As The Money Flows In Lisbon The Corruption Continues

CORRUPTION CONTINUES IN LISBON

Last night the town council held a Public Hearing on the municipal and school budgets. This meeting was first announced on April 30^th in the Sun Journal and was never announced in the Brunswick Times Record according to the respective papers. This is a direct violation of our town Charter, Section 6.04 – Council Action on Budget, (a) Notice and Hearing, 2 The time and place (not less than two weeks after the first such publication) of a public hearing on the proposed budgets.

 "The Dynamic Duo Dumb-heads"

Since the first announcement, only 9 days had past. When this information was presented to the council Chairman Larochelle, he ignored it and moved on with the public hearing. Apparently, this council has absolutely no interest in complying with OUR Town Charter. The citizens’ desires are meaningless to this council.

It is the town manager’s responsibility to ensure the provisions of OUR town Charter are upheld. This is another violation of the town charter by the town manager. How long do the people of Lisbon have to put up with his incompetentness? Councilor Mason states she was disappointed there were not more people there but when you announce the public hearing in one newspaper and then NOT allow the 14 days to pass prior to the meeting; What would you expect? 

 Lisbon Town Councilor Gina Mason

"We Went From 'Eye Rolling' Norma Wells To This!???"

There was not sufficient time for the message to get out to all the citizens. However, this is just another prime example of Eldridge not following OUR Charter and the town council being manipulated. They say, "ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise"!!!

 The actual wording comes from Thomas Gray's poem, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College" (1742): "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

One of the more important questions asked was if the people were going to have an opportunity to vote on this year’s budget and the answer was “NO”. Chairman Larochelle stated this has to be changed in several parts of our Charter. Supposedly, it is in the hands of the town lawyer whose objective is to water this proposal down so the people of Lisbon will not have the opportunity to vote “by department” on the municipal budget. Remember last November when over 2,000 citizens of Lisbon stated they wanted to vote on the municipal budget by departments. Brooks cannot stand to allow this to happen because his budget is the most expensive.

At the last Town Council meeting, I pointed out to the town council I was not receiving correct information from the management of the town. I had asked for the general fund balance to determine if the town has the correct amount in the Undesignated Fund (emergency fund) which is mandated by our Charter. The town is required to maintain 12.5% of the total municipal and school general fund. I continued to receive different numbers every time I asked.  

So I asked the State of Maine Tax Division for the correct number and guess what; the town is SHORT approximately $7,271.50 in this account. Again, this is a violation of OUR town Charter. When Eldridge took over as the town manager there was over 3 million ($3,000,000) dollars in this account. Where has our tax dollars gone? We need a forensic audit.

How many more of OUR Town's Charters are we going to allow Eldridge to VIOLATE? 

When is the town council going to get the message Eldridge’s word cannot be trusted? 

I cannot believe how easy it is to manipulate this council.

Vote three of them out in November and let’s try and get some individuals who are not as easy to manipulate!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen