Recall The Whole Damn Town

RECALL

Count me in for one of five to obtain signatures on a petition to recall the
entire Town Council. While we're at it, why not a petition to recall the
entire School Committee, Town Manager Steve Eldridge, and Chief of Police
David Brooks? A clean sweep; start over, back to Town Meetings and
transparency in Town of Lisbon Government!

Who is the next to volunteer? Come on! You complain about the way your/our
town is being run, now is your opportunity to do something about it.

While I'm at it, I attended the school budget meeting Monday, June 22 at
Lisbon High School. The budget meeting that will NOT be aired on local TV!
I was surprised to see so many new faces. Some took the opportunity to
speak, many would have liked to but did not.

There were about 50 that attended; not as many as I had hoped for, but more
that I expected. Superintendent-to-be, Mr. Green gave a video budget
presentation that showed a no-increase in the school budget. He also
explained how money was diverted from positions, the purchase of a school
bus, not having to pay for leasing the portable classroom, allowed them to
budgeted $300,200 + for the improvements necessary to keep our
accreditation, with no increase in the school budget.

A question was asked on the amount allocated for repairs, and how they were
coming on obtaining estimates. Tracie Austin, a member of the School
Committee said estimates are coming in and some engineering work has been
done. (Pardon me if I'm not being accurate and perhaps leaving some things
out. The acoustics were very bad, and it was hard to hear everything.)  She
said that the work being done with the $300,200 will not fix all that needs
to be done at that facility. The building needs new windows and roofing, the
furnace needs work.

The Committee was taken to task for teachers taking cost-of-living pay
increases while town employees agreed to not take a pay increase. Ms. Grant
reminded us, as she has many times, that they are still in budget
negotiations. Gina Mason, a member of the Town Council, said she had called
the Town of Topsham and inquired as to the pay scale in that town. As you
recall, Topsham did not want to join Lisbon in a SAU. She was told that
Lisbon teachers salaries, on average, are $10,000 to $12,000 higher than
those of Topsham.  No wonder they did not want to join with us!

I asked those present if they know that every year one/third of all teachers
received a "step increase" in pay? This is over and above the normal
cost-of-living pay raises. I asked for an approximate amount given out in
last years budget for the "step increase". Mr. Green looked it up and said
the figure was about $70,000. I that said that considering that Lisbon
teachers pay was higher than Topsham's, it is time to phase out the step
increases. And that perhaps the $70,000 could be used to replace maybe 2
windows, or make the needed repairs to the furnace this year, and maybe
replace 2 more windows next year, thereby saving in heating costs.

After much discussion, great questions and comments from the public, the
School Committee  it was time to vote on the school budget. A motion was
made and seconded to approve the budget as presented previously! It passed
on a 4-1 vote. Janice Comber was the only "no" vote. The committee said they
are hoping to "get the public out to vote". Have a better turnout than the
previous referendum, and the budget to be approved.

 A high-five to Mrs. Comber for being true to her constituents with her vote. The people
voted in June and the school Committee is not listening.
Some things never change!

Dot Fitzgerald
A Taxpayer
And a Very Concerned Citizen