Budget Advisory Member Recounts Last Nights Workshop

 Dot Fitzgerald "Founding member of Lisbon Concerned Citizens" pictured with Frank Anicetti "The Original MoxieMan"

A friend recently told me not to write a letter to TLR or act when you are angry or upset.

Right now I am ignoring that advice.

Attending the April 24, 2012 Overview of Budget Workshop with Budget Advisory Board were Town Manager Steve Eldridge and Town Councilors, acting-chair Lori Pomelow, Mark Lunt, Mike Bowie, Gina Mason and Roger Bickford.

I was the only member of the Advisory Board to attend.

Two members of the Advisory Board were noticeably absent, a "silent protest" as the Advisory Board is advisory in name only. Advice, suggestions, are ignored.

Questions asked are answered and explained as though one were a little child.

Departments on the agenda were the Library, Town Engineer, Town Buildings, Technology, Solid Waste, Finance and Town Clerk.

Town Manager and Council are considering cutting $10,000 from the Library, already bare bones, budget. That would mean eliminating the pre-school, head-start and summer reading programs.

The Town Building budget includes $15,000 for new roofing and $4,000 to replace the windows at the E.T. Smith fire station In Lisbon village.

The fire station has 9 windows, 3 are very small. I have been informed that the cost of roofing materials have, like, gone through the roof.

But, $15,000 for a plain pitched roof with no dormers or valleys seems a little excessive.

A friend said he just replaced 13 windows in his older home for under $3,000.

Yet, $4,000 for nine windows?

Town Engineer said the Public works roof is leaking. The E.T.Smith Co. roof is NOT leaking.

Why are they replacing the non-leaking roof, instead if the one that is leaking?

These will go out to bid, and if bids are lower the extra will go into the town's undesignated funds account. Another word for a slush fund! ! ! ! ! !

I asked why Town Engineer, also head of Public Works, Solid Waste and Sewerage Treatment Plant has unlimited use of a town owned vehicle?

In case of an emergency I was told.

Putting mileage, wear and tear, tires, town employees doing the maintenance, for his personal use?

And guess who will have to pay when the vehicle needs to be replaced due to high mileage, etc?

You guessed it! ! !

Deputy Fire Chiefs for Lisbon and Lisbon Falls use their own vehicles in the event of an emergency.

Why can't the Town Engineer do the same?

The cost for all town employees to receive a 2% wage increase, or as Eldridge puts it, a one-time bonus, plus step/longevity increases is a whopping $174,657.
(One Hundred Seventy Four Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Seven Dollars).

I'm sure they are entitled to raises, but can the taxpayers afford it?

We all are paying more for gas, heating oil, groceries. with no big pay increases

The Town Manager and Town Council living in a fantasy land. Are acting like Lisbon Taxpayers have money trees growing in their back yards!!!!!

And still we are not allowed to vote on the town budget. Wonder Why??????



Dot Fitzgerald
A Very Fed Up Concerned Citizen