Public Budget Meeting‏ Tonight

Town  officials, Town Council, Town Manager Steve Eldridge, all say, "no one
comes to public hearings". "Why go back to town meetings when no one comes
to public hearings".  Wonder why?, There has been nothing in the Lewiston
Sun Journal about a Public Hearing on the school and town budget.

 Wondering why there had not been any notice or article in the Times Record, I called 
and e-mailed our local correspondent on Monday. No one from town Office had
called her! At my urging, she called town office to get the scoop, and by 
magic, today, Wednesday, the day of the hearing a nice article on page A3. "Lisbon
officials seek input on proposed budget for 2010-11"! No thanks to Town 
Office.

With so much going on they must have forgotten about publicity.
A notice on the revolving sign at the Town Office, maybe once every 7 or 8 
minutes, and a stationary one at the High School, on the School Budget!

That's really getting the word out! ?
 
Attend a public budget meeting;  ask a question or make a comment on a 
sensitive subject and get yelled at, put down, by a member of the Town Council.

At a Public Budget hearing we get to see and listen to Town Manager Eldridge 
give his presentation. We get to see and listen to Superintendent Richard Green 
give his presentation. The public can than ask questions. Mr. Green will answer 
questions.

On the Town side, some are answered, some not. No vote is taken. the public
can ask questions but cannot vote! It's business as usual. Minds have 
already been made up.
 
Town Meeting; the budget is gone through, article by article. Each article 
is discussed, questions are asked, and for the most part, answered. Each 
article is voted on, BY THE PUBLIC! AMAZING HOW IS WORKS! And voted
on by 200 or more taxpayers. This is democracy in it's best and purest form.

And that is why some DO NOT WANT to go back to town meeting form of government 

in the Town of Lisbon!

Dot Fitzgerald
A Taxpayer, and
A Concerned Lisbon citizen