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Monday, March 11, 2013

Silencing The Citizens of Lisbon One Councilor At A Time!!






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.

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:

Mary-Ann Morgan said...

Dillon Pesce, man up and assert yourself. I thought you were for the TAXPAYERS rights. Please speak up. This is like a Communist government.