STRIPPING OF CITIZENS RIGHTS IN LISBON
There was no way anyone could predict or see what was
coming. However, the management of Lisbon
methodically began stripping the rights of their citizens in a slow and
deliberate manner. First,
it was the Executive Sessions. All the towns’ illegal actions were moved
to Executive Sessions. This was
done because under state law the public is not entitled to know what goes on
behind closed doors.
The state has outlined only specific circumstances in which Executive Sessions can be held but if you cannot discuss what goes on behind closed doors then how does the Public know what the town is discussing?!. There is absolutely no way the Public can be sure of what is being discussed under the guise of Executive Session. This was the beginning.
The state has outlined only specific circumstances in which Executive Sessions can be held but if you cannot discuss what goes on behind closed doors then how does the Public know what the town is discussing?!. There is absolutely no way the Public can be sure of what is being discussed under the guise of Executive Session. This was the beginning.
Next, Lori Pomelow rewrote the Council Working Rules and when
she did she eliminated the portion dealing with “New Business”. This meant
that no new business could be brought up before the council at a town council
meeting. This was never noticed because
the Chairman always let the people discuss whatever they wanted to during the
Audience Participation.
This was the next move to silence the people. Before, the Public was allowed to comment on
issues being discussed after the sponsor explained the issue and the councilors
discussed it. After Pomelow rewrote the
Council Working Rules, the Public could only speak during Audience Participation
which came first on the agenda. This meant that the Public had to make
comments on the issue without understanding why the sponsor was doing it and
before the council had a chance to discuss the issue. I could never understand how you could
intelligently discuss something without knowing what the true issue was.
Now at the last council meeting, Chairman LaRochelle
stripped the final rights of the people by enforcing Pomelow’s Council Working
Rules to the maximum. The Public
can no longer bring up any “New Business” that is not part of the agenda. This means that you will never again hear
anything about the Misappropriated $32,500; voting on the Municipal Budget by
department or anything else the council has not answered. They still have not explained how they raised
our taxes last year and then declared over a million dollars left over from the
previous year. Trust me you will never
hear any more about that.
The final loss of your rights came when the town had
“technical difficulties” with the video of the meeting. The last two council meetings never aired to the public. This was
done because they do not want the people to see what they are doing to the
citizens of Lisbon. The School Board’s
meetings come out just fine and they use the same equipment but every time
there is an issue that is not favorable to the council there are “technical
difficulties” with the equipment.
I believe Dot Fitzgerald is absolutely right; they are moving for
attendance at town council meetings to be by invitation ONLY. I would not be surprised if council meetings
were held in restaurants, bars or individuals homes just as long as they are
not recorded or available to the Public.
Citizens of Lisbon have been stripped of their
rights. Residents can no longer participate
in town government instead we are at the mercy of elected officials.
Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen
1 comment:
Dillon Pesce, man up and assert yourself. I thought you were for the TAXPAYERS rights. Please speak up. This is like a Communist government.
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