FAMILY CIRCUS OR DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY ? ? ? ? ?

The only reason Steve Eldridge was hired as Town of Lisbon Town Manager was because Chief of Police David Brooks knew he could lead him around like a trained dog.

Eldridge was kicked out as Rumford's town manager. He ran Rumford into the ground, needed a job, and brought along his lady friend giving her a job.

                                IT WAS PERFECT ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 

The Town of Lisbon was a fairly thriving community.

Situated between two picturesque sites, the Androscoggin and Sabattus Rivers, on heavily traveled Route 196, midway to Lewiston/Auburn to the west and Topsham/Brunswick to the east.

 

New businesses were springing up; The Dingley Press, Floor Systems, The Furniture Superstore, Quality Car Care, all bringing jobs to Lisbon.

New Lisbon Credit Union and Post Office buildings on Route 196, all nicely landscaped, were nice additions.

 

Main Street Lisbon Falls was fairly bustling with activity.

 

Village Street in Lisbon Village, while needing a good

face-lift, the businesses, including Graziano's, were doing pretty good. There were no empty store-fronts.

 

Speed forward to 2012.

 

Two Down Town Revitalization's later:

Main Street Lisbon Falls is looking more and more run-down.

Business is declining.

Village Street Lisbon Village is looking more and more like a Mid-Western ghost town.

The former Worumbo Mill, some buildings burned down in 1987, not like Phoenix, has not risen from the ashes.

 

The former Masonite Fiberboard buildings on Route 196, on the banks of the Mighty Androscoggin River, and Lisbon's Gateway from the East, is or has been stripped of all personal property and the buildings are about to be demolished.

 

Our streets are in deplorable condition.

 

And what are our Town Fathers doing about it????? 

What is the Town Council doing about it??????? 

 

Ignoring the obvious ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

 

 Eldridge hired someone not qualified, as Community Development Director  with a nice pay raise.

Every business started with town seed money and  TIF's have gone under, leaving taxpayers holding the proverbial bag.

 

When that person left for another job, he hired  another incompetent as a replacement.

 

 He  hired a friend, writing the bid in such a way that

no other firm could bid, to revalue the town at an inflated price.

 

We have a Town council that does not dare to vote before looking to Eldridge or Mike Bowie as to how they should vote.

 

We have a Planning Board, aka Larry, Curly and Moe and The Three Stooges, with the Codes Enforcement Officer as the fall guy. Trying to change the Comprehensive Plan to do illegal spot zoning.

 

They know not what they are doing, but are only doing Eldridge's bidding.

 

Codes Enforcement Officer does not dare to cite illegal businesses, or illegal junkyards for fear of losing his job.

He does not dare to burp or fart unless  Eldridge approves it first.

 

Many town department heads are overpaid and have bloated budgets.

(Apologies to the ones who do care and do not inflate their budgets).

 

The Town of Lisbon is falling into decay under Town Manager Eldridge and his puppets.

Real estate taxes have gone through the roof and are going even higher.

 

Why should Eldridge, Town Engineer Ryan Leighton and Fire Chief Sean Galipeau care? They approve improvements to town buildings that do not need improvements while ignoring buildings that do need to be improved, at inflated costs.

 

They do not live In Lisbon. They do not pay real estate taxes to Lisbon. Galipeau and Leighton do not even have to own a vehicle, pay excise tax and vehicle insurance. They have free use of  town owned vehicles 24/7.

All expenses paid  by Lisbon taxpayers ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 

Do you want  Lisbon  to continue to stagnate???  

Or do you want a vibrant and healthy business community? 

 

To accomplish that we need new leadership ! ! ! ! !

It cannot happen without you ! ! ! ! ! ! ! the voters ! ! ! !

 

Embarrassed

 

A Lisbon Concerned Citizen

WAKE UP CALL

When are the town of Lisbon residents and taxpayers going to wake up?

 

Do you know what is going on right under your collective noses? 

 

1.   We are losing real estate tax income. 

 

2.   We are losing personal property income.

 

3.   We are paying $56,000 for a Community Development Director who has not brought any development into town, yet. And like his predecessor did anything either, she, Rosie Bradley, only managed to delete files in the Economic Development office All without the Town Councils Approval and put a bunch of Flags on the the light poles in town, all while being championed by then councilor Dale Crafts and his cousin co-Hort current councilor Gina Mason.  Hello!!!???

4.   Town Manager Eldridge wants to pay an additional $20,000 to a Town Planner. Duplication of services come to mind?

  

5.    A town employee who heads up four departments with a total salary of a minimum of $90,000, has full use  of a town vehicle even for personal purposes, taxpayers paying for gas, tires and maintenance.

 

6.  Eldridge says in case of emergencies, while even Deputy Fire Chiefs, both stations, use their own vehicles in the case of emergencies.

 

Guess who soon will be footing the bill for a replacement vehicle?  Perhaps if the Fire Equipment was used for Lisbon Purposes instead of being 'Farmed Out' or Down for repairs more lives could be saved in Lisbon.

 

7. Replacing the roofing on a building that is not leaking, but not re-roofing a building that is leaking. 

 

All the while Town Council members sit at the council  budget meetings with blank faces, nod, and raise their collective hands  and vote YES on anything and everything Town Manager Eldridge proposes. No matter how inappropriate, unnecessary, useless and expensive ! ! ! ! !  

 

You have been forewarned, many times over.

 

Call your councilors! ! ! !

 

Tell them they need to cut spending! ! ! ! ! 

 

Cut the budget! ! ! ! ! !

 

Less income +  more spending = higher taxes.

                  Don't believe it?

 

Wait until you get your tax bill in August! ! ! ! ! !

 

Doesn't anybody have any DIGNITY, ETHICS or MORAL CHARACTER left in this Town anymore????

 

 

Dot Fitzgerald

A Very Concerned Lisbon citizen.

Lisbon Town Council Meeting April 17, 2012

Oh Hum!!! We Present The Town Council Agenda For April 17, 2012 SOS Different Day!!!

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG  (Along with their Hypocritical Oaths)

2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow
___ Councilor Ward

Really, they are all 'suck pumps' for Lisbon Police Chief David T. Brooks
Town Clerk reading of meeting rules (Now how much is she paid a year??? That is Really Sweet, Not.)

3. PUBLIC HEARING

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE

6. CONSENT AGENDA
2012- 43 ORDER −
A. Mass Gathering Permits for Moxie Festival & Lisbon Promotions Committee (Whoop-T-Dew, one weekend a year for Lisbon Economic Development.  HOPE YA MAKE A KILL'IN!!!)
B. Mobile Home Park Renewals
C. Renewal Victualers Licenses
D. Minutes of March 27, 2012
E. Minutes of April 3, 2012

7. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2012- 44 ORDER −
Route 196 Sewer Line Project  (This Might Be Crappy??!)

8. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Finance Director’s Report (At $60K+ per year what can we expect?)
B. Town Manager’s Report  (Really Now, this should be enlightening, Bet it Ain't) Just more lies!!!

9. APPOINTMENTS

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

12. ADJOURNMENT
2012- 45 ORDER −
To Adjourn

13. WORKSHOP WITH BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD (Like this will make a difference)
A. Police, Animal Control, and Communications
B. Public Works
C. Fire Department

Pathetic and Disgraceful Example of Leadership in Lisbon

TOTALLY DISGRACEFUL

Some of you out there are going to say this is very picky and if this was an in-house document, I would agree. However, this document is part of the January 2012 Managerial Report posted on the town web site to be reviewed by millions of people with Internet access. This is a total embarrassment to every member of this community.

 

My article is directed at two individuals and two individuals only: Fire Chief Sean Galipeau and Town Manager, Stephen Eldridge. I have included the Fire Departments portion of the January 2012 Managerial Report. After reading this article, I am wondering how a department head being paid over $70,000 tax dollars cannot write any better than a 4th Grade Level. Galipeau has never been qualified for the position of Fire Chief and does not possess the credentials necessary to perform the duties. This article clearly demonstrates his inability to communicate effectively.

But the largest injustice to the taxpayer in Lisbon is that the Town Manager approved and released this document to the world. Eldridge is paid over $80,000 tax dollars to be the Chief Administrative Officer of Lisbon and he released this document to the Public. Where is the quality assurance; who is reviewing the information prior to being released to the Public?

These two individuals are overpaid and are not qualified to perform their duties by releasing this document to the Public. Can you imagine what people around the world are thinking after reading this garbage?

When is the Town Council going to take action to correct this continued gross negligence? Why must the taxpayers have to suffer the embarrassment of these individuals and the waste of taxpayer’s dollars? These are our tax dollars at work making the Town of Lisbon look ridiculous.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Androscoggin County Commissioners See The Light On Communications Consolidation

Androscoggin County Commissioners released a plan yesterday to keep emergency call and dispatching with the county.  This decision appears to be in the best interest of the county and will provide equable costs for the services provided.

Androscoggin commissioners unveil unfinished dispatching plan

By Daniel Hartill, Staff Writer

AUBURN — The three-member Androscoggin County Commission presented parts of an unfinished plan Wednesday aimed at keeping emergency calls and dispatching at the county.

All that's left to decide is who will pay and how much.

More than 20 leaders from across the county filled the Commission's meeting room Wednesday to listen to an outline of the plan.

"We're actually very, very close," Commissioner Elaine Makas said of her trio. "I think it's safe to say that we all agree that we would like, as much as possible, for this to stay a county function (with) all of the services we are providing."

Follow more here.

Recap Of Last Night's Budget Workshop: How Much Are Taxes Going To Be? Noone Knows!!!!!!

TUESDAY’S WORKSHOP FEBRUARY

Lisbon Assessor William Van Tuenin

At last night’s workshop, Mr. William Van Tuenin, Tax Assessor, gave a bleak presentation of the town’s situation going into this year’s budget.  It was an excellent presentation outlining exactly where we are right now. 

However, Bowie asked Van Tuenin to project what the figures would look like if the town added $300,000 dollars more to the spending.  Van Tuenin computed it for them and when Van Tuenin showed how much it would raise the taxes Bowie and his followers broke out into a chorus of laughter.

Councilor Bowie

THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA TO REDUCE TAXES.  THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE TAXES IS TO CUT SPENDING!!!!  In the past, the Lisbon Reporter has asked its readership to submit possible ways to cut spending.  Below is the consolidated list:

Cost Savings

The biggest cost savings is to completely turn the Lisbon Communications Center over to the County lock, stock and barrel.  This would assist the County Commissioners with their dilemma and as Gina Mason stated “It is time for Lisbon to reach out to our neighbors and offer our help and service to them.”  This is a cost savings to the taxpayers of Lisbon of approximately $500,000 dollars.

Why not combine the Police and Fire Department forming the Public Safety Department?  Depending on how the town decides to combine these two departments, there is a cost savings of between $70,000 and $80,000 dollars.  It is only a matter of which department head you want to be the new head of the Public Safety Department, of course, if you let both current department heads go there would be additional savings.  Remember, Brooks has already retired once and Galipeau is not fully qualified for the position.

Reduce the salaries of the Town Engineer and the current Fire Chief in half.  This is an additional cost savings of approximately $70,000 dollars.  Both individuals were hired with the understanding they would obtain the necessary credentials and since both have breached their employment agreements there should be no problem reducing their salaries.  Neither of these individuals has obtained the required credentials and yet the taxpayers are paying them as if they are fully qualified.

Sell the equipment stored in the old Lisbon Emergency building.  There is no sense storing equipment not being utilized.  This building is being maintained at an unknown cost to the taxpayers.  Why do we need to store equipment not being utilized?  Why not sell this equipment and utilize that money to update some of the equipment we are utilizing. 

Cutting Lisbon’s department heads salaries to match that of Skowhegan would save the taxpayers approximately $160,539.  This would go a long way to reducing our tax bills.

Generate Revenue

Gina Mason suggested overnight camping at Beaver Park.  Why not?  We have a park ranger there 24/7 to supervise.  If it was controlled, it would generate additional revenue to the town.

If the town was to turn the Lisbon Communications Center over to the County and the County utilized the Lisbon town office space, then the town of Lisbon could charge the County rent on the space being occupied by the Androscoggin County Consolidated Communication Center (A4C), once again generating revenue for the town.

The above are my suggestions on how to cut spending in the Town of Lisbon.  Reducing spending is the ONLY method to lowering our tax bills. 

It is very apparent, by Bowie making the suggestion of adding $300,000 dollars of spending to last year’s budget, this council has absolutely no intentions of attempting to reduce spending.  Bowie and the puppets are trying to justify increasing your taxes this year.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Where's Our Money Going? Curious Of Your Tax Dollars,,,,Maybe A Lil'Bit?

CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR TAX DOLLARS

Below is a comparison of Department Head salaries between the thriving community of Skowhegan and the Town of Lisbon.  Can you tell why Lisbon’s taxes are so high or does a rock have to fall on your head?

Former Councilor Roger Cote has been preaching about the inflation of salaries and no one wanted to listen but here it is in black and white.   It is outrageous the cronyism and collusion going on with the Town Council and Town Manager.  In this economic crisis, it is a crime against the people of Lisbon to force them to pay these inflated salaries.

 Look at all the businesses forced to close in Lisbon.  The combination of the economy and taxes are driving them away.  This unfortunate situation cannot be turned around until the people take charge of the spending in this town.  The facts are the Town of Lisbon has to cut these inflated salaries and to reduce spending in order to reduce taxes.  There is no other way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEPARTMENT           SKOWHEGAN SALARY             LISBON SALARY
Finance Director                   $39,483.                                     $51,231.

Assistant Assessor                $35,652.                                     $27,861.*

Town Manager                     $63,000.                                      $86,749.

Code Enforcement/Land

fill Supervisor                      $62,334.           $36,628.**CodeEnf.

                                                                 $46,248.TransferStation

Economic & Community

Development Director         $45,633.                                      $57,000. ***

Police Chief                         $60,586.                                      $68,107.

Fire Chief                            $50,229.                                      $53,403.

General Assistance 

Case Worker                       $12,610.                                      None Listed

Health Officer                    $1200.                                          None Listed

Waste Water Treatment

Plant Supervisor                 $56,756.                                        $68570.

Road Commissioner           $60,926.                                        $58,742.

Parks $ Recreation

Director                         $47,074.                        $39,462.Recreation

                                                                                  $35.354.  Parks

Town Engineer                    None                                             $70.723.                          

*Partial Year
** Lisbon’s Code Enforcement Officer has nothing to do with the Transfer Station.
*** Was hired in 2010 for $57,000 but only paid $3,173 for 2010.

Skowhegan’s Salary is as of Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year 2012.
Lisbon’s Salary is as of the Annual Report for 2009-2010.  Employees received a 1.75% increase for 2011; the Town Engineer received an 8.5% increase; and the Recreation and Fire Chief received a $10,000 increase in their pay for 2011.

 Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Town Council Agenda for Feb. 7, 2012

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL

___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow
___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Pawnbroker Establishment License d/b/a Double Diamond Pawn

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. CONSENT AGENDA
2012-10 ORDER −
A. Minutes of January 17, 2012
B. Minutes of January 24, 2012
C. Pawnbroker Establishment License d/b/a Double Diamond Pawn

6. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2012-11 ORDINANCES −
Chapter 24 Public Safety Article 1 Fireworks (First Reading)

7. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Charter Discussion/Budget Referendum
B. Municipal Budget Schedule 2012-2013
C. Lisbon Spirit of America Tribute
D. Town Manager’s Report

8. APPOINTMENTS
2012-12 ORDER −
Recreation Committee (1) Term expiring 6/30/2014

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
2012-13 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matters – Town Manager Evaluation
2012-14 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (D) Labor Negotiations – MAP & Sergeant Units

11. ADJOURNMENT
2012-15 ORDER −
To Adjourn

12. WORKSHOP- Department Heads
A. Police
B. Fire
C. Library

Another Lisbon Citizen Questions Use Of Town Funds

Now that the FIREHOUSE CAFE is closed. There are strong rumors that TOWN ECONOMIC  money$$$ was given or loan to them. How much money was given to them? In the past ten years HOW MUCH money has been given to FAILED BUSINESSES?? THIS is your and my $$ BUT we are told  this is PRIVILEGED info? Last year 2010  there was Maria store in the village who business model was unclear, This was another Economic Development  investment. Where is the accountability for decisions giving away our MONEY?

      Please let me know??!!

 

  VERY FRUSTRATED LISBON TAXPAYER

You Sure They're Not Talking About Lisbon? theMaineWIRE: MaineHousing Board Meeting: Security Detail and The Great Wall of Boxes

MaineHousing Board Meeting: Security Detail and The Great Wall of Boxes

by Terrilyn Simpson

It was high jinks and raucous theater — from the feigned insecurity of the security detail to Dale’s Great Wall of Boxes. The orchestration unfolded before the press — with McCormick in the lead role, as star, director and producer.

It was the January board of commissioners meeting at the Maine State Housing Authority — and MSHA Director Dale McCormick had set the stage. To start with, she’d addressed the eighth item on the agenda to intimidate and control just as visitors got feet through the door.

There had been complaints previously that visitors were not being allowed unhindered access to public meetings at MaineHousing — allowed by law. At a former board meeting, legally categorized as open to the public — which includes press — visitors were made to remain in the crowded lobby until after the meeting started. They were then ushered upstairs to the meeting room, where they were seated, or left standing when the chairs ran out, at a far end of the conference room, under an overhang which made hearing the proceedings difficult.

At a subsequent meeting, friendly members of the press were ushered in early; those who had scrutinized, in print, McCormick’s running of the agency were forced to wait — with a staff member threatening, in one instance, to have a questioner of the heavy-handed tactics removed by the police if another question was raised. At a later meeting, where press was denied access, and a MSHA security officer was asked why, the response echoed what had clearly been established as the attitude of MSHA Central — “It’s an invitation only meeting.” Since that had been very much the attitude demonstrated by MSHA officials overall, regarding both meetings and public records, it was difficult to determine how this particular invitation-only meeting should be legally categorized.

Follow more here.

Here's Some Lisbon Fire Department History: Lisbon Ctr. Fire Dept. 1952

Front Row: Left to Right.

Theo Bernier, Everett Ham, James Powers (Truck Driver), Walter King (Captain), Gordon Gartley (Chief), Clarence Gamache, Rueben Violette, & Emile Albert.

Back Row: Left to Right.

Leon Hinkley, Albert Michaud (Truck Driver), Arthur Hardy, Reginald Gray, Roy Moody (Sec., Treas.) & Joe Duval.

 

Not many years before this pic, Lis. Ctr. Fire Dept., first stored their Model T or A ? (engine had to be started with a crank :)) in the private garage owned by Rueben Violette, whom was many times there first and started the engine, and then later moved, I believe in the later 40s to beside the weaver room of the Farnsworth mill. 

 

 Submitted By: Rufus 

Last Night's Town Council Meeting Recap

RECAP JANUARY 17

Last night’s town council meeting was quick and to the point.  It started off with this year’s Fire Department Officer’s promotion ceremony.  The Lisbon Reporter congratulates these Firefighters on their promotions.  The rest of the meeting went very quickly because there were no real issues addressed. 

Bates College students presented the town with signage of the history of Lisbon with several hard copies of various subjects to be posted along the trails outlining historical information about the site.  This was very well down by the students.

There was no real update to the Lisbon Connection problem.  There is funding to keep the operations going through April and the town is looking for additional funds to cover the remaining time.  There is a possibility it may come to a 50/50 cost sharing.

There was a meeting held between the Green Thumb Gang and the Parks Ranger (Verla Brooks) reference taking care of the numerous gardens in Lisbon.   The Park Ranger is going to categorize all the gardens in order to protect them better. 

The town manager announced the County Commissioners will conduct a walk-through of the Lisbon Communications Center on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 3:00PM.  This is open to the public and there will be a discussion period afterward.

 

 Puppet Master Bowie  

"Yes David, I will pull his string to vote on your budget"

Lisbon's Pro Tem Town Manager Stephen G. Eldridge

At this point, the town went into Executive Session.  Another Executive Session conducted behind closed doors to discuss Acquisition of real property and Economic Development under the provisions of MRSA Statute 405 (6) (C).  This Maine Revised Statute states you can hold “Permitted Deliberation” if “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 competitive or bargaining position of the body or agency.”  This is not a license to make everything kept from the people.  The town of Lisbon is not in the real estate business so how does all economic development and property fall under this statute?  Why is there no briefing to the public on what is being discussed, in general, if it really qualifies under this statute?  Is this another example demonstrating lack of transparency in Lisbon or just abuse of power by this council?

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

911 Dispatch Centers Focus Of Hearing In Augusta On Wednesday (tomorrow)

Number of emergency dispatch sites focus of hearing

By Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff

Posted Jan. 17, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.

  

AUGUSTA, Maine — Managers and directors of Maine’s emergency dispatch centers will gather before a legislative committee Wednesday to show support for the adoption of a study concluding that the state’s 911 call answering centers should not be consolidated or reduced to fewer than 15 to 17.
There currently are 26 such centers in Maine.
LD 1614, An Act to Create Efficiency in E-9-1-1 Call Centers, will be heard Wednesday before the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, according to a news release issued Tuesday by Owen Smith, president of the Maine Emergency County Communications Association and director of the Waldo Regional Communications Center.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Room 211 at the Cross State Office Building in Augusta.
The aim of the Kimball Report, which was commissioned by the Maine Legislature in 2009 and published in January 2010, was to determine the optimal number of Public Safety Answering Points, or PSAPs, for the state.

Follow the rest of the story here.

Town Council Agenda For January 17, 2012

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

Fire Department Color Guard
&
Officer Promotions

1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow
___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. CONSENT AGENDA
2012-4 ORDER −
A. Minutes of January 3, 2012

6. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

7. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Finance Director’s Report
B. Bates College Signage Project Presentation
C. Lisbon Connection Update
D. Parks Department Discussion
E. Town Manager’s Report

8. APPOINTMENTS
2012- 5 ORDER −
Recreation Committee Member Resignation

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
2012- 6 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (C) Acquisition of real property

2012- 7 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (C) Economic Development

2012- 8 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matters

11. ADJOURNMENT
2012- 9 ORDER −
To Adjourn

Reduce Spending, What A Great Idea!

Reduce Spending


What a great idea! Now if the public/taxpayers will submit cost savings to the Lisbon Reporter for Mr. Fillmore to bring up as taxpayers suggestions at Council meetings and Budget hearings.

I agree with Gina Masons suggestion that overnight camping for a fee be allowed at Beaver Park. Town Manager Eldridge keeps saying that Beaver Park is a little-known asset. How better to get the word out than to allow overnight camping?  

At the Saturday January 7 Council and Advisory Board tour of town facilities this was brought up while we were at Beaver Park. Some said it would be too expensive to add bathroom and shower
facilities. Why would that be needed? People go camping to "rough it".  As in everything, there would have to be rules; as Verla said, no campfires, charcoal grills only. There would have to be designated campsites with out-houses nearby.

I have been trying for several years to "educate" the taxpayers on a little known fact. Every year one third of our teachers receive a "step increase"in their salary. This began many years ago as a way to bring our teachers pay up to acceptable levels. Look at the teacher's pay in the annual Town Report.

Our teachers are no longer underpaid. THIS HAS TO STOP-THIS YEAR ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Now, I am NOT against teachers and education. I am not against sports in school. Teaching may be one of the most difficult jobs today. I'm sure no teacher will agree, but teachers today are well paid.

The step-increases are not based on teaching performance or student scores, good or not-so-good. The step-increases have out-lived the reason they were instituted. We need to cut spending. It is time to end them.

I also agree with Mr. Fillmore that the Police and Fire Departments be coordinated and under the heading of Public Safety, with one "qualified" Department Head.

Dot Fitzgerald
A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen

Lisbon Residents Will You Help?

HOW TO CUT SPENDING

In order to reduce our tax bills in Lisbon, the town has to cut spending.  The town council needs our help by providing suggestions as to how to reduce the cost of operating the town of Lisbon.  I am sure each of the residents in the town of Lisbon has some valid suggestions.  Please submit your ideas to the Lisbon Reporter and we will publish all “valid” suggestions.  You do not have to sign your name if you do not want to and we will sign it “anonymous”.  The following are a few suggestions I have come up with:

Cost Savings

The biggest cost savings is to completely turn the Lisbon Communication Center over to the County lock, stock and barrel.  This would assist the County Commissioners with their dilemma and as Gina Mason stated “It is time for Lisbon to reach out to our neighbors and offer our help and service to them.”  This is a cost savings to the taxpayers of Lisbon of approximately $500,000 dollars.

Why not combine the Police and Fire Department forming the Public Safety Department?  Depending on how the town decides to combine these two departments, there is a cost savings of between $70,000 and $80,000 dollars.  It is only a matter of which department head you want to be the new head of the Public Safety Department, of course, if you let both current department heads go there would be additional savings.  Remember, Brooks has already retired once and Galipeau is not fully qualified for the position.

Reduce the salaries of the Town Engineer and the current Fire Chief in half.  This is an additional cost savings of approximately $70,000 dollars.  Both individuals were hired with the understanding they would obtain the necessary credentials and since both have breached their employment agreements there should be no problem reducing their salaries.  Neither of these individuals has obtained the required credentials and yet the taxpayers are paying them as if they are fully qualified.

Sell the equipment stored in the old Lisbon Emergency building.  There is no sense storing equipment not being utilized.  This building is being maintained at an unknown cost to the taxpayers.  Why do we need to store equipment not being utilized?  Why not sell this equipment and utilize that money to update some of the equipment we are utilizing. 

Generate Revenue

Gina Mason suggested overnight camping at Beaver Park.  Why not?  We have a park ranger there 24/7 to supervise.  If it was controlled, it would generate additional revenue to the town.

If the town was to turn the Lisbon Communication Center over to the County and the County utilized the Lisbon town office space, then the town of Lisbon could charge the County rent on the space being occupied by the Androscoggin County Consolidated Communication Center (A4C), once again generating revenue for the town.

The above are my suggestions on how to cut spending in the Town of Lisbon.  Reducing spending is the ONLY method to lowering our tax bills.  Like I stated before, you people have similar suggestions/ideas the town council should be considering.  Email your suggestions to the Lisbon Reporter and we will ensure they get published and presented (if valid) to the town council for evaluations.  You do not have to sign your name if you do not want to; but help us to eliminate excessive spending in the town of Lisbon. 

THIS IS YOUR TOWN TOO AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HELP!!!!!!!!!
Larry Fillmore
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

Forensic Audit of Lisbon Why Are They Trying So Hard To Hide Everything?

Forensic Audit of Lisbon

Recently, a friend and resident of Lisbon approached me about why there was no forensic audit performed on the Town of Lisbon.  A forensic audit would provide closure to any wrong doing or corruption in Lisbon.  So why is the Town Council refusing to have a forensic audit?  Is there corruption or embezzlement being covered up?  We will never know until the town has a forensic audit.  There is no statute of limitation on fraud as I understand it.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/oxford-hills/2012/01/04/waterford-embezzler-makes-regular-payments-town/1135708#.TwROPPZ_ntE.email

 http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=541981775

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Standish-dispatcher-charged-with-stealing-town-gas.html

The above cited articles are examples of what can be uncovered with the assistance of a forensic audit.  Keep in mind, there is a large difference between a yearly audit by an independent company and a forensic audit.  The yearly audit only looks to see if the entries were recorded correctly and a forensic audit will determine if the transaction was a legal transaction or not.

Today a number of forensic audits have been performed on municipalities in Maine resulting in criminal convictions of employee theft of more than $100,000, supported with taxpayer dollars, while the taxpayers and elected officials appear to not have a clue.  Lisbon's democracy's only effective solution to its ongoing 'town mismanagement' is to elect replacement Councilors, rather than continuing  trying to persuade existing elected and appointed officials to have a forensic audit performed.  Remember, this November the town of Lisbon has an opportunity to get rid of three councilors:  Bowie, Pomelow and Lunt.

 Mike Bowie

Lori Pomelow

Mark Lunt

Does anyone wonder what the current status of the misappropriation of the $32,500 dollars is?  Why isn’t the town manager providing monthly updates in order to keep the people informed?   A forensic audit may be able to bring closure to this situation.  So why is the town council fighting so adamantly to keep from having a forensic  audit?

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Participate Tomorrow Night Or Lube Up For Your Tax Bills

Show up now or stock up for tax season!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Pictorial by Editorial Staff










NOW IS THE TIME

At the next Town Council meeting marks the beginning of the 2012-2013 Municipal Budget schedule.  See the draft schedule published by the town manager for the upcoming budget meetings and workshops below.  According to the last workshop, the town council is in favor of increasing your taxes this year by increasing spending.  Now is the time for everyone to get involved and let the council know how you feel about your taxes before it is too late.  Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at the town office building will be a discussion on the capital budget for the upcoming year.  

We all remember two years ago when our taxes took a dramatic jump.  By the time residents realized it, it was too later.  Below is the draft schedule of meetings/workshops.   NOW IS THE TIME FOR CITIZENS TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!!!!
The Town Council has restricted the voice of the people to ONLY during Audience Participation of Town Council meetings.  This is the only time citizens have an opportunity to express their feelings or offer suggestions on the municipal budget.

This is a reminder, during workshops the public is NOT allowed to participate in any discussions.   However, at least you will learn which of the councilors are in favor of raising your taxes and which ones are trying to support the taxpayers.  This information will be critical in your decision come November 2012 when three councilors are up for reelection.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen