What Was The Purpose Of Holding A Town Council Meeting In A Blizzard?

Lisbon's Three Musketeers

 

 

 

 

Brooks

 

 

 

 Larochelle

 Eldridge

 

 

 

 

Just Wondering?

 

 

Dear Readers of The Lisbon Reporter;

 

Yesterday, Tuesday March 20, 2013, the State of Maine was hit with a late winter snow storm.

On Monday, the previous evening, cancellations began appearing on the bottom of TV screens.

More and more cancellations appeared all day and into the evening Tuesday. Just about the

entire State of Maine was shut down; town offices, State Governments. 

 

A town council meeting was scheduled for that evening. It is rare that I miss a council

meeting.

 

Missed one late January 2013 when I hit a pot-hole in front of Aubuchon on my way to a meeting and had a flat tire.

 

Law enforcement all over the state were asking drivers to stay home, off the roads.

In the afternoon I called town office and checked if there would be a council meeting, thought for sure it would be postponed. 

 

Late afternoon I got the word, the Town Council meeting was going on as scheduled!

 

Now, I do not know who is in charge of if a meeting in Lisbon would be held, postponed or canceled?

 

To hold a meeting that night in the middle of a snow storm, with 10+ inches of snow on the ground and slippery roads, was just plain irresponsible! ! ! ! Particularly when neighbor communities, Lewiston and Sabbatus postponed their's.  Where is the Common Sense?

 

It put people at risk, driving to town office and back home from said meeting.

 

Was there anything that earth-shaking on the agenda that could not have waited another day or week?

 

Not that I could see, I have a copy of the agenda. They are available on lisbonme.org, the town's

website.

 

On the agenda were the following items :

 

Finance Director's report; Jessica lives in town, so not a long drive.

 

Economic Development Director's report; I do not know where Scott Benson lives but think it might be a little drive.

 

School Department report; Superintendent Rick Green does not live in town and does have a considerable drive.

 

Town Managers report; Steve Eldridge lives in Monmouth last I knew. A little drive unless he would be staying here in town.  

 

The only reason I can think of as to why the March 20, 2013 meeting was not canceled is Council Chair Fern Larochelle, Town Manager Eldridge, and Chief of Police Brooks were hoping the storm would keep the public from attending.

 

Some have been writing to The Lisbon Reporter, asking/suggesting the public attend town council meetings.

 

They are trying to silence the public at meetings, are they now are trying to keep us from meetings?

                                                       Just wondering??????????

Dot Fitzgerald

A Lisbon concerned Citizen