Town Councilors Were Acting Like Our Masters And Not Our Servants

Lisbon Councilors reluctantly postponed the public hearing on the Worumbo bond and will reschedule the hearing in a larger venue at a later date. 

Over one hundred sometimes vocal residents  attended the public hearing. The attendees filled the hearing room and overflowed into the hall where they were jockeying for  position to hear the speakers inside the chamber. Many people were forced to leave when they couldn’t find a parking space at Town Hall.

Councilor Larochelle recused himself due to  the conflict of interest that they said didn’t exist until this meeting. Councilor Ward presided over the meeting. 

Of the dozen or so people that spoke before the meeting was canceled, no one was in favor of floating the million dollar bond.  Many of the speakers complained about the already high taxes and diminishing services. Some also wondered why the Council wanted to have a special election for a single bond issue when we will be voting on a bond issue at the poles this November.

Lisbon residents were definitely unhappy with the Council’s plan to assume this potentially huge liability.  They felt the cleanup of this white elephant was the responsibility of Miller Industries and  questioned why the Council wanted to take on this burden when Miller Industries didn’t want to invest in the project themselves.

At one point a lady asked the Councilors what the projected profit from this project was and the Council didn’t have an answer for her. They admitted they haven't figured out the details yet. They want to buy the mill first and then try to make a profit from it.  Well I have news for them a number of developers have looked at the property and passed on the property.  What makes the Council think they can do what a professional developer can't?

I was personally surprised at the Councils smug attitude and refusal to acknowledge the peoples obvious disapproval with the bond. They acted as if the 100 or so angry voters in front of them didn’t represent Lisbon taxpayers.  They acted as if the hearing was a formality that they had to endure before they could vote their wishes.   I think they are hoping that by rescheduling the hearing some people will give up and stay home.  

It was clear this Council was not representing the wishes of Lisbon taxpayers, they had a different agenda. 

 They were acting as if they were our masters not our servants. 

Respectfully

Joe HIll -- LisbonMaine.net