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 of Lisbon. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2019

LISBON PARKING BAN FOR SNOW REMOVAL

A PARKING BAN FOR SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS WILL BE IN EFFECT ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH BEGINNING AT 11 PM AND WILL BEIN PLACE THROUGH COMPLETION OF SNOW REMOVAL.

A PARKING BAN FOR SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS WILL BE IN EFFECT ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH BEGINNING AT 11 PM AND WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF SNOW REMOVAL. THE FOLLOWING STREETS IN LISBON FALLS WILL BE AFFECTED: MAIN ST, UNION ST AND SCHOOL ST.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS

SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS IN THE AREA OF MAIN ST AND SCHOOL ST IN LISBON FALLS ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH

THE LISBON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BE PERFORMING SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS IN THE AREA OF MAIN ST AND SCHOOL ST IN LISBON FALLS ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON SNOW REMOVAL

SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS IN THE AREA OF MAIN ST AND SCHOOL ST LISBON FALLS ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH

THE LISBON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BE PERFORMING SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Thursday, February 14, 2019

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA - FEBRUARY 19, 2019

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND MEETING

Council Meeting - 6:30 PM Workshop then Meeting

February 19, 2019 See Agenda & Attachments

Click here for Lisbon Comprehensive Plan (Final Draft)

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

LISBON PARKING BAN UPDATE

PARKING BAN IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 6 PM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER FORECAST, A PARKING BAN WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 6 PM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON LIBRARY GOVERNING BOARD MEETING RESCHEDULED

Library Governing Board Meeting Rescheduled

Due to the incoming storm, the Library Governing Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 13th has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 20th, 6:30 p.m. at the library. Thank you and please remember to be safe while traveling.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON TOWN DEPARTMENTS CLOSURE

Town Departments Closed - Monday, February 18, 2019

In observance of Presidents' Day all town departments will be closed on Monday, February 18, 2019. The Police Department however for non-administrative staff will remain open. Thank you

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Sunday, February 10, 2019

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES

Council Meeting Minutes

January 15, 2019 - See Attached

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Friday, February 8, 2019

ANOTHER MUNIS UPDATE

I have put together a chart of the anticipated dates for the conversion of MUNIS from TRIO to be completed. The Chart is below:

MUNIS SCHEDULE

MODULES COMPLETION DATE

1. Accounting/General Ledger/

Accounts Payable October 1, 2018

2. Cash Management October 1, 2018

3. Project & Grant Accounting October 1, 2018

4. Purchase Orders October 1, 2018

5. Accounts Receivable October 1, 2018

6. General Billing October 1, 2018

7. Payroll with Employee Self Service April 8, 2019

8. HR Management April 8, 2019

9. Animal License February 1, 2019

10. Business License February 1, 2019

11. Central Property File with the CAMA Bridge TO BE ANNOUNCED

12. Tax Billing TO BE ANNOUNCED

13. ME Tax Lien TO BE ANNOUNCED

14. Tyler Cashiering February 1, 2019

15. Utility Billing 7-8 months

KEEP IN MIND THAT FUTURE DATES ARE ONLY ESTIMATED DATES!!!!!!!!!!!!

The town is paying $79,761.00 tax dollars a year for this software package. The contract started March 1, 2016, so the first nineteen (19) months; the town paid for MUNIS and receive absolutely no benefit from it because it was not operational. So this means the town wasted nearly $160,000.00 tax dollars and you wonder why taxes continue to go up every year.

Mrs. Lydia Colston, Finance Director, has been tasked to implement this program above her normal duties. It would appear that Eight (8) out of Fifteen (15) modules have been completed. On March 1, 2019, the contract will be three years old and we are half way through the implementation. So far the town has been paying our tax dollars for software not yet functional. I want to make this perfectly clear; Mrs. Colston is doing a remarkable job and should be commended at every chance. However, the fact our tax dollars are being wasted because the town is not receiving the full benefit of MUNIS in which we are paying for.

Before the town and the taxpayers can receive the full benefit of this package we are paying for; it must be completely implemented and fully operational. MUNIS is basically a financial software package. The taxpayers are paying $79,761.00 per year for a software package that does not include the Recreation, Public Works, Fire, Police, Water and Sewer Departments. Each of these departments has their own software packages to run their operations.

Each day that goes by without MUNIS completely implemented and fully operational, the town is wasting taxpayers’ dollars. It is almost guaranteed that the Town Manager is going to ask for more increases this year and the Town Council will approve them. This will raise our taxes again.

Call you Councilors and the Town Manager and tell them to stop wasting our tax dollars. Also tell them to start looking for ways to save tax dollars and reduce our taxes.

Larry Fillmore

LISBON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA - FEBRUARY 11, 2019

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

WASTING TAX DOLLARS

For years now, I have been suggesting the closure of the Lisbon Communication Center and having the Androscoggin County Dispatch take over the responsibility of dispatching Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical. And for years, the Town Council has voted to keep Lisbon Communication Center open.

The cost to operate this facility, in the last budget, was $345,246.00. Now it is a fact that two former Councilors investigated this very issue and found that the town could save approximately $200,000.00 taxpayer dollars a year by having Androscoggin Country Dispatch perform the Lisbon Communication Center functions. To me $200,000.00 is not chicken feed and should have been considered seriously. However, Fern LaRochelle, did not want the town to lose control.

During the Town Council workshop on January 15, 2019, Chief Hagen presented a proposal to perform dispatching for Gardiner. During the discussion of this Chairman Norm Albert ask a very important question for Chief Hagan. It was and I am quoting from the minutes of January 15, 2019 minutes:

“Councilor Albert asked if the state would be forcing Lisbon into dispatch service with them. Chief Hagan said eventually, yes, but probably not within three years. He said eventually the equipment we have will fail and the cost to replace it will be significant. Councilor Albert said the administrative fee should be worth our while.”

This brings up several important questions:

First question: “Why are we waiting for the state, why not do it now when we have an excellent offer from Androscoggin County Dispatch?”

Second question: “Why are we waiting until the equipment fails and puts the town in a crisis?”

Third question: “Why is the town going to pay a very significant amount of tax dollars to replace this equipment when the state is going to force us to join them?”

To me, these are very important questions. They can all be eliminated if the town allowed Androscoggin County to take over dispatching responsibility. It is a fact that by closing the Lisbon Communication Center will save the taxpayers tax dollars. It is also a fact that it is impossible to tell the exact amount that will be saved, however any cost saving will help reduce the operating cost of the town and reduce our taxes. Reducing our taxes should be the number one priority of the Town Council and the Town Manager. Unfortunately, they are NOT interested in saving money or reducing taxes.

Call your Councilors and Diane Barnes and tell them it is time to start saving tax dollars and no more tax increases.

Larry Fillmore

LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE

Lisbon Public Library - No Phone Service

The Lisbon Library phone services are down again. They do however have technicians working on the problem and hope to have services up and running later today. Should you need to reach the library you may do so either visiting them or via their facebook page. They do have internet access.
Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON PARKING BAN

PARKING BAN 9:00 PM 2/6/2019 - NOON 2/7/2019

Due to the inclement weather forecast, the Town of Lisbon is issuing a parking ban from 9:00 pm, Wednesday, February 6, 2019 until noon February 7, 2019.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

DO YOU WANT YOUR TAXES TO GO UP AGAIN!!!

Well it is that time of year again. The Town Manager, Diane Barnes, is preparing the town’s annual budget. If she stays true to form, she will ask the Town Council to approve roughly a two million ($2,000,000.00) dollars increase in the operating cost of the town. This will undoubtedly include a Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) for all employees of the town.

If you like having your taxes second highest in Androscoggin County, then sit back and do nothing. There is a good chance Lisbon can move into the highest taxed town in the county, passing Lewiston this year. Can you imagine that last year Lisbon passed Auburn? That is just ridiculous!!!

The problem is no one in the town government, Town Council or the Town Manager is interested in cutting the cost of operating the town. Several options to cut cost and reduce our taxes have been suggested and ignored by the Town Council.

Now is the time for the people to speak up and tell both the Town Council and the Town Manager, enough is enough. We want our taxes reduced this year. If the people sit back and do nothing your taxes are going to rise again this year. Can you afford that?

If you do nothing NOW, it will be too late to reverse the decision of the Town Council. Call your Councilors and the Town Manager and tell them to start finding ways to reduce our taxes and no increase in taxes this year.

Larry Fillmore

Monday, February 4, 2019

LISBON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FINAL DRAFT

Town of Lisbon Comprehensive Plan - Final Draft

INTRODUCTION

Aside from the Town Charter, the Comprehensive Plan is the most important municipal
document for Lisbon because it serves so many functions.
The Comprehensive Plan is a…
Statement about what is important to the people of Lisbon.
The plan not only identifies important places and programs, but also documents core values and
a shared vision for the future of the community. This shared vision is a statement about the kind
of community people want to be a part of in the future.
Blueprint for how to achieve important things.
The Plan contains a large laundry list of goals and policies to meet the state requirements for
all Comprehensive Plans in the state. However, ours is focused on a smaller, prioritized subset
these goals and policies in order to better guide activities and ensure that the Town Council, the
Planning Board, town staff and others are productive over the next few years.
Land use plan.
The core of a Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for designating where and in what manner
future development should occur within the community. It specifically identifies areas in Lisbon
where most new growth should be located and points out areas where new growth should be
discouraged. These Growth and Rural areas are the basis for zoning updates and changes within
the forecast time period of the Plan.
Snapshot of the community in time.
The Plan is a useful benchmark for future town staff, elected officials, and other interested parties
because it provides much detailed information about municipal services, buildings, properties
and financial data.
Please click here to read the full document. Thank you

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE

Lisbon Library - Internet & Phone Issues Resolved

The Lisbon Library internet and phone services are back on line. The library is now closed and reopen tomorrow during its regular business hours. Thank you for your patience and again we apologize for any inconvenience.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE

Lisbon Library - no internet or phone services 2/4/2019

The Lisbon Library continues to operatate without any internet or phone services. There are technicians currently working on the situation and they hope to have internet connection back soon. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Saturday, February 2, 2019

LISBON WATER DEPARTMENT UPDATE

Water Main Repair Completed

Water service was restored at 2:00 PM on February 2, 2019 to customers that were affected by the water main break on Main at South Street.
Customers may experience air and discolored water. We are currently flushing hydrants to improve water quality. Additionally, we have several hydrants that will be unattended and left flowing to improve water quality.
Through traffic on Main Street will be restored in a few hours.
If you have any questions or a water emergency please call the Lisbon Police Dept. at 353-2500 and a water technician will contact you ASAP.
We greatly appreciate your patience while we worked to repair this break!

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON