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Showing posts with label Town of Lisbon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Town of Lisbon. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

NOT A CLUE!!!!


On October 25, 2017, Dorothy Fitzgerald and myself arrived at the town Office to attend a meeting of the sub-committee on Emergency Medical Service in Lisbon announced by Councilor Norman Albert at the October 3, 2017 Town Council meeting.  I was greeted by the Town Manager, Diane Barnes, who informed me the meeting was cancelled until the Request for Procurement (RFP) was received.  I asked Mrs. Barnes why there was no notification of the cancellation posted anywhere and was informed she notified the sub-committee members.  I asked why she did not notify the people of the cancellation.
 
According to Mrs. Barnes, she does not notify the people of sub-committee cancellations.  So Dottie and I wasted our time; thinking we were going to attend an EMS that was cancelled without notifying the people.  This I see as a problem that has a simple solution; so I contacted Chairman Allen Ward of the Town Council and offered the following solution:
 
“The town has a web site that has an "Event" calendar on it.  Every Chairman of ANY committee/sub-committee should be required to notify Diane of the schedule or cancellation of any meeting open to the Public.  One of the many purposes of the web site is to keep the people informed.
 
There is no real reason why the people are being held in the dark when the town is supposed to be transparent.
 
The town council needs to insists on transparency when it comes to the people.”
 
I did not receive a response from Chairman Allen Ward but did receive a response from the Town Manager, Diane Barnes in which she said:
 
“I did not post the meeting on our website therefore, there I did not post the cancellation.  I was the one that notified the committee members that the meeting was canceled.
 
To me, Mrs. Barnes response does not address the problem or the solution I offered.  This means that the people are not being kept informed on issues that concern them.  I call this a deliberate act of concealing meetings from the people; that shows a lack of transparency by the Town Manager.
 
However, tonight I noticed an EMS meeting scheduled on the Town Website for next Wednesday so maybe someone DID get the message.  We will have to wait and see how long this last.
 
Larry Fillmore

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

NOVEMBER 7, 2017 LISBON ELECTION RESULTS

Reporting Unit: 20689           Lisbon, Maine
"Town of Lisbon
State Ref ,State Hse Dist 56, & Annual Municipal & Ref Election "
November 7, 2017
                Wards/Districts 1 & 2
QUESTION 1: Act to Allow Slot Machines in York County
Yes             427
No              1,632
Blanks          24

QUESTION 2: Act to Enhance Affordable Health Care
Yes             1,012
No              1,050
Blanks          21

QUESTION 3:  Act to Authorize a General Fund to Improve Highways/Bridges
Yes             1,326
No              729
Blanks          28

QUESTION 4: An Amendment to the Constitution Reducing Volatility in State Penson Funding
Yes             1,064
No              925
Blanks          94

Special State House District 56
Gaiason, Scott          868
Mason, Richard G                1,180
Blanks          28

For Council Member At Large (Vote for One) 3 Year Term
Fernand Marcel Larochelle               1,684
Blanks          393

For School Committee (Vote for One) 3 Year Term
Kimberly Labbe-Poisson          567
Richard James Nadeau            469
Ross Hunter Cunningham          731
Blanks          310

For Water Commission (Vote for One) 3 Year Term
Arthur George McLean            527
Roger Stanley Bickford          1,229
Blanks          321

Question 1: School Project - Energy Effiency Upgrades
Yes             1,263
No              770
Blanks          44

Question 2: Wastewater Collection & Treatment System Bond
Yes             1,350
No              683
Blanks          44

State Ballots Cast:             2,083

Registered Voters:              6,619           31.47%



Twila

Lisbon Town Clerk
300 Lisbon Street
Lisbon, ME  04250

MEMA UPDATE


We have been given a deadline for sending our updated Form 7s to MEMA by close of business on Thursday. 

Along with municipal costs, there is the potential for private individual damages that have gone unreported despite State and Counties attempting to get the word out to private citizens.  If you know of private citizens who have sustained damages to their primary residence and/or vehicle, please have them contact this office by 2 PM Thursday so that we can also record their damages.  With the campaign to have residents call 2-1-1 Maine to report their damages, only 26 statewide have called in and only 2 reported personal property damages.  Only 1 call was received for Androscoggin County (town of Lisbon). 

Please call or email the information to:

Joanne G. Potvin, Director
Androscoggin Unified Emergency Management Agency
2 College Street
Lewiston, ME  04240-7101
Tel:  207-784-0147
FAX:  207-795-8938

 

        

Friday, November 3, 2017

MAINE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY NEWS RELEASE OF NOVEMBER 2, 2017


DHHS:  “…..current SNAP recipients may qualify assistance with replacing lost food; …..if they qualify, the benefit would be equal to the total of their losses but  cannot exceed their monthly benefit; …..a press release has been issues with information on how SNAP recipients can contact them for replacement benefits – the link is:  http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Portal+News&id=770788&v=article-2017 or recipients can contact the Office of Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357 for more information or for assistance in obtaining a voucher; …..”
 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Maine  Emergency Management Agency News Release of 11/02/17 at 5 PM“ …..The State of Maine is pursuing a Federal Disaster Declaration, however, NO Federal assistance is available at this time; MEMA and the County EMAs are just starting the process of assessing damages and needs, primarily in the area of public works costs for emergency debris removal and disposal; …..individuals who have sustained property damage should document those damages through photos and receipts and file a claim with their homeowner’s insurance; …..those without insurance and financial means to fix the damages should contact their municipal General Assistance Officer to determine what assistance may be available; …..SNAP benefit recipients may be able to obtain a voucher to replace lost food from the freezer/refrigerator – they should contact the Office of Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357 or visit the website http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Portal+News&id=770788&v=article-2017 for more information; …..individuals with food losses who are not SNAP benefit recipients should check in with their municipal General Assistance Officer for assistance  that may be available – local food pantries, Community Action Programs and Good Shepherd Foodbank may be able to provide some food replacement assistance to those who meet certain income guidelines; …..individuals may also contact 2-1-1 Maine to obtain referrals for assistance; …..farmers who experienced losses and need assistance should contact USDA Farm Service Agency at 207-990-9140. 
 
Citizens who have experienced damages as a result of the Oct. 29 Wind Storm are encouraged to report those damages to 2-1-1 Maine.  This information is to assess damages and will be provided to the individual’s town to enable them to learn who has storm-related damages.   Callers will be asked a series of questions.  They should continue to file claims with their homeowners or auto insurance.  By reporting this damage, they are not applying for assistance; …..”
 
To Municipal Officials – would you please post this paragraph of information in a conspicuous location at your Town Office/City Hall in order to make residents aware of this information?  Thank you!

 

Joanne
Joanne G. Potvin, Director
Androscoggin Unified Emergency Management Agency
2 College Street
Lewiston, ME  04240-7101

 

Sunday, October 8, 2017

WHO IS LOOK OUT FOR LISBON’S TAXPAYERS?

 
After reviewing our latest Town Council meeting, I am wondering who is looking out for the taxpayers and our money.  Back on September 19, 2017, the Council approved a ¾ vehicle for the Sewer Department in the amount of $25,843.00.  Now on October 3, 2017, the Council approved another ¾ ton vehicle for Public Works Department in the amount of $16,159.00 tax dollars.  I would appear that Mr. Leighton can get whatever he wants with our tax dollars.  These two vehicles were NOT budgeted previously, go figure.
 
Apparently Mr. Leighton needs larger vehicles in order to transport his golf clubs instead of protecting our citizens.  I am so tired of Mr. Leighton wasting our tax dollars on more “toys for the boys” instead of looking out for the safety of the people.  Look below:



 
These are pictures of the signs along the Route 196 corridor.  As you can see most of them cannot be read.  How is our Police Department going to enforce the “No Parking” when no one can read the signs?  These signs were put in as part of a safety initiative.  Apparently, there is no longer a safety issue along the Route 196 corridor.  These weather beaten signs run pretty close to the full length of Route 196; some are readable but the majority is NOT. 
 
The money Mr. Leighton wastes on vehicles could be spent to replace these signs.  Where are Mayor Fern LaRochelle and the Route 196 Committee, or Tracy Steuber, Economy Community Director, or Mr. Ross Cunningham, from Positive Change Lisbon?  Each of these individuals claims to be trying to improve the community.  The Route 196 corridor is heavily travelled daily; so these signs are seen by many.  What impression does one get after reviewing these signs?  Does it reflect how the community takes care of its citizens or that they do not care?
 
The Town Manager, Diane Barnes, and the Town Council approve anything Mr. Ryan Leighton puts before them.  No one bother to check for sure they are needed but why two vehicles?  The vehicles purchased before were from the State Actions for considerable less and served this community very well.  All of a sudden that option is no longer available.  Mr. Ryan Leighton is the largest BS artist in this town, now that Chief Brooks has left.
 
Our Town Council needs to review all purchases closer and look for other options before spending our tax dollars; instead of taking the Town Manager and Ryan Leighton’s word.
 
Larry Fillmore

Sunday, September 3, 2017

TRANSPARENCY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT


It sure would be nice in here in Lisbon we had transparency in our local government as promised by the current Administration.  Even the Home page of the town website states there is transparency in Lisbon.  I would like for the Administration to define their definition of “transparency” to the people of Lisbon.

I have been laid up for a while and wanted to review what was going on while I was not feeling so well.  I followed the instructions on the town website to review the Town Council meetings to catch-up.  However, when I did so, the Town Council meetings come up just fine but there is NO Sound.  I had to go back to June 27th to find a meeting with sound so you could hear them.  At this point, I must apologize for not being able to read lips.  So please tell me again how this is “Transparency in Local Government”?  The people cannot hear what being said at these meetings, is it still “Transparency”?

Now, I can explain the problem to you.  The problem is that once the town sends the meetings to Clerkbase; who updates the town website no one follows through to ensure it is posted right.  This is the problem with our current Administration.  They believe that once they send it to ClerkBase their responsibility is finished.

It is also amazing that every one of the School Board videos come out crystal clear and never has a problem.  It is only the Town Council meetings that have all the issues.  It has been that way for several years and no one can correct the situation. 

Can we still call this “Transparency in Local Government”?

Larry Fillmore

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Town Council Special Meeting and Workshop for April 25, 2017


INCOMPETENCE IN GOVERNMENT – PART 3

 
This all started when the Town Manager, Diane Barnes’, with the help of Lydia Colston, Finance Director, conned the Town Council into amending the Fund Balance Policy on March 7, 2017.  This reduced the requirement to maintain an Unassigned Fund Balance on hand from $2.85 million to $1.74 million.  This freed up approximately $1.11 million of our tax dollars.

 

This left Mrs. Barnes and the Town Council with a problem of what to do with our tax dollars.  It did not take them long to decide to spend these dollars on things like replacing two new cruisers; upgrade the unnecessary communication center; purchase a wheeler; a paint spreader; a new trailer and a salt shed just to name a few items.  All of these items are going to add to the amount of money it takes to operate this town.  You do realize the tax dollars are determined by the amount of money it takes to operate the town.  With these additions our taxes will continue to rise to cover these costs.  However, the purchase will be made by the Unassigned Fund Balance for this year but on the years out taxpayers will have to cover the maintenance and operating cost with more tax dollars.

 

Here is a concept that Mrs. Barnes and at least four of the Town Council do not want to hear.  Since these funds are our tax dollars, why not use them to reduce the current operating cost of the town and reduce our taxes for a change.  Can anyone remember a year when our taxes did not go up?  It certainly has been a while.  We know that Councilors Ward, Brunelle, Crafts and Albert are not interested in reducing the operating cost of the town because they had a chance to save the taxpayers $200,000.00 this year by closing the communication center and did not.  Saving taxpayer money is a concept these individuals cannot handle.  This is our tax dollars so why not use it where it will help the taxpayers the most.

 

Reducing the operating cost would reduce the requirement for more tax dollars. Mrs. Barnes and these members of the Town Council cannot figure out; that you have to reduce spending to reduce the operating cost of the town.  Their answer to everything is to spend, spend spend.

 

YOU JUST CANNOT FIX STUPID!!!!

 

Larry Fillmore