LISBON NEEDS LEADERSHIP!!!!!

When the people of Lisbon go to the polls on November 8th to vote; it is crucial they vote for individuals that possess two important traits.  They are leadership and the ability to put what is best for the community first.  I believe we have this on the School side but on the Town Council; we are seriously lacking.

On October 6, 2015, the Town Council, which included the following Councilors Bickford, Crafts, Brunelle, and Metivier, voted to stop the Consolidation of the Lisbon Communication Center and the Androscoggin County Dispatch.  This consolidation would have allowed the 911 operators to dispatch directly OUR First Responders in emergency situations.  This initiative would have made it possible for OUR First Responder to get to the scene more quickly and possibly save more lives.  At the same time, Councilors Pesce and Garrison estimated a cost saving to the town of approximately $190,000.00 tax dollars.  To me this is a significant savings for the taxpayers. 

However, since October 6, 2015, these same supposedly Councilors have made no effort to pursue this any further.  That means that every man, woman and child’s live remain endanger.  This outrages me and should you but no one other than myself; Mr. Stacey and Dorothy Fitzgerald have tried to get the Town Council to take immediate action to correct this situation.  What is going to happen when a loved one dies because of the delay in First Responder getting to the scene and the family sues the town for failure to provide a safe environment in Lisbon? 

We have two sitting Councilors up for reelection who voted to stop the consolidation and they are supposedly Councilors Metivier and Brunelle.  If these two are reelected, they will not make any effort to correct this situation.  Putting our citizen’s life a risk all the time is bad enough not looking into way to save the taxpayers money is inexcusable.  These two have clearly demonstrated the past two years they are not leaders nor have the ability to put what is best for the community first.  It will be up to the people on November 8th to choose our next Town Council so it is critical they choose wisely.  I will not be voting for either of these two.

The Androscoggin County Dispatch is willing to work with our new Chief of Police to provide emergency dispatching to Lisbon.  However, it is up to the Town Council to make the first move.  I do not care which Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) provides the service as long as the PSAP dispatch First Responder immediately receipt of the 911 call.  There are two PSAP in Androscoggin County which is L/A 911 and Androscoggin County Dispatch.

If you are tired of having your life and that of yours love ones put at risk, call the your Town Council, Town Manager and the Chief of Police and DEMAND they take immediate action to correct this mess.

Larry Fillmore