"Why We Do The Things We Do"

Yolanda Adams-The Things We Do (LP Version)

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WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO!

Before Stephen Eldridge came to Lisbon, this was a model community and a great place to raise a family.  However, since Stephen Eldridge became town manager it has gone downhill just as Rumford did when he was the town manager there.  He was hired by the town council after a strong recommendation from Chief Brooks who was the Interim town manager at the time.

I became involved because I could not understand why my taxes increased so much.  I asked Mr. Eldridge for an explanation and was given double talk and absolutely no explanation.  So, I decided to look into the situation.  One of my many assignments was to connect all the computers on Naval Air Station Brunswick.  This networking was a new idea and very costly to the Navy.  I was selected to procure the funding for this project.  During the span of several years, I was responsible for the budgeting of the Information Technology Department.  This involved projected budgeting, ordering equipment, and accounting for every penny.  I worked closely with the Comptroller (Navy Finance Director) to ensure all Navy guidelines and accounting practices were maintained at all times.  This budget was well over a million dollars.  It is during this time, I had the honor and privilege to work with Petty Officer Gregg Garrison now known as Councilor Gregg Garrison.

I began looking into the transparency of local government in Lisbon.  Each time I requested information, the town would not provide the information.  I was forced to take the town to court twice to obtain this information.  In both cases, the judge awarded me the information.  This cost the town approximately $10,000 tax dollars.  Lori Pomelow and others have blamed me for costing the town this money but had Stephen Eldridge and Roger Therriault (town attorney) known the law there would have been no need to go to court.  If you have nothing to hide; why not provide the information. 

A group of citizens who share my concerns about how the town manager is running this town began uncovering different situations no one wanted the people to know.  This is why Lori Pomelow rewrote the Council Working Rules to silence our group.  The town council and Mr. Eldridge did not want this group exposing the shenanigans going on behind closed doors.  It has never been about our asking the right questions, which the council feels as complaining, it is about exposing problems within the management of the town.  The most recently is Chairman LaRochelle being involved with owing back taxes, interest and penalties for LaRochelle Properties, LLC taking a Homestead Tax Exemption erroneously.   Chairman LaRochelle paid a portion of the back taxes but not the interest and penalties normally associated with owing back taxes.

I have had to call in the state to receive information denied me by the town.  This is information any citizen is entitled to receive.  As a result of this situation, the town learned they did not have the required documentation and had to recreate them.  These missing documents involved tax dollars and should have been discovered long before I inquired about them.  Once again, my involvement exposed problems involving management of our town.

I do this to improve our community not hurt it as others claim.  A wise individual once said “This first step to resolving a problem is admitting a problem exists.” or words to that effect.  I and my colleagues are not trying to hurt the community but what we are trying to do is get our town council to recognize there are problems which need to be resolved.  We cannot start to rebuild this community until we resolve all the problems.

Mr. Ross Cunningham and Positive Change Lisbon are doing a great job making our community look more attractive.  However, I believe it would be an injustice to create a situation where someone wants to move here or start a business in Lisbon without knowing how mismanaged the town really is.  Having a history of raising taxes every year, to cover excessive spending, will not attract anyone.  Our group believes it is better to clean up our local government first.

We will continue to expose mismanagement and misappropriations of funds every time we learn about them in order to clean up our local government.  We certainly are not trying to hurt the community but you must break a few eggs to make an omelet.

Our town council looks to the town manager for guidance because they are not trained in local government and how it is suppose to run.  Stephen Eldridge has been providing poor advice to our councilors who are extremely gullible at this time.  Mr. Eldridge has looked me in the face and lied to me just as easy as a child does to a parent.  The council needs to verify the information provided by the town manager.  I have had to verify everything he has said at council meetings and over 90% of the time the information provided is wrong.   This is why I have been forced to request so much information.

It is time we get a new town manager; one who can provide good sound guidance to our councilors.

Larry Fillmore

Anonymous - Thank you very much for your comment. I am glad that other people realize what is really going on in Lisbon. Thank you again. on "Why We Do The Things We Do"	Larry Fillmore	at 7:39 PM
	Larry, many people do appreciate the work you do to expose what goes on at the Town office. Brooks wanted Eldridge hired so he could have a cohort to carry out his shenanagins. Brooks has been manipulating things in this Town for decades. Why does he cling to being a cop when he really exhibits no real skill at this. He is a manipulator and a bully, amassing his own little empire as a reward for his inflated ego. Just look at the crime statistics for April, as reported in the Greater Lisbon Ledger. Does such a pittance of crime require his deeply inflated budget? There wasn't a single DUI, an interesting fact. Maybe their "club" reporter was unable to provide tips. This is what is wrong with the Town. Get rid of Brooks, Eldridge and certain others and this Town would probably resolve its bad reputation quickly. Don't blame Larry, he has exposed what has been covered-up for many years. on "Why We Do The Things We Do"	Anonymous	at 7:23 PM