The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Monday, January 6, 2014

Just The Facts And Not What Is Written In An Upriver Tabloid Regarding Town Manager's Dismissal

Peter Reuter, The Lisbon Reporter

Are you ready for the lame stream media's cant on what has transpired locally? I know this will be difficult for many to comprehend but hang on to your shorts.

Simply put the Lewiston Sun Journal and their take on being responsible for printing the facts for the general public to understand has, yet, another intrinsic example of being Lame and Untruthful at best.

The delicately choreographed rendition of the facts by Lisbon Town Councilor Chairman, Lisa Ward lacks not only basic Math skills, but a total and complete simplistic, unorthodox, and misleading display of facts but understand it is Politically Correct.

Let me explain. First, Stephen G. Eldridge was hired, by a glorious recommendation by the Maine Municipal Association and Interim Town Manager, at that time, none other than COP (Chief of Police) David T. Brooks in January 2008, it is now January 2014. Ok, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, in the bag. One, two, three, four, five, six. SIX years, not FIVE, that he has literally RAPED the taxpayers of Lisbon. When Mr. Stephen G. Eldridge began his Municipal management tenure in Lisbon, the 'Rainy Day Fund' or Undesignated Fund Account had over 3 million dollars in there. Currently, there is well below the State minimum guidelines or 12.5 % of total general fund or about $1.3 million dollars.

People Wake UP. Attend the Town Council Meetings and Get Involved for the benefit of all of us and please pay attention to the facts and not what is reported in the Lewiston Sun Journal Tabloid.

Below is the article posted tonight on the Sun Journal.

Once again this article must have been approved by the Sun Journal's Day Editor, Judy Meyer.

Nothing in the following article was apparently verified. It is nothing more than a piece of propaganda created in the Lisbon Town Office.

Mr. Eldridge's last annual salary in Lisbon, was over $90,000 plus travel expenses, plus other perks.

Can You See the Light?

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/city

Lisbon to hire new town manager‏

Paula Gibbs, Special to the Sun Journal
Lewiston-Auburn | Monday, January 6, 2014 at 5:25 pm

LISBON — After five years on the job, Town Manager Steve Eldridge is leaving following a unanimous vote by the Town Council on Friday not to renew his contract. His contract ends today.

Council chairwoman Lisa Ward said the council will appoint an interim town manager at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The vote not to renew the contract was taken at a special meeting of the council Friday night after a discussion held in executive session.

Notice of the special meeting Friday was posted Dec. 31. The agenda included two items in executive session: (1) legal rights and duties of the council; and (2) personnel; and one item in open session: the town manager’s contract.

A press release issued by the town Monday afternoon said, “Mr. Eldridge has served the town of Lisbon as manager since 2008. He is well respected and has been dedicated to the town in many ways, and the council appreciates his hard work and commitment. The council has decided that a new perspective and fresh outlook will benefit Lisbon.”

No other statements were made offering a reason for not renewing the contract.

Efforts to reach Eldridge were unsuccessful.

Ward said she spent much of the day on Monday meeting with department heads and town employees. The council’s regular meetings are the first and third Tuesday of the month. The agenda for Tuesday night’s 7 p.m. meeting, which was sent out Friday afternoon, did not include any agenda items regarding the status of the town manager.

Eldridge was a town manager in Greene and later in Etna, before leaving to assume the town manager’s position in Rumford in 2005. He signed a three-year contract with Rumford, but left after a little more than two years because of a legal challenge on his residency and the length of the contract. The town continued to pay his salary for the remainder of the third year.

A month after leaving Rumford in 2007, he accepted a position as coordinator for a special project to consolidate services in Auburn and Lewiston. Hired for 15 months at an annual salary of $55,000, Eldridge left that position after 10 months to accept the Lisbon job.