The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Showing posts with label Town Manager. Show all posts

Sunday, October 14, 2018

TRULY AMAZING

It is truly amazing to me how Councilors on our Town Council can negotiate the purchase of property, the tax dollars being spent, environmental studies and more. Then turn around and purchase the property from the town for a song and turn around and make a profit. I call this abuse of their position. Currently, we have two Councilors that, I believe, fall into this category.

The first one is Councilor Chris Brunelle who purchased the town property at 385 Lisbon Street. Councilor Brunelle’s desire for the property is to renovate the building into a marijuana retail store. However, Councilor Brunelle is trying to strong arm our Code Enforcement Officer into getting out of having a structural engineer look at the building. Our Code Enforcement Officer is doing his job to ensure the building is structurally sound.

The second objection I have to this is that even though the zoning is commercial and Councilor Brunelle has a legal right to put a marijuana retail store in Lisbon Center it is located near three housing developments with families and kids.

Councilor Brunelle is currently fighting the emergency moratorium ordinance currently in place. This is an items on the agenda for October 16, 2018.

The next Councilor is Fern LaRochelle, who is on the Town Council for a second time. During the first time he was on the council, he used the council and his position to purchase town property. According to the town lawyer, it is perfectly legal for councilors to purchase town property but he never addressed the negotiation by Councilor Fern LaRochelle leading up to the purchase.

During the Executive Session, which we are not allowed to see, the Town Council came up with purchasing the property at 1 Canal Street. This is the location of the old Worumbo Mill site. The Town Council agreed to purchase the property for $30,000.00 of tax dollars and have an environmental survey done.

This is the same property that is in a flood plain zone which runs to Davis Street. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has told the town about coal ash that is currently under the surface which is very toxic. I am sure that this idea was that of Councilor Fern LaRochelle directly or indirectly, because Councilor LaRochelle wants to put a garage on that site. This issue is going to come before the Conservation Commission on October 16, 2018 and I am not sure this commission is aware of the Environmental Protection Agency’s report. Trust me; I do not believe that Council LaRochelle will bring this to their attention.

The two Councilors have used their position on the Town Council for pure profit. I personally do not believe that this is legal. For years, I have complained about the “Good Old Boys” network and this is more of the same. Several years ago the Planning Board approved a Land Use Condition which was for a former Councilor. It was a “temporary” land use condition with no expiration date. How can you have a temporary condition without an expiration date? This situation is still in effect today.

In my opinion, these two Councilors have abused their position on our Town Council for their own agenda for a profit.

Larry Fillmore

Friday, October 12, 2018

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!

By now everyone has received the information sheet published by the town pertaining to the bonds everyone will be voting on November 6, 2018. Naturally, this information sheet was sent out after some absentee ballots were issued. Kind of defeats the purpose, don’t you think.

This is yet another example of the town spending money. They have absolutely no problems spending our tax dollars but you never see any councilor trying to save our tax dollars by reducing the town’s operating cost.

If one was to pay attention to documents associated with the Town Council agenda for October 16, 2018, they would have noticed that the last paragraph of the Police Department’s report states that come January 2019, the Lisbon Communication Center will no longer be performing dispatching for Durham. If I remember correctly, that leaves only Lisbon performing dispatching for Lisbon. This means the taxpayers have to pay for the entire Lisbon Communication Center which was budgeted for $345,246.00.

Several years ago, Councilors Garrison and Pesce conducted a survey and determined that by joining the Androscoggin County Dispatch, the town could save at least $200,000.00 per year. However, the Town Council voted 4-3 not to join Androscoggin County Dispatch and again the following year the Town Council voted 4-3 not to join Androscoggin County Dispatch.

The reason provided was that the Town Council did not want to give up control to Androscoggin County Dispatch. This effort both times was spearheaded by Fern LaRochelle who neglected to inform everyone that he was and is a subcontractor of the town who works directly with the Lisbon Communication Center. In my eyes, this was then and still is a conflict of interest that he should have revealed at the time. Now that he is once again a Councilor, he should recuse himself from any vote on this issue, if it ever came up again.

This is an excellent way for the town to save at least $200,000.00 tax dollars and no one is willing to look into saving taxpayers any money, just spending. It has been proven that letting Androscoggin County Dispatch perform our 911 calls if a much more efficient and at a cost savings to taxpayers.

I can almost guarantee you that this will never happen because it makes sense and it is the right thing to do. No one, from the Town Manager or the Town Council wants to do away with Chief David Brooks’ legacy. This has nothing to do with logic; it is strictly a political decision. Well, political decisions do not pay the bills or provide for taxpayers’ family.

So tell me again, why is our Councilors NOT looking for way to save our money?

Larry Fillmore

Thursday, October 11, 2018

TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA - OCTOBER 16, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 18, 2018

Council Meeting Minutes

September 18, 2018 Minutes

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

REVISED TOWN COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 16, 2018

Council Meeting - Revised Agenda/Added Election Warrant

October 16, 2018 Agenda & Attachments

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Council Meeting

Joint Meeting w/Planning Board

SUBMITTED BY TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 16, 2018

Council Meeting

October 16, 2018 Agenda & Attachments

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

LISBON Conservation Commission Meeting Agenda

Conservation Commission Meeting Agenda

October 16

Meeting will be held at Frank's at 6 pm on Tuesday Oct 16th.
Agenda
Alternative Energy for municipal buildings. Solar
Worumbo Property Purchase
Other

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON Out and About with Local Government - Reminder

Out and About with Local Government - Reminder

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON Whitney and Madelyn Sewer Replacements

Whitney and Madelyn Sewer Replacements

The Lisbon Sewer Department has contracted St. Laurent and Son Excavation to complete the sewer main replacements on Whitney Street and then Madelyn Street with work scheduled to begin the week of October 15th and continuing through November. Please be patient as this work can cause delays.
If you have any questions or concerns before, during or after the project is complete please contact the Sewer Superintendent Steve Aievoli at 353-3000 ext. 601.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Monday, October 8, 2018

LISBON SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 30, 2018

Special Council Meeting on October 30, 2018 at 7PM for Public Hearing

Amendments to Emergency Marijuana Moratorium & Chapter 70 Zoning, Article IV. Dist Regs, District 13. Dist Uses, Section 70-530 Land Uses

Notice is hereby given that the Lisbon Town Council intends to hold a Special Council Meeting to hold a public hearing on October 30, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Town Office Public Meeting Room to hear comments on amendments to the Emergency Marijuana Moratorium and Chapter 70 Zoning, Article IV. District Regulations, District 13 District Uses, Section 70-530 Land Uses. The public is invited to attend.
Copies of these amendments may be viewed or obtained at the Town Clerk’s Office, 300 Lisbon Street, Lisbon or online at www.lisbonme.org.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Fact Sheet on Lisbon Referendum Questions for November 2018 Election

INFORMATION REGARDING LISBON ROUTE 196/125 ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
The Town of Lisbon in conjunction with Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Androscoggin Transportation Center (ATRC) is planning improvements to our Downtown Infrastructure. This will involve rebuilding Main Street and improving pedestrian access, including sidewalk reconstruction. These projects are tentatively scheduled to be advertised for bid in the spring of 2020. This mailer is being distributed to inform residents of the need for the project and to answer frequently asked questions.
INFORMATION REGARDING NEW “PUMPER” FIRE ENGINE PURCHASE
The Town of Lisbon is planning to replace a pumper fire engine to address the aging and much needed repairs to the current fire apparatus. This mailer is being distributed to inform residents of the need for the project and to answer frequently asked questions.
Please see attached fact sheet for more information about these projects.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Friday, October 5, 2018

LISBON TOWN OFFICE

Town Offices Closed for the Holiday

Monday, October 8 on Columbus Day

Lisbon Town Offices will be closed on Monday, October 8 to observe Columbus Day. We will be open on Tuesday, October 9 at 8:30 AM.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Thursday, October 4, 2018

LISBON PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Planning Board meeting

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON PUBLIC HEARING - GENERAL ASSISTANCE

Public Hearing - General Assistance Amendments

Chapter 14, Appendix A, B, C, and D

Notice is hereby given that the Lisbon Town Council intends to hold a public hearing on October 16, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Town Office Public Meeting Room to hear comments on amendments to the General Assistance Chapter 14 Appendix A for Overall Maximums, B for Food Maximums, C for Housing, and D for Utilities. The public is invited to attend. Copies of these amendments may be viewed or obtained at the Town Clerks Office, 300 Lisbon Street, Lisbon, Maine or online - see attachment.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON