Forensic Audit of Lisbon Why Are They Trying So Hard To Hide Everything?

Forensic Audit of Lisbon

Recently, a friend and resident of Lisbon approached me about why there was no forensic audit performed on the Town of Lisbon.  A forensic audit would provide closure to any wrong doing or corruption in Lisbon.  So why is the Town Council refusing to have a forensic audit?  Is there corruption or embezzlement being covered up?  We will never know until the town has a forensic audit.  There is no statute of limitation on fraud as I understand it.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/oxford-hills/2012/01/04/waterford-embezzler-makes-regular-payments-town/1135708#.TwROPPZ_ntE.email

 http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=541981775

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Standish-dispatcher-charged-with-stealing-town-gas.html

The above cited articles are examples of what can be uncovered with the assistance of a forensic audit.  Keep in mind, there is a large difference between a yearly audit by an independent company and a forensic audit.  The yearly audit only looks to see if the entries were recorded correctly and a forensic audit will determine if the transaction was a legal transaction or not.

Today a number of forensic audits have been performed on municipalities in Maine resulting in criminal convictions of employee theft of more than $100,000, supported with taxpayer dollars, while the taxpayers and elected officials appear to not have a clue.  Lisbon's democracy's only effective solution to its ongoing 'town mismanagement' is to elect replacement Councilors, rather than continuing  trying to persuade existing elected and appointed officials to have a forensic audit performed.  Remember, this November the town of Lisbon has an opportunity to get rid of three councilors:  Bowie, Pomelow and Lunt.

 Mike Bowie

Lori Pomelow

Mark Lunt

Does anyone wonder what the current status of the misappropriation of the $32,500 dollars is?  Why isn’t the town manager providing monthly updates in order to keep the people informed?   A forensic audit may be able to bring closure to this situation.  So why is the town council fighting so adamantly to keep from having a forensic  audit?

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Last Night's Lisbon Town Council Meeting

RECAP TOWN COUNCIL JAN 3

Last night’s Town Council meeting was short, sweet and to the point.  But it had a couple of interesting issues citizens need to know.  The two major ones pertain to this year’s budget ideas and abatement.  But before these issues are discussed, an update on the Western Maine Transportation (Lisbon Connection) situation.  Money was found to extend Western Maine Transportation service through mid to end of April 2012.  This is a short term solution but at least it provides citizens with service for a few more months and provides time to secure funding on a permanent base.

Now for the major issues, everyone knows in order to lower taxes in Lisbon, there needs to be a reduction in spending.  This means this Town Council needs to find ways to reduce the operating costs in Lisbon.  The council last night approved the minutes of the Town Council for the Workshop conducted on December 13th.  The puppet master (Bowie) discussed providing town employee’s with a lump sum wage increase this year.  According to the minutes “Councilor Bowie said because of the way we have treated all of our employees over the past few years that we should look at a lump sum wage increase, which is not compounded yearly upon the base so it would not increase our workers comp, insurance, etc.”    This would include his wife who works in the Police Department.  According to Chairman David Bowie of the Ethic Panel, this is NOT a conflict of interest because Bowie did not name her outright and Mrs. Bowie is not receiving an increase in her wages that other employees are going to receive.
Last year this council approved a 1.75% wage increase for all town employees and gave ten thousand dollars pay increases to four department heads.  Apparently, Bowie forgot all about these raises.  To me, this is increasing spending and will only serve to increase taxes in Lisbon.  Remember in November 2012, Bowie is up for reelection and will be the only opportunity to vote him out.
 

 The Puppet Master praying for a great New Year for more money to hand out!

 There was an abatement issue put before the Town Council for approval on behalf of Thomas and Marjorie Severance for back years of 2008 and 2009 which the council approved.  This situation was created by an error on the part of a town employee.  This situation was handled properly by the Town Council.  However, it brings out the fact town employees need to be held accountable for their actions.  The residents of Lisbon have a perfect right to expect town employees to perform their duties in a professional and timely manner.  There have been several other cases in the registration department over vehicle registrations.  Citizens have been overcharged on their excise taxes.  This happened to two Town Councilors and no one knows how many other citizens.  The people of Lisbon have a right to expect town employees to perform their duties correctly.  One councilor was penalized when he challenged the town and instead of admitting there was an error by a town employee, they made him pay the full amount.  This is wrong.  The town needs to share in the responsibility when an error occurs and make every effort to ensure it does not happen again and the resident receive the proper service without paying a penalty.

Remember in November residents have an opportunity to vote out three councilors. 
Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Lisbon's Town Council Team

 

 

 

One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.

Edward Abbey

Kitty Korner Closing‏

A VERY SAD MOMENT

Kitty Korner is closed.

THIS IS A TERRIBLE LOSS FOR LISBON

Lisbon HS Students Present Poetry Out Loud‏

LISBON STUDENTS PRESENT POETRY OUT LOUD


Lisbon – On Thursday, December 1, the Lisbon Library came alive with sounds of poetry filling the air  of fourteen Lisbon High School students from freshman to seniors qualified to compete in the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation Nation Recitation Contest for Poetry Out Loud.  Students recitation to rounds of poetry before a panel of judges and a packed audience of relatives, friends, staff, community members and peers.  The program involved recitation and performance as major new trends in poetry.  There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music.  Poetry Out Loud builds on that momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater in the English class.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with State Arts Agencies of the United States to support the expansion of Poetry Out Loud, which encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance.  This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about the literary heritage.

Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship.  The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.  A runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his/her school library.  A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals will be awarded to winners.

 

 Participating in this year’s contest (pictured l-r):  Monica Austin, Aaron Halls, Kristianna Benoit, Angelica Bulgin, Chelsea Marquis, Robert Dall, Roger Jama, Taylor Plourde, Dakota Bisson, Dillon Fox, Brittany Whittemore, Charles Sult and Paula Caron.  Not available for photo, Kayla Angelico.  

  Student Winners of the POL @ LHS:  Seth Mitchell, LHS English teacher is pictured with the winner of the 2011 LHS Contest was Dillion Fox (center) and first runner-up was Roger Jama.

FMI on the program contact Seth Mitchell, 353.3030 or email smitchell@lisbonschoolsme.org.  Like us on Facebook at Community Resource News in Lisbon Schools.  Photo courtesy of Monica Millhime.

U.S. politicians get richer despite recession‏

Lisbon,
 
Remember how members of Congress are allowed to profit from insider
information, while for the rest of us it's called 'insider trading'
and it's illegal?
 
Well, apparently government is the business to be in.
 
While many people in the US continue to find it difficult to make
ends meet, politicians are having a different experience all
together...
 
Video:
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/6409.html 
P.S. Please share Brasscheck TV e-mails and
videos with friends and colleagues. 
 
That's how we grow. Thanks. 

Lisbon Community Technology Receives Grant from Topsham Grange‏

Topsham Grange Awards Technology Grant to Lisbon School

Lisbon – Members of the Topsham Grange #37, a community partner with the Lisbon School Department, have provided third grade students at Lisbon Community School a personal dictionary through the Words for Thirds Dictionary Project since 2007.    Moving forward with their continued support to the school, members recently voted on awarding a  technology grant. 

Accepting the grant of behalf of computer teacher, Laurie Adams was LCS Assistant Principal, Ryan Patrie.  “We were delighted to learn of the grant to support the BrainPOP program,” shares Patrie. “BrainPOP is an animated educational site for kids in science, social studies, English, math, arts, music, health, engineering and technology.  The computer program is a valuable resource to integrate into the curriculum to teach and motivate students,” commented Patrie. 

 Lisbon Community School Assistant Principal, Ryan Patrie, welcomed members of the Topsham Grange for presentation of a grant targeted toward technology at LCS.  Pictured (l-r):  Future Grange member, Richard DeVito; Grange members Joyce DeVito; Erna Smith; Mert Ricker and Assistant Principal Patrie. 

FMI community partnership opportunities contact Monica Millhime, Community Resource Coordinator by emailing mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org or call 754-0021.  Like us on Facebook at Community Resource News in Lisbon Schools.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

Town Council Agenda‏ Tuesday January 3, 2012

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bickford
___ Councilor Bowie
___ Councilor Larochelle
___ Councilor Lunt
___Councilor Mason
___ Councilor Pomelow
___ Councilor Ward
Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING

4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. CONSENT AGENDA
2012- 1 ORDER −
A. Minutes of December 13, 2011
B. Minutes of December 20, 2011

6. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2012- 2 ORDER −
Abatement Request of Thomas Severance

7. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Introduction of New Chief for Lisbon Emergency
B. Public Transportation Update
C. Board & Committee Liaisons
D. Town Manager’s Report

8. APPOINTMENTS

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

11. ADJOURNMENT
2012- 3 ORDER −
To Adjourn

12. WORKSHOP
A. Strategic Planning

This must be where they are going to figure out how to put the people's wishes, to vote on the Town's Budget, into play.  Some one should give a cow to the the Town Office, at least they would have a product to sell with all the milking going on!!!

President Obama Signs Indefinite Detention Bill Into Law

WASHINGTON – President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law today. The statute contains a sweeping worldwide indefinite detention provision.  While President Obama issued a signing statement saying he had “serious reservations” about the provisions, the statement only applies to how his administration would use the authorities granted by the NDAA, and would not affect how the law is interpreted by subsequent administrations.  The White House had threatened to veto an earlier version of the NDAA, but reversed course shortly before Congress voted on the final bill.

“President Obama's action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law,” said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director. “The statute is particularly dangerous because it has no temporal or geographic limitations, and can be used by this and future presidents to militarily detain people captured far from any battlefield.  The ACLU will fight worldwide detention authority wherever we can, be it in court, in Congress, or internationally.”

Under the Bush administration, similar claims of worldwide detention authority were used to hold even a U.S. citizen detained on U.S. soil in military custody, and many in Congress now assert that the NDAA should be used in the same way again. The ACLU believes that any military detention of American citizens or others within the United States is unconstitutional and illegal, including under the NDAA. In addition, the breadth of the NDAA’s detention authority violates international law because it is not limited to people captured in the context of an actual armed conflict as required by the laws of war.

“We are incredibly disappointed that President Obama signed this new law even though his administration had already claimed overly broad detention authority in court,” said Romero. “Any hope that the Obama administration would roll back the constitutional excesses of George Bush in the war on terror was extinguished today. Thankfully, we have three branches of government, and the final word belongs to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the scope of detention authority. But Congress and the president also have a role to play in cleaning up the mess they have created because no American citizen or anyone else should live in fear of this or any future president misusing the NDAA’s detention authority.”

The bill also contains provisions making it difficult to transfer suspects out of military detention, which prompted FBI Director Robert Mueller to testify that it could jeopardize criminal investigations.  It also restricts the transfers of cleared detainees from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to foreign countries for resettlement or repatriation, making it more difficult to close Guantanamo, as President Obama pledged to do in one of his first acts in office.

 http://www.aclu.org/national-security/president-obama-signs-indefinite-detention-bill-law

Happy New Year 2012!

Kenny G - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Casting Crowns: I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

From Casting Crowns Christmas-CD called Peace On Earth.
A fantastic song with a very relevant and touching story.

Celine Dion - Don't save it all for christmas Day

Dick Van Dyke - Twas The Night Before Christmas

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire By Michael Buble

Johnny Mathis - We Need A Little Christmas

There I am Done... Got the Tree Up!!!

Whew! It was a lot of work but I'm done...got the tree up.
Nothing like that fresh pine smell during the holidays!

White Christmas -- Elvis Presley

Temptations - Silent Night

Smooth Christmas Jazz

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" - Rascal Flatts Official Music Video

CELINE DION - SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS

A Soldier's Christmas

Lisbon What Ails You People??? Send In The Clowns!!! Believe It Or Not You Have Enough!

Lisbon
 
Believe it or not, it's time for another
presidential election in the US.
 
Less than a year from now we'll know
who the "winner" is. 
 
If you'd to follow the campaign in detail - 
the good, the bad, the ugly, and the 
ridiculous - here's a new video channel 
I strongly recommend.
 
I guarantee subscribing will give you more
insight and depth of knowledge on the 
race than you'll get from watching any 
20 news channels.
 
First topic...a feature lampooning one of
the great ego manics in American history. 
 
If you like it, please share it. That's how
we grow.

Lisbon Community School Student Council‏

LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL LEARN LIFE LESSONS AT LACO

Student Council members of Lisbon Community School met with L.A.C.O. co-director, Carol Day to learn about resources available in our town for those who need assistance.  Pictured (l-r) Levi Levesque, Ryan Patrie, LCS Assistant Principal, Carol Day, Lindsay Huston, Peyton Gosselin and Emma DiGregorio. The Lisbon Community Student Councilors who participated in the tour include Vanessa Bussiere, Grace Tibbetts, Devin Wordell, Emily St. Pierre, Kristian Grover, Joey Frederick, Charlee Cox, Timber Mattson, Zekeriah Mason, Carolyn Shane, Giana Russo, Rebecca Budesheim and Sean Spaulding.  FMI on the programs offered at L.A.C.O. residents are invited to contact Day at 353-8019 or email patab@myfairpoint.net.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

Lisbon – Members of the Lisbon Community School Student Council participated in an out-of-the classroom learning opportunity on Tuesday, December 20.  Thanks to the assistance of Mrs. Carol Day, co-director of The Lisbon Area Christian Outreach (L.A.C.O.) program, students along with LCS Assistant Principal / Student Council Advisor, Ryan Patrie and Community Resource Coordinator, Monica Millhime, members were given a tour of the Marion T. Morse Community Building at 16 School Street in Lisbon Falls.    Students are embarking on a series of community visits around Lisbon as part of their Student Council regularly scheduled after school meetings. 

Mrs. Day shared the food pantry is open to anyone in need who resides in the towns of Bowdoin, Durham and Lisbon.   L.A.C.O. food pantry operates through the generous giving of local volunteers from seven area churches.  Hours of operation are Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.  Residents wishing to visit the food panty for assistance are asked to fill out an application and must show two forms of identification, a photo ID ( i.e. driver’s license) and a utility bill, etc., providing proof of address.  Students in the Lisbon community have supported the food panty with food drives throughout the school year and assist with stocking and organizing. 

The clothing bank is open to anyone free of charge.  Donations of clothing or bedding can be dropped off when the clothing bank and food pantry are open.   Items also may be left in the plastic bins outside the entrance to the food pantry and clothing bank at the rear of the MTM Center.  Fall and winter clothing items are currently being accepted.  LACO members would like to thank the students and staff of the Lisbon schools, the LHS Interact Club, Boy Scouts, Post Office, and all the other organizations and individuals who donate food, clothing, money or volunteer time for these programs.

Lisbon Community School Celebrated College for ME Day‏

LISBON CLASS OF 2024 CELEBRATE COLLEGE DAY

Lisbon – The students and staff at Lisbon Community School celebrated College for ME Day on December 2 by wearing college t-shirts and hearing about what college had meant to their classroom teachers. “The hallways were decorated with pendants organized by our Assistant Principal, Ryan Patrie.  Pendants depicted the various colleges attended by the adults in the building,” shared Principal Carlene Iverson.   “Throughout the event students were encouraged to think about continuing their own aspirations after high school.  Each kindergarten student received a t-shirt featuring logos from all of the colleges and universities in Androscoggin County, as well as their year of high school graduation, 2024.”   Several students and staff who assisted with the program proudly wore their favorite college shirts and helped to make this day a success.  FMI on other events and programs for Lisbon Schools visit www.lisbonschoolsme.org or email mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org or call 754.0021.  Like us on Facebook at Community Resource News in Lisbon Schools.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

LCS Junior Volunteer Delivers Good Cheer‏

LCS Junior Volunteers Delivers Good Cheer

Lisbon – One of Lisbon Community School (LCS) recently trained junior volunteer’s, Carolyn Shane, assisted the LCS PTO group with their annual Craft Night and Cooke Swap on Friday, December 16.  After the event, Miss Shane volunteered to  deliver cookies to the residents at the Lamp Alzheimer’s Facility in Lisbon.   Residents and employees of the facility were delighted with the gift of cookies.  LCS PTO would like to thank everyone who donated cookies and appreciates the volunteer efforts of Carolyn and her mom, Pam, making the delivery.  FMI on joining the PTO group contact President, Angela Shambarger by emailing AShambarger@une.edu.  Check out the events and other programs in Lisbon by visiting the Community Resource News in Lisbon Schools on Facebook. 

Maine Ethics Investigation Request (Christian Civic League)‏

Please see attached (with the text only below), the signed letter I have submitted to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices (Maine Ethics Commission) today.

 

I am requesting an investigation of the Christian Civic League of Maine’s Christian Action League (doing business as “Marriage Matters in Maine”) political action committee (PAC). 

 

My request is specifically regarding an e-mail alert/call to action sent November 4, 2011 (also below), which requested support of then Maine House District 24 Republican candidate (now State Representative) Raymond Wallace.

 

Please contact me for any further on-the-record comment on this request.  Attached are images I own that can be used for publication with my express permission. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Hein

(207) 485-3396

michael.g.hein@gmail.com 

 

 

 

December 21, 2011

 

State of Maine

Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices

Attn: Jonathan Wayne, Executive Director

135 State House Station

Augusta, Maine 04333-0135

 

Dear Mr. Wayne,

 

I request the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices begin an investigation regarding the Christian Civic League of Maine’s political action committee (PAC), the Christian Action League (doing business as “Marriage Matters in Maine”).

 

Specifically, the organization sent an e-mail alert on November 4, 2011, ahead of the Special Election in Maine House District 24 last month.  The e-mail, sent to hundreds of Maine residents and the media, stated the following: 

Unashamed Christian candidate urgently needs your help

 

Ray Wallace, an unashamed Christian candidate running for House District 24, needs your help to distribute campaign literature Saturday morning.

 

The liberals are aggressively going after him and this seat which serves the people of Athens, Charleston, Dexter, Garland, Harmony and Ripley. It would be a great blessing if other Christians will rise to help.

 

Date: Saturday, November 5th, 9 am

Meeting Location: Noah’s Landing

Route 7/16 Russ Street

Dexter, ME 04930-1509

 

Christian Civic League Board member Matt Boucher will be there lending a hand. If you have questions, please contact Shawn Roderick at shawnroderick@hotmail.com

 

Please keep Ray in your prayers. 

The e-mail text was subsequently reported upon at: http://ericrussell.bangordailynews.com/2011/11/05/faith-and-the-race-for-maines-house-district-24-seat/ and http://www.dirigoblue.com/2011/11/cclm-playing-the-victim-card-in-the-house-district-24-special-election/

 

There is no recording of this in-kind contribution of time, effort and resources by the Christian Civic League of Maine’s PAC, nor of any receipt of this in-kind contribution by the Republican candidate, Raymond Wallace, on his recently filed 11 Day Pre-Election HD 24 Report.

 

The inclusion of “…needs your help…” twice in the e-mail alert specifies that this is a call to action and endorsement of the candidate, which should necessitate inclusion of the e-mail alert/call to action on the organization’s PAC report and the candidate’s filings (if the candidate was aware of the e-mail alert/call to action).

 

The organization, by definition, spent money to promote the candidate (even if only a nominal amount) and used paid staff time to promote the candidate.

The inclusion of this paragraph: “Christian Civic League Board member Matt Boucher will be there lending a hand. If you have questions, please contact Shawn Roderick at shawnroderick@hotmail.com” would indicate coordination between the organization (and thus, the PAC) and the candidate’s campaign.

 

The Commission should inquire with the candidate as to whether he knew of the event and who paid for the material that was present at the event.  I have no knowledge of whether this was the case, and I did not participate in the event.  I was on the distribution list for the e-mail alert/call to action and did receive it by e-mail.

 

Please contact me with any questions you may have of me regarding this request for the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to begin an investigation.  Thank you in advance for your assistance on this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael G. Hein

43B Green Street

Augusta, Maine 04330

(207) 485-3396

michael.g.hein@gmail.com

Recap of Tuesday's Town Council Meeting 12202011

RECAP DECEMBER 20

At last night’s town council meeting, Chairman LaRochelle conducted an excellent meeting.  The meeting went as usual.  Below is a summary of what took place.

 Really this is Fern LaRochelle!!!

According to LaRochelle, the taxpayers will NOT be voting on this year’s municipal budget because there is not sufficient time to change the charter.  Apparently, the opinions of the people are not a priority of this town council.  There is a way, the people, can accomplish this change and that is by signing a citizens petition and forcing the town council to take action in time to vote on this year’s municipal budget.  The question is where or not the people will get off their couches to sign the petition and then come out and vote on the petition enabling the people to vote on each department of the municipal budget?

Another question asked of the council is to have all line items pertaining to the different departments be placed in the department in which they apply.  An example in last year’s budget Police Liability Insurance was under General Government Insurance instead of the Police Department budget or Street Light/Hydrant Rental currently under the Public Works Department instead of General Government.  The purpose of a budget is to outline the total operating cost.  It is impossible to determine the total operating cost of each department if the line items are scattered all over the budget.  This is a normal method of hiding costs and does not allow for determining the total operating cost of a department in order to eliminate excessive spending.

 

The Planning board asked why the board had not seen the 2012-2013 Capital Improvement Budget prior to it being presented to the town council.  This is a requirement of the town charter so the town council tabled any action until the Planning Board had an opportunity to review it.

Again, the question was asked why the agenda for workshops was never posted to the town web site for the people to know what is going on.  It is clearly understood the public cannot participate in any discussions during a workshop but they will have an opportunity to see which councilors are recommend what changes.  This is critical in decision making come November during elections.

 There was a question on the Western Maine Transportation problem.  The town manager gave a briefing as to what has been done up to this point.  There was no resolution but there is a good possibility a solution has been found.

 Town Attorney Catching sum $150/hr plus winks. Your

Tax Dollars At Work!!!

  There was no Executive Session announced by the town manager at the meeting.  No explanation was giving because the town attorney was there.  As indicated on the Lisbon Reporter, the attorney was asleep so possibly they did not want to wake him.  Keep in mind; the taxpayer's had to pay for his siesta.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Lisbon Residents, Listen Up!!! Didn't You Vote And Say Unanimously That You Wanted To Vote On The Town Budget?

 Here's the wording all ready done by esquire.

"Section 6.04 (d) 1 is hereby deleted and the following new Section 6.04 is adopted.


(d) Adoptions:

                  1. Town Budget.  The final vote on the Town Budget shall be taken by the Council on or before the Budget as passed by the Town Council shall go to a Budget Referendum on or before  Tuesday May 8, 2012.  The vote at the Budget Referendum shall be taken for each Department of the Town as separate items.

            The Town shall provide printed information to be displayed at polling places to assist voters in voting.  This information is limited to the Budget approved by the Council for each Department.


            If the voters do not validate the budget approved by the Council at the Budget Referendum, the Council shall hold another budget meeting at least 10 days after the Referendum to vote on a new budget.

            The budget approved at this budget meeting must then be submitted to the voter for validation at Referendum in accordance with this Section.

            The process must be repeated until a budget is approved by the Council and validated at Referendum.  If the budget is not approved, the budget for the prior year shall become the budget to be implemented on a month-to-month basis until such time as the final budget is approved."

But your Town Clowns aren't having anything to do with it.  So just take out a petition get 25 or what ever it is of qualified signers and turn this into them at the next town council meeting and jam it down their throats!  A Citizen's initiative takes precedence and the Town Council has NO say in it..... Save Yourselves $$$

Anonymous said...

Again, please do some research before you make false statements. Yes the overwhelming majority voted for the Advisory Referendum--close to 4 to 1 for the measure. But you state it was unanimous. Either you need a dictionary or a simple visit to the towns webpage to find the results for elections going back to June 2008. I beg you, please stop and do some fact checking before you post "articles". Thank you,

December 22, 2011 10:42 PM

Lisbon Concerned Citizens said...

We humbly bow down to you as you have brought out a very analytical view of the point we were emphasizing. Majority of the dike has broken, and Majority would have been a better choice of wording. Shalom

December 24, 2011 12:16 PM