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

Thursday, June 14, 2018

GENERAL ASSISTANCE IN LISBON

At the Lisbon Town Office there is a door with the wording "General Assistance".

This morning, needing to contact someone at General Assistance, I went on the town's

website, clicked on "Departments", looking for the phone number so I could leave a

message.

I clicked on "Departments". No General Assistance listed under Departments.

I went to :Boards and Committees", no General Assistance listed there either.

I than called the Town Clerk's office, asked how to find General Assistance.

No one there knew that General Assistance was not listed under Departments.

I was told that General Assistance could be found under the Department of Community Development.

I tried that, and guess what? General Assistance is not listed there either!!!!!.

My question is; how does anyone in town, needing General Assistance, contact General Assistance?

General Assistance in Lisbon is a part-time position.

I asked Town Manager, Diane Barnes, why we do not have at least a part-time person in General Assistance? She said that the only time anyone is in need of general assistance is in the winter. This from a person making $95,000+ per year plus benefits.

Judy Goddard, the Town of Lisbon's General Assistance director also works for the town of Brunswick. She also works for the City of Bath. Is it any wonder she is not available for the citizens of the Town of Lisbon?

Our Town Council and Town Manager recently hired 2 addtional police officers. They also approved a full time position, part-time for the front counter, part time for the Finance Department. But they do not see any need to help those in town most in need of assistance.

Perhaps it is time to stop wasting money on someone not available to render assistance, when it is needed.

Dorothy Fitzgerald
Concerned Citizen

EDITOR'S NOTE: According to the latest proposed budget, under General Assistance 05-500 there is a line item 5211 Cell Phone which has a proposed budget of $363.00. If this is the case, why is the cell phone NOT listed on the town web site. When is the Town Council going to force the Town Manager to do her job?