Final Draft Of Route 196 Master Plan October 8th, 7:00pm Lisbon Community School

Rt. 196 Master Plan meeting on Tuesday, October 8th at LCS at 7:00 pm? FINAL Draft

Recap of the Planning Board Meeting‏ August 29, 2013

RECAP PLANNING BOARD MEETING

At last night’s meeting of the Planning Board, the Planning Board reviewed an application by LaRochelle Properties, LLC for the construction of a commercial building at 2 Canal Street.  This meeting was open to the Public and even though it did not contain a “Public Hearing” section, the Public was allowed to speak.

Our new Code Enforcement Officer, Dennis Douglas, had prepared the application with all the required documentation to include all drawings required.  He had ensured everything was complete and assembled in accordance with the Planning Board checklist.  This made the meeting flow better and as it was, it took roughly one hour and fifteen minutes to complete the checklist.

Mr. Fern LaRochelle had spent a huge amount of time and money preparing the documentation and the drawings.  He was quizzed by the members of the Planning Board the entire time and was upfront with all his responses.  This building is going to be an asset to the community.  Mr. LaRochelle should be commended for undertaking such an investment.  This building will be located near the corner of Route 196 and Route 125.  It will be visible from both entrances to the community and will provide a good “first impression” of Lisbon.

Chairman Don Fellows and the members of the Planning Board were extremely thorough when reviewing this application to ensure all town ordinances had been met.   The Panel went down the checklist, item by item.  All members of the Planning Board were professional and courtious.   After the Planning Board had completed the review of the application, I can honestly say all my questions and concerns had been answered.  This is something good for this community and everyone should acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Fern LaRochelle.

I was particularly impressed with the meeting.  There appeared to be no backdoor dealings, no hidden agenda or anything else like that.    It was very refreshing to see everything above board.  This is a wonderful project for the community.  Once this is completed, everyone in the community will be proud.   There are no losers here.

I want also to acknowledge the fine work Dennis Douglas did ensuring everything was complete.  Also, I want to commend the Planning Board for the excellent job they did reviewing the application but most of all I want to thank Mr. Fern LaRochelle for investing in our community.

Larry Fillmore

Last Night's Joint Workshop‏

                        

                
                         LAST NIGHT’S JOINT WORKSHOP

Last night was the first time I can remember when the Town Council sat down with the Planning Board and more importantly the members of the School Committee and their Facilities people.  Originally, the purpose of this meeting was to brief the Route 196 draft plan.  However, this turned into much more.

Lisbon Planner Amanda Bunker

 

This was hosted by Amanda Bunker, Town Planner, and was excellently done.  Mrs. Bunker maintained control of the workshop and facilitated a profitable meeting for all.  This was the first workshop which took input from everyone there.  The members of the Public were allowed to add input into the dialogue.  There were few members of the residents but the information provided was very well received and added to the workshop.

The most critical benefit from this group was everyone had a different priority when it comes to our tax dollars.  The town is looking to improve the appearance of the town and the school is looking to get off probation.  The biggest obstacle was how to accomplish both with the tax dollars available.  The school people listed their priorities and explained how they are trying to get everything done without raising our taxes.  The town provided the same input it always has.

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that we have to invest money into the town in order to save it from dying.  If we do not invest in our future, it will not be too long before we have nothing.  The number one priority has to be the item that the town can receive the most return on investment regardless of the cost.  I believe this is getting the school off probation.  Mr. Don Fellows shared a conversation with someone who was thinking about moving to Lisbon but chose to go elsewhere because the school was on probation.  No one in their right mind would move to a location where their kids would have to attend a school on probation.  Our School is not on probation for its academic’s but for the gym.  There are other factors which have been addressed but the gym is the critical one.  This must be corrected immediately in order to increase our tax base.  We cannot afford to lose more families.

The price tag on the gym is estimated at $ 6.2 million which is an extremely huge amount of money we do not have.  I am sure the school/town can find grant money to help offset this amount.  Both Chairman LaRochelle and Vice Chair Ward have stated the future is in our children and that the school is the gem of the community.  Vice Chair Ward also stated that the school is a magnet to draw people to the community.  Having said this, I am confused as to why the town council is pushing the Worumbo Mill instead of getting the school off probation.  Can anyone help me with this?

This was an excellent forum and I believe it should take place once a month or at least once a quarter.  Everyone in attendance learned quite a bit of new information.  I personally believe that forums like this one will bring more people to participate.  The Public has never been allowed to participate in such a forum before and once people understand their input is going to be heard and taken into consideration in the final decision; you will have more people in attendance.

Larry Fillmore

Lisbon Agendas For August 26-30, 2013

Steady As She Goes In Lisbon As The Corruption Continues

PURE WASTE OF TIME

At Tuesday’s night Town Council meeting there were three items I found to be important.  The first was a super presentation by Scott Benson regarding the proposal for Kelly Park.  This proposal was to make this a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.  This program will hopefully draw businesses to Lisbon.  I believe this is an excellent investment for the town, however, within the Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA) the town would return 60% of the Increase Asset Value (IAV) to the businesses.  These are our tax dollars and in this economy I believe this is too much.  I understand 60% would draw more opportunity to fill the park but I am not sure the taxpayers can afford it.  Also, there are no provisions in the CEA to ensure the tax dollars returned to the business are being utilized to enhance the business instead of going into someone’s pocket.  There needs to be a provision to protect our tax dollars.

Second, was the first reading of the Home Occupation Ordinance.  This proposed ordinance was created to redefine Home Occupation and to circumvent the Comprehensive Plan.  The Planning Board inserted special provisions for auto body shops, auto repair facilities and repair facilities for recreation vehicles.  It is a feeble attempt to justify the operation of two garages on Route 9.  These garages do not conform to our ordinances or the Comprehensive Plan and are NOT currently paying Personal Property Tax.   

The Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) notified these garages of these violations and the owners, our neighbors, totally ignored these letters.  The town management, instead of supporting our CEO, chose to allow these garages to operate illegally.  This created an illegal act and the town had to find a way to save face.  As I have said many times before; the Good Old Boys network has a choke hold on this town.  Our town council voted 7-0 to approve the first reading.  

Third, was the selection of the Finance Committee.  Norma Wells and Eugene Smith were selected for three years; Miriam Morgan-Alexander and Chris Rugullies were selected for two years and Don Fellows was selected for one year.  Mrs. Wells and Mr. Smith were previous councilors so they already know very well how to inflate and conceal funds in our budget.  Remember last year when our town council raised our taxes and then turned around and declared over a million dollars carried forward.  I wonder why the town manager and Finance Director did not know we had this overage and why wasn’t it applied to the budget?  This would have eliminated the need to raise taxes.  

I cannot wait to see what they have in store for the taxpayers this year.  Since the town manager has been here the town’s Undesignated Fund has gone from over three million dollars to just over one million.  This speaks volumes for managing our budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Fillmore

Concern Citizen

Town Council Meeting January 22, 2013

How Can So Few Have So Much Power? Corruption:

LAWLESS LISBON, AT IT AGAIN!!!

The citizens of Lisbon are in for a real treat Tuesday night at the Town Council meeting.  If you cannot make it Tuesday night, you can see it when it comes out on the Lisbon Reporter or the town web site.  You have the opportunity to watch the ”Good Old Boys” violate the wishes of the people, once again.  On the agenda is a proposal by the Planning Board to change the ordinance on “Home Occupation”. 

This new definition of “Home Occupation” now includes, among other things, a special provision for auto body shops, auto repair facilities and repair facilities.  This addition was added to circumvent the Comprehensive Plan approved by the citizens of Lisbon.  The Comprehensive Plan states under the Section on Overview – Route 9 Corridor …”The Limited Residential District does not all for commercial type uses and the Rural Open Space District limits commercial type uses to recreation and natural resource based.”  I do not believe auto body shops, repair facilities and repair facilities fall under these clearly spelled out land usages.

This is the “Good Old Boys” way to make legal the two garages operating on Route 9.  In order to allow these garages to stay open, the “Good Old Boys” had to find a loop whole in order to protect their brothers and this is their answer.  Once the Town Council passed this new ordinance, and there is no question they will, these garages can operate legally.  These same two garages were provided a written notice by the Code Enforcement Officer that they were in violation of our town ordinances.  These neighbors of ours totally ignored the Code Enforcement Officer and continued to operate knowing fully well their brothers would protect them.  Instead, of obeying our ordinances, like good neighbors, these individuals decided to trust the “Good Old Boys” and continue to operate. 

How can the town council justify taking a violation of our ordinances and wave a magic wand and make these garages legal?  I personally believe when you intentionally circumvent our laws to allow a few to operate businesses not in compliance with our ordinances or Comprehensive Plan it is fraud.  I hope the state of Maine will review this case and take appropriate action.

For your information, these two garages are not listed as paying any personal property tax.  Apparently, this is another benefit of being one of the “Good Old Boys”.  By these “Good Old Boys” not paying their fair share of taxes means the rest of us have to pay their share.  Why should law abiding citizens be forced to pay taxes for “Good Old Boys” who do not comply with our ordinances?

The Planning Board is using this to justify the operation of two garages on Route 9.  The town council will make it legal at Tuesday’s meeting.  Well, so much for the wishes and vision of the people who voted and approved the Comprehensive Plan.

The “Good Old Boys” win and the law abiding citizens lose again!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to Lisbon.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Planning Board Agenda 10/25/2012

AGENDA
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

___ Don Fellows (Chairman)
___ Jeff Ganong (Vice-Chair)
___ Josh Holmes
___ James Lemieux
___ Dan Nezol
___Curtis Lunt
___ Karin Paradis

3. CHAIRMAN’S REVEIW OF MEETING RULES - Suspended for this session

4. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None
Item # 2012-15
Minutes of September 27, 2012

5. PUBLIC HEARING – None

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Item # 2012-16
Adopt Bylaws/Meeting Rules (Attached)

7. NEW BUSINESS - None

8. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL BUSINESS - None

9. PLANNING ASSOCIATE OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Item # 2012-17
Summary of Route 9 Forum

Item # 2012-18
Upcoming Planning Board Workload

10. OTHER BUSINESS –
Item # 2012-19
Discussion regarding cancelling the next meeting (per bylaws)

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None

12. ADJOURNMENT- Adjournment

Disclaimer: As Copied From Town Website

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

Lisbon Planning Board Agenda For Thursday 10-11-2012

AGENDA
PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

___ Don Fellows (Chairman)
___ Jeff Ganong (Vice-Chair)
___ Josh Holmes
___ James Lemieux
___ Dan Nezol
___Curtis Lunt
___ Karin Paradis

3. CHAIRMAN’S REVEIW OF MEETING RULES - Suspended for this session

4. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None

5. PUBLIC HEARING - None

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None

7. NEW BUSINESS - None

8. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL BUSINESS - None

9. PLANNING ASSOCIATE OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Item # 2012-14
Updates

10. OTHER BUSINESS - none

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - none

12. ADJOURNMENT- Adjourn to workshop

13. WORKSHOP
Preparation for Oct 18, 2012 Public Forum on RT 9 Issues

Disclaimer:   As copied from Town of Lisbon website.

Lisbon Is In A "Catch 22" Situation Trying To Resolve Issue On Route 9

NO WIN SITUATION

The Lisbon Planning Board has been challenged by the town to resolve the Route 9 situation created by town mismanagement.  The challenge is: “How to cover up the mismanagement and how to keep the illegal businesses open?”

On October 19, 2011, the Comprehensive Plan was amended.  The Comprehensive Plan is how the people envisioned Lisbon to look for the next ten years.  This Comprehensive Plan was approved by the state and the town enacted ordinances to ensure compliance with the desires of the people. 

According to the Comprehensive Plan approved by the people of Lisbon and the state, “Land use patterns in the Route 9 corridor are primarily residential and rural/open space.  Under current zoning, the corridor is placed in two zones, Limited Residential and Rural Open Space.  The Limited Residential District does not allow for commercial type uses and the Rural Open Space District limits commercial type uses to recreation and natural resource based.”  You would think this would be clear enough for anyone to understand. 

Over the years, approximately ten (10) businesses have been operating along the Route 9 corridor.  These business owners have been notified these businesses are in violation of the town ordinances and the owners have totally ignored these violations.  The majority of these businesses are neither recreation nor natural resource based.  So how were they allowed to be established?  I believe it was the “Good Old Boys” syndrome.  The management of this town allowed this situation to blossom and the town has been protecting these business owners for years.

The problem is the town shut down certain businesses and allowed others to operate.  According to the law, this is called discrimination and is illegal.  Now the Planning Board is struggling with how to make these businesses legal and allow them to continue to operate in violation of the ordinances and the Comprehensive Plan. 

The master plan is to call these businesses “Home Occupation”.  Well, it makes no difference if you call them Home Occupation, Mom & Pop, Small Business or any other name to make you sleep better; but if they are not recreation or natural resource based then they are always going to be illegal.

I am not against anyone trying to make a living in this poor economy but what I am against is the mismanagement by the town and people who place themselves above the law.  If the town wants to change the Comprehensive Plan to allow all these illegal activities, so be it; but to totally ignore it for their friends is wrong!  Do not try and cover up the mistakes by management or the protection of friends by compounding the situation and put this town in a legal battle it cannot win.

Shut these businesses down in violation of our ordinances and the Comprehensive Plan instead of trying to justify the town’s mismanagement by looking for a loop hole to make you sleep better at night.

Do what is right for Lisbon!!!!!!

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

AGENDA PLANNING BOARD MEETING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

AGENDA
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. CALL FOR ATTENDANCE
___ Don Fellows (Chairman)
___ Jeff Ganong (Vice-Chair)
___ Josh Holmes
___ James Lemieux
___ Dan Nezol
___Curtis Lunt
___ Karin Paradis

3. CHAIRMAN’S SUMMARY OF MEETING RULES

4. MINUTES – READING/ACCEPTANCE

Item # 2012-8
August 23, 2012

Item # 2012-9
September 13, 2012

5. PUBLIC HEARING (4th Thursday of the month only)
None

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Item # 2012-10
Route 9 Public Forum Question

7. NEW BUSINESS
Item # 2012-11
Subdivisions Forms/Checklists

8. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL BUSINESS
None

9. PLANNING ASSOCIATE OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Item # 2012-12
Updates

10. OTHER BUSINESS
None

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None

12. ADJOURNMENT
Item # 2012-13
To Adjourn

13. WORKSHOP
A. Home Occupation Discussion

Councilor Cote Writes To Explain Route 9 Issue

Councilor Cote’s Input

Let me start by explaining my side of the situation so that you readers understand the magnitude of this dire situation that Lisbon’s so called Town Management find themselves in now.

In 1993, Jerry Samson, Lisbon’s Tax Assessor, wrote me a letter and also stopped by my Small Engine & Lawn Mower Repair Shop to inform me that I was in violation of town ordinances by operating my business in a Rural Open (1) Zone.  He stated in writing, that if I did not cease operation immediately I would be finding myself in Court. 

To comply and be a good citizen, I closed my very successful business.  And I say successful because I was drawing business from another ‘grandfathered’ small engine repair and junk yard (owner was and still is a member of the Planning Board) just down the hill.  Funny how that worked out!

Currently, we have several businesses operating in violation of town ordinances with the blessings of the town.  So how are they going to solve this situation, legally? 

I ended all my business operations as required by the letter that I still have possession of.  All the while new businesses open up, some expand, and others like Councilor Gina Mason and her husband Rick circumvented the ordinance by getting the Planning Board to approve a temporary conditional use permit to operate an agricultural business in a Rural Open (1) Zone, with no expiration date.  They have an excavating and dirt hauling business.  Which is more agricultural a lawn mower repair shop or dump truck, excavator, & bulldozer business?  

Let the facts speak for themselves.

There are numerous businesses in operation and violation now.

Signed, Roger Cote

How Will Lisbon Legally Overcome Their Illegal Business Problem On The Route 9 Corridor? Inquiring Minds Are Wanting To Know!!!!!

ROUTE 9 PROBLEM

The town's Planning Board are asking the wrong questions. Instead of trying to legitimize these illegal businesses, think about how this situation was created.


First, these business owners' were well aware of the town ordinances not allowing these businesses in Rural Open Space 1.

Second, the town notified some, if not all of these businesses, in writing of the violations of the town ordinances and these business owners' chose to ignore the town. 

Next, these business owners' chose to operate these businesses knowing fully well they were in violation of town ordinances. Some business owners spent additional monies to improve their businesses, again by their choice. Every one of these business owners had a choice to comply with the town ordinances or run the risk of being shut down at any time. These business owners' chose their own fate. These businesses must be shut down in compliance with the town ordinances. These business owners ran the risk and have profited from their choices but now it is time for the town to force them to comply with the town ordinances.

Think about it this way. Which side of the fence is the town going to be on when this goes to court because it certainly is going to court? Either the illegal businesses owners are going to take the town to court for shutting them down or the business owners who complied with the town ordinance and shut their businesses down are going to sue the town for discrimination. Either way the town will definitely end up in court; so which side does the Planning Board want to be on????

The right solution is to move as many businesses as possible into a zone where they can operate their businesses legally. Try to move them into town owned buildings, where the town can offer these illegal business owners a deal; because the town is responsible for this situation by not enforcing our town ordinance immediately. 

Second, the town could offer these illegal business owners loans under the Revolving Loan Funds to help ease the additional costs but remember the decision has always been the illegal business owners.

The right question is which side of the fence is the town going to be on in court?

 

This Planning Board must remember they represent the ENTIRE town and not just their friends on Route 9. The entire town voted on the Comprehensive Plan and their vision for the town should not be distorted just to please a few people.



Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Town Council Agenda Tuesday August 7, 2012

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 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

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE

6. CONSENT AGENDA

2012-110 ORDER −
A. Minutes of July 17, 2012

7. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

2012-111 ORDER −
Library Air Conditioner Bids

2012-112 ORDER −
Solid Waste Wood Trailer Bids

2012-113 ORDER −
MMA Annual Election – Vice President & Executive Committee Members

8. OTHER BUSINESS

A. County Charter Presentation

B. 2012-13 Road Paving Schedule

9. APPOINTMENTS

2012-114 ORDER −
Planning Board (2) Associate Members (Lunt, Paradis)

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

12. ADJOURNMENT

2012-115 ORDER −
To Adjourn

13. WORKSHOP

A. Davis Cemetery

B. Charter Amendments

Recap Town Council Workshop July 31, 2012

RECAP TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP JULY 31ST

At last night’s workshop, the Planning Board joined the Town Council for a discussion with the new Town Planner.  Everyone was introduced to Amanda Bunker the new Town Planner.  Mrs. Bunker gave an interesting presentation as to what she perceived as the towns desire for her.  The presentation was excellently given and was very educational.  It included a very aggressive timeline for the coming year.

However, she asked the Town Council for guidance on how to proceed with the troubles in resolving issues on Route 9.  This opened up a very lengthy discussion on how to resolve the issues.  The Planner identified several problems:

 Current ROS-1 commercial use is generally limited to home-based businesses and agricultural businesses

Town has been made aware of commercial activities in violation of the zoning ordinance and the town Comprehensive Plan
 
 Question as to whether Route 9 should be treated differently

Some wish to change to allow appropriate businesses

Some concerned of impacts to residential/rural character

Need to resolve allowed commercial uses and enforce

The Comprehensive Plan was established by the residents of the town in a town meeting forum.  The majority of town voters approved the Comprehensive Plan.  The critical issue which was never brought out in this workshop was how these illegal businesses were allowed to operate on Route 9 when others were shut down.  The answer is very simple.  Friends and family of Town Council members, Planning Board members, Chief of Police and town management turned their backs and ignored the violations of the town Comprehensive Plan and town ordinances in order to keep friends and family happy.   However, when one individual was allowed to operate a business then others followed and now we have a mess.  In order to enforce the Comprehensive Plan and ordinances, these businesses are going to have to shut down.  The Town Council and Planning Board do not want to lose their close friends and family so they are looking for any loop-hole they can to keep their friends and family in business.  No one appears to be interested in doing what is right instead they are trying to find a way to legalize these illegal businesses.  Keep in mind, the Comprehensive Plan was voted on by the entire town and is the vision of what the citizens want Lisbon/Lisbon Falls to look like.  It is not what the people on Route 9 want.

The second agenda item pertain to the establishing of an Audit Committee and/or changing the Budget Advisory Board to a Finance Committee.  This was a short discussion about the duties and authority of each of these committees.  It was left to the Town Manager to create duties and the authority of these committees and present them to the Town Council.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

" Goat Roping Lisbon Style"; Recap Planning Board May 24,2012

RECAP PLANNING BOARD MEETING – MAY 24^TH

The Planning Board meeting on May 24^th was yet another goat rope. I have attended two Planning Board meetings and both were total chaos. It was supposedly a Public Hearing on three cases: Premier Development; Open Door Bible Church and Wayne Ricker. After the Public Hearing would be the Planning Board's regular meeting.

The first two cases on the Public Hearing were fine. Premier Development wanted to continue to haul rocks into the pit and crush these rocks into gravel to be sold to continue the development on the site. An abutting neighbor complained about the amount of dusk in her yard. The discussion ended by Mr. Kelly agreeing to work with the Water Department to try and reduce the dust.

The next case involved the Open Door Bible Church requesting permission to rent space in the Self-Storage Facility that the Planning Board and the Town Council already approved. I do not understand why they had to ask permission if the Planning Board and Town Council already approved the facility. 

What did they think the church was going to utilize the storage space for any way? 

It was perfectly clear at the town council public hearing the storage unit was being utilized to pay for the building of the gym for the school. The discussion that followed was totally out of line in my eyes. Steve Warren and Don Fellows want the church to landscape the facility and to replace the advertising sign. Talk about jerking someone’s chain!

The third Public Hearing Case did not get off the ground. Don Fellows made a point of order that the initial subdivision plan had not been approved by the Planning Board so therefore it could not be part of the Public Hearing. After a lengthy discussion, the Planning Board agreed to suspend their rules; go out of the Public Hearing and into the regular meeting to hear the initial plans and then go back out and allow the Public Hearing to continue; which they did. Of course, Don Fellows could not have brought this up prior to the approval of the agenda. Apparently, Fellows wanted to show everyone how smart he is and how stupid everyone else is. The Planning Board bounced this around just like a ball between the Public Hearing and the regular meeting.

In the end, Premier Development was allowed to continue moving rocks and gravel in and out of the pit by a vote of 5-0; the Open Door Bible Church could rent the space with the condition they must produce a landscaping plan and an acceptable rental sign by a vote of 3-1-1 with Francis Drake voting against and Daniel Nezol abstaining. Both of these men felt this was adding too much on the church for no apparent reason. 

Look at the town owned property at 3 Village street and close to the Fire Station (the house the town burned down) and tell me where all the landscaping is there?

During the regular meeting, the Planning Board could not agree on whether or not to approve the subdivision of Wayne Ricker’s property. So the Planning Board agreed to go on a walk-through of the site on June 6^th before making a decision.

After all of this chaos, the meeting turned to the idea by the Town Manager to hire a Planner for the town at $20,000 dollars. Don Fellows mentioned it was not $20,000 dollars because there were matching funds available. Since Don is on the Advisory Board, I am going to assume he knows what he is talking about. Steve Warren had a very interesting point. Steve asked why, if the town is already paying AVCOG and MMA, why not utilize them and save the $20,000 plus. Steve also stated he had been in touch with the State of Maine Planner and he was willing to help the town for “FREE”. I have always like “FREE”.

This is a great point Steve makes. Why is the Town Manager asking to utilize more of our tax dollars for a Planner when we are already paying MMA and have AVCOG available for assistance? Also if the State of Maine Planner is available to help for FREE then why spend our tax dollars?

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

FRICK MEETS FRACK‏

I attended the May 24, 2012 Planning Board meeting.

I find that the more Planning Board meetings I attend, the more confused I become.

It is painfully clear that the Planning Board

is clearly out of their element.

First up was Premier Development: Requesting permission to continue on-going work, bringing in and selling materials. A neighbor is and has been complaining about a dust problem. After much discussion an obvious solution was reached. 

Next, 

Case # 11-08    Open Door Bible Church.

The Church is requesting permission to rent out the storage units in a commercial building that was permitted to be built in a residential area. The Town since changed the zoning, spot zoning, so the storage building would be allowed.

A member of the Planning Board did not like the sign advertising the storage units with a phone number to call. A long discussion ensued on that topic.

Next they want the area around the storage units to be landscaped. 

Also brought up was hours of activity and lighting.

  

Talk about locking the barn door after the horses have escaped ! ! ! ! 

All these should have been addressed by Codes Enforcement and the Planning Board during the application and approval process. The storage building was allowed to be built, illegally. Zoning was changed to allow the storage building. 

It would be assumed that renting the storage units was a given.

Why then, did the Church have to endure more than an hour of debate and discussion to allow a sign with a phone number so they can rent the storage units? 

A church member said there is paving in front and on both sides of the building, and lawn at the rear, and that there is no lighting so there is no night activity.

Problem solved. Permit approved.
 

Last on the agenda was Wayne Ricker, requesting permission to sub-divide three (3) lots on Mill Street.

The Planning Board members were asking questions they could have had answers to had they done an "on-site inspection" of the applications.  

And these people were chosen for OUR representation in Lisbon?  Yet another example of Lisbon's lack of leadership.
 

The Town used to have a sign ordinance.

I checked the Town of Lisbon Ordinances and did not find one!

Where did it go? Why do we not have one now?

Especially when in these difficult times of local businesses closing and we are paying a Community Development Director who is supposed to be actively trying to retain what businesses we have and attracting new ones? Where is he and what does he do? 

Town Manager Steve Eldridge tells us at council and budget meetings he has hired a Town Planner, and wants $20,000 in the 2012-13 budget to continue with a town planner; to assist the Community Development Director and Planning Board.

If we have a Town Planner why is he or she not assisting the Planning Board with these issues? Issues that should be cut and dried if we have ordinances in place and a Planner to assist.

Dot Fitzgerald

A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen

TOWN OF LISBON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING BOARD

TOWN OF LISBON

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLANNING BOARD

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 P.M. on May 24, 2012 at

the Lisbon Town Office 300 Street Lisbon to hear the following; Conditional Use Permit Application(s), Subdivision Permit Application:

Conditional Use Permit Application :

Case # 11–0 Applicant: Premier Development

Property Location: 175 Lisbon Street Lisbon

Tax Map: U21–6

Zone: Commercial

Intended Use: Construction activity that has been

on going. land leveling, ETTI use for

their work and development.

Conditional Use Permit Application:

Case # 11–08 Applicant: Open Door Bible Church

Property Location: 27 Gartley Street Lisbon

Tax Map: U16–1A

Zone: Diversified Development

Intended Use: Self Storage Facility (Storage rentals)

Subdivision Permit Application:

Case # 11–09 Applicant: Wayne Ricker

Property Location: Mill Street, Lisbon

Tax Map: R5–41

Zone: Rural Residential/Resource Protection

Intended Use: Subdivide three(3) lots.

This building is handicapped accessible.

Recap Town Council Meeting - May 1st‏

RECAP TOWN COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 1^ST

At Tuesday night's Town Council meeting there was a Public Hearing on changing the Comprehensive Plan to change Gartley Street zoning from General Residential District to Diversified. The Open Door Bible Church had numerous members there who spoke in favor of approving this zoning change. The members brought out the importance of approving this zoning change to allow the church to rent the storage unit out in order to raise sufficient funds to build a gym for their students. However, the issue was never about the kids but whether or not the changing of the zone was legal. 

 I did some research and found a Superior Court Case DocketNumber CV-98-124 involving Old Town which after reading the findings I am absolutely sure the approval of the zoning change on Gartley Street is considered “spot zoning” which is a violation of Maine law. I presented this information to the council along with the definition of “spot zoning”.  “Spot Zoning is the application of zoning to a specific parcel of land within a larger zoned area when the rezoning is usually at odds with a city’s master plan and current zoning restrictions.” I recommended that the council table their vote until they had an opportunity to review the court case. However, Chairman LaRochelle stated the town had received a legal opinion stating it was not “spot zoning” and the council voted 5-1 with Councilor Mason recusing herself.

During Audience Participation of the meeting, I spoke on three subjects: (1) Why are we holding onto the Communications Center when they are performing a County function and therefore should be under the control of the County? The taxpayers of Lisbon are paying a yearly County Tax of $597,198.00 and receiving absolutely no benefits/service for this amount. Any consolidation of dispatch should be under the control of the County and the taxpayers should ONLY pay for the services received. We could save the taxpayers of Lisbon over $500,000 tax dollars a year if our communications center was turned over to the County. 

If the County decided to utilize the Lisbon Communications Center the town could charge a rental fee to the county for the spaces. Allowing Chief Brooks to manipulate the situation to expand his empire is just wrong. The town council’s responsibility is to do what is best for the citizens of Lisbon and spending more on this communication center than is necessary is a waste of taxpayers’ dollars. Keep in mind, the citizens of Lisbon receive no services or benefit for tax dollars spent on County Tax.

(2) I took the figures the town issued to the Public for the municipal budget ($8,033,639.73) for last year with last year’s school budget ($5,177,171.00) and added these two numbers to get the total 2012 budget ($13,210,800.73). The town charter (Sec 86-1) states the undesignated fund balance has to be 12.5% of the total general fund balance which should be $1,651,350. I received an email from the town manager stating the balance in the undesignated fund is $1,184,499.00 which means the town is SHORT $466,851.00. The undesignated fund is utilized to cover emergencies and to ensure the town can operate for at least six weeks.  

When Eldridge became town manager there were over three million dollars is this account. Where did our tax dollars go? I have tried to verify this information but every time I ask the town for the numbers I get different numbers so I can only go on the numbers the town published to the community.

(3) The reevaluation presently being performed is stored on a separate computer by Mr. Van Tuenin. I pointed out to the council the need to have redundancy of the data. Computers have a mind of their own and crash when you least expect it. I explained the importance of backing up the data and checking the backup for integrity in case we have to restore the data from a backup. The town has paid for this data and it needs to remain with the town at all times.

I left the meeting at this point because I have listened to Brooks lie time and time again about the Dispatch coming to Lisbon and its advantages. There are no real advantages. The only reason Brooks wants the dispatch to come to Lisbon is to expand his empire. The problem with this is it will cost the taxpayers more tax dollars than if they were to consolidate with Lewiston/Auburn 911. We currently are paying County Tax and receiving nothing in return.

David T. Brooks’ legacy is; "He will be remembered as the most corrupt law enforcement officer in the State of Maine." He has demonstrated this over and over again from covering up the loss of the $32,500 dollars to protecting his friends for violations of the law. Brooks selects which laws to enforce and for whom. A true law enforcement officer would enforce the law equally for all. In this country justice is for all. I am sure each and every one of you can relate a time when Brooks did a favor for his friends or covered up a situation.

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen