports to be added periodically so you can examine examine all sorts of data. Download it, share it, spread it around.

COAT COLLECTION The Mt. Lebanon Police Association is collecting winter coats, hats, scarves and other outerwear for the Salvation Army. You can place them in the collection bin in the basement lobby of the Public Safety Building, 555 Washington Road, through December 16. If you need more information or have questions, contact Cpl. Mike Smakosz, 412-343-4068, or Officer Scott Kunz, 412-343-4069.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE Mt. Lebanon is accepting applications from families who want to honor a loved one’s military service with a banner—similar to those that line streets in some neighboring communities—that will be displayed in the Washington Road business district next year. The municipality and the Historical Society of Mount Lebanon are partnering to display anywhere from 20 to 45 banners.

Any Mt. Lebanon veteran who has served or is serving in the military may be honored. The cost is $100 per banner, which will display the individual’s picture on both sides. The banners will be on display from Memorial Day through Veterans’ Day 2017.

If you would like to purchase a banner, go to www.troopbanners.com/mtlebanon to download the application form. Email a good quality photograph electronically scanned at 600 dpi or higher to hmunson@htmdesigns.com or include a good quality photograph when you submit the application as instructed. Photographs will be returned.

To have the banners up by Memorial Day, at least 20 applications and photos must be submitted by April 28, 2017.

Direct questions about the program to Commercial Districts Manager Eric Milliron, 412-343-3412 or emilliron@mtlebanon.org. Harry Munson of HTM Designs, hmunson@htmdesigns.com, can answer technical questions.