It Is Not Water Over The Dam Anymore With Lisbon's Leaders

WHERE IS OUR LEADERSHIP

As most of you are aware, the Town Council is elected by the people of Lisbon. This council has clearly demonstrated it is controlled by one councilor, Bowie. What most of you may not know is that Bowie is controlled by Brooks. The council (Bowie) selects individuals to fill different panels and committees. These panels and committee are made up of ONLY “YES” men and women loyal to Brooks and Bowie. This has been demonstrated on numerous occasions, some of which are outlined below:

Let’s start off with Councilor Gina Mason and her husband Rick. Gina took office and signed an oath to obey the Constitution, Maine laws and more important the town ordinances. At the time she signed this oath Rick Mason was operating a business out of their residence in a Rural Open Space District. This was a violation of town Zoning Ordinances. 

In an attempt to correct this situation Rick Mason submitted to the Planning Board an Application for Conditional Use siting 70-353-3-G as the reference. Section 70-353-3-G states and I quote “Temporary construction, excavating, fabrication or processing.” The Planning Board approved this request on March 11, 2011 without setting an expiration date for this temporary condition. Without an expiration date, this action is permanent.

When questioned about this exception to the zoning ordinance, Mr. Potvin stated the Planning Board is not required to establish an expiration date because this provision does not have temporary in front of excavating. The entire exception is temporary because it states “OR” at the end meaning, all of these conditions are temporary. 

However, because a Councilor was involved the Planning Board looked the other way in order to justify their decision. There is no way the Planning Board will ever admit to violating their own rules to accommodate a Councilor.

Now let’s discuss the latest screw-up by the Planning Board. After over three years of debate and word changes the Town Council finally approved the Wellhead Protection Ordinance. This critical document details requirements to protect the Town of Lisbon's water supply. 

 The Wellhead Protection Ordinance was reviewed and approved by this very Planning Board. Last month there was a proposal before the Planning Board to establish an emergency access road through Zone 1 of the Wellhead Protection Ordinance. This is a clear violation of the Wellhead Protection Ordinance and Paul Adams, Water Department Director, pointed this violation out to the Planning Board in a Public Hearing. 

This is the first challenge to the Wellhead Protection Ordinance since it was enacted and what does the Planning Board do; but to vote to violate the Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Many thanks to the individuals who proposed the emergency access for getting with the Water Department and providing an acceptable work around to safeguard the town’s water supply.

These acts are in violation of our ordinances which these individuals are entrusted to protect. However, instead of performing their duties in the best interest of the Town of Lisbon; these individuals do what they are told to do. The Planning Board has demonstrated they are “YES” men and will do anything regardless if it is in violation of town ordinances or not.

Why do we have ordinances if our leadership is not going to enforce them?

Where is the leadership in the Town of Lisbon?

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen