LISBON AGENDA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Remember to be there 1/2 hour early to see if Fern will think your concern(s) warrants being put on the agenda!

AGENDA

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

LISBON TOWN OFFICE

7:00 P.M.

1.   CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2.   ROLL CALL

___ Councilor Bickford	___ Councilor Garrison	___ Councilor Larochelle	___ Councilor Lunt
___ Councilor Mason	___ Councilor Pesce	___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3.   PUBLIC HEARING

4.   AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5.   AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE

6.   CONSENT AGENDA

2013-67  ORDER -	A. Minutes of April 16, 2013
	B. Minutes of April 23, 2013
	C. Renewal Mobile Home Parks
	D. Renewal Victualers Licenses

7.   COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

2013-68  ORDER -	Property Tax Foreclosures
2013-69  ORDER -	Sewer/Water Department Consolidation
2013-70  ORDER -	Warrant for June 11, 2013

8.   OTHER BUSINESS

A. Town Manager’s Report

9.   APPOINTMENTS

2013-71 ORDER -

Appeals Board (1)

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

2013-72  ORDER -

1 MRSA § 405 (6) (D) Labor Negotiations – MAP Unit

12. ADJOURNMENT

2013-73  ORDER -

To Adjourn

13. WORKSHOP

SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL

AGENDA

SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL

33 MILL STREET

7:00 P.M.

1.   CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

  

2.   ROLL CALL

___ Councilor Bickford

 ___ Councilor Garrison

 ___ Councilor Larochelle

 ___ Councilor Lunt 

___ Councilor Mason

 ___ Councilor Pesce

 ___ Councilor Ward

 

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3.   PUBLIC HEARING

A.  2013-2014 Municipal & School Budget Public Hearing

B.  Consideration of up to a $315,000 Order providing for General Obligation Securities for a replacement Sewer Vacuum Truck

  

4.   COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

2013-65 ORDER – 

 $315,000 General Obligation Securities Order - Replacement Sewer Vacuum Truck

4. ADJOURNMENT

2013-66 ORDER –

 To Adjourn

Where is the COMMON SENSE IN LISBON‏???

 

 

 

It would seem that our town of Lisbon leaders, well paid leaders I might add, are lacking in common sense.

 

Cases in point:

The director of our Engineering Department is NOT a licensed engineer. 

 

A Class or Grade 4 license is necessary to operate a Sewerage Treatment Plant, yet the Director of the Town of Lisbon Sewerage Plant has a Class or Grade 2 license.

 

At the April 16, 2013 Town Council meeting we learned that there were not one, but two "incidences"

where untreated sewer was discharged into the Androscoggin River.

 

For these "incidences", DEP,  the Department of Environmental Protection, is fining the Town of Lisbon $22,000.

 

Instead of having a qualified person as Director of the Sewerage Treatment Plant, the town council is looking to

our State Representative, Dale Crafts, and Senator, Garrett Mason, to convince DEP to lower the fine being assessed

to the Town of Lisbon.

A fine the taxpayers will have to pay.

 

And now, our leaders want to take over the Town of Lisbon Water Department.

Guess who is taking classes and who our leaders are priming to head up the Water Department?

 

We, the voters of the Town of Lisbon, will be voting on that issue in November.

 

Do we really want an unqualified persons running our Water Department?

 

                         I KNOW I DO NOT! ! !

  GUESS HOW I WILL BE VOTING NOVEMBER???????

 

Dot Fitzgerald

A Very Concerned Lisbon citizen

Lisbon Taxpayer's Monies To Be Used To Pay DEP Fine For Inept Management Skills!

 Ryan Leighton, Superintendent of Sewer, Public Works Director, Town Engineer, [???]

LISBON TAXPAYERS FORCED TO PAY DEP FINE

Back in May 20, 2011, I wrote the article below titled “BrainDead Management”.  As a result of making Ryan Leighton, Superintendent of Sewer, the town of Lisbon has been informed of current violations by the Department of Environmental Protection resulting in fines of over $22,000 tax dollars for violations of Maine law.  This includes not having a “written operation and maintenance plan” on file.  Having a Standard of Operating (SOP) plan is a basic requirement for a supervisor to ensure everyone understands how to handle all situations that arrive.  A properly trained manager would ensure a “written operation and maintenance plan” was on file and that all employees have read and understand the plan.  The last time, I checked Ryan Leighton was a Grade 2 operator and not qualified to run the operations let alone prepare a “written operation and maintenance plan.”  The state of Maine requires the manager and operations manager be at least a Grade 4 operator because the plant is rated Class 4. 

Now as a result of this incredibly stupid move, the taxpayers are going to be forced to pay additional tax dollars in fines for an incident that could have been prevented with a qualified individual as the Superintendent of Sewer.  When are we ever going to wake up?

May 20, 2011 TLR

BRAIN DEAD MANAGEMENT

The Lisbon Waste Water Treatment Facility is rated 4 by the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The facility is currently being operated by Mr. Gerald Kamke, Grade 5 operator and Mr. Steve Aievoli, Grade 4 operator. This meets the criteria of the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. You would think this is great for Lisbon because these two individuals are doing such an outstanding job for the Town of Lisbon.

 Now comes the rub, Mr. E. Ryan Leighton, Grade 2 operator is the Superintendent of the Waste Water Treatment Facility. According to the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection, anyone can be called Superintendent or any name you want to be called but NO ONE can operate the facility unless they are a Grade 4 or 5 operators. So why are we paying Mr. E Ryan Leighton $69,310 to be the Town Engineer and the Superintendent of Waste Water Treatment Plant when Mr. Leighton cannot operate the facility without either Mr. Kamke or Mr. Aievoli being present to supervise him. Who supervises who in this operation?

 Mr. Kamke is the Operations Manager according to the Town of Lisbon Web site and Mr. Leighton is the Superintendent. How can someone who is not qualified to operate the facility be in charge of someone who is qualified according to the State? Only in Lisbon is this possible. In this economic crisis, why don’t we promote Mr. Kamke to Superintendent of the Waste Water Treatment Facility and make Mr. Steve Aievoli the Operations Manager and do away with a superintendent who cannot operate the plant without having one of these two gentlemen present.

 Let’s think about the monies the Town of Lisbon could save by eliminating Mr. Leighton from the chain of command. Instead of creating justification for increasing the pay of a person who is not qualified in a position, promote the actual worker doing the job. This is good management protocol and strengthens the spree de corps in the unit.

Larry Fillmore

Lisbon Town Council Meeting April 16, 2013

"Crappy Happenings In Lisbon"

DEP could fine Lisbon more than $22,000 for sewer overflows

 

Paula Gibbs, Special to the Sun Journal

LISBON — A fine of more than $22,000 will be levied by the Department of Environmental Protection against the town for two sewage spills, unless the DEP can be convinced to lower the amount, town councilors learned Tuesday night.

The state also cited the town for not having a written operation and maintenance plan.

Town Council Chairman Fern Larochelle suggested the town “check with all our resources to see if we can bring the fine down.” That was after learning that the town spent $7,000 to have an outside contractor clean up the spill and $15,000 to put cameras into the pipes to ensure there were no leaks in the line.

Sewer Superintendent Ryan Leighton said the first incident occurred in May 2012 when town workers discovered a backup during a routine cleaning on Huston Street. The backup was traced to a blockage in the cross-country sewer line that runs between that street and Route 196.[...]

Read more of this post

Hmm, is this where Ryan Leighton appears under-qualified and under-experienced for his 'given' job duties?  Curious minds would like to know. 

And the Town of Lisbon is trying to take over the Water Department,  God help us!!!!!

Town Council Agenda Tuesday April 16, 2013

Don't Forget to be there 1/2 hour early to discuss issues with your favorite councilor, cause  you can't do it during the meeting!!!!!

AGENDA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M. 

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Garrison
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pesce
___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

 3. PUBLIC HEARING

 4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

 5. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE 

6. CONSENT AGENDA
2013-57 ORDER 
A. Minutes of March 25, 2013
B. Minutes of April 2, 2013
C. Renewal Mobile Home Parks

7. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDIANCES

2013-58 ORDER 
Sewer Department Vacuum Truck Bids

2013-59 ORDER 
Sewer Main Lining – Rt. 196 & East Ave.

2013-60 ORDER 
Sewer Back-up Consent Agreement

2013-61 ORDER
Special Municipal Referendum Warrant

2013-62 ORDER
School Budget Validation Referendum Warrant

8. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Public Works Update
B. Finance Director’s Report
C. Town Manager’s Report

9. APPOINTMENTS 

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
2013-63 ORDER 
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (D) Labor Negotiations

12. ADJOURNMENT 

2013-64 ORDER 
To Adjourn
13. WORKSHOP

AGENDA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL

___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Garrison
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pesce
___ Councilor Ward

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Floodplain Management Ordinance

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION RESPONSE

6. CONSENT AGENDA

2013-48 ORDER −
A. Minutes of March 19, 2013

7. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

2013-49 RESOLUTION −
2013 Spirit of America Tribute

2013-50 ORDINANCE −
Floodplain Management Ordinance (Second Reading)

2013-51 ORDER −
Set Polling hours, locations, registrar, and absentee casting hours

2013-52 ORDER −
Award Town Report Bid

8. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Sewer Department Truck Referendum Question

B. Town Manager’s Report

9. APPOINTMENTS

2013-53 ORDER −
Library Governing Board Resignation (1)

2013-54 ORDER −
Registrar of Voters – Re-Appoint Twila Lycette (2-year term)

2013-55 ORDER −
Wardens for June Election

10. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

12. ADJOURNMENT
2013-56 ORDER −
To Adjourn

13. BUDGET WORKSHOP

LISBON COUNCIL MEETING RULES

1. Please obtain a copy of the evening’s agenda and note the order that items may be acted upon by the Council (if this is a regular or special meeting where action may be taken by the Council). In some instances, the Council may elect to change the order of the agenda.

2. If the Council is holding a Council workshop, public comment is not typically allowed. There are occasions where some public comment may be recruited, but generally speaking, the workshops are reserved for Council members to educate themselves on and discuss a variety of issues facing the Town.

3. Note that “Consent Agenda” items (if there are any) are acted upon first, voted upon as a group, and will most often be voted on without discussion as these items often involve “housekeeping” issues (such as minor parking changes). On occasion “Consent Agenda” items are separated out as stand-alone action items by the Council to allow for more discussion.

4. The Council Chairman presides over the meeting. When the Chairman is not present, the Vice Chairman serves that function.

5. Action on agenda items. As each item on the agenda for any meeting is brought to the floor for discussion:
a. The town clerk reads the agenda item and the action being requested of council.
b. The sponsor of each item or, if there is no council sponsor, the town manager or town staff, shall first be allowed to present their initial comments for consideration by the public and other councilors.
c. Following this introduction of the issue, there will be time devoted to any questions of the sponsor or the town manager or staff regarding the agenda item which any councilor may have which would help to clarify the question presented by the agenda item. The chair may allow questions from the public during this time (4b), and no debate or discussion of collateral issues shall be permitted.
d. Once the agenda item has been explained by its sponsor or the town manager or staff and clarified by any questioning as provided above in (4c), the discussion on the specific agenda item will remain with the council and public comment will only be allowed at the Chairman’s discretion. The public shall address the item during the Public Hearing or Audience Participation section of the agenda.
e. The chair may, if the topic warrants, allow a second period of public comment no longer than two minutes per person, prior to final council vote. Second comments by the public must be to furnish new or undisclosed information or viewpoints.

6. If an “Executive Session” is conducted by the Council, State Statute prohibits public attendance for any discussion of the action to be addressed by the Council. Any action taken by the Council on any “Executive Session” matter must be acted upon in a public meeting, and may occur at the end of the “Executive Session” (which has no time element relative to the length of the discussion involved in the “session”).

Note: Detailed Council governing rules may be found on our website under Town Council.

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.

Budget Advisory Member Recounts Last Nights Workshop

 Dot Fitzgerald "Founding member of Lisbon Concerned Citizens" pictured with Frank Anicetti "The Original MoxieMan"

A friend recently told me not to write a letter to TLR or act when you are angry or upset.

Right now I am ignoring that advice.

Attending the April 24, 2012 Overview of Budget Workshop with Budget Advisory Board were Town Manager Steve Eldridge and Town Councilors, acting-chair Lori Pomelow, Mark Lunt, Mike Bowie, Gina Mason and Roger Bickford.

I was the only member of the Advisory Board to attend.

Two members of the Advisory Board were noticeably absent, a "silent protest" as the Advisory Board is advisory in name only. Advice, suggestions, are ignored.

Questions asked are answered and explained as though one were a little child.

Departments on the agenda were the Library, Town Engineer, Town Buildings, Technology, Solid Waste, Finance and Town Clerk.

Town Manager and Council are considering cutting $10,000 from the Library, already bare bones, budget. That would mean eliminating the pre-school, head-start and summer reading programs.

The Town Building budget includes $15,000 for new roofing and $4,000 to replace the windows at the E.T. Smith fire station In Lisbon village.

The fire station has 9 windows, 3 are very small. I have been informed that the cost of roofing materials have, like, gone through the roof.

But, $15,000 for a plain pitched roof with no dormers or valleys seems a little excessive.

A friend said he just replaced 13 windows in his older home for under $3,000.

Yet, $4,000 for nine windows?

Town Engineer said the Public works roof is leaking. The E.T.Smith Co. roof is NOT leaking.

Why are they replacing the non-leaking roof, instead if the one that is leaking?

These will go out to bid, and if bids are lower the extra will go into the town's undesignated funds account. Another word for a slush fund! ! ! ! ! !

I asked why Town Engineer, also head of Public Works, Solid Waste and Sewerage Treatment Plant has unlimited use of a town owned vehicle?

In case of an emergency I was told.

Putting mileage, wear and tear, tires, town employees doing the maintenance, for his personal use?

And guess who will have to pay when the vehicle needs to be replaced due to high mileage, etc?

You guessed it! ! !

Deputy Fire Chiefs for Lisbon and Lisbon Falls use their own vehicles in the event of an emergency.

Why can't the Town Engineer do the same?

The cost for all town employees to receive a 2% wage increase, or as Eldridge puts it, a one-time bonus, plus step/longevity increases is a whopping $174,657.
(One Hundred Seventy Four Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Seven Dollars).

I'm sure they are entitled to raises, but can the taxpayers afford it?

We all are paying more for gas, heating oil, groceries. with no big pay increases

The Town Manager and Town Council living in a fantasy land. Are acting like Lisbon Taxpayers have money trees growing in their back yards!!!!!

And still we are not allowed to vote on the town budget. Wonder Why??????



Dot Fitzgerald
A Very Fed Up Concerned Citizen