Recap September 11, 2012 Town Council Workshop‏

THIS SUMMERY WILL BE BRIEF AS WE IN THE AUDIENCE COULD BARELY HEAR WHAT WAS BEING SAID.

The topic was Updates from all Town Boards and Committee Chairmen

Present at the meeting were Town Manager Steve Eldridge, Councilors, Chair, Fern Larochelle, Roger Bickford, Lisa Ward,

and Mark Lunt.

Others present were Richard Golden, Chair of the Library Governing Board; Diane Nadeau, Director, Lisbon Library;

Gordon Curtis, Chair MTM Center; Don Fellows, Chair, Planning Board; Calvin Beaumier, Chair, Conservation Committee;

Miriam Alexander, Chair, Board of Appeals; Steve Warren, Trails Commission; Verla Brooks, Director Parks Department;

Mark Stevens, Director, Recreation Department.

In the audience were Roger Cote, Dillon Peasce, Dot Fitzgerald.

First up was The MTM Center. Gordon Curtis gave an update on the window replacement, furnace,

and future improvements. He said the Committee has a Mission Statement but no by-laws.

They are down one member, the building is at maximum usage.

Next, Don Fellows said the Planning Board has been busy. The new Town Planner has been reviewing

ordinances, and the Comprehensive Plan, updating codes, drafting by-laws, working on addressing

code violations and a master Plan for Route 196. They will be having a public forum on Route 9.

Richard Golden said the Library Committee does have by-laws. The newly installed air conditioner is working well. 

Next project is replacing the sign over the Library door. Diane is working with Verla on a new sign.

Library usage is up and they should have the new computers and person to assist citizens with job searches

very soon. Diane said the winter project is waterproofing the Children's Reading Room in the basement.

It was most difficult to hear Calvin with the Conservation Department. The most I got to of it

was they are updating their web-site, identifying our Watersheds, identifying town owned properties,

protecting our resources. there was a lot of discussion on the Trails, both paved and ones used

by ATV's and snowmobiles. Sorry for any errors, or omissions but I can only report what I heard.

Miriam Alexander said the Board of Appeals has been quiet, not much going on which is not a bad thing.

Steve Warren with the Trails Committee said he was pleased that the Trails Committee has brought

lots of Federal funds to the town.

The Army Corp of Engineers has finally given approval for the next phase, the River Trail.

He stressed that the trails are not just for recreation but transportation also.

There was talk of connecting our trails to both Lewiston and Topsham.

There was much discussion about the town paid for trails, maintaining them,

 and the ATV and snowmobile trails.

Last but not least Mark Stevens said the Recreation Department had their best and busiest summer.

He said they do have working rules and do background checks on all who work there,

especially those who work with the children. They would like to have a senior citizen on

their committee. He spoke about overlapping usage of the fields, with the school department,

L J A L,and ones in Beaver Park, and maintaining the many fields.

That was echoed by Verla Brooks.

He said the ice rink is badly in need of upgrading the water lines and boards,

before it can be flooded for skating this winter.

Next workshop will be on if there will be a Moxie Festival next year,

 and if the town can afford to put it on.

That workshop will be on September 25, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the Town Office.

                                           Respectfully,

                                           Dot Fitzgerald

                                          Concerned Citizen