Professional Deception Of Town Funds Lisbon Style OR Gross Mismanagement? Both?

MORE MONEY UNCOVERED

The master of hiding money from the people is none other than the Chief of Police, David T. Brooks. It is a shame he cannot find money like our $32,500 misappropriated from the town but he sure can hide it from the citizens of Lisbon. During his presentation on the Consolidation of the Communication Center, Brooks openly admitted line items for the communication center were placed under different departments in the budget. The cost for communication center personnel, telephone, software, repair & maintenance and supplies was scattered in other places within the budget in order to disguise the actual cost of operating the police department.

After reviewing the school budget for this year, there was an interesting abnormality discovered. It seems the school is required to pay the two Student Resource Officers assigned to the school department. According to the Superintendent of School, Richard Green, these Lisbon Police officers perform critical tasks such as cyber bulling and handle family crises. These two officers are on the staff of the Lisbon Police Department and are performing police duties. Mr. Green stated these officers are a critical entity of the school system.

Now comes the rub, the School Department is required to pay 75% of these officers salary. Why should the school department pay anything for these officers? These officers are members of the 14 officers of the Lisbon Police Department and are performing police duties in the schools. Just because these officers duty assignment is in the school does not justify making the school department pay 75% of their salary. This is just another way for Brooks to hide more money from the people of Lisbon. Brooks does everything he can to conceal the true operating cost of the police department.

Honesty would go a long ways to improving communications in this town. The people have a right to know where their money is going and what the true cost of operating each department is. How can anyone see where to cut spending if all the costs are not located in their right places? This is yet another prime example of mismanagement by our town officials.

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen

ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER TRAIL HAPPY TRAILS OR WHITE ELEPHANT?

ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER TRAIL
 
HAPPY TRAILS OR WHITE ELEPHANT?

On November 4, 2009 Town of Lisbon residents went to the polls and voted to approve a bond in the amount of $320,000.00.

This $320,000.00 is the town’s share of $1,600,000.00 to build a trail continuing from the present trail at the Sabattus River Bridge on Route 196 and Frost Hill Avenue, UNDER the Sabattus River Bridge, over several sections of wetlands, cross the railroad TWICE, pass right under the kitchen windows of property owners on Davis Street.

More than 2 ½ years and how many dollars later and the project still
has not gotten off the ground. The town is still waiting for approvals
from the Army Corp of Engineers and Maine DEP.

At a January 24, 2012 Council workshop, Town Engineer Ryan Leighton said we still need to obtain the necessary permits, get easements from property owners, decide if the town will hire a contractor to oversee the project or act as our own contractor, which would mean hiring a Licensed Professional Engineer and additional workers at the Public Works Department.

Why hire another Engineer?

We are a long way from even beginning work.

Councilor Bowie laughingly said if the homeowners won’t sign easements maybe the town could use Eminent Domain.

 Keep Praying Mike Bowie, You And Brother Dale Have A  Lot of Sins To Undue!

Would Mr. Bowie want people walking under his kitchen window?

Would Mr. Eldridge want people walking under his windows?

Mr. Noyes Lawrence is a big proponent of the Androscoggin River Trail.

Would he want people walking under his windows?

We are paying $16,000 a year on a bond for a project they are nowhere
near ready to begin! ! ! !

How much has already been spent??????

Will those coming from other towns to walk our beautiful trails,
spend any money here? Support our local businesses? (Other than at Hogie’s Hot Dogs? No offense Frank. )

Eat at our restaurants? Shop at Food City, Rite Aid, Family Dollar?

WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY FOR SO LITTLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT??????

Dot Fitzgerald
Lisbon Concerned Citizen

Brasscheck TV: War Is A Racket - Phil Donahue on the foreign policy of a warrior nation (anti-war, campaign 2012, CNN, iran, Phil Donahue, Piers Morgan, Ron Paul, war)‏

Lisbon,
 
Phil Donahue, an American media personality, writer, and film
producer best known as the creator and host of 'The Phil Donahue
Show', was interviewed recently and had some very common sense
arguments against the next war.
 
"You can hear the drums in the background," says Phil as we listen
to any one of the Presidential candidates on the campaign trail.
"You can't use an anti-war platform to get elected, so maybe that
explains why it's so easy for us to go to war." 
 
Phil's right, but I certainly hope he's wrong...
 
Video:
 
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/9142.html
 
Goodman Green
- Brasscheck

 Phil Donahue on the foreign policy
of a warrior nation

The Iranian oil embargo:
does this mean war?

The Guardian
The decision to impose an EU oil embargo on Iran, agreed on Monday by European foreign ministers, sets a potential bomb ticking, timed to detonate on 1 July.

On that day, according to the package of measures on the table in Brussels, Europe will stop importing oil from Iran, about a fifth of the country's total exports. At about the same time, US sanctions targeted at the global financing of Iran's oil trade will also kick in. Iran could still export some of its oil to Asia, but at big discounts.

Unlike previous sanctions on Iran, the oil embargo would hit almost all citizens and represent a threat to the regime. Tehran has long said such actions would represent a declaration of war, and there are legal experts in the west who agree.

The threat of an immediate clash in the Gulf appeared to recede over the weekend when the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier and its task force, including the British frigate HMS Argyll and a French warship, travelled through the strait of Hormuz without incident. This was despite warnings earlier this month from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it would oppose the return of a US carrier to the region.

But tensions are almost certain to build again as the effective date of the oil sanctions approaches. The US has already begun beefing up its military presence in the region, and the IRGC is planning new naval war games next month. Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi told the Fars news agency earlier this month that the upcoming exercises, codenamed "the Great Messenger", would be different from previous war games, without going into detail.

Read more here

Excessive Spending Lisbon Style

EXCESSIVE SPENDING

Check out the article below and then explain to the people of Lisbon why our town manager received an annual salary of $86,749 according to the 2009-2010 Lisbon Annual Report.  Also, since then Eldridge has received a 1.75% increase in his salary.

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/contract-okd-for-skowhegan-town-manager_2012-01-25.html

According to this article, the Skowhegan Selectman just renewed the town managers contract for another three year period.  His salary for the coming year will be $66,837.  This is for a town loaded with businesses such as  SAPPI Fine Paper, New Balance Shoe, Howard P. Fairfield and Redington Fairview General Hospital just to name a few.  Skowhegan’s population is approximately 8,500.  This community is growing rapidly. 

Now, compare the communities of Skowhegan and Lisbon.  See if you can explain why Lisbon’s town manager is receiving $19,912 plus dollars more than Skowhegan town manager for a community losing revenue from businesses closing.  

 If you still do not get it, then look at your tax bill and ask yourself why is it so high?  The answer is inflated salaries and excessive spending. 


As long as Lisbon keeps this council in place to protect these ridiculously inflated salaries and continue their excessive spending, your taxes will continue to climb higher and higher.

On another note, this council is not planning on allowing the people to vote on any municipal budget.  Bowie is going to do everything in his power to protect Brooks and his inflated budget.  Since he is the puppet master, and no other councilor dares to cross him, the police budget is safe.  I think it is time for a special town meeting to vote on this year’s municipal budget.  Since there were over 2,000 voters in Lisbon, who want to vote on the municipal budget you would think the council would make this their number one priority honoring the people’s wishes but instead they are plotting to find ways to prevent this from happening.   Brooks knows if the people vote on this year’s budget they will cut his budget deeply and he cannot afford this to happen.

 

 How 'bout it Councilor Bickford & New Councilor Ward, Do You Support The People's Wishes to Vote on the Town Budget?

If you want to vote on this year’s budget, please contact Mrs. Dot Fitzgerald at 353-9306.  Dot is going to take the lead on this.
 
Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Brasschecktv: War Is A Racket USS Enterprise, Possible False Flag? (false flag, iran, Israel, USS Enterprise, war)

Lisbon,
 
False flag operations are covert operations conducted by
governments, which are designed to deceive the public in such a way
that the operations appear as if they are being carried out by an
enemy.
 
Basically, it is a way for governments to 'play victim' in order to
mask their own aggression.
 
History is replete with such operations, but it's getting harder
and harder for governments to conduct false flag operations because
they've run the play over and over again.
 
People are paying more attention now, and we've seen it before...
 
Video:
 
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/9122.html
 
Goodman Green
- Brasscheck

 USS Enterprise, possible false flag?

 

False Flag Terrorism

WantToKnow.info

"False flag terrorism" occurs when elements within a government stage a secret operation whereby government forces pretend to be a targeted enemy while attacking their own forces or people. The attack is then falsely blamed on the enemy in order to justify going to war against that enemy. Or as Wikipedia defines it:

False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear as if they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is, flying the flag of a country other than one's own. False flag operations are not limited to war and counter-insurgency operations, and have been used in peace-time; for example, during Italy's strategy of tension.

The term comes from the old days of wooden ships, when one ship would hang the flag of its enemy before attacking another ship in its own navy. Because the enemy's flag was hung instead of the flag of the real country of the attacking ship, it was called a "false flag" attack.

There are many examples of false flag attacks throughout history. For example, it is widely known that the Nazis, in Operation Himmler, faked attacks on their own people and resources which they blamed on the Poles, to justify the invasion of Poland. And it has now been persuasively argued — as shown, for example, in this History Channel video — that Nazis set fire to their own parliament, the Reichstag, and blamed that fire on others. The Reichstag fire was the watershed event which justified Hitler's seizure of power and suspension of liberties.

And in the early 1950s, agents of an Israeli terrorist cell operating in Egypt planted bombs in several buildings, including U.S. diplomatic facilities, then left behind "evidence" implicating the Arabs as the culprits (one of the bombs detonated prematurely, allowing the Egyptians to identify the bombers). Israel's Defense Minister was brought down by the scandal, along with the entire Israeli government.

The Russian KGB apparently conducted a wave of bombings in Russia in order to justify war against Chechnya and put Vladimir Putin into power (see also this essay and this report). And the Turkish government has been caught bombing its own and blaming it on a rebel group to justify a crackdown on that group. Muslim governments also play this game. For example, the well-respected former Indonesian president claimed that their government had a role in the Bali bombings.

This sounds nuts, right? You've never heard of this "false flag terrorism," where a government attacks its own people then blames others in order to justify its goals, right? And you are skeptical of the statements discussed above? Please take a look at these historical quotes:

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." - U.S. President James Madison

"Why of course the people don't want war ... But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship ... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Hermann Goering, Nazi leader.

Continue reading here

Lisbon PWS Geography Club‏

Lisbon - On Wednesday, January 11, ten students participated in the initial
round of the National Geographic Bee at Philip W. Sugg Middle School in
Lisbon Falls. Ciera Miller took first place in the competition and is
looking to qualify for the State Level Bee to be held in March. Second
place went to Jacob Fusaro. Both winners were provided with certificates,
medals, and gift cards for Books-a-Million. Ciera also won a full-color
reference book to further her studies in geography and social sciences.
 
Ms. Amy Kissell, seventh grade English language arts / social studies
teacher, was the Bee coordinator and advisor for the group, practicing and
studying for the competition in the previous weeks and months after school.
 
"All of the members of the PWS Geography Bee worked very hard in preparation
for the school level National Geographic Bee. It was really fun to see their
efforts pay off as they answered many challenging questions correctly in the
multiple rounds of competition. I'm so proud of everyone who challenged
themselves to participate," shared Kissell.
 
 

Pictured(l-r):Back row: Ms. Kissell, Cody Richard, Paige D'Amboise, Melinda
Durgin, Jeremy Pelligrini; front row: Jake Angelico, Ciera Miller, Jacob
Fusaro. Not available for photo Jordan Cole, Noah Bainiskas, Ali Sult.

FMI on other events and programs email mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org or call
754.0021. Like us on Facebook at Community Resource News in Lisbon Schools.

Lisbon Community School Presents Get Up & Grow!‏

Members of the fourth grade at Lisbon Community School are busy rehearsing for their Annual Drama production. Working under the director Laurie Adams,  students will be ready when the curtain goes up opening night on Friday, February 3.   Pictured (l-r) David Poulin, Charlee Cox, Carolyn Shane, Abby Lebel, Lena Couture, Destinee Miller, Megan Ross, Aubrey Huntington, Siara Martin, Elise Smith, Eva Deveau, Jack Tibbetts.  Not available for photo Katie Scroggins.  Photo by Pamela Shane.

Lisbon - Lisbon Community Schools' Drama Club will be performing “Get Up and Grow” a play in a day on anti-bullying by Jill and Michael Gallina. The inspirational play in a day encourages the children to grow up healthy and with good values. Members of the LCS and PWS staff, the LCS Parent Teachers Organization along with the student’s parents and community volunteers assisted with the production.  Curtain goes up in the LCS Cafetorium, 33 Mill Street in Lisbon on Friday, February 3 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, February 4 at 1 p.m.  Donations accepted at the door.  FMI call 353.4132 or visit us on Facebook at Community Resource News in Lisbon Schools or email mmillhime@lisbonschoolsme.org.

Sugg Middle School Girls Basketball‏

Winthrop traveled to Lisbon
 
7th grade
 
Lisbon 42 Winthrop 16
 
Lisbon 
Kipri Steele and Hayley Wheeler 10 points
Kaylin Le 8 points
 
 
Winthrop
 
Haley Stoneton 8
 
 
 
 
 
8th grade 
 
Lisbon 51 Winthrop 27
 
Lisbon
Adrianna White 24 points
Bree Sautter with 6 points
 
Winthrop
 
Abby Abbott 14 points
 
Sarah Smith 5 points
 
Lisbon Plays away at Cony Thursday 1/26
Lisbon Plays Home vs Monmouth 1/27
 

Town Council Busted: Last night, the Town Council Held It's First And Hopefully It's Last Secretive Workshop

SECRETIVE WORKSHOP

Last night, the Town Council held its first and hopefully its last secretive workshop.  This event was not published on the town web site but was on the sign board in front of the town office.  The calendar had no entry but the workshop was held.  Workshops are supposed to be open to the public and this one was because Mrs. Fitzgerald and I showed up because we do not trust this town council.  Both Dot and I check the town web site daily in order to stay on top of what is going on in this town.

 

 Roger Therriault

 "Finally he was able to stay awake and do a presentation!"

The Town Attorney, Roger Therriault, finished up his Councilor Orientation.  The information he put out was very enlightening but unfortunately fell on deaf ears.  Here are some of the items covered:

a.    There are no limitations on workshops.
b.    The purpose of workshops is to gather information. 
c.    Workshops should have a published agenda along with the documents (handouts being discussed)
d.    The council can take comments from the public.
e.    Can take polls but no voting.
f.    Discussed Ethic and conflict of interest.
g.    Avoid the perception of any conflict of interest.
h.    All decisions must be based on “fair and equitable facts”
i.    Discussed the Charter
j.    Discuss the “Home Rule”
k.    Municipal’s has the power to do whatever that is not explicitly stated by the state.
l.    Charter is the rules and regulations of how the council should operate.
m.    Urged the councilors to read the chapter on “Separation of Power”
n.    How to change the Charter.
1.    The council can prepare amendments.
2.    Establish a Charter Commission
3.    Petition by the people.
4.    All of the above must be voted on by the people.

It would be nice if this council would adhere to the attorney and start publishing the agenda and placing the handouts on the web site prior to the workshop like is done for their meetings.  Also, taking input from the public at workshops would go a long ways to gather information which is the purpose of a workshop.

Next the Town Engineer, E. Ryan Leighton, wanted to discuss the closing of numerous roads in order to cut spending and save money.  I was not provided the handouts so I cannot publish what roads were discussed.  At the end of the discussion, it was determined the council would select one road to use as a test to ensure the process was good.  They also needed to get information from the Assessor on what impact this would have on the property value.  Mr. Leighton stated there is no significant saving short term but possibly long term.

The next topic Mr. Leighton discussed was the Androscoggin River Trail project.   This project was bonded several years ago by the people.  The project has not moved very much and cannot move ahead until the Army Corps of Engineers approve the project.  Then there is another hurdle to be overcome and that is putting the project out to bid.  But the most significant fact that came out is the town will have to hire a real engineer to oversee the project.  This is a “Licensed Professional Engineer” which Mr. Leighton is not but is receiving a salary equal to a Licensed Professional Engineer.  This is additional expense to the town which is paid by the taxpayers.
Why doesn’t the town hire a Licensed Professional Engineer if we are going to continue spending these taxpayers’ dollars on an engineer? 

 

Were You Listening?

 I hope the Town Council will take the guidance of the town attorney and make the adjustments to the procedures of the workshop.  I believe it will benefit the council and make workshops more productive.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

Study Shows Reduction in Public-Sector Union Enrollment Would Save Maine Taxpayers $263 Million Per Year‏

STUDY: Reduction in Public-Sector Union Enrollment Would Save Maine Taxpayers $263 Million Per Year 

 

 

Bloated State Employee Wages More Than Double the Amount

Needed to Fill the DHHS Budget Shortfall

 

PORTLAND – A study released this week by the Goldwater Institute details the crippling financial impact of public-sector unionization, and shows that a 50% reduction in Maine’s public-sector union membership would save taxpayers $263 million a year. This savings would more than double the amount needed to fill the current shortfall in the Health and Human Services budget.

 

The Goldwater study cites information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows state employee wages are 44% higher than private sector wages. Further study shows that unionized state employees nationwide earn 42% more than state employees that don’t belong to a union. A 50% decrease in union membership across the nation is estimated to save taxpayers over $49 billion annually, and $263 million in Maine alone.

 

The study also notes a study from the Kennedy School at Harvard University, showing an increase in interest cost to states with high public-sector union membership:

“The study’s authors note that union strength in a particular level of government…can indicate to bond markets that those governments may not be able to overcome the political pressure to implement budget-conscious measures when necessary.

 

“Those states with a more heavily unionized government sector tended to have higher borrowing costs relative to other states with a less unionized government sector."

 

“This study reinforces what Franklin Roosevelt told us more than 70 years ago – that the concept of public-sector unions is ‘unthinkable and intolerable’,” said Lance Dutson, Chief Executive Officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center. “Maine taxpayers have been squeezed dry by public-sector unions. The very money that is taken from the pockets of working Mainers is used to reinforce their political stature in government, which allows them to squeeze more money from taxpayers. All of this is untenable, especially in light of recent budget developments."

 

“The taxpayers of Maine have a strong willingness to help the least-fortunate among us, but state workers are not our least fortunate,” Dutson continued. “With the threat of cuts to our social safety net, the travesty of bloated union wages is especially poignant. It’s time to face the facts: public-sector unions drain precious resources away from Maine’s sick, elderly, and poor. Allowing this to continue in Maine is unacceptable, and we hope the legislature will take appropriate action to correct this terrible imbalance of priorities.”

 

The full study is available here: http://goldwaterinstitute.org/article/save-taxpayers-tens-billions-dollars-end-government-sector-collective-bargaining

Maine Christian Civic League PAC Violation Determination This Morning‏

The Maine Ethics Commission voted this morning (about an hour ago) 2 - 2 to find no violation of PAC reporting on the part of the Christian Civic League of Maine's Christian Action League PAC ('doing business as' Marriage Matters in Maine' currently) in their 42-day Post-election report from last month.  McKee (who proposed the motion) and Amero voted for this motion and Duchette and Matheson voted against it (Commissioner Healy was not present at the meeting).

 

The Commission then motioned and voted 2 - 2 to find a violation by the League's PAC in their PAC reporting, with Duchette and Matheson voting for this motion and McKee and Amero voting against it.

 

The Commission's initial staff recommendation to the Commissioners was to not take any action on my complaint/request.  After the Commissioners asked questions of me, then Conley, Jr. (Executive Director of the League), then State Rep. Ray Wallace, Jonathan Wayne (Ethics Commission Executive Director) amended his staff recommendation to ask the Commissioners to make a decision upon my complaint/request (reversing his initial recommendation).

 

The Commission's staff verifed afterward for me that the end result of these decisions will be for the Christian Civic League of Maine to be forced to publicly amend their most recent Marriage Matters in Maine PAC reports, and the Commission's staff will report back to the Commissioners at their next meeting as to what additional 'corrective action,' if any, was taken by the League due to their PAC violation(s).

 

Susan Cover (of the Kennebec Journal) and Susan Sharon (of Maine Public Broadcasting) were in attendance, along with a camera crew from WMTW (Channel 8 - ABC).

 

Mike Hein

Augusta

207-485-3396

National Christian leaders support Maine Christians stand for natural marriage and religious freedom‏

Christian Civic League of ME

70 Sewall St. Augusta, ME 04330
Carroll L. Conley, Jr. Executive Director, (207) 659-6447, clcll@yahoo.com

Carroll Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League.

National Christian leaders support Maine Christians stand for natural marriage and religious freedom

January 25, 2012.  A coalition of nearly 40 national mainline and evangelical leaders stand with Maine Christians who believe that natural marriage between a man and a woman and religious freedom are inseparable.

Their open letter released last week, clearly states that religious freedom for all Americans hangs on a Christian’s ability to uphold Church doctrine and Scripture concerning marriage.

“Unnatural marriage, as seen in cases across the country, will curtail religious freedom.  If unnatural marriage is put on the referendum, then all Mainers who trust that their government will uphold religious freedom will, once again, come to the voting booth to keep our current marriage laws.

Our Founding Fathers recognized and created protections for God-given individual rights and freedoms.  Removing Judeo-Christian values from our legal system brings America closer to becoming a secular society like Europe is becoming and China already is,” said Carroll Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League.

Another Lisbon Citizen Questions Use Of Town Funds

Now that the FIREHOUSE CAFE is closed. There are strong rumors that TOWN ECONOMIC  money$$$ was given or loan to them. How much money was given to them? In the past ten years HOW MUCH money has been given to FAILED BUSINESSES?? THIS is your and my $$ BUT we are told  this is PRIVILEGED info? Last year 2010  there was Maria store in the village who business model was unclear, This was another Economic Development  investment. Where is the accountability for decisions giving away our MONEY?

      Please let me know??!!

 

  VERY FRUSTRATED LISBON TAXPAYER

A MUST LISTEN -- EVERYBODY‏: Mitch Daniels Response To State Of The Union: Text & Video

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is giving the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

(Click here to read the president's prepared remarks. Click here for live blog coverage of the event.)
Below, Daniels' remarks as prepared for delivery, which were posted on House Speaker John Boehner's website ahead of the governor's speech.

"The status of 'loyal opposition' imposes on those out of power some serious responsibilities: to show respect for the Presidency and its occupant, to express agreement where it exists. Republicans tonight salute our President, for instance, for his aggressive pursuit of the murderers of 9/11, and for bravely backing long overdue changes in public education. I personally would add to that list admiration for the strong family commitment that he and the First Lady have displayed to a nation sorely needing such examples. 

"On these evenings, Presidents naturally seek to find the sunny side of our national condition. But when President Obama claims that the state of our union is anything but grave, he must know in his heart that this is not true.

Read more plus the transcript here.

Submitted by:  C C BONDERMANN

You Sure They're Not Talking About Lisbon? theMaineWIRE: MaineHousing Board Meeting: Security Detail and The Great Wall of Boxes

MaineHousing Board Meeting: Security Detail and The Great Wall of Boxes

by Terrilyn Simpson

It was high jinks and raucous theater — from the feigned insecurity of the security detail to Dale’s Great Wall of Boxes. The orchestration unfolded before the press — with McCormick in the lead role, as star, director and producer.

It was the January board of commissioners meeting at the Maine State Housing Authority — and MSHA Director Dale McCormick had set the stage. To start with, she’d addressed the eighth item on the agenda to intimidate and control just as visitors got feet through the door.

There had been complaints previously that visitors were not being allowed unhindered access to public meetings at MaineHousing — allowed by law. At a former board meeting, legally categorized as open to the public — which includes press — visitors were made to remain in the crowded lobby until after the meeting started. They were then ushered upstairs to the meeting room, where they were seated, or left standing when the chairs ran out, at a far end of the conference room, under an overhang which made hearing the proceedings difficult.

At a subsequent meeting, friendly members of the press were ushered in early; those who had scrutinized, in print, McCormick’s running of the agency were forced to wait — with a staff member threatening, in one instance, to have a questioner of the heavy-handed tactics removed by the police if another question was raised. At a later meeting, where press was denied access, and a MSHA security officer was asked why, the response echoed what had clearly been established as the attitude of MSHA Central — “It’s an invitation only meeting.” Since that had been very much the attitude demonstrated by MSHA officials overall, regarding both meetings and public records, it was difficult to determine how this particular invitation-only meeting should be legally categorized.

Follow more here.

This is lovely; an Irish blessing and photos of Ireland

This is lovely; an Irish blessing and photos of Ireland.  The speaker is Roma Downey, who played the part of the angel on "Touched By An Angel" a few years ago.  Her diction is so articulate, precise and crisp.  Well worth wateching and listening to.

Turn up speakers and enjoy

As the piece starts, the pictures of Ireland are amazing,

but wait until you get to the two spoken parts!

http://www.andiesisle.com/ThisBlessingIsForYou.html

Submitted by: Friends of Rainbow Bridge

Reminder: School Choice Celebration - Wednesday, January 25, 2012‏

Please Join Us

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Maine State Capitol

Hall of Flags

  11:00 a.m.

“Education Options In Maine:

Celebrating National School Choice Week”

 

Please join us for a town hall gathering of pro-school choice organizations throughout the state of Maine to celebrate National School Choice Week. Each organization will host a display with information on the options parents and students currently have in Maine as well as the opportunities that Maine has yet to gain. The discussion will revolve around what everyone can do to continue to restore American Exceptionalism in education.

Click Here To Register

For more information, please contact Amanda Clark

at aclark@mainepolicy.org or 207-321-2550.

About MHPC

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational organization based in Portland, Maine.  The Maine Heritage Policy Center formulates and promotes free-market, conservative public policies in the areas of economic growth, fiscal matters, health care, education, constitutional law and government transparency - providing solutions that will benefit all the people of Maine.  Contributions to MHPC are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Uh Oh!!! Is It The Beginning Of The End? NASA space weather prediction center predicts massive M9-class solar eruption to strike earth today Monday, January 23, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff,

NASA space weather prediction center predicts massive M9-class solar eruption to strike earth today

Monday, January 23, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

 (NaturalNews) Late last night, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory observed a massive "ultraviolet flash" emitted from the sun, which has turned out to be the largest solar radiation storm since 2005. This M9-class coronal mass ejection (CME) is expected to hit earth today at 9 am EST, and could cause widespread communications interference and damage to electrical systems and structures.

This M9-class solar eruption is just teetering below an X-class eruption, which is considered to be the most severe type of solar storm. M9-class solar eruptions have been occurring almost daily throughout the past week in an area of the sun known as sunspot 1402. But as this area slowly rotates towards the direction of earth, the threat of damage and destruction continues to increase.

"There is little doubt that the cloud is heading in the general direction of Earth," says a Spaceweather.com update. "A preliminary inspection of SOHO / STEREO imagery suggests that the CME will deliver a strong glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 24 - 25 as it sails mostly north of our planet."

You can view a captured image of this powerful CME here:
http://www.spaceweather.com/images2012/23jan12/m9.jpg

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034748_NASA_space_weather_solar_flare.html#ixzz1kNYoEVhc

READ MORE HERE

Local History Being Made,,, We Find Amusing! theMaineWIRE:

Op-ed: Don’t Know Much About History

by David Crocker

Where would we be without the mainstream media? You know, the folks who claim “multiple layers of checks and balances” and the right to determine what is or is not a “news organization”. One would expect that when the editors of a major newspaper opine, they do so based on fact because an editorial is, after all, the august pronouncement of the newspaper itself, bearing the imprimatur of authority.

But if you assume that, you would be mistaken.

Take the editors of the Lewiston Sun-Journal, for instance. In their editorial from last Sunday, “Founders Began the First National Health-Care Plan”, they make some interesting historical assertions in support of ObamaCare’s individual mandate.

The editors state that Congress’ 1798 passage of “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen” is a forerunner of the individual mandate and, indeed, provides proof positive that the “founders” thought socialized medicine was constitutional. This notion became a hot topic in the blogosphere after it was mentioned by Rick Ungar in Forbes magazine (“Congress Passes Socialized Medicine and Mandates Health Insurance in 1798”). The problem with the Sun-Journal’s (and Ungar’s) assertion is that it simply isn’t true.

And the rest of the story is here. 

Not Only In Lisbon Are They Talking About Teacher Tenure

Teacher tenure is under increased attack

By Elizabethe Holland, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Posted Jan. 23, 2012, at 7:01 p.m.

  

ST. LOUIS — If teachers in Missouri feel as though their job security is under attack, they’re not alone.

Efforts to abolish or chip away at teacher tenure and erode collective bargaining have been popping up across the country, most recently with the filing last week of an initiative petition that would eliminate tenure for new teachers in Missouri.

The petition comes on the heels of a year that saw an unprecedented number of legislative efforts to rewrite teacher tenure laws, according to one national education policy expert.
“Last year was a sea change,” said Kathy Christie, vice president for knowledge and information management with the Education Commission of the States, based in Denver.

The organization tracked 18 state legislatures that had modified some element of their teacher tenure or continuing contract policies. Among the most notable was Idaho, where legislators enacted a bill banning tenure for new teachers and other certified employees.

Much More Reading Here.

Report Shows Maine Workers Moving to “Right-to-Work” States with Stronger Economies‏

 

Report Shows Maine Workers Moving to

“Right-to-Work” States with Stronger Economies

 

24,338 Mainers, representing $800 million in income, fled to “Right-to-Work” states from 2003 - 2008

 

PORTLAND - A study released today finds that allowing workers to decide whether or not to join a union can be great for a state’s economy. The report from The Maine Heritage Policy Center  (MHPC) shows that Mainers are leaving the state and moving to “Right-to-Work” states, or states where workers cannot be forced to join or financially support a labor union at their place of employment.

 

According to the report, 15,694 Maine households, representing nearly 25,000 Mainers, moved from Maine to Right-to-Work states between 2003 and 2008. This out-migration of Maine workers represents $801 million in adjusted gross income.

 

On the other side of the spectrum, Oklahoma, since becoming a Right-to-Work state in 2003, has seen growth in population, gaining nearly 41,000 people and $99 million in income from 2003 to 2008 alone. Of the new Oklahoma residents, 31,367 relocated from non-Right-to-Work states. Before passing Right-to-Work, Oklahoma had lost 10,681 households representing $1 billion in income between 1995 and 2002.

 

“What is clear from the Oklahoma example is that Right-to-Work states are attracting new business, new residents and economic growth,” said Scott Moody, Chief Economist for The Maine Heritage Policy Center. “Maine has suffered from ‘brain drain’ and out-migration to Right-to-Work states for many years, and this study shows us one reason why – Right-to-Work states are providing better economic opportunity than we are.”

 

Additionally, the report found that by instituting Right-to-Work in Oklahoma, the GDP of the manufacturing industry, a staple of Oklahoma’s economy, increased by 45 percent from 2003 to 2010. This growth can be directly attributed to an increasingly productive workforce.

 

“Maine has a great opportunity to make a move that will undoubtedly boost our economy without costing taxpayers or government a dime,” said Moody. “By implementing Right-to-Work here in Maine, we are opening the door to increased workforce productivity and less out-migration of Mainers to Right-to-Work states.”

 

“For too long, forced unionization has held back economic growth in Maine,” said Lance Dutson, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center. “This study demonstrates just how damaging that can be to the workforce and our population. It’s time to protect our workers individual liberty and open the door to economic prosperity by bringing Right-to-Work to Maine.”

 

Download the full report here (PDF)

Unions

 This from a Very Senior Citizen

I do not have a history of unions, but know a little about history. We, at least most of us, have seen the pictures of children, often
as young as 8 or 10, working in the "sweat shops". Horrible working
conditions, no safety rules in place.

Unions, in the beginning were for the betterment and safety of workers. They are responsible for minimum wages, better and safer working conditions, and minimum age and workhours for children.  
Even today, I still believe unions have a place in our society.


BUT even union leaders, as in so many of the big company CEO'S
today, union leaders got greedy. They forgot the workers who, through union dues, are paying their big salaries and bonuses. 
Town and city councils and selectmen use union bargaining as a
tool to extract more and more money from the taxpayer.

Several years ago, a council meeting I attended had adjourned and
recessed before going into executive session, bargaining police department wages and benefits. A councilor I spoke with, said "Dot, we have to bargain in good faith". Meaning to bargain in good faith for an increase in wages.

My remark to him was that,"it was time to bargain in good faith
FOR THE TAXPAYERS HE WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT ! ! ! ! "

And all these years later, NOTHING HAS CHANGED ! ! ! ! ! !

Don't believe me?

Just wait until you get your 2012/2013 tax bill! ! ! ! !


Dot Fitzgerald
A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen

Information On School Budget From A Concerned Citizen

SCHOOL BUDGET


On Friday Mrs. Fitzgerald and I met with Superintendent Richard Green to discuss this year’s school budget.  First, I want to thank Mr. Green and the School Board for the outstanding job they did on last year’s budget.  On the school side there was no increase to the taxpayers and this was remarkable given the handicap they started out with.  The Federal Stimulus Funds went a long way to helping balance their budget.  But unfortunately the Federal Stimulus money ($157,503) is not available this year.  Also, there is an estimated $250,000 in contractual obligation for increases in Step/Level and 1.75% in base wage for teachers and staff.  This is the last year of the contract and hopefully the union will work with the town to lower this yearly cost.  A yearly increase of ¼ million dollars a year is a great deal of money for this town during this economic crisis.  Also, I hope these raises will be based on performance instead for attendance as it is now.


Attached are the numbers Mr. Green and the School Board are working with as of January 12, 2012.  There are a lot of dedicated individuals working hard to lower the cost need to be raised by the people to offset the loss of the Federal Stimulus and the contractual commitment.  Currently, the number needed to be raised by the taxpayers is $341,567. 


This would not be a big deal if the Town Council and Chief Brooks turned the Lisbon Communication Center over to Androscoggin County.  The consolidation of the communications center project is coming to a head with a walk through and a meeting of the County Commissioners on February 8, 2012 at 3:00PM and the public is invited to attend.  If the town turned the Lisbon Communication Center over to the County, there would be sufficient savings to offset this $341,567 shortfall in the school budget.  Cooperation between the Town Council and the School Department would definitely be in the best interest of the taxpayer and go along ways to holding taxes down again this year.


I am sure Mr. Green and the School Board will continue to work hard and long in the best interest of the taxpayer not to raise taxes this year.

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizen

The Demise of America‏

THE DEMISE OF AMERICA

In the beginning, because of working conditions and abuse by management came the birth of a new structure in the workforce called “unions”.  During this period of time, unions were established to protect the rights of workers and to ensure the workforce had a safe working environment.  The union bosses quickly learned they did not have to work to make a living instead the bosses left the work place and moved into offices.  The government recognized the need for unions and provided unions with rules and regulations to accomplish their mission of protecting workers and providing a safe environment for the workforce.  These changes were designed to keep America strong and productive.  The American workforce took pride in their work and made America the number one country in the world.

Once the union bosses realized how much power the government had giving them, the unions mission changed to greed and power.  Union bosses began destroying America with ridiculous demands to show their power.   As their membership grew, so did their hold on management.  It has gotten so bad management has to negotiate moving a trash can from one side of the room to the other side in order to tie up management and cost the company more money.  At this point the quality of work declined because workers now did not have to strive to improve themselves, just show up.

Unions now are a billion dollar business and have super powers.  These powers include influencing the Presidential Election, Congressional Elections and local elections.  Big business and unions elect our President and Congressional members not the people.  Unions are the demise of America. 

This is very clear in Lisbon.  The local Maine Education Association has negotiated a contract which cost the taxpayers of Lisbon approximate $250,000 dollars a year increase in teacher’s pay.   The contract mandates the school department to pay Level Increases in accordance with the chart below.  This means teachers receive level increases for just showing up and then there is the increase in base wages of 1.75% for this coming year.  These increases are not earned but rewards for being present.  Is there no wonder students cannot pass the National/State Exams when teachers do not have any standards to meet before receiving these increases.  Why are teachers not held accountable for their students passing National/State Exams?

Level and base wages increases are rewarding teacher for showing up and is not related to their performance.  This means there is a possibility of rewarding teachers for failure. 



 

Larry Fillmore
Concerned Citizens

Here's Some Lisbon Fire Department History: Lisbon Ctr. Fire Dept. 1952

Front Row: Left to Right.

Theo Bernier, Everett Ham, James Powers (Truck Driver), Walter King (Captain), Gordon Gartley (Chief), Clarence Gamache, Rueben Violette, & Emile Albert.

Back Row: Left to Right.

Leon Hinkley, Albert Michaud (Truck Driver), Arthur Hardy, Reginald Gray, Roy Moody (Sec., Treas.) & Joe Duval.

 

Not many years before this pic, Lis. Ctr. Fire Dept., first stored their Model T or A ? (engine had to be started with a crank :)) in the private garage owned by Rueben Violette, whom was many times there first and started the engine, and then later moved, I believe in the later 40s to beside the weaver room of the Farnsworth mill. 

 

 Submitted By: Rufus