Comments from Local Citizens on Ethics Panel article

  Intended Purpose of the Ethics Panel

The purpose and intent of Chapter 12 of our charter is to protect the integrity of Lisbon  Government against actual or reasonably perceived conflicts of interest without creating unnecessary barriers to public service. 

I'm sure the founders of our charter never intended sec. 12-4 (d) (Referral) to be used as a roadblock to eliminating unethical behavior. Nowhere in Chapter 12 does it say the Ethics Panel can only hear referrals. By its very nature it should searching government for potential problems and advising the council on its findings.

Recently when our Ethics Panel used the charter to hide from its duties it became obvious that we have a much more serious problem than a simple conflict.We have a systemic problem. Our very system is being used to hinder the elimination of conflicts.

Hopefully this is due to ignorance of the actual intended purpose of the Ethics Panel. Possibly the members of the Panel are unaware that they have an obligation to the town to expose conflicts when ever and where ever they find them.

There comes a time in every ones life, usually in their fourth or fifth decade, when they have to decide if they will stand up and make the morally right decision regardless of the social consequences or hang their head and slink off into obscurity. I believe that time has come for Lisbon's Ethics Panel. 

I hope the panel makes the right decision.


Respectfully
Joe Hill
LisbonMaine.net

 Here are some responses sent in anonymously.

 12/02/11 12:45 PM

 "If ya lay with dogs ya get flees. The ethics panel   has become what they were made to fight."

Ken
 

12/01/11  9:09 PM

Response to Joe Hill‏ To The Editor:

Joe Hill hit the nail right on the head when he identified Lisbon as having a systemic problem.  This is a small town which means everyone knows and/or is related to everyone else.  The fact Mrs. Bowie is the wife of Councilor Bowie, will always be a problem because the town council has to vote on issues for the Police Department.  Chief Brooks will always be able to control the vote of the town council as long as Mrs. Bowie works for him.  It does not matter if the issue directly or indirectly affects Mrs. Bowie personally; she will always reap the benefits.  Look at the current police budget; it is the largest expense in the town because Chief Brooks has control of the town council.  Councilor Bowie cannot vote on his wife’s salary but can vote on any other issues before the council.  Holding Mrs. Bowie’s employment is a great motivation for Councilor Bowie to influence fellow councilors to approve anything Chief Brooks wants whether the taxpayers can afford it or not.  Why did Chief Brooks recruit Councilor Bowie to support the County Consolidating the Communication Center under Chief Brooks’ jurisdiction? 

12/01/11   11:00 AM

 To the Editor,

Well said.

The Ethical Panel was unethical. 

1) David Bowie created a conflict of interest due to his relationship  with Mike Bowie.
2) He should NOT have met privately with Bowie and Chief Brooks; any meetings and discussions and questions should have been with the entire panel present.
3) The Ethics Panel did not do their homework, investigate and get all the facts.
4) David and the panel focused on Denise's job as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police when he/they should have focused on the the reason for the hearing: the comm. center, whether it comes to Lisbon or not. 

The committees are tainted and biased. 

Mike Bowie should have informed and reminded committees, each and every time they met of his relationship with a member of the Lisbon Police Department and her involvement even if on a part-time basis with the 911, dispatch.

 "right or wrong, that is my opinion"