Lisbon's Management Could Use More Then Just A Two Day Seminar About Transparency and Honesty

Peter Reuter
 The Lisbon Reporter

In case anyone ventured into the Lisbon Town Office in the recent two days and was wondering why it was so quiet with emptiness at some of the work stations.   Those that were missing were "supposedly" attending a two day workshop that was being offered by the Maine Municipal Association (MMA) in celebratory fashion for their three quarters of a 100 years in existence.  

We very sincerely and honestly hope that the facts about transparency of local government was a "stark" reminder to them about how "business as usual" has been conducted in the last few years in Lisbon.  The fact that these topics were the main focus of this two day event could not have come at a more opportune time for Lisbon.  


As you readers are aware, The Lisbon Concerned Citizens have been fighting for this to be a part of normal business practices for Lisbon's Administrative Management.  But has been non-existent.


Perhaps now as the tide of corruption all across this great nation begins to recede the "players" in Town government will begin to see the light.  We can only hope.  But if not, you can be be certain that we will continue to seek out and bring forth the true facts where, when, and however means it does so in fact require, to do so.

Municipal officials urged to combat growing cynicism with honesty, transparency

By Eric Russell, BDN Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — Hard as it may be to believe, more than 70 percent of Americans trusted federal government as recently as a half century ago.
Today, the number is closer to 20 percent.
Trust in state government is slightly higher and trust of municipal officials is higher still, but those numbers have eroded steadily over the last several years, too, as citizens grow increasingly skeptical and cynical.
Still, municipal officials — town managers, clerks, assessors, councilors and selectmen — have a unique opportunity to regain that trust because they are on the front lines and can relate to constituents on a more personal level.
That was the message Wednesday during the keynote address at the 75th annual Maine Municipal Association convention, which brought together hundreds of town and city officials from across the state.
Scott Paine, a former city councilor in Tampa, Fla., and now a national expert on local government, told Maine officials that the best way to rebuild trust with citizens is by being honest, open and fair.
“People expect us to be jerks, to abuse our power,” he said. “And sometimes all it takes is one instance and we’re all painted with the same brush.”

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