DEMOCRACY‏ Is Missing In Lisbon Government!!!!!

I began attending Town Meetings shortly after my husband and I moved to Lisbon Falls in 1958.

 

Meetings were held in March, at the high school, on a Saturday morning.

 

A few years later, they began holding the meetings on Monday evenings.

 

As more business needed to be conducted, meetings were extended to successive evenings.

 

The Selectmen, (or school committee),  were seated on the stage.

 

The budget/advisory board was seated on the floor, to the right of the stage.

 

A moderator was elected;

The moderator read the articles as presented on the warrant.

A spokesperson for the budget/advisory board would make an amendment to that article for a lower or higher amount.

The article was then discussed, PROS AND CONS.

THE PUBLIC WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK,

TO ASK QUESTIONS, OF THE TOWN MANAGER, THE SELECTMEN, OR SCHOOL COMMITTEE, DEPENDING ON THE ARTICLES BROUGHT FORTH.

 

Only after all questions were answered to the satisfaction of all, was the article brought to the public for a vote.

 

            YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY:

THE PUBLIC VOTED ON THE TOWN BUDGET! ! !

 

THE PUBLIC VOTED ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET ! ! ! !

 

         ARTICLE BY ARTICLE ! ! ! !

 

AND THAT, MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW TAXPAYERS, IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY OF DOING TOWN BUSINESS ! ! !

 

              GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE

                      BY THE PEOPLE

                 AND FOR THE PEOPLE

 

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IN THE TOWN OF LISBON IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

                    THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SILENCED.

 

IF A PERSON WANTS TO SPEAK NOW AT A COUNCIL MEETING, SAID PERSON HAS TO MEET WITH WITH THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO SAID MEETING EVEN IF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT PRESENT!

ONLY IF THE COUNCIL CHAIR APPROVES, THAT PERSON IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

 

WHY WAS STEVE WARREN ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE APRIL 16, 2013 COUNCIL MEETING, EVEN THOUGH HIS TOPIC WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA?

 

AND LARRY FILLMORE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS REQUESTED TO SEVERAL TIMES?

 

THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS NOT THE DEMOCRATIC WAY OF DOING TOWN BUSINESS!

 

We have an opportunity to make a Positive Change in November.

 

Dot Fitzgerald

A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen