Do As We Say, Not As We Do -

Last night's Town Council meeting was to date one of the most disappointing meetings I have attended.

As a tax paying citizen I am saddened to think that this is what our town government has resorted to. Using the Town Council meeting as a format to limit the public on what they hear. Tune in this Thursday to see what exactly happened.

In prior meetings this Spring, we were told that agenda items could not be added during a meeting nor could they be moved around, structure and format needed to be adhered to. Time and time again, that structure and format is challenged. Last night there were interviews for positions and appointments made for committee positions that were not included on the agenda i.e. Recreation Committee. The agenda was changed and items were moved around and can only come across to the average citizen as purposeful and with intent by the Town Council to meet their own "agenda".

Audience participation was completely omitted only after each councilman/woman had an opportunity to freely express and speak their opinions and points of view during the workshop regarding items such as conflict of interest, agenda item placement, made false comments and accusations against some petitioners for the recall of councilwoman Norma Wells, Town Council authority and ability, etc. These 7 seated citizens were elected by our votes to represent us to the best of their ability and to make decisions that are of good ethical judgment. This I have to question.

Motives appeared to be self serving at times and personal attacks on one another on their own opinions among themselves occurred last night. Is this really a forum in which the public has to be subjected to a 3 ring circus of "animals" fighting? I am no way saying they are animals however, they fought among themselves similarly. That makes me question their professionalism. At one point I felt like holding up a mirror as I felt like I was back in Romper Room days.

Understanding, no one person is always going to agree with the other, that is to be expected and quite honestly, is respected however, when the chairwoman raises her voice to another councilor because she doesn't like the comments made by one of her own constituents, that to me shows how unfair and unprofessional she is. You can't get angry at someone whose opinion differs from your own, that is NOT the American way.

Our town attorney has taken our charter language and attempted to put his own definition and spin on what has already been written and defined previously. Our town charter does not define a personal or financial relationship regarding conflict of interest as one that is professional or contractual. It is quite clear and not open for definition or interpretation. If the intent was that it read professional or contractual relationship then that is the change that should have been put out to referendum, but it wasn't. He says he is there to try and keep us out of court.

Not sure where he went to school but some of us "layman" citizens understand these changes and the potential he is opening us up to as a town legally. I think someone needs to hit the books again. Items in our charter are not open to interpretation. "Ask ten fools the same question and you will open yourself to ten different answers."

Why did the Town Council decide of all nights to limit the time for the meeting or speak in such harshness to the public and then deny the public the right to speak freely?
Are there items that are feared in public discussion? Makes those of us who were present really wonder. Watch the meeting Thursday 10/9/08 at 7pm on channel 7 to make your own decision.

Finally, I was appalled at our fearless town manager's comment after the meeting that about a dozen of us heard. When the comment was made to Mr. Steve Eldridge that he should be ashamed of himself his comment back to a tax paying citizen was to "mind your own business, this has nothing to do with you!"

Are you serious? Mr. Eldrige, what town do you live and pay taxes in? Not Lisbon so as a tax paying citizen, it makes it more our business than it does yours. How could you make such a comment to a group of people and then lock the doors to omit yourself from explaining this further. I think you owe the citizen's an explanation as to what your intent was behind that comment because it is these same citizens who contribute to the pot of money that pays your salary. Remember, that can change!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and understand that you can watch the meeting this coming Thursday to see just how one sided things are and were last night. You don't have to take my word for it, watch to form your own opinion.
Signed,
a VERY disappointed citizen.