WASHBURN 3 WINNERS OF FIRE PREVENTION SAFETY AWARD

 

 

Photo caption:  L-A Rotary Lunch Club members Lorraine Bard and Peter Arsenault (featured at right) assisted Washburn School Principal, Andrew Bard, with Fire Prevention Safety Awards to students.  Photo courtesy of Monica Millhime. 

 

Auburn - A Fire Prevention program including a coloring and poster contest, in partnership with Washburn Elementary School in Auburn, was sponsored by the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club. Members of the Rotary Club collected the student entries and selected the best submissions that captured the importance of adhering to fire safety procedures.  Rotary members were invited by Washburn School Principal Andrew Bard, and his staff to an assembly to announce the winners and award the prizes. L- A Club President Monica Millhime was accompanied by Rotarians Lorraine Bard and Peter Arsenault to congratulate students. “Supporting literacy and adopting Washburn School, was one of our top priorities as a Rotary Club this year,” shares Millhime. All of the winners received a gift certificate thanks to a Rotary partnership with Sam’s Italian. The winners of the coloring contest were: Kaida Gatcomb - Kindergarten; Angelina Tardif – Grade 1; Jenna Powell - Grade 2. The winners of the class posters were: Miss Tufts’ class grade 4 & Mrs. Ricard’s class Grade 5/6. “Students were engaged and welcoming during our presentation and we look forward to future endeavors with the students and staff at Washburn,” comments Millhime.  Members meet weekly from noon to 1 p.m. at the Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn.  FMI on program and events call 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Weekly updates are posted on Facebook:  https://facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/

L-A ROTARY LUNCH CLUB TO WELCOME SUPERINTENDENT KATHERINE GRONDIN MARCH 8

Auburn - On Thursday, March 8, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Katherine Grondin, Superintendent for the Auburn School Department, will be the featured guest speaker of the L-A Rotary Lunch Club.  Grondin’s love for the Auburn community began when her family moved to Maine in the summer of 1979. She graduated from Edward Little High School in 1982 and went to University of Southern Maine to become a teacher. Since becoming a teacher for the Auburn School Department in 1988, she has served in several leadership roles, before becoming Superintendent in 2011.  It is her passion for education that drives her every day to work with her outstanding colleagues and staff to strive to provide a high quality education for all students. The Auburn School Department is focused on its Vision 2020 and the building of a new Edward Little High School. Grondin understands the importance of engaging with the community to garner support for education. She is member of the LA Metro Chamber Board and serves on the Education and Workforce Development Committee. She facilitates a Business Roundtable, which connects educators and business leaders, in order to collaborate to best educate students to be career and college ready after graduation. Grondin was honored in 2007 as the National Distinguished Principal of the Year and represented the state of Maine in Washington D.C.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

 

L-A ROTARY LUNCH CLUB TO WELCOME JENNIFER CARTMELL APRIL 12, 2018

Auburn - On Thursday, April 12, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Jennifer Cartmell will be the featured guest speaker of the L-A Rotary Lunch Club.  Cartmell joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine 2017 to serve BBBS Manager for the Androscoggin region. The mission of BBBS is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Cartmell has served on numerous volunteer boards and committees:  the American Cancer Society of Sun Valley, the Idaho State ACS, Advertising Club of Maine boards, and as development, event and media relations coordinator for many non-profits on a pro bono basis including Sagadahoc Preservation, Habitat for Humanity, Freeport Rotary, Universal Promise and Honor Flight Maine. Cartmell brings her wealth of event planning and marketing expertise to the BBBS team with a strong advertising, talent agency, TV and radio and media relations background.  She has been responsible for producing national films, TV and radio programs and commercials.  Cartmell is a former host of the Sun Valley Show, and is a freelance writer for a NY area based newspaper.  These experiences bring a strong contribution to the creative development and strategic planning end of BBBS.  She oversees management of BBBS events in the Androscoggin area. Upcoming events include Bowl For Kids’ Sake event, taking place in Lewiston May 9th, 11th and 12th, and Golf for Kids’ Sake, Monday, June 18^th at Martdindale, Auburn.  For information or participation in either of those events, contact her directly:  jennifer@bbbsmidmaine.orgCartmell is also responsible for coordinating the agency’s school based match supports in Lewiston-Auburn and working to strengthen and expand the existing programs and outreach.  Since starting with BBBSMM she has doubled the number of youth served in Androscoggin.  In the role of Androscoggin Manager, she also serves as a community relations representative for BBBS of Mid-Maine building relationships with local businesses, partnering with corporate leaders and decision makers, and working closely with other non-profits to assist promote the wellbeing of Maine children facing adversity. Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Hear Rachel Desgrosseilliers at Museum L-A on March 15

 

Lewiston - On Thursday, March 15, from noon to 1:00 p.m. a catered lunch will be provided by Grant’s Bakery at Museum L-A, 35 Canal Street Lewiston.  Rachel Desgrosseilliers will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club off-site luncheon meeting.  Desgrosseilliers is the Executive Director of Museum L-A of Lewiston-Auburn, has been self-employed through her photography studio “Prints by Rachel” and Gooseberry Barn which she owned with her husband Harvey for 20 years and has been in non-profit leadership for many years.  She received her BS in Accounting from New Hampshire College and her Masters in Hospital and Health Care Administration from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.  Desgrosseilliers was founder of the Great Falls Balloon Festival and for the past 13 years has overseen the growth of Museum L-A, a museum of work and community that has received several awards from the museum field.  Museum L-A has just recently turned the corner from the economic downturn and is moving forward with new staff, new programs, new board members and new momentum.  After updating the L-A Rotary Lunch Club on happenings and future direction for the Museum, a special behind the scenes tour will be conducted.  Members will be able to view the Kids as Curators Exhibit of the Auburn Middle and Lewiston High School Students as well as a preview of the redesign of the permanent exhibit to incorporate the many great artifacts and display pieces that were received from the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts along with the new exhibit section that is being created to showcase our great shoe industry businesses still in existence today.  Desgrosseilliers serves on many local committees and task forces, received the Chamber of Commerce Ray Geiger Award for leadership in the community; Auburn Citizen of the Year for Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Community and Citizens of Auburn; Business Woman of the Year-from the Professional Business Woman’s Association; and, was inducted in the Franco Hall of Fame for the State of Maine for work done to preserve and enhance the history of Franco-Americans in Maine.  Lunch is $14 per person and guest reservations are requested by calling 713.7045.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Rebecca Conrad February 22

Auburn - On Thursday, February 22, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Rebecca Swanson Conrad will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Conrad joined the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in March 2017 as the President & CEO. Previously, she was the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine where she began as a consultant in 2006. She was co-owner with her husband of downtown Auburn, Maine businesses, Austin’s Fine Wines and Foods for 20 years and for 3 years owned and operated Rÿsen Home Garden & Antiques, a retail gallery promoting local art and products that supported international women’s economic development. Prior to Rÿsen, Conrad’s career spanned 21 years in higher education administration at Bates College, including 1999-2003 when she served as executive director of LA Excels, the college’s non-profit community development partnership in Lewiston-Auburn focused on leadership, arts, educational aspirations and economic revitalization. She served on the Maine Arts Commission for seven years, with four as vice-chair. Other volunteer board roles include past chair of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice and L/A Arts, vice chair of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and as a board member of Advocates for Children, the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce and Central Maine Community College’s Foundation. She currently serves with Oxfam’s, “Sisters of the Planet,” a diverse group of American Women using their influence to fight global poverty, hunger, and injustice, with a particular focus on empowering women and girls worldwide. She is also on the advisory board of USM’s LA College and the Muskie School’s Board of Visitors and is a member of the Auburn Lewiston Airport board of directors. Conrad received her BA in English from Bates College and studied in the New England Studies MFA Program at the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Auburn with her husband Austin Conrad, Jr. and her cat, Charles Mingus.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

WMCA Provides Career Counseling for Recent Manufacturing Technician Graduate

 

Photo caption:  Cathy Stairs, from Western Maine Community Action, provided on-going career counseling to recent NTI Manufacturing Tech graduate , Anderson Council resulting in a full-time hire with a local employer.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

 

Lewiston – Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) Case Manager, Cathy Stairs, has been assisting Anderson Council, a recent NTI Manufacturing Technician graduate with career options.  Council has secured full-time employment with International Door in Lewiston as a result of the work search guidance.  Council was one of eight candidates who participated in the Northeast Technical Institute Manufacturing Technician program supported through funding by WMCA, and the Bureau of Employment Services’ Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP).  The 14 week training program valued over $5,000 for each eligible participant, included 60 hours of WorkReady and 350 hours of manufacturing training.  The program promoted pathways to employment and advancements within the manufacturing industry.  “The success of this program is a result of forward-thinking modeling with course content, collaboration among business partners, and the students’ dedication to completing the course.  Students were engaged and recognized the manufacturing industry is experiencing an up-tick in the demand for skilled labor in the job market offering attractive wages and benefit packages,” said Patti Saarinen,  WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  “The integration of education and training is the best-practice model for success.”  FMI on future training programs call 753.9005.

L-A ROTARY LUNCH CLUB TO WELCOME STEPHANIS GELINAS MARCH 1

Auburn - On Thursday, March 1, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Stephanie Gelinas will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Gelinas, M.S, CCC-SLP is the founder and executive director of Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services and LA Hearing Center in Lewiston. She has been practicing in the field of speech and language pathology for 33 years.  Stephanie attended the University of Maine at Farmington, graduating in 1984 with a dual degree in elementary education and speech correction. She went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences from Syracuse University in 1986. In 1996, she opened Sandcastle. The agency’s team of 50 professionals focuses on early detection, diagnosis and intervention, both clinically and educationally. Born and raised in Lewiston, Stephanie is proud of and engaged in the community where she still resides. She is the immediate past president of the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as Paul Harris Fellow award recipient and Rotarian, Stephanie is also a past president of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club, serves on the Health Advisory Committee for Promise Early Education Center and is on the board of directors for Tri County Mental Health Services. Stephanie is a 2007 graduate of the Androscoggin Leadership Development Institute. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband, Gerry, 6 children and 8 grandchildren. Her passions include the outdoors, traveling, and participating in triathlons.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Rotarian Roger Philippon to address L-A Rotary Lunch Club April 5 at CMCC

Auburn - On Thursday, April 5, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Maine Community College Campus, 1250 Turner Street, Auburn , Roger Philippon will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  A Lewiston native, Philippon, is dean of planning and public affairs at Central Maine Community College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Southern Maine. Long active in local civic affairs, Philippon is a former Lewiston City Councilor and Planning Board member. He served for many years as chair of the Advisory Board for the Franco-American Collection at USM/L-A College. Roger serves on the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, and is a member of the Maine Public Relations Council. He and his wife, Celeste. live in Lewiston and devote much time and energy to the Community Little Theater, where Philippon also serves on the board. They are the proud parents of son Joseph, who serves as the Community Resource Officer for the Lewiston Police Department, and proud grandparents to grandsons Isaha and Jackson. The Rotary meeting will be held in the conference room TWR 405, on the fourth floor of The Tower, the newest building on the campus.  Tours of the campus will be held directly following the luncheon.   Reservations are requested for the off-site luncheon by calling 713.7045 by April 1.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Peter Baker January 18

Auburn - On Thursday, January 18, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Peter Baker  will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Peter Baker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Program Director, for Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter.  Baker holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Maine and has been working in dementia care since 2006. He has worked in long-term care centers as a Social Services Director, Dementia Program Director and as an Executive Director.  As the program director for the Alzheimer’s Association, Caron oversees the care and support services provided by our Maine Chapter serving the entire state of Maine. His areas of expertise include family care consultations, information and referral services, crisis support, safety services, care planning, and emotional support. Externally, his work focuses on educating professionals and community members about the disease, facilitating support groups and training support group leaders. Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Warren & Amy Shaw January 25

Auburn - On Thursday, January 25, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Warren and Amy Shaw  will be the featured guest speakers at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Warren and Amy Shaw are the founders of At a Bend in the Road, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a place where Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship families in Maine can find specialized support for their unique needs. Warren works in Product Development at Thos. Moser Cabinet Makers where he has been employed for the past 25 years.  Amy is a stay at home Mom and Program Director for ABR.  The Shaw family personally experienced the great need for appropriate and specific supports for families who were raising a child with a history of trauma, neglect, and abuse. In 2001 they adopted their 9-month-old daughter from a Siberian orphanage.  Due to her young age, they expected to bi-pass many of the challenges common in raising a child with a history of neglect and abuse.  They discovered this was not the case, and through the years of tremendous struggle, they met other families who had similar unmet needs for unique and specific supports.   ABR was formed in 11/2012 in response to this need.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Rotarian Joanne Bollinger to address L-A Rotary Lunch Club February 1

Auburn - On Thursday, February 1, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Joanne Shea Bollinger will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Bollinger was sponsored as a new member to the L-A Rotary Club by President, Monica Millhime, and induced was into the Club on October 19, 2017.  She is a Board member of WISE-Women’s Initiatives that Strengthen and Empower, a non-profit in Maine since 2005, to move vulnerable women and children in western Zambia to self-sustaining lives. Her first trip to the project in 2013, intended as a one-time immersion experience in a small African town, inspired her to become involved in a deeper way. She now travels to Zambia at least once a year to advise, collaborate and learn from the local women who do the actual work on the ground. Much of her time in the US is focused on fundraising, sharing the WISE story around the country. Her passion is WISE’s scholarship program which currently supports 150 secondary students who would have no options for school beyond 7th grade, especially young girls at risk of early marriage. A special connection has been forged with the Nkwazi Rotary Club in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital: a trip to Zambia must include a visit with them.  Bollinger grew up in Auburn (EL ’63), never expecting to return. Following a career in music, teaching in Camden, Woolwich, Brunswick and singing throughout New England, she spent 12 years in Illinois with her second husband. Returning to Maine with her husband and following his death from Alzheimer’s Disease, the circle to Auburn was closed in 2014, when Joanne came “home” to be near her son and his wife.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Candace Sanborn February 15

Auburn - On Thursday, February 15, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Candance Sanborn  will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Sanborn is the Chief Marketing Officer for Community Concepts, a non-profit organization providing a variety of family, transportation and housing support services to residents in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties. Prior to joining Community Concepts in January 2016, Sanborn had an extensive 30 year career in strategic planning and marketing in business and as a consultant to a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations in Maine and the Northeast.  She has a BA in Journalism from the University of Maine and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern New Hampshire.  Active in her community, Sanborn has served on numerous state and local non-profit boards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) and the Maine Community Foundation. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she has two grown children and lives in Auburn with her husband. Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Tim Gallant February 8

Auburn - On Thursday, February 8, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Tim Gallant  will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Gallant  is a Maine Staff Assistant for Congressman Bruce Poliquin. When he is not representing Congressman Poliquin at events or working on local Veterans’ benefits and claims, he volunteers at his church- Pathway Vineyard, serves the community through organizations such as the Lewiston ELKS Lodge, and more.  Gallant served in the Navy for 19 years from 1975 through 1994. He attended boot camp in Great Lakes, IL and Navy Aviation Electrician School in Millington, TN. He has served with the Blue Angels in Pensacola, FL, Patrol Squadron 23 in Brunswick, ME- where he was one of the first to earn the Air Warfare Designation in the Navy (AW), Naval Recruiting District New Jersey in Iselin, NJ, Naval Air Facilities AIMD in Lajos, Azores, Portugal, on the USS Destroy Peterson (DD 969) Norfolk, VA while attached to Helicopter Squadron 34, and as the Senior Instructor at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. Upon retirement from the Navy, Gallant used his GI Bill to attend Concordia University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. He returned to Maine in 2001, and accepted a positon as Building Grounds and Transportation Director at Maine School District 43 in Western Maine. He then became the Parks Superintendent for the Town of Rumford. Gallant retired in 2009 and returned to school to earn a second degree in Applied Science as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. During this time and as a disabled veteran himself, he was also helping Veterans receive benefits through his local VFW and American Legion Posts. Since 2016, he has worked as a Staff Assistant to Congressman Bruce Poliquin out of his Lewiston Office. While he focuses primarily on helping Veterans with their benefits, the Congressman’s Lewiston Office also helps constituents in dealing with the federal government and all federal agencies. The Congressman’s district offices in Maine, including at 179 Lisbon Street here in Lewiston, regularly assist with VA issues and claims, immigration applications and problems, Social Security and Medicare, the IRS, and much more. Gallant and the entire staff in Congressman Poliquin’s office are happy to help the local community in any way they can.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

LOWER THAN DIRT

 

Last Tuesday night, I attended the sub-committee meeting hosted by Councilor Norman Albert and Councilor Mark Lunt pertaining to the situation with Lisbon Emergency Services.  The purpose of the meeting was to update the members of the sub-committee on the changes Lisbon Emergency had made to their By-Laws.  The meeting was conducted with no microphones or handouts so the members of the audience could not heard a lot of what was said and without a handout could not follow along.

I have been complaining about this situation for years but our Town leadership treats citizens as second class citizens.  What I mean is they do not care if the Public hear what is going on during these Public meetings.  I listen to Councilors complain that not many citizens take an interest in what is going on in town.  Well, when you are treated in this manner it is hard to maintain an interest when you cannot hear and no one cares.  Also, I have attended numerous briefing during my forty years working for the government and I never sat through a briefing that I could not hear everything said and I always had a handout in which to follow along.  At the end of classified briefings, the handouts were gathers back up and destroyed.

 

I have complained to our leadership on numerous occasions and they really do not care if they are professional or not.  This is just one of several reasons; I do not attend Town Council meetings.  If our leadership is not interested in what I have to say, then I am wasting my time attending.  Most of every Town Council meeting has been decided the outcome before the meeting so it is only a formality any ways.

 

Now, some can say that the By-Laws of Lisbon Emergency belong to Lisbon Emergency’s.  However, if the Town of Lisbon is hosting the meeting and Lisbon Emergency is asking for the taxpayers to supplement Lisbon Emergency; the taxpayers have a right to see the documents being discussed.  Just call me old fashion!  It is my personal opinion, that if you conduct a meeting in the town office and invite the Public; they should have handouts available to follow along.  If you do not want the people to attend and if you do not care if they hear or know what is going on; then stay out of our pockets to.  In other words, the citizens of Lisbon are being asked to pay for something but do not have a right to see and know what they are being forced pay for.

 

When is our leadership going to start treating its citizens like people, again?

 

Larry Fillmore

 

YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!!

On December 19, 2017, our loved Town Council performed yet another illegal Executive Session.  This is exactly the same way it was when Councilor LaRochelle was on the Town Council the last time.  At least they waited until the second meeting to start again.  I believe that before you can be a Councilor you must know how to read.  Since the oath of office they take, requires you to obey the laws of the State of Maine; each Councilor should know the law pertaining to Executive Sessions.  Maine Statue 405, Executive Sessions is only three pages long and outlines what can and cannot be discussed behind closed door.

 

Paragraph 6, Permitted deliberation, states “Deliberations on ONLY the following matters may be conducted during an executive session:”   It goes on to outline 8 sub-paragraphs for which an Executive Session is authorized.  Sub-paragraph C. reads “Discussion or consideration of the condition, acquisition or the use of real or personal property permanently attached to real property or interests therein or disposition of publicly held property or economic development ONLY IF PREMATURE DISCLOSURES OF THE INFORMATION WOULD PREJUDICE THE COMPETITIVES OR BARGAINING POSITION OF THE BODY OR AGENCY.”  The last portion of this provision is the most critical because it outlines when this sub-paragraph can be used for an Executive Session.

 

On December 19, 2017, the Town Council when into Executive Session under the above cited sub-paragraph and when they came out Councilor Kolbe read a prepared motion that read: “Move to loan $146,940.00 with a 10-year term at an interest rate of 5% to Jason LaVerdiere and Tyson LaVerdiere doing business as Flux Restaurant as followers:  $100,000.00 from the IRP fund and $46,940.00 from the Commercial Loan Fund.”  This was the only application for the Revolving Loan Fund program so where is the competition.  How is approval of the only application going to change the bargaining position or going to be changed if this information was released?  The loan application does NOT meet the criteria for Executive Session under the provisions of Maine Statue 405.  I support the approval of the loan application BUT not in the manner it was done.

 

This Town Council meeting is only Councilor LaRochelle’s second meeting.  It would appear that the community is in for three more years of back-door dealings and illegal Executive Sessions.

 

Call your Councilors and tell them to stop these illegal Executive Session and start complying with the law by discussing them in Public.

 

Larry Fillmore

LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday night will begin the downfall of the community, again.  I am surprised it took until the second meeting with Fern LaRochelle to start.  On Tuesday agenda, there is an item under Executive Session, called Acquisition of Real Property or Economy Development.  Executive Session is where Fern LaRochelle does most of his wheeling and dealing because it is in SECRET.  No one can ever know what goes on behind closed doors.

 

Information put out in Executive Session pertaining to real property or anything that pertains to the bid process is restricted to ONLY Councilors.  I call this “insider information” because none of the other individuals that want to bid on the subject matter know what was discussed in Executive Session but Councilors are allowed to bid as private citizens.  Once again, there is no “conflict of interest” but ONLY in Lisbon.

 

No Councilor should be able to take part on anything discussed behind closed doors because it gives them an unfair advantage.  Fern LaRochelle has taken advantage of this in the pass when he purchased town property at a reduced price.  Having insider information provides Councilors with an advantage. 

 

I am shocked that the Chairman of the Town Council and the Town Manager waited until the second meeting to start this trend all over again.

 

Larry Fillmore

 

 

WWW.LISBONME.ORG

If you are wondering what “www.lisbonme.org” is; it is the address for the Lisbon town website.  The purpose of this website is to keep the people informed as to what is going on in Lisbon, Maine.  It should be an attempt to provide transparency for our local government.  However, as Mr. Joe Hill noted in his great article titled “Lisbon Has An Ongoing Problem Notifying Residents” no matter how many times residents complain nothing gets changed.

 

This is a shame because the solution is quite simple.  All scheduled meeting must be posted to the “Event” calendar on the Home page. I am going to provide two solutions to the problem:

 

Option 1:  Make the Councilor, who is responsible for the Board/Committee, responsible for posting the meeting/cancellation to the “Event” calendar.

 

Option 2:  Make the Councilor, who is responsible for the Board/Committee, responsible to notify the Town Manager’s Administrative Assistant to all meetings/cancellations.  This will ensure they are posted to the “Event” calendar on the town website.

 

This simple change will ensure that citizens have one location to be informed about ALL meetings.  This way the people can choose which meetings they want to attend and have an interest in.  However, before the town can implement these changes; they must first post all the Boards/Committees/Sub-Committees on the town website under the section called “Boards/Committees”.  Currently, the website ONLY lists 9 of the 18 Boards/Committees listed under “Council Committee Assignments”.  The Town Manager needs to ensure that all Boards/Committees/Sub-Committees are listed under the section called “Board/Committees”.

 

These simple changes will ensure that the people of Lisbon are kept informed and will show transparency.  By the way, taxpayers are paying tax dollars for the town website so why are we NOT using the site for what it was intended to do.  By selectively posting just what management want the people to see; the town is censoring what the people can and cannot have for information. So why are we wasting tax dollars on a web site that is NOT providing what we need?

 

Call your Councilors and ask them why the town is wasting tax dollars?  Also ask your Councilors; “Who has oversight over the posting of the town website”?

 

Larry Fillmore

 

 

 

Lisbon Has An Ongoing Problem Notifying Residents.

Last week's article by Larry Fillmore reminded me of a frustrating incident I had last winter.

Last January or February after braving a rather nasty snow/sleet storm  I arrived at Town Hall to find the advertised Council Meeting had been canceled. This cancellation was not noted on the outside electronic board or on the Town Web Site.   

On the return two miles drive back to my home, I wondered if the Town of Lisbon could be held partially liable if someone had a serious accident driving to or from this canceled meeting.  Bartenders can be held liable if they give an inebriated person excessive alcohol that causes an accident. Could Lisbon be held liable if they are the reason an accident victim is driving to or from a canceled meeting.  -- Probably not---

In my humble opinion, Lisbon has a serious ongoing problem keeping residents apprised of  Town Meetings, Cancellations, Informational material for meetings as well as updated budget information.  It would only take a minute to update the Town's Website or send an E-mail to notify residents of any meetings or changes to meetings.

By not keeping the residents notified of ongoing town business the Council is speaking volumes about the way they view residents.

They are silently saying to each and every resident:

•  We don't respect you enough to keep you informed.
•  We tell you we want you at meetings but we really can't be bothered to actually do the work to notify you.

How many times since 2010 have you heard someone complain that all the documentation for the Council Meeting isn't available on the Website?  I have heard this complaint dozens of times. Usually, someone will post the information a few days later 

when the Council has already voted on the measure.

If Councilors can't be bothered to keep residents informed why should residents respect and help the Council?  This respect goes both ways.

Respectfully
Joe Hill

 

HE’ssssss BACK!!!!!!!

Well, the people have spoken and re-elected Fern LaRochelle to the Town Council, again.  I am NOT a fan of Fern LaRochelle and this article is my personal opinion.  It was not bad enough that when he was on the Town Council before; there were back door meetings, numerous actions was conducted in Executive Session and Fern conducted secret meetings with the Millers over the Worumbo Mill property.  I believe Fern also took advantage of his position on the Town Council to purchase town owned property at a reduced price.  I call this “insider information” but to everyone else he was legal as a citizen.

 

As you can tell, I believe that Fern is part of the problem and not the solution.  Take the Lisbon Communication Center as a prime example, Fern lobbied hard to keep it in Lisbon instead of closing it and utilizing the Androscoggin County Dispatch at a savings to the taxpayer of roughly $200,000.00.  This was strictly a political decision, instead of a sound logical decision, with the best interest of the community being first.  Currently, the Lisbon Communication Center cost the taxpayers of Lisbon over $300,000.00 a year; money that could be better used to improve the community.  Fern did this as a sub-contractor of the town for wrecker/vehicle recovery service.

 

Why do I bring this out, yet again, it is because the first thing Fern did was appoint himself as the Councilor to the Public Safety Committee. This means he has a say in the Lisbon Communication Center which dispatches wrecker/vehicle recovery service for the town.  I believe this would be concerned a “conflict of interest” anywhere else except Lisbon.

 

Also, it is my opinion the length of the Town Council meetings will increase two fold because Fern likes to hear himself talk.  He is always saying “At the end of the day”.  So for the next three years, I believe that Fern will be wheeling and dealing and costing the town more money than it needs to spend.  In my opinion, Fern LaRochelle is a primary member of the “good old boys network/political machine” of Lisbon.

 

This is my personal opinion but I believe that Fern LaRochelle has to screw his pants on in the morning.

 

Larry Fillmore

 

Training Partners Support St. Mary’s Medical Assistant Program

 

Photo caption:  Pictured (l-r):  front row – Marie Blessing, Audrey Condon, Dancile Nshimirimana, Francis Nguyen, Kassandra Hebert, Katie Hamilton, Darcy Goyette, Mary Ann Gowell, instructor.  Second row – Jessica Biron, Dinah Morris, Tracy Crossman, Sandra Barnich, Trisha Newcomb, Justine Gray, Lori Adkins, Melissa Dalton, Kelsa Brennan, Kayla Caron, Patti Saarinen, WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  Third row – Paula Bolduc, Julian Kirouac, Brittany Wilkins, Miranda Hutchinson, Cathy Stairs, WMCA Employment & Training Specialist.

 

Lewiston – St. Mary’s Health System, 96 Campus Avenue, held a celebration ceremony on Tuesday, November 28 at the facility recognizing  19 local students for completion of their Medical Assistant classes.  Instructor, Mariann Gowell,  welcomed administrators, staff, family, friends, and community partners for the presentation of certificates.   Brittany Blais, St. Mary’s Talent Acquisition Partner & Human Resources, also shared remarks and thanked partners for making the program possible.

Students successfully completed a fast paced, condensed curriculum offering training to assist physicians with the clinical responsibilities of a medical office. The program included 140 hours of classroom/lab training with routine lab procedures, phlebotomy, EKG, diagnostic testing, etc.  Following the classwork, students are completing the final weeks of an Externship schedule of 160 hours.  Many of the students also earned a WorkReady certificate covering the topics of effective workplace communication techniques, resume and interviewing skills, conflict resolution, teamwork, and other important soft skills. This St. Mary’s employer driven project was made possible through the collaborative support and grant funding provided by Western Maine Community Action, Bureau of Employment Services/Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, and Gray/New Gloucester Adult Education.  The combined curriculum empowers students with the skills and knowledge essential to the specific job field.  “This graduation class is not only the result of the students’ dedication but also a prime example of train-to-work where business, education, and workforce development collaborate,” shares Patti Saarinen, WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  “The integration of education and training is a best-practice model for success.” 

"St. Mary’s Health System is proud of the success of the students that have completed this course,” shares Brittany Blais at St. Mary’s.  “This program was designed and executed in collaboration with Western Maine Community Action, Maine Department of Labor, and Gray-New Gloucester Adult Education after we recognized a need in our system for Medical Assistants.  It was a wonderful opportunity that will hopefully fulfill our need for qualified medical assistants and allow these students an opportunity to grow professionally in a rewarding career.  We are very appreciative of the efforts that all parties contributed to make this successful and wish the best of luck to these students." 

 

Monica M. Millhime

Employment & Training Business Specialist