WHO DOES THE TOWN COUNCIL WORK FOR???????????????

One would think that the Town Council works for and answers to the people; since the Town Council is elected by the people.  Is that the case today in Lisbon?  Let’s take a look and see if this is true. 

April 12, 2016 was the last budget workshop where Department Heads presented their proposed budget to the Council.  In previous years, the Council held numerous budget workshops to try and reduce the operating cost of the town.  However this year, under Chairman Roger Bickford, there have been absolutely no public budget workshops.  This means that the Town Council has made absolutely no attempt to reduce the proposed budget. 

 The current proposed budget by the Town Manager is an increase of over half a million dollars.  One would think that the Council should be able to make cuts in this proposed budget to give taxpayers some relief on our taxes instead of allowing the operating cost to continue increasing every year.  So far it has been approximately 42 days since the budget was presented and the Town Council has made no attempt reduce this budget.

 We need Councilors that are looking out for the taxpayers and are trying to reduce spending in an attempt to lower taxes.  Councilors are charged with the responsibility of doing what is in the best interest of the community and not their friends or personal agendas.  Sitting idle and make absolutely no attempt to reduce the proposed budget is irresponsible.  It is the duty of the Chairman to set meetings/workshops and to set the agenda for the same.  So what is Chairman Bickford doing to help the taxpayers?

 This is yet another example of the “Good Old Boys” being in complete control of our Town Council.

Larry Fillmore