Recap of Workshop on April 24‏

RECAP COUNCIL WORKSHOP – APRIL 24^TH

At last night’s Town Council workshop on the municipal budget, it was extremely entertaining. The workshop had the department heads of the following departments there to explain their proposed budgets: Library, Town Engineer, Town Building, Technology, Solid Waste, Finance and Town Clerk.

The council listened as each department head went over their proposed budgets. There were very few questions ask except by Bowie and Mrs. Dot Fitzgerald. Every time Mrs. Fitzgerald asked a question Eldridge would reply by talking down to her.

The most fascinating aspect of the workshop was when Eldridge announced the 2% wage Adjustment INCREASE for all town employees. In the beginning, Bowie and Eldridge stated this was going to be a onetime bonus to all town employees and now it is going to be a wage increase. During the workshop, it was a wage increase plus step/longevity, not a onetime bonus and would cost approximately $174,657 dollars. I believe the total cost is closer to $278,363 which includes the department heads.

All town employees received a 1.75% pay increase last year so why a 2% this year? In this economy, it would be more practical to save jobs rather than increase wages. Let’s think about what this 2% could be utilized for: improving our roads, eliminate several capital gains, and most important is the Library, it would not have to eliminate or reduce the pre-school, head-start and the summer reading programs for the youth in OUR community.

Mrs. Fitzgerald asked the town engineer, Leighton, why he had proposed $15,000 for a new roof and $4,000 to replace windows at the E.T. Smith fire station when the roof was not leaking but the roof at the Public Works building is leaking and was not in the proposed budget? To everyone's amazement, she received no answer. Apparently, the question was too tough. This is the ignorant logic behind this ridiculous proposed budget once again.

Another question Mrs. Fitzgerald asked which received another stupid answer was why the Town Engineer takes a town vehicle home with him. The response was in case of emergencies. Well, the two Deputy Fire Chief utilize their own vehicles and receive mileage, when necessary. The elimination of the town engineer taking a town vehicle home every night will increase the longevity of the vehicle and reduce maintenance cost. How many times in a year does the town engineer have to respond to an emergency?

At the end of the workshop, there was no mention of cutting any of the proposed budgets so it would appear to the citizens of Lisbon that they are looking at between a 1 or 2 mil increase in their taxes in order to offset the fraud, waste and abuse in this proposed municipal budget.

This council is rubber stamping everything Eldridge puts before them. Bowie is steering the remainder of the council to approve increases in spending instead of trying to reduce spending. Without a reduction in spending, taxes can only increase.

It is apparent; this council has no intentions of making an honest attempt to reduce spending. This reflects a total lack of concern for the citizens of Lisbon.

In November, let’s make a clean sweep.

Vote them out!!!!!!!!

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

Ah Larry, Who Really Gives A Crap any how?  Tax'Em ALL and Make 'em ALL Pay. "Ya' Kant fix Stupid"  Give Brooks 5 more cars and 10 more officers to molest and harass the citizens of Lisbon.  IT is only MONEY!!! Brooks couldn't find a fart at a

 'bean supper' with hearing aids!.

Signed, Todd Comber,,,  "The Original Lisbon Reporter"