The Voice Of The People

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

During the last Town Council meeting on September 18, 2012, Councilor Gina Mason complained about the lack of Public input during council meetings.  Councilor Mason does not understand why more people do not attend and voice their concerns.  Councilor Mason, it is because every time the Public has voiced their concerns, this council has totally ignored them. 

 

 Town Councilor Gina Mason

 

 

 

 

Let’s look at the council’s track record.  In May, during a Public Hearing everyone who spoke out that night was against the 2% increase in wages.  Next, the town had a Fireworks Survey and the results wanted no use or sales of fireworks in Lisbon.  The Budget Advisory Board, duly elected by the people, rejected the councilor proposed budget for last year.  Now let us see what the council did with this information:  approved the council’s proposed budget with the 2% wage increase; and is now working on a Firework’s Ordinance allowing the sale and use of fireworks in Lisbon.

What is it you do not understand?  The people do not want to waste their time coming out and voicing their concerns when the council ignores the people.  The people would rather wait until the issue comes on the ballot and vote on it like the referendum last November on whether the people wanted to vote on the Municipal Budget.  2025 out of 2539 voters declared they wanted to vote on the municipal budget.   This is .797558 percent of the voters who cast their vote.  You might as well say 80% of the people gave a “No Confidence” vote on the council being able to provide a municipal budget the people could live with.

Councilor Roger Cote first proposed this to the council in mid-2009.  Councilor Bowie has found an excuse to prevent this from happening ever since.  Last year, Councilor Bowie had no choice but to allow it to go on the ballot as a referendum question.  Well, the people spoke loud and clear.

 

 

 

 Town Councilor Mike Bowie

 

 

 

 

So let’s look closely at how this council handled the desires of the people.  There were numerous meetings, workshops, and discussions on how to accomplish this task.  A couple of the original Charter Commissioners came in and gave a presentation and recommendations to the council.  As usual, the council ignored the advice provided and Councilor Bowie talked the rest of the council into going with after two unsuccessful votes by the people to automatically accept the council’s proposed budget.  This was an empty gesture and an insult to the people but the council went along with it.  I personally believe Councilor Bowie did this deliberately knowing the people would never accept this ludicrous solution.  It worked as planned because by taking this off the ballot; the council will have another year safe from the people being involved in the municipal budget.  This means the people will not be able to vote on next year’s budget. 

VOTE THEM OUT IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen