Whose taxes are you paying‏?

WHOSE TAXES ARE YOU PAYING????

At the last Town Council meeting, the Planning Board presented its findings and recommendation for the solution of the illegal businesses on Route 9.  Keep in mind; this was after several months and many meetings.  The report was three pages long but I have included only the second pages because that is where the recommendations are.

The first recommendation is to enforce the existing regulations adequately and equitably.  This is an excellent recommendation since the lack of enforcement is what created the situation in the first place.

Second, the Planning Board did not want to make any changes to the commercial or other land uses on Route 9.  The Comprehensive Plan and our ordinances provide the vision of the people.

Finally, the Planning Board is going to update and expand the Home Occupation regulations.  This is how the town is going to allow the two roofing/siding and the two auto repair garages to continue to operate illegally.

On page 29 of the Comprehensive Plan states and I quote “Land use patterns in the Route 9 corridor are primarily residential and rural/open space.  Under current zoning, the corridor is placed in two zones, Limited Residential and Rural Open Space.  The Limited Residential District does not allow for commercial type uses and the Rural Open Space District limits commercial type uses to recreation and natural resource based.”

I do not care how you redefine “Home Occupation” it cannot alter the Comprehensive Plan.  So having said that, can anyone tell me how two roofing/siding and two auto repair garages are classified as recreation or natural resource based?  What we have here is another example of the “Good Old Boys” network protecting their own.

Remember when I exposed LaRochelle Properties LLC receiving a “Homestead Exemption” illegally, well I keep asking if the LLC has paid its back taxes.  Now we have three of the four businesses not paying Personal Property taxes to the town. 

So who do you think is paying these “Good Old Boys” taxes?  I have no problem paying my fair and just taxes but to have to pay for these others does not make me a happy camper.  Taxation in Lisbon MUST be equal for all and not allow a few to skate by without paying their fair share.

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen