Today is voting day in Lisbon

VOTING DAY IN LISBON

Today is voting day in Lisbon.  This is an opportunity for the citizens of Lisbon to cast a ballot and indicate how they feel about what is going on in Lisbon.  Voting is a very important part of democracy because it provides direction for those in-charge.  It also provides the will of the people just like it did on November 8, 2011.

On November 8, 2011, the people of Lisbon went to the polls and voted to have an opportunity to vote on the Municipal budget by a majority of 2025 to 514.  This means almost 80% of the people who voted were in favor of voting on the Municipal budget.  One would think that our Town Council would take this for action since the majority of the people asked for it.

First, it was Mike Bowie and now it is Chairman Fern LaRochelle who is preventing the will of the people from happening.  The last time the question came up in a council meeting, Chairman LaRochelle said it was too difficult and required a Charter Commission.  I do not remember the ballot asking whether or not it was difficult or not.  The people voted to vote on the Municipal budget.  When I cast my ballot today, almost two years later, I did not see the Municipal Budget on the ballot.

I also did not see where the people were voting on members for a Charter Commission.  Why has the Town Council ignored the wishes of the people?  I will tell you why and that is because Chief Brooks does not want the people voting on his Police budget.  Chief Brooks does whatever he can to prevent the people from voting on the Municipal budget because he knows his budget will never fly with the people.

Already the people are paying approximately $500,000 a year for a Communications Center which is a duplication of the Androscoggin County Dispatch.  The Androscoggin County Dispatch was just updated and could provide better service to the community than Lisbon’s Communication Center because it would eliminate the need to redirect or relay 911 calls.  The people would only pay for services receive which would be nowhere near $500,000 yearly and growing.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our Town Council actually complied with the people’s wishes?

Larry Fillmore

Editor's note

 Voting for anything in Lisbon is like using a hand-grenade in an aerial dog fight.