SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 REFERENDUM RESULTS

Town of Lisbon School Budget Validation Referendum
September 22, 2015
School Referendum Results
		Ward 1		Ward 2		Total
QUESTION 1: Adopt Lisbon School Budget
Yes		60		82		142
No		212		240		452
Blanks		0		0		0
QUESTION 2:  If you voted No, was it because the budget is:
Too Low		178		193		371
Too High		34		47		81
Blanks		0		0		0
Ballots Cast:		272		322		594
Registered Voters:		3168		3280		6448

 

Answer to battle of the budget by Joe Hill

I feel comparing total cost of education to total cost of education is a fair comparison.  Do you mean kids in our school system are different than kids in private systems? and if so how are the different?  (APPLES TO APPLES)

I understand the budget voted on is the total cost of educating Lisbon kids. But the tuition of these private schools is the total cost of educating these kids also.  That includes the cost of private buildings, grounds, teachers, staff and maintenance costs. (APPLES TO APPLES)
 
I know we are still paying off bonds many of which were bad decisions that will haunt us for years. We will have to pay off these bonds regardless of the decisions we make from here on out.

If the cost of tuition didn't cover all expenses then the school wouldn't be in business long.  The Christian School in Lisbon has been around for almost 40 years.  

No matter how you slice these apples Lisbon Taxpayers are paying a lot more for our kids education and getting less of an education in return.

BATTLE OF THE BUDGET - CONTINUED

Comparing the tuition for a student to attend a private school vs.

attending public school is more like comparing cantelopes to

watermelons than apples to apples.

The school budget being voted on is the entire cost of running the

Town of Lisbon school system, from maintenance for three school

buildings,and the Gartley Street building, grounds, winter and summer;

running and maintaining school busses; nutrition; staff, including teachers,

administrators, bus drivers.

Than we come to finances. We are still making payments for the LES bond. 

And yes, payments, principle and interest, on the bonds for the track and gym,  

that the Town of Lisbon voters approved.

Does the srudent tuition quoted by Joe Hill cover the entire cost of running

the private schools? not just the cost of educating one student?

Dorothy Fitzgerald
Concerned Citizen

 

BATTLE CONTINUED

DEAR MR. HILL;

 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THEIR STUDENTS.  THEY DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.  THEY USUALLY HAVE ONE BUILDING TO HEAT, PAY UTILITIES,

AND MAINTENANCE. LARGER BUILDINGS COST MORE TO HEAT. ONE BUILDING CAN ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS FOR ALL GRADES, FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 =  SAVINGS.  

PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO NOT HAVE TO MEET STATE STANDARDS AND

REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE COSTLY.

CLASSES ARE PROBABLY SMALLER, SO THE NEED FOR FEWER TEACHERS. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL HAVE TEACHERS UNIONS THAT NEGOTIATE WHAT TEACHERS ARE PAID.  DO THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS PAY MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR THEIR TEACHERS?  THE LIST AND DIFFERENCES CAN GO ON AND ON.

NOT TO SAY THAT ONE TYPE OF EDUCATION IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER.

 

DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT ALL CHILDREN IN AMERICA, GIRLS AS WELL AS BOYS, ARE ENTITLED TO AN EDUCATION.! ! ! ! ! IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOL.

  

                         GOD BLESS AMERICA

 

DOT FITZGERALD

A CONCERNED CITIZEN

Lisbon's Costly Education System by Joe Hill

The last few months of this budget season have been a strain on all of Lisbon. There are good people on both sides of this issue. People truly believe their views are correct and the opposition just doesn't see the whole story. 

One comment I hear regularly is that 10 to 11 thousand dollars per student isn't an excessive amount to spend on a child in our school system.  I would like to show you why I feel this is an outrageous figure for one child's education.

I know of at least three private schools in or close to the Lisbon border that charge a small fraction of what we spend on educating a child in our public schools.

The Open Door Bible School charges $1700 dollars plus a little more for some books.

The Christian Academy in Lisbon charges $2400 dollars for tuition and has been around for almost 40 years. 

There is another School on 196 that charges $3300 dollars in tuition.

All of these schools educate their students as well or better than Lisbon Schools.

Can anyone tell me why our schools cost the taxpayer  3 to 7 times as much as schools that arguably give a better education.   Has anyone even wondered why.   

We could give a $1,000 dollar scholarship to any student that wants to transfer to these private schools and still save money for the town. (Lisbon taxpayers contribute about $5,000 dollars to each child's education in Lisbon public schools) At the very least why aren't we examining these schools and finding out why it costs thousands of dollars more per child for us to do the same job they are doing.

Anyone that thinks our school system is bare bones needs to ask themselves these questions.

Respectfully
Joe Hill

BATTLE OF THE BUDGET

EXCUSE ME MR... HILL, BUT IT WAS NOT MR... GREEN AND THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT THAT "SADDLED" US WITH THE 6 OR 7 MILLION DOLLAR GYM AND TRACK BOND ! ! ! ! !

 

PERHAPS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.  

 

AS I RECALL, MR.. GREEN AND THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE  SAW A NEED, DID THEIR RESEARCH, GOT PLANS, FACTS AND FIGURES TOGETHER AND PUT ALL BEFORE THE VOTERS AS TO WHETHER THEY WANTED A TRACK AND A NEW GYM. THE BONDS FOR THE TRACK AND THE GYM WENT TO THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF LISBON! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

 

IT WAS THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF LISBON THAT APPROVED THE MONIES FOR A TRACK AND A NEW GYMNASIUM. NOT MR. GREEN AND/OR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

 

COULD IT BE THAT THE COST OF LEGAL FEES IN THE BATTLE OF THE BUDGET AND NUMEROUS SCHOOL BUDGET REFERENDUMS THAT HAVE DRAINED THE TOWN'S UNDESIGNATED FUNDS BALANCE???? 

 

THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT HAD SEVERAL WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, ALL WELL ATTENDED, CONCERNING THE TRACK AND THE GYM.

 

PLANS AND COSTS WERE PRESENTED, WELL BEFORE THE PROJECTS FOR BOTH WENT TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL.

 

BOTH THE TRACK AND THE GYM ARE A WONDERFUL ASSET TO THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND TO THE TOWN OF LISBON. BOTH WILL BE BRINGING IN REVENUE, NOT LIKE THE RIVER TRAIL THAT DOES NOT BRING IN ANY REVENUE AND IS BECOMING MORE

COSTLY TO TAXPAYERS EACH YEAR. 

 

DOT FITZGEALD

A CONCERNED CITIZEN 

JOE HILL'S RESPONSE TO "YOU BE THE JUDGE - PART 2

Calling the change in numbers after the first "NO TO LOW" vote a reduction in money is patently untrue.   Between the time the Council put the budget out to vote and the rejection of that vote more money was given to the School.  The total money to the School didn't change the change was a reflection of the added money from the State.

I think this Council is working for the people.  Are you aware this is the only Council that has actually reduced Lisbon's Taxes.   I WOULD CALL THAT WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE, WOULDN'T YOU?  I think we should thank the five Councilors that stood firm against the Schools "special interest group" and gave us a tax break.

The Council had no choice but to commit taxes. There wasn't enough money in the Undesignated  Account to pay the County tax bill.  If the tax bill wasn't paid we would have incurred penalty and/or interest charges that we couldn't afford. We were running the risk of becoming a deadbeat debtor and that would adversly affect our credit rating.

Mr. Green and the School Board are the ones that saddled us with the 6 or 7 million dollar gym and track bond, it wasn't the Council that demanded these projects.  The School put themselves in this financial position and they are refusing to take responsibility for their actions.

In conclusion I am glad to hear you think the School Budget has fat that needs to be located. Maybe next year we can find the rest of that fat and reduce our taxes again.

Respectfully

Joe Hill

YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!! – Part 1

During this year’s School Budget, the Town Council amended the recommendation of the School Department to a much lower figure.  This has caused a great deal of controversy and hard feelings between the school people and the Town Council.  I am going to provide you numerous facts in several articles and let you be the judge as to who caused the problem and was it ethical and done properly.

First, I want to make it very clear as to my position on this matter.  I have stated since the beginning that all budgets have areas that could be cut including the school budget.  I have also stated the method that the Town Council used was not proper.

Now, let’s take a look at the directive to the School Department to cut $600,000.00.  According to Councilor Metivier and Chairman Pesce, the determining factor was that because the school’s budget was twice the amount as the Municipal budget then the School Department should cut twice the amount of the Municipal budget.   This was the ONLY determining factor because the Town Council did not perform any cost analysis or perform an impact study to determine how cutting over a half a million dollars would affect the efficiency of the School Department.  Acts of this nature are not only dangerous but irresponsible and should never be done.  Because of this irresponsibility by the Town Council, the Town has been forced to have three elections counting the next one, at a cost to the taxpayers of approximately $3,000.00 per, and the impact is still unknown.

The residents of Lisbon realized the dangerous situation the Town Council had placed the School Department in and formed a Petition Committee to submit for a Special Town Meeting to correct this injustice.  The Petition Committee submitted the petition on a Wednesday, thinking they could use the LJAL Tournament and the Transfer Station on Saturday to gather the over 600 signatures necessary; however, the Town Clerk did not accept the petition and so the committee had to correct it and did so.  The petition was submitted the same day but the Town Clerk stated it had to be review by the Town Attorney to make sure it was proper.  The Town Attorney did not render a decision until Sunday after LJAL was over and the Transfer Station was closed.  This left the Committee just three days to gather over 600 signatures.  However, the Petition Committee had a legal review stating the petition was in order.  The Town Clerk issued the blank petitions to the committee on Sunday morning to gather signatures.  This Petition Committee pulled off a miracle and gathered over 700 signatures and turned the completed petitions in on time.

This caused a problem for Chairman Pesce and the Town Council; so once again the Town asked the Town Attorney for a legal review.  I fail to understand, if the petition was already ruled proper and only needed signatures to make it sufficient, why a second legal review?  The Town Attorney’s legal review determined the petition insufficient and it died.  The lawyer determined that it was not proper to have Special Town Meeting prior to the people approving the School Budget at an election.  The fact that the Town Council had amended the figures submitted by the School Department and those figures were going to be voted on by the people irrelevant.  This does no pass the common sense test.  Think about it, the Special Town Meeting would be used to resolve the difference in the two figures prior to going for vote by the people.  What possible good does holding a Special Town Meeting after the people have already approved the School Budget by a vote make?  The problem here is that the people followed the Charter and the Town Council and the Town Attorney denied the people the right for a Special Town Meeting to resolve the difference between the School Department and the Town Council prior to the election.  As a result the town has been forced to hold three elections.  Eliminating the people’s voice in this process is not the intent of our Charter.  It makes the Town Council a dictatorship in this process which is absolutely wrong in a democracy.

Do you call this?

1.    Dirty Politics

2.   Illegal Act

3.   A Dictatorship

Larry Fillmore

 

 

THE SCHOOLS TURN FOR COMPROMISE

The Schools Turn for Compromise

Last night Lisbon Town Councilors offered Lisbon School an Olive branch. They compromised and agreed to raise this years School Budget to 15,038,410.  

In another vote the Councilors also agreed to let the School use $1623 dollars from the capitol reserve account to buy cameras. 
 
Its now time for the School to also compromise and agree with this increase and advise their "no to low" followers to vote "YES" on the Sept. 22nd vote. Compromise is a two way street.


We don't need to spend another $3,000 dollars for another election.


Respectfully
Joe Hill

RECAP TOWN COUNCIL MEETING – SEPTEMBER 15TH

This is a summary of Town Council meeting – September 15, 2015.  The following is under Council Orders, Resolutions and Ordinances:

1.    The School Budget – The Council adjusted the School Budget to reflect additional funds.  The total now is $15,038,410.00 to be voted on September 22, 2015.  These changes will not impact the tax commitment so they are an empty gesture.

2.   Appendix C Fee Schedule Sec. 24-31 Public Safety Fireworks Violations (Second Reading) – The Council changed the fee for the fourth violation from $850.00 to $500.00 to comply with state law.

3.   Resolution – Cemetery Fees – This was approved by the Council 7-0 but is subject to change.

4.   Appendix C Fee Schedule Cemetery Fees (First Reading) – The Council tabled this discussion because they did not have all the information necessary to render a decision.

5.   School Capital Reserve Request – The Council approved this request for $1,623.70 for cameras by a vote of 7-0.

6.   Seniors Plus Agreement – The Council approved the Town Manager to sign this agreement by a vote of 7-0.

7.   Public Works Addition Bid Awards –

A.   Insulation – The Council approved $24,413.00 by a vote of 7-0.

B.   Electrical – The Council approved $18,737.00 by a vote of 7-0.

8.    MMA Voting Credentials for MMA Annual Business Meeting – The Council selected Councilor Mark Lunt to attend by a vote of 7-0.

9.   Fuel Bids – 2015-284 Fuel Bids was not discussed.

Under Other Business:  The Town Manager announced that she did not get a chance to review the fuel prices.  The Finance Director did not discuss the Financial Report.  The Department Heads Reports were discussed and the Council decided to hear a couple reports at each Town Council meetings

The Council went into Executive Session to discuss acquisition or disposition of real property or economic development and consultation with Legal.

Larry Fillmore

TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:  DOCUMENTATION IS NOT YET AVAILABLE ON TOWN WEB SITE.  PLEASE KEEP CHECKING UNDER COUNCIL AGENDA'S

TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:  DOCUMENTATION CAN BE FOUND ON TOWN WEB SITE UNDER COUNCIL AGENDA'S!

Hurt Feelings -- by Joe Hill

 

 

 

Over the course of this budget season I have heard "Lisbon School's Special Interest Group" (LSSIG) call Councilor Pesce every nasty,vile and demeaning name in the book.

 They (LSSIG) have made sport of his Manhood, sexuality and intelligence and some have even threatened his job. At one Town Council Meeting attended by over 150 residents I heard one gentleman stand up and look directly at The Councilor and state "Don't send a boy to do a man's job".   At the recent  Council/School workshop the School Board started in on him and the other Councilors essentially calling them child haters.

Through all this hatred and name calling I haven't heard Councilor Pesce utter one personal remark at the (LSSIG). 

It is laughable that the (LSSIG) is now feigning hurt feeling because Councilor Pesce is using the correct terminology to describe their greedy group. LSSIG is undeniably the quintessential "special interest group".

I can think of another term that correctly describes the LSSIG and that term is  HYPOCRITE  .

LMAO

Joe Hill

LAST RESORT – LABELING

Chairman Pesce has resorting to labeling people as “Special Interest Group” for the failure of the School Budget to pass.  I take personal offense to this.  The people that voted are patriots, veterans, Americans and most of all parents and grandparents of current students.  Just because they voted down the Town Council numbers twice is no reason to label them “Special Interest Groups”.

Every citizen of this country and community has a civic obligation to keep informed and to vote in every election.  Some citizens take their obligation more serious than others.  But that does not give Chairman Pesce the right to label them “Special Interest Group”.  Americans have a civic duty to voice their opinion in government by voting in elections; that includes local elections.

The state of Maine recognizes the right of people to vote on the School Budget in Lisbon.  It does not state ONLY “Special Interest Groups” has the right to vote.  Elections are open to all citizens of the town of Lisbon.  The choice of every voter is to vote or not to vote.  This also is their right and so to start labeling individuals on whether or not they voted is disrespectful and totally out of line.  Everyone has the same opportunity to make a difference. 

Chairman Pesce is trying to get to the November election because he knows that more citizens vote in November.  However, that is not how the system and the law are designed.  Special elections are mandated by our Charter and Maine law at different timelines depending on the situation.  However, the number of voters that choose to come out and vote is not the determining factor; the majority that vote for or against is the deciding factor.  In this case, the voters turned down the numbers amended by the Town Council.  If the Town Council wants everyone to vote, then they should push voters to come out and vote.   I guarantee you that in every election there will be citizens that will not vote.  Chairman Pesce, how are you going to label them and will that make the November election invalid?

Chairman Pesce needs to stop labeling people.

Larry Fillmore

The Ugly Truth Behind The School Budget Battle

There is an ugly seldom talked about truth behind the school budget battle. It isn't politically correct to mention this truth because it points out the inequities in School Financing.

There are two types of taxpayers in any town. Those taxpayers that pay more in taxes than they consume in resources and those that consume more in resources than they contribute in taxes.

Lets take my situation as an example: "net positive taxpayer"

• I have no kids in Lisbon's school system,and I also have no grandchildren in the system or any school system for that matter.
• I don't use or have access to the town water or sewer systems.
• I live on a private road so I must plow my own street.
• I don't live on the town subsidized bus route.
• I haven't used the Police/Fire or Emergency services. 

Last year I paid about $3,500 dollars in taxes to the town of Lisbon.
In short I pay much more in taxes than I consume in resources.

Now lets look at the other side of the equation:
"net negative taxpayer"
 Lets look at the average member of our school's "Special Interest Group," a member of the "NO TO LOW CROWD" that is crying for more money.

• They use $5,000 dollars in resources for every child they have in Lisbon schools.

•  The average home tax in Lisbon is somewhere in the neighborhood of $2500. 

This person's taxes  barely pay for the municipal costs of government.  In many cases none of their tax dollars go toward paying for their own children's education.  They rely on other people to pay their share of educating their children.

In order for a parent in Lisbon to pay for only 1 child in Lisbon Schools they would have to pay over $9,000 dollars in real estate taxes. I don't think many parents in Lisbon pay that much in taxes.   

Now that we have a clearer idea of who will be paying for the extra money the School wants lets continue with the conversation.

If the "NO TO LOW" crowd doesn't stop their selfish ways they are going to drive the "NET POSITIVE" tax payers out of our town and then where will they be.  They may have to pay for their own children's education or move to another town with another group of "net positive" taxpayers willing to pay their tax deficit.

 This argument reminds me of the "Aesop Fable" of the greedy dog with a bone crossing a stream. In mid bridge he looks down into the water and sees a reflection of himself with a bone in his mouth.
His greed for both bones causes him to bark and in doing so he loses the bone he had. 

Before someone brings up the "we need an educated society" argument lets take a look at the education we are getting for our tax dollars. Lisbon schools have  "D" and "C" ratings. Do schools with this designation really create an educated society? 

I feel bad for one group of people in Lisbon.  They are the retired senior residents that are actually "net positive" taxpayers but lack the resources to escape from this situation. They will be in danger of losing their homes to higher and higher taxes forced on them by the "NO TO LOW" crowd.  This is a tragedy! If you are a member of this group you may want to call your Councilors and let them know you can't pay more taxes.

I encourage people to call and support their Councilors and let them know you don't want higher taxes.  

Also call the School Board members and tell them to stop complaining about the Council and find the cuts necessary to balance their budget. 

Respectfully
LisbonMaine.Net
Joe Hill

Lisbon School Board Member Goes Postal On The Councilors

By now everyone in Lisbon knows that there is no love lost between Lisbon School Board and the Lisbon Council. They have been adversaries for a long time but this year their relationship has degraded into something ugly.

Last night (9/8/15) the School Board and Council met in  Council chambers for a workshop to discuss the ongoing School Budget issue. 

The School Board Members (with the exception of Mrs. Mason) turned this golden opportunity into a Councilor bashing session. I sat in the audience for 15 or 20 minutes listening to Board Members Berating the Council for:

•  Not caring for the kids,

•  Bullying the School Board,

• Using non P.C. terminology,

• Wanting unreasonable cuts

And I thought I heard someone even bring up kicking puppies.  

The School Board didn't bring up one constructive solution to the budget shortfall problem.  NOT ONE SOLUTION. only complaints

The Councilors sat quietly taking this abuse and not one of them attacked a School Board Member.  The Councilors suggested: possibly using some of the money left over from the Gym project to fund a bond payment. Another Councilor brought up the possibility of saving some money by changing the bus service for high school students.  Another thought money could be saved from Adult Ed.

This abuse went on for 20 minutes before Councilor Pesce stated he felt bullied and that was when all HELL broke loose. Upon hearing this Mr. Reed started yelling something unintelligible, kicked back his chair and staggered to his feet. He balled up his program and threw it back at the Council as he lumbered out of the meeting.

 I believe this School Board Member has some serious anger management problems and should be sanctioned for his unprofessional behavior. 

In summary the School Board spent the entire meeting blaming the Councilors. The Councilors were the only ones that suggested any solutions. 

Respectfully

LisbonMaine.Net

Joe Hill

 

P.S.  In all fairness after Mr. Reeds violent scene and exit chairwoman Austin did  regain control over the School Board and brought back civility. She showed true leadership qualities.

RECAP TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING – SEPTEMBER 8TH

This is a summary of what took place at last’s Special Town Council meeting.  Two Councilors were absent Councilor Garrison and Bickford.  The following were under Council Orders, Resolutions and Ordinances: 

1.      Public Hearing for Charter Changes – The Council set a date of September 17, 2015 for a Public Hearing on the proposed Charter Changes by a Vote of 5-0.

2.     Town Office Roof – The Council authorized the Public Works Director to go out to bid for lifetime shingles and a metal roof by a vote of 5-0.

3.     Oil Tank Disposal – The Council approved the disposal of four oil tanks by any means possible by a vote of 5-0.

This was all the Town Council discussed.  At this point the Council adjourned and move to a Special Workshop with members of the School Board to try and resolve the differences in the School Budget.

The workshop lasted approximately an hour and nothing was accomplished.  Members of the Council asked questions and offered recommendations and the School Board answered the questions and tried to explain why cuts could not be made in the recommended areas.  The School Board offered no cuts and explained the current cuts. Members of the School Board became frustrated and ended with Mr. Reed acting very non-professional, crumpled up his papers and threw them on the floor on his way out the door.  Chairman Pesce ended the workshop at this point.

Larry Fillmore

ANOTHER OPINION OF A CONCERNED CITIZEN

There has been a lot of controversy over section  8.11 (the section dealing with “special town meetings”) in our town charter.  Great emphasis has been placed on the word  “any” in that section.   Some feel that School budget  appropriations shouldn’t be included because they are ultimately voted on by the people.  Others feel the one word should be taken literally and it should apply to any appropriation. At the very least this section should be clarified in the near future.

This section is not the only part of Section 8 that needs clarification. In sec. 8.46 it states  If a majority of the qualified voters voting on a budget article at a special Town meeting vote in its favor it shall be considered adopted, IF the total number of votes cast for OR against the budget article is at least 250. 

If we are going to read section 8.11 literally then we should interpret section 8.46 literally also.

   This affirmative majority vote is only valid --IF--  the total number of votes cast for OR against the measure is 250. This very clearly states you need 250 in the affirmative to pass an appropriation. This section doesn't say the sum of yes and no votes must total 250 it says the carrying vote must be 250 votes. The word OR in the sentence means OR not AND.
 I think we should use common sense and not apply sec 8.11 to School Budget Appropriations. I also think that in sec. 8.46 the Charter framers probably meant to say "AND" instead of "OR". 
When we get stuck on one word definitions we can change the whole meaning of the Charter. 
Respectfully
Joe Hill

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

This is currently in our Charter.  This further supports the fact that the petition for a Special Town Meeting was sufficient.  This means the Town Council deliberately denied the people the right to be heard in a Special Town meeting.

It is my opinion that the provisions for a Special Town meeting are place in our Charter to resolve difference on budget appropriations.

 Sec 8.11 Special Town Meeting.

(d)The qualified voters of the Town shall have the power to reconsider any budget appropriation at a special Town meeting called by petition. The petition must cite the specific appropriation(s) to be included in the warrant for the special Town meeting.

Please note this provisions state that the voters “have the power to reconsider any budget appropriations at a Special Town meeting.”  The School Budget is a budget appropriation and therefore qualifies for Special Town meeting under the current Charter.  I do not know how anyone can misread this portion of the Charter unless it was a deliberate act by the Town Council to prevent the people from speaking out on this.

Sec. 8.46. - Results of Special Town Meeting.

(a)   Budget Article(s). If a majority of the qualified voters voting on a budget article at a special Town meeting vote in its favor it shall be considered adopted, and shall be treated in all respects in the same manner as budget articles of the same kind adopted by the Council, so long as the total number of votes cast for or against the budget article at the special Town meeting is at least 250. If the special Town meeting does not adopt a budget article(s) as provided herein, the original budget article passed by the Council will immediately take effect.

(b)  [Adoption of budget.] If the budget, or any part thereof, has not been finally adopted on July 1, then the budget for the prior year, or part thereof corresponding with that being challenged, shall remain proportionately in effect.

I do not know how clearer this can be written in our Charter without destroying the purpose of this provision.  The Town Council, minus Councilors Lunt and Garrison, has silenced the people once again.

This inexcusable behavior by certain Councilors needs to be stopped!

Larry Fillmore

A CONCERN CITIZEN'S OPINION!

Our Taxes went Down This Year Thanks to 5 Councilors Refusing to Submit To The Demands of the School's "Special Interest Group"
 

Councilor Pesce and most of the other Councilors are not responsible for the ambiguity of charter section 8-11D.  I am sure that in the future the Councilors will address this confusing section and make the necessary changes to make the section more clear for everyone.

When the Council looks at the budget they see the large picture and represent all of Lisbon's residents.  When the School looks at the budget all they see is how much money they can get for their special interest, the School. 

Today I received my 2015-16 tax bill and thanks to Lisbon Councilors holding the School Department to the same standard they held the town side of the budget, my tax bill went down $200 dollars.  If the School had their way my tax bill would have been as much or more than last years taxes.

I think the Councilors should be commended for the good job they have done this year.  There are more cuts that need to be made but at least our taxes are starting to go down and most of the thanks goes to 5 Councilors that refused to submit to the demands of the Schools "Special Interest Group".

I think anyone that wants to send their tax cut to the school should be allowed to do that. I don't think people should be made to send more and more money to a School Department that returns D's and C's to the residents.

Its time for a little School accountability.

Respectfully
Joe Hill