Lisbon Town Council: Do As We Say, Not As We Do

Lisbon Town councilors do not follow the town charter on their own actions.  They block anything that is for interest to the voting public. They can't even decide to put a street light up in a dangerous intersection without exuberant b/s.  

Police themselves?   You decide public, it is your money being wasted.

Sec. 6.04.  Council Action on Budget.

(a)   Notice and Hearing.  The Town Council shall publish in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the Town a general summary of the budgets and a notice stating: 

1.   The times and places where copies of the budget messages and the budgets will be available to the public, and

2.   The time and place (not less than two weeks after the first such publication) of a public hearing on the proposed budgets.

(b)   Budget Deliberations.  The Town Council shall review the proposed budgets at budget sessions which may be informal but which shall be open to the public. The Council shall complete its review of the budgets no later than the last Tuesday in June. 

(c)   Amendments Before Adoption.  After the public hearing, the Town Council may adopt the Manager's budget with or without amendment. It may by amendment add or increase programs or amounts and delete or decrease programs or amounts except expenditures for debt service or otherwise required by law. The Council may adopt the School budget as proposed and may amend it, but such amendments shall be limited to adding to or decreasing the total amount of the budget. 

(d)   Adoption.   

1.   Town Budget. The final vote on the Town Budget shall be taken on or before the last Tuesday of June. If Council fails to adopt a Budget for the Town by the last Tuesday in June, the Budget as presented by the Town Manager shall become the Budget to be implemented on a month to month basis until such time as a final Budget is approved.

2.   School Budget. Until such time as the Town of Lisbon becomes certified as a member of a Regional School Unit by the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, the Town Council shall act as the Board of the Regional School Unit, approving the Budget with or without amendment, and providing for Referendum vote on the Budget in accordance with the procedures and time frames provided in LD499 as amended.

(e)   Post Adoption Amendments in School Budget.  Within 30 days after the budget for the School Department becomes final, the School Committee shall adopt such amendments in the school budget as may be necessary to absorb any decrease or expend any increase in the total amount of the budget which was approved by the Council. The Superintendent of Schools shall forward to the Town Council a copy of the final revised budget. Thereafter the School Department budget shall not be amended except in accordance with the provisions of this Charter. (C.O. of 9-16-2008, § 2008-152F, Ref. of 11-4-2008)

Found this interesting:

Sec. 2.09.  Investigations and Subpoena Power.

The Council may make investigations into the affairs of the Town and the conduct of any Town department, office or agency and for this purpose may establish by ordinance a hearing procedure that includes the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence, the administering of oaths, the taking of testimony, and other procedures.

Sec. 2.10.  Prohibitions.

(a)   Holding Other Office.  Except pursuant to an agreement under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, no Councilor shall hold any other Town of Lisbon office or employment by the Town of Lisbon while holding the office of Councilor, and no former Councilor shall hold any compensated appointive Town office or Town employment until one year after leaving office of Councilor. 

(b)   Appointments and Removals.  Except as provided herein, neither the Council nor any of its members shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of any Town administrative officers or employees within the jurisdiction of the Town Manager or his or her subordinates, but the Council may express its views and fully and freely discuss with the Manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of such officers and employees. 

(c)   Interference with Administration.  Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations under Section 2.09, the Council or its members shall deal with the Town officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the Manager solely through the Manager, and neither the Council nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately. 

(T.M. of 9-19-2006, § 2006-43, Ref. of 11-7-2006)

What are they hiding?

They are pushing for this 'Eldridge~sized' Budget to be enacted before allowing review to eliminate wasted spending.   Unlike the 'openness' exhibited this year by, Mr. Green and the Lisbon School Committee.

Public Meeting Tuesday at LCS @ 7:00pm

Like last year, this is the only Public Review schedule.

Remember, they said there would be two last year, but there never was.