The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Council Meeting

05-01-2018 Meeting Minutes

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON Public Hearing Notice - Business Applications

Public Hearing Notice - Business Applications

The Lisbon Town Council will hold a public hearing on June 5, 2018 at 7:00 PM at the Lisbon Town Office at 300 Lisbon Street in the Public Meeting Room for the purpose of considering the following for a Victualer License and Itinerant Vendor Permit:
Randall Smith d/b/a Pinky D’sMobile Unit at Furniture SuperstoreLisbon Falls, ME

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL TURNS BACK ON RESIDENTS

I just reviewed the Police Department’s 2018-2019 proposed budget during the May 8^th Town Council Workshop and Special meeting. Every citizen of Lisbon should review this portion of the meeting starting a 1:42 of the Live Stream Video.

Chief Hagan outlined his department’s need for the upcoming year. Chief Hagan made a very important statement and that was the majority of towns are being sued because the lack of training and direct supervision. I agree totally with Chief Hagan, it is critical that the Town of Lisbon reduce its liability.

Police Department needs:

1.     Add a part-time Information Technology position in the Lisbon Communication Center; so that the Patrol Sergeant currently performing these duties can return to Patrol. Cost is approximately $1,600.00 to $4,000.00.

2.     Promote a Communication specialist to a Communication Supervisory. Cost is $1,040.00 to $4,800.00.

3.     Hired two additional Patrol Officers. Cost $69,000.00 each.

These current requirements a and b can be eliminated; had the Town Council voted two years ago to close the Lisbon Communication Center by utilizing the Androscoggin County Dispatch. According to two former Councilors; the cost savings to the taxpayers would be roughly $200,000.00 per year. However, this did not happen.

Last year, this same subject came up and was again voted done by Councilors Ward, Brunnelle, Crafts and Albert. The major reason was the town did not want to lose control of dispatching. Mr. Fern LaRochelle fought extremely hard to keep the Lisbon Communication Center open. What Mr. LaRochelle failed to tell everyone is that he is and was an Independent Contractor working directly with the Lisbon Communication Center. I guarantee you that id this issue comes before Council, Mr. LaRochelle (now a councilor) will vote on this issue because there is absolutely no “Conflict of Interest” on anything in Lisbon.

The option to save taxpayer dollars is still available but our Town Council has no interest in saving the residents money instead they had rather raise taxes. This Council is not looking to cut taxes but to increase our taxes. This, to me, is the wrong approach. Is it NOT a wise decision to put an additional burden on taxpayers when there is an opportunity to save taxpayers money?

This year, the Town Council voted to bail-out Lisbon Emergency Inc. at a price to taxpayers of $127,885.00 for the budget 2018-2019. I do not know where all this additional money is going to be coming from other than the taxpayers. Add all the additional requirements to the Town Manager’s already increase of $1,900,000.00 this year so what’s going to happen to your taxes. But do not worry, according to the Town Manager, Diane Barnes, the Council has reduced her budget proposal by roughly $75,000.00. What impact do you think this is going to have on our tax bills this year?

The people of Lisbon elected our Town Councilors to look out for the best interest of the community. I do not feel we are getting this from our Town Council when a “political” decision takes priority over a “sound financial” decision. What is in the best interest of the community and its people should be the ONLY determining factor when making decisions.

Call your Councilor and tell them to stop wasting our tax dollars and start looking for ways to reduce our taxes.

Larry Fillmore

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

THE TRUE FACTS

LISBON May meeting Conservation Comm.

May meeting Conservation Comm.

Our May meeting has been postponed until May 29th at 6pm.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON 05/15/2018 Council Agenda Item School Budget Warrant Articles 2018-19 Budget

05/15/2018 Council Agenda Item School Budget Warrant Articles 2018-19 Budget

See attached Document for Warrant Articles

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Friday, May 11, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA - MAY 15, 2018

LISBON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA - MAY 14, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Council Meeting

05/15/2018 Agenda & Attachments

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON MDOT Proposed Main Street Road Construction Public Meeting Meetings

MDOT Proposed Main Street Road Construction Public Meeting Meetings

Click here for minutes of the May 2, 2018 "MDOT Proposed Highway Reconstruction and Auxiliary Turning Lanes on Routes 9/196/125"

Read mor

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Friday, May 4, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL AGENDA - MAY 8, 2018

LISBON SCHOOL COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING - MAY 8, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP WITH TOPSHAM

Council Workshop w/ Topsham

May 24 at 6:00 PM has been Cancelled - New Date to TBD

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Planning Board meeting

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP/SPECIAL

Council Meeting- Workshops/Special

05-08-2018 Agenda & Attachments begins at 6PM

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON Town Council Public Hearing - School Budget

Town Council Public Hearing - School Budget

May 8, 2018 7:00 PM

The Lisbon Town Council wll hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 7:00 PM at the Lisbon Town Office, 300 Lisbon Street to discuss the 2018-2019 School Budget and Capital Improvement Budget. The School Budget and School Capital Improvement Budget are available at the Town Clerk's Office and attached for your review. The public is invited to attend.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

LISBON PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Hearing Notice - Dingley Press TIF Amendment (4th) (corrected notice)

The Lisbon Town Council will hold a public hearing to consider a proposed fourth amendment to the Town’s previously adopted Dingley Press Municipal Development and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and related development program, originally established by the Town in 1993 and previously amended in 1998, 2011 and 2018. The public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in the Council Room at Lisbon Town Office, 300 Lisbon Street, Lisbon, Maine.
A copy of the proposed fourth amendment to the TIF will be on file with the Town Clerk before the public hearing and may be reviewed at the Clerk’s office during normal business hours.
All interested residents are invited to attend the public hearing and will be given an opportunity to be heard at that time.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING - WORKSHOP

Council Meeting-Workshop

04-10-2018 Minutes

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Council Meeting

04-17-2018 Minutes

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Hearing Notice - Business Applications

Notice is hereby given that the Lisbon Town Council intends to hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Town Office Public Meeting Room to hear comments on a new Victualer’s for Fernando Stelsor d/b/a Domino's, at 586 Lisbon Street, in Lisbon Falls, ME and Phil Butterfield d/b/a Smokin Phil's Belly Bustin BBQ, Mobile Unit at the Riverside Flea Market on Lisbon Road, plus a Special Entertainment Permit for Lisbon Moxie Inc d/b/a Franks. The public is invited to attend.

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Council Meeting

05-01-2018 Agenda & Attachments Begins at 6PM

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

Friday, April 27, 2018

WHOSE LOOKING OUT FOR THE LISBON TAXPAYERS?

I just finished watching the April 24, 2018, Town Council Budget Workshop and I first want to thank, Mr. Fern LaRochelle. This budget meeting was almost two hours long and Mr. LaRochelle asked very important questions WITHOUT any dissertations. It was very informative and refreshing. Great job! Mr. LaRochelle.

I recommend that EVERY taxpayer in Lisbon review this budget meeting using the town web site. The Town Council is review the 1.9 million dollar increase the Town Manager, Diane Barnes, is proposing for this year. Keep in mind:

TOWN .MIL RATE GROWTH SINCE 2010

Auburn $21.23 8.21%

Lewiston $23.42 16.06%

Lisbon $20.35 18.11%

No matter what the Town Manager proposes, the Town Council is responsible for spending our tax dollars. The residents of Lisbon ELECT these members to be financially responsible to ensure our tax dollars are spent efficiency. I do not call having our taxes go up every year responsible when the Town Council is NOT looking for ways to reducing the operating cost of the town. The Town Council could save over $200,000.00 a year by eliminating the Lisbon Communication Center and let the Androscoggin County Dispatch take over dispatching responsibilities. Yet, instead of doing what is financially responsible for the community; they had rather raise our taxes without looking to save tax dollars.

I believe that the Town Council should direct the Town Manager, Diane Barnes, to reduce the operating cost by at least 10% yearly. Doing this will reduce or even eliminate the yearly tax increases. Look at how many foreclosures have been processed since Diane Barnes has been here. Disgraceful! This is a community with little to no large businesses like L.L. Beans to help our tax base instead the majority is based on residences.

At our current rate of 18.11% increase in our mil rate, Lisbon should over take Lewiston in the next year or two. While other towns are looking to reduce their operating cost, Lisbon is looking for ways to spend more tax dollars. These tax dollars that come from taxpayers.

Another way to reduce the operating cost is by not allowing Department Heads a Cost-of-Living-Allowance (COLA). The majority, like the Town Manager, make more than $80,000.00 annually. A 2% COLA increase is a raise of over $1,600.00 per year. A prime example is the Town Manager was hired at $87,000.00 back in June 2015 and today with her proposed COLA increase will receive a salary of $96,482.00. This is because the Town Council approved her contract with a clause in it that states and I quote: “The Manager shall also receive any other benefits as the Town provides to its other employees.” This means that every time the WORKERS receive an increase the Town Manager must receive the same. The Town Council should not allow individuals in management positions to receive benefits the workers need. A cap should be established for all individuals in management positions and definitely those in Department Head positions.

Lisbon is a community that does not have a very large tax base such as Auburn or Lewiston and so these costs are passed on to the taxpayers.

Shame on the Town Council for not being able to recognize this!

Call your Councilors today because once they approved the budget it will be too late. Please do not let them snow you with the excuse this is only a proposal.

Larry Fillmore

LISBON TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA - MAY 1, 2018

LISBON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA - APRIL 30, 2018

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Lisbon Connection Public Rider Survey

The Lisbon Connection is operated by Western Maine Transportation Services in cooperation with the Town of Lisbon and MaineDOT WMTS, 76 Merrow Road, Auburn, ME 04210, (207) 333-6972 www.wmtsbus.org
As Western Maine Transportation looks at expanding its services, they need to hear from Lisbon residents who currently ride the bus and/or those that would ride the bus if it expanded. (please see survey below)
Please mail survey's to: WMTS, 76 Merrow Road, Auburn, ME 04210
Thank you

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON PLANNING BOARD MEETING

Planning Board meeting

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON Rt. 9/196/125 MaineDOT Public Meeting

Rt. 9/196/125 MaineDOT Public Meeting

Please join MaineDOT at a preliminary public meeting to discuss the proposed Highway Reconstruction and Auxiliary Turning Lanes on Routes 9/196/125.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Lisbon Rec. MTM Community Center

Click here for more details.

SUBMTTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON

LISBON Charter Communications Notification - Effective May 21, 2018

Charter Communications Notification - Effective May 21, 2018

April 19, 2018
Dear Municipal Official:
I am providing you with this notification as part of our ongoing efforts to keep you apprised of developments affecting Charter Communications subscribers in your community.
Effective on or after May 21, 2018, Animal Planet will move from SPP Tier 1 to SPP Select Tier on all lineups.
For a complete lineup, visit spectrum.com/channels.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Shelley Winchenbach
Director, Government Affairs

SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON