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Showing posts with label MDOT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MDOT. Show all posts

Monday, October 26, 2015

BDN: Maine lands $20 million federal grant to support rail upgrades

By Darren Fishell, BDN Staff

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine will receive federal funding for more than half of a project to upgrade railroad lines, which the state’s top transportation official said will make it easier to ship goods to and from the state.  
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Maine Regional Railways Project $20 million to rehabilitate 384 miles of track, reducing bottlenecks caused by speed limits on certain parts of track by summer 2017, according to the grant application.

TO READ MORE: http://bangordailynews.com/2015/10/26/business/maine-lands-20-million-federal-grant-to-support-rail-upgrades/

Friday, October 12, 2012

Lisbon Liars Club Business Is Prevalent And Pronounced

LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES


On September 28, 2012, I submitted to the town a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) requesting a copy of the grants received by the Police Department.  The FOAA read and I quote “Respectfully request a copy of the documentation awarding the town of Lisbon the grant for the furniture for the communication department and the new police antenna currently being installed.”

The response I receive floored me.  The town sent me a copy of the email from Chief Brooks to Mr. Eldridge and I quote “Steve, There were no grants for these projects.”  




 Lisbon Police Chief David T. Brooks and Lisbon Fire Chief Sean Galipeau

Now, I distinctly remember Mr. Eldridge telling the town what a fine job Chief Brooks had done in procuring these grants.  I also remember Chief Brooks stating from now on all grants will have to be matched.  I remember reading on page 4 of the proposed 2013 budget under 01-110 General Government/Contingency line item 5227 Grant Matches and I quote “Provides Grant Matching for PD Cruiser Video System $10,000 and furnishing to comply with Federal Grant Funding of equipment for Dispatching $15,000.” 

All of a sudden there never was a grant for the furniture or the police antenna and we learn that it is for the Fire Department use also.  So where is the money coming from to pay for the new furniture and the antenna?  You don’t suppose they hid the money in other parts of the budget and on August 21, 2012 transferred the funds from other accounts to pay for these projects do you?  I call this misappropriation of our tax dollars.  These people continue to provide false information to the people hoping no one will follow up on it and see what lies the people are being told.
 Lisbon Town Manager Stephen Eldridge



 Judge Judy

Judge Judy says you can always tell when a teenager is lying because their lips are moving.  I believe this is true of our town manager and others.  Mr. Eldridge has provided so much false information to the people it is unreal.  There is no wonder the town council no longer provides me answers to my questions.  They can rest assured I will verify everything they say.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Recap Of Lisbon Planning Board Meeting 10/11/2012

MORE INFORMATION OF ROUTE 9

I attended the Planning Board workshop last night.  The Planning Board is getting ready for the Public Hearing on Thursday night at 07:00 PM, October 18, 2012 at the MTM Gym.  I feel very sorry that the Planning Board has been saddled with this problem which they did not create.  If you care to check it there were no illegal businesses on Route 9 when Mr. Lunt was town manager and Jerry Sampson was Code Enforcement Officer.  This situation was created by none other than Stephen Eldridge.  I believe Mr. Eldridge made it very clear when he got rid of Jerry Sampson; you do it my way or you get fired!


 Lisbon Town Manager Stephen Eldridge


Now the Planning Board has been asked to resolve this situation.  The Planning Board is trying real hard to do what is best for the community and stay within the boundaries of the Comprehensive Plan and allow these businesses to remain open.  This is going to be a challenge because I believe there are fifteen (15) businesses on Route 9 and only five (5) are illegal.  These five illegal businesses fall under two types of businesses – garages and roofing/siding.  These two commercial type businesses are not recreational or natural resources.  These businesses do not fall under agricultural either and therefore alter the makeup of the Rural Open Space 1.

So how are they going to make these businesses legal?  After attending several Planning Board meetings I got the impression they are going to try and pull a misdirection on everyone.  The Planning Board is also trying to better define “Home Occupation”.   

Home Occupations still have to report all earned income to the Federal and state government.  They are also suppose to pay Personal Property Tax to the town of Lisbon.  These home occupations, Mom & Pop Store and small businesses are still commercial businesses and must comply with the ordinances and Comprehensive Plan of Lisbon.

I personally believe you have to make the situation legal before you change it.  I do not believe you can correct an illegal situation while it is illegal because you can only compound the problem.  I do not want to see anyone lose their livelihood or cause problems for our neighbors but no one should be above the law regardless of who they are.  These business owners know the impact of their actions.  These are our friends and neighbors we are talking about and I only wish there was some way in which to make everyone happy but I do not see how you can do that legally especially after the town has shut down some businesses and allowed others to operate.

I see no real solution to this problem without shutting down these businesses.  This is going to be especially hard when these business owners are protected by the “Good Old Boys Network”.  The “Good Old Boys Network” is fighting very hard to protect their friends.  The town has to eliminate this “Good Old Boys Network” club before we have more situations of the same popping up.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizens

Wednesday, September 19, 2012