CONTROL OF THE MOXIE FESTIVAL

 

At the last Town Council meeting on June 26, 2018, the Town Council decided to hold a discussion on moving the responsibility of the Moxie Festival from the Economic Community Development Department to the Recreational and Parks Department.  As usual there was NO advance notice posted on the town website including the agenda posted for this meeting.  However, I am sure the agendas handed out at the meeting included this change.  This is the type of strategy the Town Manager, Diane Barnes uses to control the input from citizens.

 

Instead of having this discussion in a workshop, it was a last minute addition to the already full and published agenda.  Typical action by the Town Council and the Town Manager!  Such short notice does not provide citizens with adequate preparation prior to the meeting but this is there style.

 

Dorothy Fitzgerald offered the Town Council a different option and as usual it went in one ear and out the other of the Council.  Mrs. Fitzgerald suggested the Moxie Festival’s responsibility be moved to Positive Change Lisbon (PCL).  It was obvious the Council members where not aware of the history of the Moxie Festival.

 

The Moxie Festival started around 1982 by the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce.  It included businesses and citizen who volunteered every year.  The Moxie Festival grew and grew every year and prospered very well.  Because it was making so much money, Steve Eldridge, former Town Manager decided he wanted that money for the town and had the Town Council vote to take over responsibility of the Moxie Festival.

 

Now, we all know that Mark Stevens, Recreation and Parks Director, has his hands full.  Mark does an excellent job and the Town Council has added the responsibility for parks, gardens, cemeteries to his original duties at the Recreation Department.  Mark has done all this with a full-time staff of one besides himself and the Town Council added a full-time maintenance position this year.  Adding the Moxie Festival, would cause a major burden on Mr. Stevens and the Recreation and Parks Department.  Over the years, since the town took over the Moxie Festival and the number of volunteers has continually declined.

 

POSITIVE CHANGE LISBON MISSION STATEMENT

To bring together the resources of Business people, local Government and Citizens, partnering together in a positive environment, to improve the image of our community. Through the efforts of a group of highly motivated individuals guided by a clear vision of our future, we aim to build on the favorable attributes of our Town and make Lisbon a more attractive place to live, recreate and to conduct business.

 

Now to me, this sound like exactly what the original Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce was made up of.  Positive Change Lisbon appears to be the perfect place for the Moxie Festival responsibility.  If you review their website, you will see the majority of the businesses are members.  Councilor LaRochelle is the Secretary.  Positive Change Lisbon puts on numerous events throughout the year and this festival fits right in.  The Moxie Festival promotes the town of Lisbon and our many attributes.  I cannot think of a better organization to have the responsibility for the Moxie Festival.

 

I do realize that because Mrs. Fitzgerald suggested it and I agree with her; this will never happen because the Council will never admit this is the right thing to do and they did not think of it.

 

Larry Fillmore