Recap Town Council Workshop & Special Meeting January 28, 2014

                RECAP TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP & SPECIAL MEETING

Tonight was another very special evening.  The Town Council held a Workshop and then a Special Town Council Meeting.  We are going to start off with the Workshop.

During the Workshop, the Town Council heard three presentations.  This first one was about the Maine Municipal Association (MMA).  This was presented by Mr. David Barrett.  If this organization sounds familiar to you; it is because they recommended Mr. Stephen Eldridge to the town of Lisbon.  At that time, Mr. Eldridge was the poster boy for MMA.   Do we really want to repeat our mistake?

The second presentation was presented by Mr. Bill Van Tuinen.  Mr. Van Tuinen is the current Town Assessor.  He provided an excellent outline of the responsibilities of the Assessor’s office.  He also briefed the Council on the Reevaluation his company is conducting in Lisbon.  According to Mr. Van Tuinen, the reevaluation should be complete in 2014-2015.  The new evaluations will go into effect in 2015.

The final presentation was done by Mr. Mark Stevens.  Mr. Stevens is the Director of the Recreation Department.  Mr. Stevens outlined the accomplishment of the Recreation Department.  He also explained the numerous programs available to the community.  The Recreation Department has programs available for all ages from seniors to 3 and 4 year olds.  The Recreation Department is one of the only departments in the town that actually make money for the town.

At this point, the Council ended the Workshop and started the Special Town Council Meeting.  The first order of business was to go into Executive Session.  At this point, Mrs. Paula Gibbs Reporter for the Sun Journal left.  The Council was in Executive Session for approximately one hour.   At two different times, they asked Mr. Dale Olmstead to join in the Executive Session.

When the Town Council came out of Executive Session, they took a vote to see if Mr. Dale Olmstead would be the Interim Town Manager or not.  The vote was 5 to 2 in favor of Mr. Olmstead becoming the next Interim Town Manager.  The two councilors NOT in favor were Chairwoman Ward and Councilor Bickford. 

The following is an article outlining what Mr. Olmstead did for the town of Freeport during his tenure as their Town Manager.  http://www.keepmecurrent.com/tri_town_weekly/news/dale-olmstead-a-farewell-to-freeport/article_d2fb7fe2-121a-11e2-842a-0019bb2963f4.html .  After reading this article, how can anyone doubt that Mr. Olmstead is exactly what the town of Lisbon needs?  Mr. Dale Olmstead will be sworn in at the next Town Council meeting.

Larry Fillmore

Recap Town Council Meeting - September 3rd, 2013

             RECAP TOWN COUNCIL MEETING – SEPTEMBER 3

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Town Council was business as usual.  The Town Manager Eldridge hides as much information as he can from the council and the people.  It does not matter that this is a violation of the Council Working Rules or not because he knows that he will be able to talk his way out of it with this council.

In accordance with (IAW) paragraph C (2) Council Working Rules all items shall be provided to the manager’s office by close of business on Thursday.  The Finance Director failed, once again, to provide the documentation in accordance with the Council Working Rules.  The purpose of this requirement is to give the councilors and the Public adequate time to review all necessary information.  However, there is no enforcement of any rules or ordinances unless it is against selected individuals.  There were no documentation presented for 2013-136 Carry Forward Adjustment and 2013-137 Revenue Sharing Adjustment. 

The following items were passed by a vote of 6-0 for the following items:  Androscoggin County Budget Committee Official Ballot (Mike Bowie was elected); Set Rate of Interest for Delinquent Taxes (You can be sure LaRochelle Properties, LLC will never pay the Interest and Penalties on their back taxes); Carry Forward Adjustment (Finance Director found $17,000 in Fire Department for Radio); Revenue Sharing Adjustment (This was $570,000);  Repeal Section 70-731 Timber Harvesting (This was done to follow state rules).

The Town Assessor, William Van Tuinen provided an update on the town’s revaluation.  It is scheduled to be completed in 2015.  Mr. Van Tuinen also set the tax rate at $23.00 which is up from $22.26 per thousand.  The town is planning on releasing our tax bills no later than Friday.  This is just in time for the weekend and the Public Hearing September 10, 2013 on the bonds facing the people.  

The Town has a million dollar bond to purchase and demolition the Worumbo Mill; the School would like to raise money to get them off probation and finally the Water Department want to present two bonds (1 for 1.75 million for a water tank and 2 $650,000 for the replacement of 4300 feet of water main on Frost Hill Avenue and Old Lisbon Road).

The Town Manager talked about the upcoming Public Hearing on September 10th.

The Water Department Director provided an overview of the two bonds they want to talk about at the Public Hearing on the 10th.  It was very informative and a more detailed briefing will be given at the Public Hearing. 

Please come to the Public Hearing.

Larry Fillmore

Lisbon Town Council Agenda For September 3, 2013

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Garrison
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pesce
___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Repeal Section 70-731 Timber Harvesting
B. Special Entertainment Permit – Left Hand Club

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE

6. CONSENT AGENDA
2013-133 ORDER 
A. Minutes of August 20, 2013
B. Minutes of August 27, 2013
C. Special Entertainment Permit & Liquor License – Left Hand Club
D. Permission for serving alcohol outside establishment – Friends Lodge
E. Renewal Victualer’s Licenses – Good Time Lanes, Left Hand Club, Railroad Restaurant & Pub

7. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2013-134 ORDER 
Androscoggin County Budget Committee Official Ballot

2013-135 ORDER 
Set Rate of Interest For Delinquent Taxes

2013-136 ORDER 
Carry Forward Adjustment

2013-137 ORDER 
Revenue Sharing Adjustment

2013-138 ORDINANCE 
Repeal Section 70-731 Timber Harvesting

8. OTHER BUSINESS
A. William Van Tuinen Assessing Update
B. Town Manager’s Report
C. Water Department Bond

9. APPOINTMENTS

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

12. ADJOURNMENT
2013-139 ORDER 
To Adjourn

Lawless Lisbon, Lies, Liars and Lisbon Management; Somethings Just Never Change!!!!!!!

YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!

During the first of September 2012, I brought it to the attention of the Assessing Clerk that LaRochelle Properties, LLC was receiving a “Homestead Exemption”.  At that time, the Assessing Clerk informed me it was legal.  I could not accept this to be true so I contacted the Maine Property Division and asked the state if it was legal for a LLC to receive a “Homestead Exemption” and the state told me “NO”.  I then contacted the town Assessing Office and relayed this information to the clerk.  Mrs. Malloy informed me that she had been in contact with the state and they confirmed the fact a LLC does not qualify for a “Homestead Exemption”.  Mrs. Malloy told me she would correct this situation.

At no time did we discuss who was to blame.  According to the documentations dated April 23, 1998, LaRochelle Properties, LLC has been receiving the “Homestead Exemption” since 1999.  

 Editor's note:  The list of Town Councilors on letterhead is also incorrect. Mike Bowie and Lori Pomelow are no longer councilors but perhaps are still active behind the curtain of dignity, integrity, and honor.

 Lisbon Tax Assessor William Van Tuinen

However, Mr. Van Tuinen’s letter contains a lot of double talk which I plan on correcting.  First, let’s start with defining “illegally” for him.

il·le·gal   [ih-lee-guh l]Show IPA adjective

1. forbidden by law or statute.

2. contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.: The referee ruled that it was an illegal forward pass.

noun

3. Informal. illegal alien.

er·ro·ne·ous   [uh-roh-nee-uh s, e-roh-]Show IPA adjective

1. containing error; mistaken; incorrect; wrong: an erroneous answer.

2. straying from what is moral, decent, proper, etc

I called it “illegal” because according to the Maine Property Division, a LLC does not qualify for this exemption.  Since this is the legal determination, I call it illegal.  Mr. Van Tuinen can call it anything he wants to include “erroneous” if it makes him feel any better. 

In Mr. Van Tuinen’s letter he states and I quote “I have not yet assessed any supplemental taxes to correct erroneously granted homestead exemptions deducted from the assessed valuation of an LLC”.  I brought this to their attention back in September and Mr. Van Tuinen has not taken any action.  I wonder why?  There are only three scenarios to explain this:  (1) lazy; (2) covering for a Good Old Boy; or (3) hoping it would go away.  There certainly is no reason to contact the state for any further guidance because they have already ruled on this.

 Lisbon Town Council Chairman Fern Larochelle

At the last town council meeting, Chairman LaRochelle was quite put out that this situation had been identified by me.  He was also outraged that I published it on the Lisbon Reporter and the LisbonMaine.net.  Chairman LaRochelle claimed I dragged his parents name through the mud.  If you care to check it I have never blamed anyone other than the town for this situation.  But what is really interesting is that Chairman LaRochelle stated that he had paid back ten (10) years of back taxes.  How can this possibly be true if Mr. Van Tuinen has not made a determination as stated in his letter?  Apparently, someone has miss-spoken.

Who do we believe and how do you determine who in lying?

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

The Unfairness Of Personal Property Taxes‏

 THE UNFAIRNESS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES

 

A few weeks ago I received in the mail a copy of a personal property tax bill, dated 06/13/2012. 

 

For 2006, principle - $63.29, interest $34.11 for a total of $97.40.

For 2007, principle - $39.77, interest $26.04 for a total of $65.81.

 

This was sent to Village Real Estate, a real estate office I opened in January1984 with a USED desk and chair I  purchased for a grand total of $100.00. Shortly after two (2) file cabinets were added, and later a  copy machine and a few miscellaneous cabinets. Around 1996, I purchased a fax machine. Personal property taxes were paid on these items from 1985 to 2005 when I decided enough was enough. All equipment was so old and depreciated they no longed qualified for deductions on my state and

federal income taxes.

 

 

 

On one hand I am willing to do my share to support the town and all the services provided. 

 

On the other hand, there are businesses on Route 9 that are not, and have not, been billed personal property taxes, have not been paying their fair share, and a town councilor has been receiving a Homestead Exemption on real estate taxes that he was not entitled to. 

 

 

 

I have paid the Town of Lisbon many times over for used and old office furniture and equipment while many others are not even being billed. Where is the fairness to others with a program of this type?

 

Dot Fitzgerald

A Lisbon Concerned Citizen

Lisbon's Revaluation Nightmares Have Only Just Begun

AS HOUSE VALUES FALL, WHY DON’T TAXES

It would appear there is a deep discrepancy between the “assessed value” and the “fair market value” of property.  Please read the below listed article which tries to explain why this occurs.  

http://www.pressherald.com/news/homeowners-ask_2012-01-02.html

One of the most critical points brought out in the article is “More importantly, when municipalities do lower assessments, property owners see little change in their tax bills because towns and cities simply raise the tax rate to cover the cost of running local government.  The only real way to reduce municipal budgets or tax bills is to reduce spending on police, schools or other public services.”   According to Dave Ledew, director of the state’s Property Tax Division, “If you roll back property values for everybody by 10 percent, it shouldn’t change their tax bills.”

Maine Revenue Services uses two methods to test whether property assessments – and the tax bills they generate are valid and fair.

(1)    The assessment ratio compares the average value with the average sale price of all homes sold during a specific.  Under state law, a town’s assessment should not be more than 10 percent higher or 30 percent lower than average sale prices.

(2)    The quality rating-determines the percentage of individual properties in a town that deviate from the assessment ratio.  That number should not fall below 20 percent.

Maine Revenue Services provides minimal oversight given state laws that set market-related assessment standards but impose few or no penalties.  As a result, some municipalities view the standards as guidelines rather than requirements.  While the state’s Property Tax Division encourages municipalities to do regular town wide revaluations to keep assessments current, the process can cost more than $300,000 and take one to two years to complete.  As a result, many towns now make incremental adjustments or do in-house revaluations.  Special software allows assessors to keep track of sales and building permits, make changes to individual property assessment and adjust values on similar properties accordingly.

Lisbon could have opted to have an in-house revaluation or incremental adjustments instead of a full blown revaluation saving the taxpayers a great deal of money.   But instead, this town council decided to spend $80,000 per year for four years, if my memory serves me right.  Why is Lisbon shooting themselves in the foot?  Lisbon needs to find ways to cut spending and lower the operating cost.  The secret to reducing taxes is to reduce spending.  There is no other magical spell for reducing taxes.  

 Lisbon's Town Manager

(Editorial note: He doesn't even live in town so why should he care about lowering taxes?????  Think About It!!!!!)

The article answers a lot of questions and provides excellent education into the process utilized but never answered the original question.  When property values fall; why don’t taxes fall?  The real answer is because the town’s operating costs have to be paid somehow and the only method available to towns and cities is through taxation.  Yours taxes are really not determined by your property value but instead it is based on the operating cost of the town or city.   This article outlines the methods town and cities utilize to cover their operating costs.  Lisbon taxpayers are in for a rude awakening comes this August/September. 

Now is the time to come to Town Council meetings and workshops demanding this council reduce operational costs in order to keep taxes as high as they already are or even demand for a tax reduction.  Remember, you cannot speak at workshops but you can witness which of the councilors are trying to help and which ones are trying to increase spending.

DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.  DO NOT BOTHER TO SHOW UP WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILLS BECAUSE IT WILL BE TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen