Lisbon's Councilors To Ponder Plight Of Proper Use Of Forfeited Funds Tuesday Night

HOW TO SPEND $71,750.78 FORFEITURE FUNDS???????????

On Tuesday night, the Town Council will be asked by Lisbon Police  Chief David T. Brooks; What to do with $71,750.78 the community received in forfeiture funds from the U.S. Treasury Department?  These funds were turned over to the town because our police department did their jobs, nothing more.  As Chief Brooks’ indicated the Federal people took control of the case immediately. 

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Now the town council has three options:

1.       To utilize these funds as the council sees fit.

2.       To give these funds to the Police Department to use as they see fit.

3.       To give these funds to the Police Department in return for $71,750.78 of tax dollars which was approved by the council for such things as the purchase of two cruisers at $48,816.00?

So let’s review each option.  Option 1 is by far the best option because it allows the council to take care of some urgent needs of the community such as:

1.       Repair roads

2.       Resolve the boiler issue at MTM Center before winter

3.       Replace more windows at MTM Center before winter

4.       Restore service on Thursday at the dump

5.       Restore services that were cut at the library

These suggestions are not ranked by priority but are excellent opportunities where this $71,750.78 would benefit the whole community.

Option 2 is by far the worst option.  The Town Council approved a budget for the Police Department of $1,297,864.00.  This is over a million dollars to cover the operations of the Police Department.  This is a small community with many residents on a fixed income.  I dare say that the Lisbon Police Department is the most costly per capita in the state of Maine.

Option 3 is a viable option.  According to Chief Brooks’ the correct protocol is to provide forfeiture funds to the police department to utilize for things such as vehicles.  Since the taxpayers have already budgeted for the vehicles with tax dollars then these tax dollars should be returned to the community and Chief Brooks should use the forfeitured funds to cover whatever he wants.  The taxpayers should not have to pay twice for whatever Chief Brooks wants to spend this $71,750.78 on.  The taxpayers should be reimbursed their tax dollars to be spent for such things as outlined in Option 1. 

This is an excellent opportunity to see if Chief Brooks is a team player and will put the needs of the community ahead of his own needs.  It is about time the community came first in this town and that goes for the town council too.  This community has a lot of needs that this $71,750.78 could eliminate or at least reduce greatly.  So now it is up to the Town Council to see if they are going to use this windfall for the good of the community or the good of Chief Brooks.  Citizens need to watch closely to how each councilor’s votes on this issue.

Let’s see if Chief Brooks is a team player and puts the community’s needs first.  But more important is to see which councilors support their friend or put their community first.

Larry Fillmore

Lisbon Town Council Agenda For Tuesday October 1, 2013

                                                        AGENDA
                                         TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
                                       TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013
                                           LISBON TOWN OFFICE
                                                      7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL

___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Garrison
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pesce
___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING

A. Victualer License for Randall Smith d/b/a Pinky D’s

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE

6. CONSENT AGENDA

2013-154 ORDER −
A. Victualer License for Randall Smith d/b/a Pinky D’s

B.Minutes of September 17, 2013

7. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

2013-155 ORDER −
Fuel Bids

2013-156 ORDER −
Agency Liquor Store Relocation - Bootleggers

2013-157 ORDER −
New Agency Liquor Stores - Food City, Lisbon Gulf, and Rite Aid

2013-158 ORDER −
Forfeiture

2013-159 ORDER −
Winter Sand Bids

8. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Androscoggin River Trail Update

B. Town Manager’s Report

9. APPOINTMENTS

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

2013-160 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter - EMA Director

2013-160 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter -Water Department

12. ADJOURNMENT
2013-161 ORDER −
To Adjourn