Councilors Are Affected with an Affliction Known as "Tunnel Vision".

TUNNEL VISION

Our leaders in the Town of Lisbon, the Town Manager, Steve Eldridge, and six of our seven town councilors are affected with an affliction known as "Tunnel Vision". With Tunnel Vision, one looks only straight ahead. There is no left or right, no up or down, no compromise, no flexibility, and no other options.

When I asked Mr. Eldridge at the August 2, 2011 Town Council meeting how the request for bids for the town revaluation was advertised, he said that it was advertised in the newspaper, (one tiny print legal ad in the Sun Journal), was advertised in the appropriate municipal journals, and several letters were mailed to various assessing firms. He said they only received 3 responses. One company, Tyler Technologies, in Tolland, CT responded but did not give us dollar amount. A bid from KRT Appraisal in Haverhill, MA, a 4 year plan; $40,000 years 1 -3,$126,000 for the 4th year, plus an assessing agent at $400 per day. The town received a bid from William Van Tuinen for $77,000 a year for 4 years, for a total of $308,000. The letters sent by Mr. Eldridge requested bids for 4 or 5 year revaluations.

Two councilors; Fern Larochelle and Lori Pomelow were willing to table the article and get more information from KRT, but after getting the nod from Eldridge, Councilor Bowie made a motion to accept the bid from Van Tuinen. A smile and wink from Mr. Eldridge to Mr. Van Tuinen, who was sitting in the front row, sealed the deal!

With approximately36 licensed appraisal/assessing companies in the State of Maine, I'm wondering why only 7 letters were mailed out? I have been calling around and learned that one very qualified Maine company did not respond because the proposal requested bids for a 4 or 5 year revaluation. The owner of that company said they would not bid on a 4-year revaluation. He said he would not recommend any town taking 4 years to do a revaluation because too many things can change in that time.

Now, I know that money here is tight, and bonding it out is now fiscally responsible, but why limit the bids to a 4 or 5 year revaluation? Why not listen to other options? I spoke with some who was involved in a revaluation in another mid-Maine town. The revaluation was done in one year, it is a small town, and they did a 5-year loan with a with a 1-year draw-down with a local lender. There was no interest for the first year, and interest paid only on the funds paid out of the loan.

As I said previously “Tunnel Vision”; the Town of Lisbon needs new leadership. We need a town Council with real vision and one with common sense; one that is willing to explore all options, in any and all aspects of town government.

We need an end to TUNNEL VISION. I urge all residents and taxpayers to attend Town Council meetings. Meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at Town Office. If you cannot attend, watch the meetings from the comfort of your home. The meetings are televised and aired the Thursdays after each meeting, on channel 7 at 7 p.m. Watch your Councilors at work. Notice the only one with any common sense!   AND RE-ELECT HIM IN NOVEMBER.


Dot  Fitzgerald 
Concerned Citizen

More On Lisbon's Revaluation Bid Process Explained

CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM

At the Town Council meeting on August 2, 2011, this council clearly demonstrated how cronyism and corruption works in the Town of Lisbon.  After arguing for additional information by Councilor Pomelow and Councilor LaRochelle they voted to accept the bid from William Van Tuinen for the revaluation of the Town of Lisbon.

There are several issues with this process that I disagree with; the first one being Mr. Van Tuinen was allowed to provide the council with a presentation on how he would conduct the revaluation over a four year period.  None of the other bidders were allowed to provide any presentation.

Next, Councilor Bowie said the town should accept Mr. Van Tuinen’s bid because he was the only company from Maine.  However, I googled Maine Revenue Services Property Tax – Revaluation Firms (http://www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/municipalservices/revaluation.htm) and received a listing of 36 different firms recognized by the State of Maine.  Of these 36 firms, 29 firms were firms in Maine.  Some of the locations, I recognize as being close are Saco, Scarborough, Farmington, New Gloucester, Old Orchard Beach, Windham, Falmouth, West Paris and Madison.

I guarantee you the Town Manager did not send any letters out to any of these firms.  I can also guarantee you none of these firms were asked to provide a presentation to the council except Mr. Van Tuinen.  Mr. Van Tuinen was present at the meeting.  The fix was in and Mr. Van Tuinen was awarded the contract.

We will never know what would have happened if these other firms were offered an opportunity to bid on this contract.  There is a possibility the revaluation could have been done quicker and cost the taxpayers less money than Mr. Van Tuinen.  Of course with this council, it would not have made any difference if other firms like KRT Appraisal, who did bid lower than Mr. Van Tuinen, had submitted bids because the fix was in and Mr. Van Tuinen was always going to get the bid.

I hope KRT Appraisal protests the bid process because they were never allowed to provide the town with a presentation.  Also, they can review the meeting and see how cronyism works in its best form.  Councilors Pomelow and LaRochelle really showed their true colors on this night.

Larry A. Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Council Collusion and Cronyism‏ Lisbon Style

 

COLLUSION

During the Town Council meeting on August 2, 2011, I believe we witnessed an outrageous act of collusion. During the council reviewing the bids for revaluation of the town, Councilor LaRochelle and Councilor Pomelow spent ten (10) minutes making a strong argument to table the issue until KRT Appraisal was given an opportunity to prepare a presentation to the council, the same as Mr. Van Tuinen had presented in a previous council meeting. This would have enabled an even playing field and provided councilors with more information from which to render a better decision for the town. I DO NOT SAY THIS VERY OFTEN BUT THE ARGUMENTS BOTH COUNCILORS OFFERED SHOWED A CLEAR AND HONEST CONCERN FOR WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TOWN. The moment Councilor Bowie made a motion to approve the Bid from Mr. Van Tuinen all concerns for what was in the best interest for the town went out the window. The puppet master had spoken and like good little puppets on a string both Councilor Pomelow and Councilor LaRochelle forgot what was in the best interest of the town and voted as Councilor Bowie desired.

COLLUSION IS DEFINED AS “A SECRET AGREEMENT OR COOPERATION FOR FRAUDULENT OR DECEITFUL PURPOSE”.

Please review the attached document provided by the town as agenda documentation. This document shows the town received bids from three organizations but under “Bid Proposal Amounts:” there are only two bids shown. So did Tyler Technologies submit a bid or not? I cannot comprehend a company taking the time to forward a bid but NOT submit a bid on a project. According to this document, KRT Appraisal submitted the lowest bid but it was not accepted by the town council.

Not only is this “collusion” but clearly demonstrates “cronyism”. Mr. Eldridge and Councilor Bowie and his puppets handpicked Mr. Van Tuinen to perform the revaluation for the town. Apparently, the fix was in prior to the meeting.

How does the town of Lisbon stop this outrageous conduct by the puppets and their master? Since Eldridge became the town manager, this town has been spiraling downhill. There is no more integrity, honesty or straight shooting Mainers and this is a loss I cannot accept. We have lost our values and are not setting a very good example for our children or fellow Mainers. How do we reverse this and get back to being true Mainers?

Larry A. Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

Revaluation Bid0001

I'm Tired By Robert A. Hall

I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.

I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.

I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them—with their own money.

I’m tired of being told how bad America is by leftwing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the religious freedom and women’s rights of Saudi Arabia, the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Gay people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won’t multiculturalism be beautiful?

I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor;” of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers;” of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery;” of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.

I believe “a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin.” I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of President Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois. I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less in an all-knowing government.

I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin with two years as governor for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.

Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn’t vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.

I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.

I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana. Update: People have written to tell me I'd have more sympathy if this was close to me. It is exactly having seen the destruction of alcoholism and heroin addiction in my own family that makes me pretty intolerant of people who are willing to destroy the people around them to indulge themselves.

I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military. Those are the citizens we need. Update: A few people have taken this to indicate some bias against Catholics, based on events 400 years ago. While I think they are either too touchy or fail to understand, I was only trying to say that I have zero problem with Catholics wanting to come to the US, but that I have great concerns about Muslims, as a good % of them do want to kill me, or force their religion and moral code on me.

I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people then themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years—and still are? Not even close. So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear. UPDATE: It has rightly been pointed out to me, several times, that I should have included Canadian, Australian and New Zealand troops here. My apologies for slighting these gallant allies of freedom.

I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers—bums are bi-partisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bi-partisanship. I live in Illinois, where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot the public for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet are bi-partisan as well.

I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.

I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to get to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.

Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts state senate. He blogs at www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com Update: Someone attached a picture of Robert D. Hall, an actor, to some versions and forwarded it on, saying that I was on CSI. We are two different people, and I am not an actor--unless you count running for public office.

And to the folks who said I'm Old and should die and get out of the way, I have IPF, so will comply soon enough.

 Submitted by Gordie & CCB

Hey Lisbon, are you Tired of the Crap in your own community yet?  Then get off your duffs and do something about it.  Their are a few dedicated persons trying to make a change and enlighten you all but they can't do it alone.  Show some support, get involved, quit sitting back and watching your little community loose more businesses and the tearing down of more buildings.  Councilor Gina Mason doesn't Get It, Unless there is a party, an obviously a lunch table and much publicity for her.  Tax bills are soon to come out and that might just inspire you enough like last year but only Time will tell.  Get involved run for council. Get some good candidates not more of the same Collusive Group.  What about the Old High School?  How is that all going along?  YOU all as taxpayers have had the wool pulled right down over your eyes on that one, very similar to the Teen Center.  Ed.

More Ignorance from Lisbon Councilors Is Just SOP

Council Recap August 2^nd

Last night’s Town Council meeting was a continuance of more and more ignorance. If I had to rate the effectiveness of the council, it would be somewhere below an “F” if that is at all possible.

The first item is during the Audience Participation, I pointed out to the Town Council the changes Councilor Pomelow made to the Council Working Rules were impossible to comply with. I explained to everyone the reason was because the ONLY time residents of the town of Lisbon can speak on an agenda item is during the Public Hearing or Audience Participation of the meeting and both these times are prior to the sponsor explaining the purpose of the change. Councilor Pomelow’s idea is to have residents speak about agenda items without knowing what the change is or why. The real reason is so no resident will be allowed to point out any shortfalls in the council.

Even after two members of the audience pointed out the changes cannot be complied with, the council vote 6-1 (Cote – NO) to approve the revised revised change as is. The council said “the council working rules is a working document and is subject to being changed”. This is nothing more than a cover-up for the council’s inability to do it right the first time. The original document had been in effect for numerous years without a problem. This council felt it was not getting enough town business completed because of the residents expressing their concerns on town business. The fact is town business concerns all the residents of Lisbon.

Let’s look at the time it has taken this council on this 3 1/2 double paged document. It has taken three months and changed three times since the council voted on the first edition of changes. Talk about wasting time and not getting town business accomplished. This council has plenty of time to change the working rules but does not have the time to do it right the first time. If anyone is wasting time, it is the council because guess what; they have to change it again. When does it stop? Why can’t we expect the council to do it right the first time? This is after several workshops with the last one being the Tuesday before the meeting.

Now let's move on to an even more bazaar situation. Councilor LaRochelle asked the council to table the agenda item on the “Revaluation Bid”. He did not make it a motion but explained he did not feel comfortable with the information he had because another company had bid lower than Mr. Van Tuinen’s bid. He explained his position for about 5 minutes and then Councilor Pomelow voiced her concerns for approximately 5 minutes supporting Councilor LaRochelle. When the issue looked like it was going to be tabled, Bowie (the puppet master) made a motion to accept Van Tuinen’s bid, which was not the lowest, and the motion was seconded by Councilor Bickford. The council then voted (4-3) to accept Van Tuinen’s bid. Councilor Pomelow and Councilor LaRochelle voted to accept Van Tuinen’s bid after arguing to table it until they had more information. The puppet master spoke and the puppets responded. If this is not a clear case of collusion, please tell me what is?

Where are the residents of the town of Lisbon? Why would anyone in their right mind allow this garbage to continue? Please do not talk to me about recalling a councilor because they took care of their own. According to the Town Charter, you can only recall a councilor if you have “…30% of the total number of qualified voters who cast votes for Governor in the most recent gubernatorial election.” Two Priests, a Nun, a Rabbi and the Pope could not get enough voters to vote in a special election to qualify for the 30%. On special elections you may get 2% if you are lucky. This is the exact reason Bowie is still on the council because the majority of the voters who voted during the special election wanted to recall Bowie but did not meet the 30%. Of course, Bowie seeing how the majority of his constituent’s felt did not resign because of a legal technicality. If you do not vote in an election, you have no right to open your mouth on any issues.

Please review last night’s meeting on Thursday August 4, 2011 at 7:00 PM on Channel 7. Watch your councilors in action.

Larry A. Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

Don't wait for the cable version, view it now on Great Falls TV here.

Take Time To Smell The Flowers And Let Them Fill You With Beauty

Louie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollination

How To Take Our Country Back (full video)

Government Corruption, Kill the Messenger, The Sibel Edmonds Story

A few weeks ago, we  presented historical
information about serious corruption within the 
Department of Justice and the FBI. 
 
Using material from John Loftus' "America's
Nazi Secret" we showed how Alan Dulles
partnered with Nazi war criminals to help
cover up Corporate America's role in supporting
the Nazi government.
 
Forty years later, another head of the CIA.
George Bush Sr, partnered with a new generation
of Arab Nazis now known as Al Queda.  
 
Corruption at this level continues right up to
this present day...as today's video shows. 

Kill the Messenger - Part One

The Sibel Edmonds story

Institutionalized corruption at the FBI
Foreign spies inside the FBI?

Protected by the Director and the head of the Department of Justice?

You better believe it.

One of the best accounts of the FBI and
Department of Justice cover-up of the
facts of the 911 attack. 
 
Happily participated in by Congress
and the White House.

Kill the Messenger - Part Two

Careers destroyed by telling the truth

The Whistleblowers Network
There are good guys within the FBI and all law enforcement agencies local, state and national.

How do they get treated?

If they dare to speak up about systemic corruption within their departments, very badly.

There are good guys (and gals) out there.
 
And they are routinely shot down by the media,
Congress and their own agencies. 
 
Part Three of the film you can't see in America
"Kill the Messenger" 

Kill the Messenger - Part Three

"State secrets" allow corruption to flourish

How did Pakistan get nuclear weapons? 
 
All roads lead to Israel. 
 
And the Justice Department helped cover
it up. 
 
No wonder the FBI wanted to gag Sibel Edmonds
- and why this film can't get a screening in
the US.

Kill the Messenger - Part Four

The trail leads to Israel

Republican Speaker took payments from foreign country
Money laundering, drug trafficking, illegal nuclear weapons trading, covering for terrorists all supported by....

* The White House

* The Department of Justice

* Members of Congress

* The Pentagon

* Arms makers

Why would the Israelis help the
Pakistanis get the parts for a
nuclear bomb?
 
There's no doubt they did it, but why?
 
Plus the real reason CIA agent Valerie
Plame was outed by Dick Cheney. 

Kill the Messenger - Part Five

Israel helped Pakistan get nuclear bomb

Technology transfer
Nuclear weapons technology from the US to Turkey to Pakistan run by Israel on the behalf of the US.

From the same people who brought you the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Using the same method Alan Dulles used to import Nazi war criminals into the US after WW II to cover his corporate client's tracks: national security privilege.

And the band plays on.

Answer to Mrs. Fitzgerald's Letter‏

Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald

     Its not that we think its acceptable behavior its people don't know what to do about it.

    I am a recent  addition to Lisbon and having lived in many towns in this Country have seen allot of small town Corruption. The main problem is that people want to clean out the corruption but  find it so invasive that everywhere they turn they run into a roadblock.

   Like in another small town I lived in in N.J. what usually  cleans up the town is someone in the town government that gets scared that if it goes to court they will be a defendant or someone in town government  that is basically an honest person cant stand the  corruption anymore and  helps clean it up.  Either by slipping proof out to the public or in some other way.

Best of luck to you  I'm just glad I rent and don't own a home in this town.

Ken Smyth

Lisbon

Town Council Agenda for August 2

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG
2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Cote
___ Councilor Larochelle
___Councilor Lunt
___ Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. CONSENT AGENDA

2011-133 ORDER −
A. Minutes of July 5, 2011

6. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES

2011-134 ORDER −
E.T. Smith Hose Company Siding Bids

2011-135 ORDER −
MTM Center Roof Replacement Bids

2011-136 ORDER −
Winter Sand Bids

2011-137 ORDER −
Street Closure

2011-138 ORDER −
Fire Department Jeep Replacement

2011-139 ORDER −
Revaluation Bids

2011-140 ORDER −
CouncilWorking Rules Amendment

2011-141 ORDINANCE −
Park Ordinance Amendment (1st Reading)

2011-142 ORDINANCE −
Wellhead Protection Ordinance (1st Reading)

7. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Nomination Papers for Elected Offices

B. Town Manager’s Report

8. APPOINTMENTS

2011-143 ORDER −
Ethics Panel (1) Alternate Member (Reappointment) – 3 year term

2011-144 ORDER −
Ethics Panel (1) Regular Member (Reappointment) – 3 year term

2011-145 ORDER −
Conservation Commission (1) Alternate Member – 3 year term

2011-146 ORDER −
Recreation Committee (1) Regular Member (Reappointment) – 3 year term

2011-147 ORDER −
Board of Appeals (1) Regular Member (Reappointment) – 3 year term

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

2011-148 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matters –Interview

2011-149 ORDER −
1 MRSA § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matters – Councilor Request

11. ADJOURNMENT

2011-150 ORDER −
To Adjourn

INCOMPENTENT OR JUST PLAIN STUPID‏

To The Lisbon Reporter

Does no one but Mr. Fillmore and me find the letter written and sent by Lisbon Town Manager Steve Eldridge to Ryan Leighton, head of Public Works, who forwarded it to Mr. Elwood (Button) Beals, former head of Public Works, find it unacceptable behavior for a town manager?

Mr. Beals, former head of the Town of Lisbon Public Works Department has always done an excellent job, is liked and respected by the workers. Why didn’t Mr. Eldridge call public works and ask why there were 2 employees on the street sweeper, instead of calling an employee an idiot? And then, there is Mr. Leighton, head of public works, instead of going to or calling public works to find out what was going on, forwarded the letter to Button Beals.

If there were 2 employees running the sweeper that day, I’m sure there was a good reason for it. Mr. Beals knows his job, and does it well. To disrespect him the way Town Manager Eldridge did is totally unacceptable!

Mr. Ryan Leighton, Lisbon Town engineer and head of the Sewerage Treatment Plant, this year was also given the additional duties as head of Public Works and Solid Waste, along with a considerable increase in his salary.

At the Tuesday July 5^, 2011 town council meeting, #6 - Orders, Resolutions and Ordinances, 2011 Order – Public Works Truck and Body Bids, Mr. Leighton said the lowest bid for a stainless steel truck body $27,175 and $2,200 for painting and installation. When asked by Councilor Bowie if the amount requested included both the purchase and installation, Mr. Leighton hesitated, and said he did not know. He was totally unprepared! And this is someone our town manager and town council, all but one dissenting vote, hired to be in charge of the public works, plus gave him a generous raise ! ? ! ?

Sounds to me like he has so many duties he can’t keep track of them all.

NOW WHO IS THE IDIOT?

Dorothy B. Fitzgerald

A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen

Total Lack of Professionalism on the Part of the Town Manager

WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

The Town Council, by Charter, is responsible for policing the conduct and professionalism of the managerial staff of the Town of Lisbon. Of course, this is a “rubber stamp” council who would never dare to sanction the Town Manager for his lack of professionalism or conduct. Eldridge has on several occasions been inappropriate in his official capacity as Town Manger.

The first, I remember is when he sent a demanding letter to Mrs. Dot Fitzgerald requiring her to produce documentation to support the recall of Bowie. This was nothing more than harassment because Eldridge was the custodian of the documents he was requesting. How stupid can you get?   I requested the Town Council take steps to sanction Eldridge for this misuse of his office. The council decided this was acceptable conduct and did nothing to protect the citizens of Lisbon from being harassed by Eldridge.

The next time, I can remember is when Eldridge came running into the Code Enforcement Office and got in my face for a situation in which I did not follow protocol in seeking information. It was a misunderstanding between Mrs. Maloy and me which we had corrected. The fault was not totally mine because a town employee asked if she could help me in the absence of the Finance Officer and I said yes. However, Eldridge charged me and was yelling in my face in front of several staff employees and residents who were present.   I reported this incident to the Chairman of the Town Council Mark Lunt and nothing was done about this unprofessional conduct and totally inappropriate action on Eldridge’s part. Once again, the rubber stamp council took no action and apparently accepted Eldridge’s action.

Now, on June 9, 2011, Eldridge put his managerial skills to work by sending an internal email to the head of the Public Works Department calling one of the town’s employees an idiot.  Defaming any town employee by calling them an idiot was never in my training as a manager.   Defaming employees should be a serious offense by any manager and the Town Council should take extreme measures to put a stop to this continued unacceptable behavior by Eldridge.  In most cases, the individual who defamed the employee would normally be fired for conduct unbecoming a professional Town Manager.   I believe this is grounds for a law suit if the individual was to push the issue. However, I guarantee you this rubber stamp council will not take any serious action against Eldridge.

Next, let’s take a look at the professionalism of Leighton, the new head of Public Works. Instead of taking the appropriate action himself, he passed the buck to one of his subordinates to take action. If you notice on the email, Leighton did not provide any instruction or guidance to his subordinate as to what Leighton felt was appropriate action. This clearly demonstrates “cronyism” because this individual was put in charge of the Public Works Department and received an 8% pay increase to perform the duties as Department Head.  Leighton had no clue as to what to do so he passed it on to the real Department Head Button Beal.   Incompetence by a department head is not a trait of a qualified professional and clearly demonstrates Leighton’s lack of qualifications.

I realize it is only a pipe dream to think this council will do what is necessary to correct this constant abuse of power and the total lack of professionalism on the part of the Town Manager.

Larry A. Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

Public Works Letter

Is there anything listed that you can't live without?‏

These are all the programs that the new Republican House has proposed cutting.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy. $445 million annual savings.

Save America 's Treasures Program. $25 million annual savings.

International Fund for Ireland . $17 million annual savings.

Legal Services Corporation. $420 million annual savings.

National Endowment for the Arts. $167.5 million annual savings.

National Endowment for the Humanities. $167.5 million annual savings.

Hope VI Program.. $250 million annual savings.

Amtrak Subsidies. $1.565 billion annual savings.

Eliminate duplicative education programs. H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually.

U.S. Trade Development Agency. $55 million annual savings.

Woodrow Wilson Center Subsidy. $20 million annual savings.

Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding. $47 million annual savings.

John C. Stennis Center Subsidy. $430,000 annual savings.

Community Development Fund. $4.5 billion annual savings.

Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid. $24 million annual savings.

Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half. $7.5 billion annual savings.

Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20%. $600 million annual savings.

Essential Air Service. $150 million annual savings.

Technology Innovation Program. $70 million annual savings.

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. $125 million annual savings.

Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization. $530 million annual savings.

Beach Replenishment. $95 million annual savings.

New Starts Transit. $2 billion annual savings.

Exchange Programs for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts . $9 million annual savings.

Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants. $2.5 billion annual savings.

Title X Family Planning. $318 million annual savings.

Appalachian Regional Commission. $76 million annual savings.

Economic Development Administration. $293 million annual savings.

Programs under the National and Community Services Act. $1.15 billion annual savings.

Applied Research at Department of Energy. $1.27 billion annual savings.

FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. $200 million annual savings.

Energy Star Program. $52 million annual savings.

Economic Assistance to Egypt . $250 million annually.

U.S. Agency for International Development. $1.39 billion annual savings.

General Assistance to District of Columbia . $210 million annual savings.

Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. $150 million annual savings.

Presidential Campaign Fund. $775 million savings over ten years.

No funding for federal office space acquisition. $864 million annual savings.

End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of government services. Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act. More than $1 billion annually.

IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for services it offers (such as processing payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of allowing payments to remain as part of its budget. $1.8 billion savings over ten years.

Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees. $1 billion total savings.                                                                              WHAT ???????

Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees. $1.2 billion savings over ten years.

Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of. $15 billion total savings.

Eliminate Mohair Subsidies. $1 million annual savings.

Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. $12.5 million annual savings.

Eliminate Market Access Program. $200 million annual savings.

USDA Sugar Program. $14 million annual savings.

Subsidy to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).$93 million annual savings.

Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program. $56.2 million annual savings.

Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative costs. $900 million savings.

Ready to Learn TV Program. $27 million savings.

Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress.

HUD Ph.D. Program.

Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act

TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years

What in the world is all this doing in the budget in the first place?  Is there anything listed you cannot do without?

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 I see nothing here we can't do without.  How about you?

Submitted by: Gordie

Lisbon Councilors Ineptness Keeps Going, Growing, & Glowing.....

COUNCIL WORKING RULES

Back on April 5, 2011, the Council Working Rules was first put on the agenda. Since April 5, 2011, it has been discussed and the council held a few workshops in order to get everything perfect. Finally, on June 21, 2011, the council presented the final product to be vote on and it passed with only one councilor (Cote) voting NOT to approve the final document. Since June 21^st, the Town Council realizes they really screwed up the Council Working Rules and so now, one month later, the council is having a workshop to correct the screw-ups in the Council Working Rules they worked so hard on and approved. OPS!!!!!!

Mrs. Pomelow started this movement to change the Council Working Rules and it was because the meetings were so long and she felt the council was not getting enough town business accomplished. Yet, on the evening of the vote, Mrs. Pomelow was nowhere to be found. If they want to improve the Council Working Rules; they should require the sponsor to be present at the meeting to explain the reasons for the change. If the sponsor cannot be present then the item should be tabled until the sponsor is able to be present. Now this would be worthy of changing the Council Working Rules.

I believe moving the Audience Participation under Public Hearing was another excellent and worthy change. This allows someone to bring up NEW business and new business only. After Audience Participation is complete, the resident has the option of staying for the entire meeting or whatever portion the resident is interested in and then can leave. I can see how this would speed up the meetings.

However, the council has demonstrated how ineffective they really are by spending two months on these working rules and then voting on them. Now the council is having a workshop to rework the Council Working Rules because the author of the changes was totally inept the first time. I can only image what the residents of the town are in for this time around. I would not put it past the council to have the Town Council meetings closed to the residents. This would really speed up the process of town business. Keep in mind, these changes are meant to keep the residents from knowing what the council is doing. There are so many deals done behind closed doors now it is not funny. Bowie holds a meeting, in Eldridge’s office before every meeting to ensure the puppets know their scripts. The only councilor NOT allowed to participate in the pre-meeting is Councilor Cote. Of course, these pre-meetings are totally illegal but they do not care because they do what they want and are protected by Eldridge and Brooks.

Mrs. Pomelow wants to restrict all comments on issues being voted on in order to speed up the meetings. Once the sponsor explains the reason for the changes and the councilors have asked their questions; the audience has the right to ask questions. The input from the audience is critical for the councilors to know how the public feels on the issue. As I have told the council many times, Eldridge never presents all the facts on any issues. I cannot understand how the Town Council can vote on an issue without knowing all the facts. This is why it is vital to hear what the audience has to say.

Maine Revised Status Title 13-C, 708. Conduct of Meeting, paragraph 3. Fairness of rules states “Rules adopted for the meeting and the conduct of a meeting held pursuant to this chapter must be fair to shareholders.” I believe this means the residents have a right under this statue to voice their opinion prior to the Town Council voting on town business. The Town of Lisbon is Incorporated and therefore the residents are the shareholders. I hope whoever decides to take credit for the upcoming rules changes will keep this in mind.

Is it possible to have this council produce a worthy Council Working Rules this time? Every time a council member wants to talk about wasting valuable time, remember, the sitting council screwed up the revised Council Working Rules and are having to redo them. A wise man once told me if you do it right the first time you will never have to waste valuable time fixing it. Who is wasting the council’s time now; that would be the council themselves? This clearly demonstrates how effective this council is and how much the councils read what is put before them prior to a vote. This council “rubber stamps” whatever is put before them.

We really need to change this setting council to be more effective.

Larry A. Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

Lisbon Town Council Workshop Agenda for July 26

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP
TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL

___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Cote
___ Councilor Larochelle
___Councilor Lunt
___ Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow

Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. WORKSHOP

A. Charter Amendments

B. Council Working Rules

4. ADJOURNMENT

Do Some Lisbon Councilors Have Special Benefits?

PERKS FOR COUNCILORS

Let’s take a look at some of the perks of being a councilor in the Town of Lisbon. The first and probably the most important perk is you get to attend a pre-council meeting in Eldridge’s office in order to insure you have your script rehearsed for the meeting before you get into the meeting. This secretive meeting is really illegal but because the council determines what is legal and what is not legal who is going to stop them. These meetings last approximately 15-30 minutes prior to the actual meeting and all the councilors are invited except Cote. I wonder why this is. I believe this meeting is for Puppet-Master Bowie to attach the strings to his puppets.

Next, if you live in a Rural Open District you can run to the Planning Board with an Application for Conditional Use and get it approved without any conditions. The Planning Board uses a wide interpretation of the ordinance. An example is the reference cited was 70-353-3-G which states “Temporary construction, excavating, fabrication or processing”. The Planning Board states the temporary condition is ONLY for the construction and not the other uses which are listed in alphabetical order. Of course, all the other uses are under 70-353-3-G are listed individually such as junkyards; aviation; campgrounds; sawmills and boathouses. If excavating, fabrication and processing were not temporary conditions, why aren’t they listed individually like the other uses in the section? If they are temporary conditional uses, as I believe they are, then why is there no Expiration Date on the approval form? The management of the Town of Lisbon uses any excuse to protect the councilors whether they are right or wrong.

Now let’s move on to my favorite one, the Town Attorney files papers on David & Lori Pomelow back in September 9, 1997 for operating a business out of their residence. Since then it has been an ongoing battle between the Town of Lisbon and the Pomelows’. In April 9, 2008, the Code Enforcement Officer sent a Notice of Violation to them stating “…Town Code Section 70-294 located in the Limited Residential Zone and not allowed to have any type of business or having business equipment located there.”   In 2009, Mrs. Pomelow was elected to the Town Council and since her election there have been no further violations of Town Ordinance even though every piece of paper indicated the residence is still being utilized as the Headquarters for Pomelow Transport. The commercial tractor trailers are still driving up and down Wing Street which is posted “No Through Trucks” and the police department does nothing about it. These commercial rigs are parked overnight on Scottsdale and Dumas Streets but according to the Code Enforcement Officer there is no business operating out of their residence. However, according to the Town of Lisbon Personal Property Commitment Book Pomelow Transport pays personal property taxes to the Town of Lisbon for trailers; a clear indication of a business being operated from this residence. The United States Postal Service delivers mail to the councilor’s residence for Pomelow Transport but there is no business being conducted from the councilor’s residence according to the Code Enforcement Officer.

I call this corruption on the part of Eldridge who is responsible for the daily operations of the Town of Lisbon. The police do not ticket trucks on Wing Street; Code Enforcement Officer does not acknowledge a business operating in a Limited Residential Zone and the Planning Board interprets the ordinances any way they want to in order to protect a member of the Town Council.

Let’s eliminate these perks for Town Council members. If you agree with me, please call Eldridge at 353-3000 Extension 102; Lunt at 333-2811 and most important the puppet master Bowie at 353-2607. Trust me; nothing will change because there is too much corruption in the Town of Lisbon until the residents decide to take back the Town of Lisbon.

Larry A. Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

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