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Friday, January 20, 2012

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW‏

I was pleased to be included in the tour of our town owned facilities on Saturday January 8, 2012.  Along on the tour was Town Manager Steve Eldridge, Councilors Steve Bickford, Gina Mason, Lisa Ward, Fern Larochelle, and Mark Lunt. Also on the tour was Don Fellows, along with me, as members of the Advisory Board.
 
When at the Public Works Department, I noticed the "new" piece of equipment recently purchased to clear the town sidewalks. This was voted on during the 2011/2012 budget meetings, to "save money". The sidewalks would be cleared by Public Works.
 
I asked Mr. Eldridge how that was working out. Working out great! he said. The town purchased it for the sum of $50,000, and it will pay for itself in just a few years. 
 
To recap: Town sidewalks had been cleared by Mr. Morgan for many years. He used and maintained his own equipment. The sidewalks were always cleared in time for the students who walked to school to walk safely, using the sidewalks.
 
Overnight we had a snowfall of at least 6 inches. As I write this it is 11:30 a.m. and the sidewalks in
my area, School Street, Lisbon Road, still have not been cleared. I don't know how many others.
 
Students walking to school had to walk in the streets. The mailcarrier has to walk in the streets. There is a lady who works at the Lisbon Falls Library, I often see walking to work. ALL had to walk in the streets!
 
I called and spoke with Darla at Public works. She said they were hoping school would be canceled, but Superintendent Green decided to not cancel. 
They had a plow go off the road this morning, thankfully no damage, but time was lost. And they are
shorthanded  due to a valued worker being laid off due to budget cuts.
We have miles and miles of roads in town to be plowed. There is equipment to be maintained. Miles and miles
of sidewalks to be cleared. All to be done with less. Less money. Less workers. 
Maybe Public Works should be combined with the Police Department ! ! !
There would be no lack of money or employees. Just a thought.
 
Now, I'm all for saving money. But there is such a thing as being "penny wise and pound foolish".
I wondered at the time, how this was going to work out? Laying off people at Public Works and 
giving them more work. At the same time giving 4 employees, department heads, $10,000 pay increases.
 
COMMON SENSE GOES A LONG WAY, BUT WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE IN THE TOWN OF LISBON????
 
Dot Fitzgerald
A Lisbon Concerned Citizen

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