Budget Meeting...What A Joke

WHAT A JOKE!

I also attended the so-called Budget Hearing on Tuesday April 28, 2009 at
the Lisbon Community School.

Disappointment hardly describes my feelings. As the previous letter writer
states, there were not many in attendance. Did they know something the rest
of us did not? The only Town handout was a one page budget.

                          What a show!

On the stage, sitting behind long tables were all but one member of the Town
Council, all but one member of the school committee, (both had very valid
reasons for not attending), Town Manager Mr. Eldridge, and School
Superintendent Shannon Welsh. It began with Council Chair Mike Bowie
welcoming us, and reading the "rules of the evening". Then Mr. Eldridge's
video presentation. The Hearing was then opened up to questions and
comments. I fully expected the Town Council or Mr. Eldridge to go through
the budget, department by department.

Not so.

Just opened it up to questions. Most comments were about the police department
and how disastrous
it would be to eliminate any positions in that department. I'm not saying I
agree or disagree, but talk about stacking the meeting!
To say the least, this was a poor imitation of a Budget Hearing.
This was Town Manager Steve Eldridge at his best. Just sitting there with a
smirk on his face, and looking out at us smocks, expecting to really have a
budget hearing!

In support of the School Department, they actually had handouts of their
budget, and their part of the Hearing was done professionally.

Not so with the town part of the Hearing, if one can call it that. I'm sure
Mr. Eldridge left feeling very smug and self satisfied with the Dog and Pony
Show he pulled off.

If this does not show the taxpayers and voters of the Town of Lisbon reason
to say Bye Bye to Mr. Eldridge I don't know what would! What a farce.

Dot Fitzgerald
A taxpayer and VERY CONCERNED CITIZEN

PS: Why is Mr. Crafts letter in the Town Report?  The Year Ended June 30,2008.
This must be the Political Arena Brooks was talking about on Feb. 17, 2009.