YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!!

On December 19, 2017, our loved Town Council performed yet another illegal Executive Session.  This is exactly the same way it was when Councilor LaRochelle was on the Town Council the last time.  At least they waited until the second meeting to start again.  I believe that before you can be a Councilor you must know how to read.  Since the oath of office they take, requires you to obey the laws of the State of Maine; each Councilor should know the law pertaining to Executive Sessions.  Maine Statue 405, Executive Sessions is only three pages long and outlines what can and cannot be discussed behind closed door.

 

Paragraph 6, Permitted deliberation, states “Deliberations on ONLY the following matters may be conducted during an executive session:”   It goes on to outline 8 sub-paragraphs for which an Executive Session is authorized.  Sub-paragraph C. reads “Discussion or consideration of the condition, acquisition or the use of real or personal property permanently attached to real property or interests therein or disposition of publicly held property or economic development ONLY IF PREMATURE DISCLOSURES OF THE INFORMATION WOULD PREJUDICE THE COMPETITIVES OR BARGAINING POSITION OF THE BODY OR AGENCY.”  The last portion of this provision is the most critical because it outlines when this sub-paragraph can be used for an Executive Session.

 

On December 19, 2017, the Town Council when into Executive Session under the above cited sub-paragraph and when they came out Councilor Kolbe read a prepared motion that read: “Move to loan $146,940.00 with a 10-year term at an interest rate of 5% to Jason LaVerdiere and Tyson LaVerdiere doing business as Flux Restaurant as followers:  $100,000.00 from the IRP fund and $46,940.00 from the Commercial Loan Fund.”  This was the only application for the Revolving Loan Fund program so where is the competition.  How is approval of the only application going to change the bargaining position or going to be changed if this information was released?  The loan application does NOT meet the criteria for Executive Session under the provisions of Maine Statue 405.  I support the approval of the loan application BUT not in the manner it was done.

 

This Town Council meeting is only Councilor LaRochelle’s second meeting.  It would appear that the community is in for three more years of back-door dealings and illegal Executive Sessions.

 

Call your Councilors and tell them to stop these illegal Executive Session and start complying with the law by discussing them in Public.

 

Larry Fillmore

URGENT ANNOUCEMENT

This is an editor’s notice: 

According to the Town Manager: 

The Library & Transfer Station will be closed tomorrow due to the ice storm.  They will reopen on Tuesday, December 26th.

Larry Fillmore

SPECIAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA - DECEMBER 20,2017

LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday night will begin the downfall of the community, again.  I am surprised it took until the second meeting with Fern LaRochelle to start.  On Tuesday agenda, there is an item under Executive Session, called Acquisition of Real Property or Economy Development.  Executive Session is where Fern LaRochelle does most of his wheeling and dealing because it is in SECRET.  No one can ever know what goes on behind closed doors.

 

Information put out in Executive Session pertaining to real property or anything that pertains to the bid process is restricted to ONLY Councilors.  I call this “insider information” because none of the other individuals that want to bid on the subject matter know what was discussed in Executive Session but Councilors are allowed to bid as private citizens.  Once again, there is no “conflict of interest” but ONLY in Lisbon.

 

No Councilor should be able to take part on anything discussed behind closed doors because it gives them an unfair advantage.  Fern LaRochelle has taken advantage of this in the pass when he purchased town property at a reduced price.  Having insider information provides Councilors with an advantage. 

 

I am shocked that the Chairman of the Town Council and the Town Manager waited until the second meeting to start this trend all over again.

 

Larry Fillmore

 

 

WWW.LISBONME.ORG

If you are wondering what “www.lisbonme.org” is; it is the address for the Lisbon town website.  The purpose of this website is to keep the people informed as to what is going on in Lisbon, Maine.  It should be an attempt to provide transparency for our local government.  However, as Mr. Joe Hill noted in his great article titled “Lisbon Has An Ongoing Problem Notifying Residents” no matter how many times residents complain nothing gets changed.

 

This is a shame because the solution is quite simple.  All scheduled meeting must be posted to the “Event” calendar on the Home page. I am going to provide two solutions to the problem:

 

Option 1:  Make the Councilor, who is responsible for the Board/Committee, responsible for posting the meeting/cancellation to the “Event” calendar.

 

Option 2:  Make the Councilor, who is responsible for the Board/Committee, responsible to notify the Town Manager’s Administrative Assistant to all meetings/cancellations.  This will ensure they are posted to the “Event” calendar on the town website.

 

This simple change will ensure that citizens have one location to be informed about ALL meetings.  This way the people can choose which meetings they want to attend and have an interest in.  However, before the town can implement these changes; they must first post all the Boards/Committees/Sub-Committees on the town website under the section called “Boards/Committees”.  Currently, the website ONLY lists 9 of the 18 Boards/Committees listed under “Council Committee Assignments”.  The Town Manager needs to ensure that all Boards/Committees/Sub-Committees are listed under the section called “Board/Committees”.

 

These simple changes will ensure that the people of Lisbon are kept informed and will show transparency.  By the way, taxpayers are paying tax dollars for the town website so why are we NOT using the site for what it was intended to do.  By selectively posting just what management want the people to see; the town is censoring what the people can and cannot have for information. So why are we wasting tax dollars on a web site that is NOT providing what we need?

 

Call your Councilors and ask them why the town is wasting tax dollars?  Also ask your Councilors; “Who has oversight over the posting of the town website”?

 

Larry Fillmore

 

 

 

TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA - DECEMBER 19, 2017

Lisbon Has An Ongoing Problem Notifying Residents.

Last week's article by Larry Fillmore reminded me of a frustrating incident I had last winter.

Last January or February after braving a rather nasty snow/sleet storm  I arrived at Town Hall to find the advertised Council Meeting had been canceled. This cancellation was not noted on the outside electronic board or on the Town Web Site.   

On the return two miles drive back to my home, I wondered if the Town of Lisbon could be held partially liable if someone had a serious accident driving to or from this canceled meeting.  Bartenders can be held liable if they give an inebriated person excessive alcohol that causes an accident. Could Lisbon be held liable if they are the reason an accident victim is driving to or from a canceled meeting.  -- Probably not---

In my humble opinion, Lisbon has a serious ongoing problem keeping residents apprised of  Town Meetings, Cancellations, Informational material for meetings as well as updated budget information.  It would only take a minute to update the Town's Website or send an E-mail to notify residents of any meetings or changes to meetings.

By not keeping the residents notified of ongoing town business the Council is speaking volumes about the way they view residents.

They are silently saying to each and every resident:

•  We don't respect you enough to keep you informed.
•  We tell you we want you at meetings but we really can't be bothered to actually do the work to notify you.

How many times since 2010 have you heard someone complain that all the documentation for the Council Meeting isn't available on the Website?  I have heard this complaint dozens of times. Usually, someone will post the information a few days later 

when the Council has already voted on the measure.

If Councilors can't be bothered to keep residents informed why should residents respect and help the Council?  This respect goes both ways.

Respectfully
Joe Hill

 

HE’ssssss BACK!!!!!!!

Well, the people have spoken and re-elected Fern LaRochelle to the Town Council, again.  I am NOT a fan of Fern LaRochelle and this article is my personal opinion.  It was not bad enough that when he was on the Town Council before; there were back door meetings, numerous actions was conducted in Executive Session and Fern conducted secret meetings with the Millers over the Worumbo Mill property.  I believe Fern also took advantage of his position on the Town Council to purchase town owned property at a reduced price.  I call this “insider information” but to everyone else he was legal as a citizen.

 

As you can tell, I believe that Fern is part of the problem and not the solution.  Take the Lisbon Communication Center as a prime example, Fern lobbied hard to keep it in Lisbon instead of closing it and utilizing the Androscoggin County Dispatch at a savings to the taxpayer of roughly $200,000.00.  This was strictly a political decision, instead of a sound logical decision, with the best interest of the community being first.  Currently, the Lisbon Communication Center cost the taxpayers of Lisbon over $300,000.00 a year; money that could be better used to improve the community.  Fern did this as a sub-contractor of the town for wrecker/vehicle recovery service.

 

Why do I bring this out, yet again, it is because the first thing Fern did was appoint himself as the Councilor to the Public Safety Committee. This means he has a say in the Lisbon Communication Center which dispatches wrecker/vehicle recovery service for the town.  I believe this would be concerned a “conflict of interest” anywhere else except Lisbon.

 

Also, it is my opinion the length of the Town Council meetings will increase two fold because Fern likes to hear himself talk.  He is always saying “At the end of the day”.  So for the next three years, I believe that Fern will be wheeling and dealing and costing the town more money than it needs to spend.  In my opinion, Fern LaRochelle is a primary member of the “good old boys network/political machine” of Lisbon.

 

This is my personal opinion but I believe that Fern LaRochelle has to screw his pants on in the morning.

 

Larry Fillmore

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE PACKET 8 #2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA - DECEMBER 11, 2017

SCHOOL COMMITTEE SPECIAL AGENDA - DECEMBER 11, 2017

Training Partners Support St. Mary’s Medical Assistant Program

 

Photo caption:  Pictured (l-r):  front row – Marie Blessing, Audrey Condon, Dancile Nshimirimana, Francis Nguyen, Kassandra Hebert, Katie Hamilton, Darcy Goyette, Mary Ann Gowell, instructor.  Second row – Jessica Biron, Dinah Morris, Tracy Crossman, Sandra Barnich, Trisha Newcomb, Justine Gray, Lori Adkins, Melissa Dalton, Kelsa Brennan, Kayla Caron, Patti Saarinen, WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  Third row – Paula Bolduc, Julian Kirouac, Brittany Wilkins, Miranda Hutchinson, Cathy Stairs, WMCA Employment & Training Specialist.

 

Lewiston – St. Mary’s Health System, 96 Campus Avenue, held a celebration ceremony on Tuesday, November 28 at the facility recognizing  19 local students for completion of their Medical Assistant classes.  Instructor, Mariann Gowell,  welcomed administrators, staff, family, friends, and community partners for the presentation of certificates.   Brittany Blais, St. Mary’s Talent Acquisition Partner & Human Resources, also shared remarks and thanked partners for making the program possible.

Students successfully completed a fast paced, condensed curriculum offering training to assist physicians with the clinical responsibilities of a medical office. The program included 140 hours of classroom/lab training with routine lab procedures, phlebotomy, EKG, diagnostic testing, etc.  Following the classwork, students are completing the final weeks of an Externship schedule of 160 hours.  Many of the students also earned a WorkReady certificate covering the topics of effective workplace communication techniques, resume and interviewing skills, conflict resolution, teamwork, and other important soft skills. This St. Mary’s employer driven project was made possible through the collaborative support and grant funding provided by Western Maine Community Action, Bureau of Employment Services/Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, and Gray/New Gloucester Adult Education.  The combined curriculum empowers students with the skills and knowledge essential to the specific job field.  “This graduation class is not only the result of the students’ dedication but also a prime example of train-to-work where business, education, and workforce development collaborate,” shares Patti Saarinen, WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  “The integration of education and training is a best-practice model for success.” 

"St. Mary’s Health System is proud of the success of the students that have completed this course,” shares Brittany Blais at St. Mary’s.  “This program was designed and executed in collaboration with Western Maine Community Action, Maine Department of Labor, and Gray-New Gloucester Adult Education after we recognized a need in our system for Medical Assistants.  It was a wonderful opportunity that will hopefully fulfill our need for qualified medical assistants and allow these students an opportunity to grow professionally in a rewarding career.  We are very appreciative of the efforts that all parties contributed to make this successful and wish the best of luck to these students." 

 

Monica M. Millhime

Employment & Training Business Specialist

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA - DECEMBER 5, 2017

Add caption

LISBON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA - NOVEMBER 27, 2017

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2017

CITIZENS OF LISBON AND BOWDOIN WAKE UP!!!!!

 

Last Wednesday night, I attended HALF a meeting on the issue of the Lisbon Emergency situation.  However, upon arrival at 06:40 PM, I learned the meeting had already started.  It was on the town website as starting at 0700 PM.  I have no idea what time it really started but I missed a discussion on the Request for Procurement (RFP).  The last meeting was cancelled (without notice to the Public) because they had not received a response to the RFP.  I came to see what was in the RFP’s.  Apparently, I missed that whole discussion.  It would be nice if you could believe the town website.

 

I think I should catch everyone on up on what is going on with Lisbon Emergency.  Lisbon Emergency, Inc. is operating at a loss.  They are asking the taxpayer of Lisbon and Bowdoin to bail them out with additional funds.  Check out the chart below:

 

FY                    TOTAL CHARGES   LISBON SHARE   BOWDOIN SHARE
2018-2019     $162,152.78           $127,884.46        $34,267.92
2019-2020     $187,762.90           $149,172.84        $39,590.06
2020-2021     $251,354.03           $199,245.74        $52,108.29

 

This is to maintain the current level of service to our communities.

 

I have utilized Lisbon Emergency several times this year and the service I have received was outstanding.  The Emergency Medical Technician’s (EMT) were very professional and very efficiency.  There is no question Lisbon Emergency is a valuable asset to our communities.  Without their service, our communities would have to wait for ambulance service (United Ambulance Service) to come from Russell Street in Lewiston.  Utilizing United Ambulance Service would not cost the towns anything but there will certainly be a delay.   CAN WE AFFORD THE DELAY?

 

When I asked if Lisbon Emergency had looked into alternative solutions before these towns bail them out; I was immediately informed by Chairman Ward this is NOT a bailout.  I do not understand why this is not a bailout.  Lisbon Emergency is a private business, providing a service to these towns, and are asking the taxpayer to add additional funds to their revenue to operate.  HOW IS THIS NOT A BAILOUT?

 

This is a real tough situation because if the taxpayers do not come up with the additional funds; Lisbon Emergency will have to shut down and United Ambulance Service will have to provide citizens with emergency medical services.  This is a critical situation that directly affects the lives of every person in both communities.  Bowdoin has a town meeting in March and will vote on it.  However, Lisbon does not have a town meeting to decide these issues;  I believe because everyone in Lisbon is affected by this issue; it should be decided by a vote of the citizens and NOT left up to the Town Council.  This is just too important.

 

Think about where the money is going to come from?  The town of Lisbon is currently wasting over $200,000.00 by keeping the Communication Center open instead of using the Androscoggin County Dispatch center.  This was a political decision instead of a logical one.  CAN WE AFFORD TO SUPPORT BOTH?

 

Larry Fillmore

 

WHAT EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW!!!!!

 

This is an informational paper on our American flag that every patriot should know.  I will start with the colors; which are red, white and blue.

 

COLORS:

 

Red – Signifies valor and bravery.

White – Signifies purity and innocence.

Blue – Signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

 

STARS:

 

There are fifty stars representing each state in the union.  The stars are arranged by 5 rows of 6 and 4 rows of 5 totaling fifty. These stars are in a blue background.

 

BARS:

 

There are thirteen bars representing the original thirteen states.  They start with red and alternate with white.

 

MY VIEWS:

 

Starting with the Revolutionary War, American have lived and died defending the American flag.  Many American patriots have sacrificed everything so that others could live in peace.  Americans have been fighting all over the world to defend the American way of live. 

 

Freedom does not come cheap but the rewards for maintaining our democracy and republic are very gratifying.

 

Whenever, you see the American flag flown remember the many Americans who have sacrificed so much in the defense of this flag so that you can live in peace with all the freedoms you have.

 

God Bless America and God bless this nation.

 

 Larry Fillmore  

TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP/MEETING - NOVEMBER 14, 2017 AGENDA

LISBON SCHOOL COMMITTEE - NOVEMBER 13, 2017 AGENDA

NOT A CLUE!!!!

On October 25, 2017, Dorothy Fitzgerald and myself arrived at the town Office to attend a meeting of the sub-committee on Emergency Medical Service in Lisbon announced by Councilor Norman Albert at the October 3, 2017 Town Council meeting.  I was greeted by the Town Manager, Diane Barnes, who informed me the meeting was cancelled until the Request for Procurement (RFP) was received.  I asked Mrs. Barnes why there was no notification of the cancellation posted anywhere and was informed she notified the sub-committee members.  I asked why she did not notify the people of the cancellation.

 

According to Mrs. Barnes, she does not notify the people of sub-committee cancellations.  So Dottie and I wasted our time; thinking we were going to attend an EMS that was cancelled without notifying the people.  This I see as a problem that has a simple solution; so I contacted Chairman Allen Ward of the Town Council and offered the following solution:

 

“The town has a web site that has an "Event" calendar on it.  Every Chairman of ANY committee/sub-committee should be required to notify Diane of the schedule or cancellation of any meeting open to the Public.  One of the many purposes of the web site is to keep the people informed.

 

There is no real reason why the people are being held in the dark when the town is supposed to be transparent.

 

The town council needs to insists on transparency when it comes to the people.”

 

I did not receive a response from Chairman Allen Ward but did receive a response from the Town Manager, Diane Barnes in which she said:

 

“I did not post the meeting on our website therefore, there I did not post the cancellation.  I was the one that notified the committee members that the meeting was canceled.

 

To me, Mrs. Barnes response does not address the problem or the solution I offered.  This means that the people are not being kept informed on issues that concern them.  I call this a deliberate act of concealing meetings from the people; that shows a lack of transparency by the Town Manager.

 

However, tonight I noticed an EMS meeting scheduled on the Town Website for next Wednesday so maybe someone DID get the message.  We will have to wait and see how long this last.

 

Larry Fillmore

NOVEMBER 7, 2017 LISBON ELECTION RESULTS

Reporting Unit: 20689           Lisbon, Maine
"Town of Lisbon
State Ref ,State Hse Dist 56, & Annual Municipal & Ref Election "
November 7, 2017
                Wards/Districts 1 & 2
QUESTION 1: Act to Allow Slot Machines in York County
Yes             427
No              1,632
Blanks          24

QUESTION 2: Act to Enhance Affordable Health Care
Yes             1,012
No              1,050
Blanks          21

QUESTION 3:  Act to Authorize a General Fund to Improve Highways/Bridges
Yes             1,326
No              729
Blanks          28

QUESTION 4: An Amendment to the Constitution Reducing Volatility in State Penson Funding
Yes             1,064
No              925
Blanks          94

Special State House District 56
Gaiason, Scott          868
Mason, Richard G                1,180
Blanks          28

For Council Member At Large (Vote for One) 3 Year Term
Fernand Marcel Larochelle               1,684
Blanks          393

For School Committee (Vote for One) 3 Year Term
Kimberly Labbe-Poisson          567
Richard James Nadeau            469
Ross Hunter Cunningham          731
Blanks          310

For Water Commission (Vote for One) 3 Year Term
Arthur George McLean            527
Roger Stanley Bickford          1,229
Blanks          321

Question 1: School Project - Energy Effiency Upgrades
Yes             1,263
No              770
Blanks          44

Question 2: Wastewater Collection & Treatment System Bond
Yes             1,350
No              683
Blanks          44

State Ballots Cast:             2,083

Registered Voters:              6,619           31.47%



Twila

Lisbon Town Clerk
300 Lisbon Street
Lisbon, ME  04250

MEMA UPDATE

We have been given a deadline for sending our updated Form 7s to MEMA by close of business on Thursday. 

Along with municipal costs, there is the potential for private individual damages that have gone unreported despite State and Counties attempting to get the word out to private citizens.  If you know of private citizens who have sustained damages to their primary residence and/or vehicle, please have them contact this office by 2 PM Thursday so that we can also record their damages.  With the campaign to have residents call 2-1-1 Maine to report their damages, only 26 statewide have called in and only 2 reported personal property damages.  Only 1 call was received for Androscoggin County (town of Lisbon). 

Please call or email the information to:

Joanne G. Potvin, Director

Androscoggin Unified Emergency Management Agency

2 College Street

Lewiston, ME  04240-7101

Tel:  207-784-0147

FAX:  207-795-8938

e-mail:  jpotvin@androscoggincountymaine.gov

 

        

MAINE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY NEWS RELEASE OF NOVEMBER 2, 2017

DHHS:  “…..current SNAP recipients may qualify assistance with replacing lost food; …..if they qualify, the benefit would be equal to the total of their losses but  cannot exceed their monthly benefit; …..a press release has been issues with information on how SNAP recipients can contact them for replacement benefits – the link is:  http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Portal+News&id=770788&v=article-2017 or recipients can contact the Office of Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357 for more information or for assistance in obtaining a voucher; …..”

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Maine  Emergency Management Agency News Release of 11/02/17 at 5 PM:  “ …..The State of Maine is pursuing a Federal Disaster Declaration, however, NO Federal assistance is available at this time; MEMA and the County EMAs are just starting the process of assessing damages and needs, primarily in the area of public works costs for emergency debris removal and disposal; …..individuals who have sustained property damage should document those damages through photos and receipts and file a claim with their homeowner’s insurance; …..those without insurance and financial means to fix the damages should contact their municipal General Assistance Officer to determine what assistance may be available; …..SNAP benefit recipients may be able to obtain a voucher to replace lost food from the freezer/refrigerator – they should contact the Office of Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357 or visit the website http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Portal+News&id=770788&v=article-2017 for more information; …..individuals with food losses who are not SNAP benefit recipients should check in with their municipal General Assistance Officer for assistance  that may be available – local food pantries, Community Action Programs and Good Shepherd Foodbank may be able to provide some food replacement assistance to those who meet certain income guidelines; …..individuals may also contact 2-1-1 Maine to obtain referrals for assistance; …..farmers who experienced losses and need assistance should contact USDA Farm Service Agency at 207-990-9140. 

 

Citizens who have experienced damages as a result of the Oct. 29 Wind Storm are encouraged to report those damages to 2-1-1 Maine.  This information is to assess damages and will be provided to the individual’s town to enable them to learn who has storm-related damages.   Callers will be asked a series of questions.  They should continue to file claims with their homeowners or auto insurance.  By reporting this damage, they are not applying for assistance; …..”

 

To Municipal Officials – would you please post this paragraph of information in a conspicuous location at your Town Office/City Hall in order to make residents aware of this information?  Thank you!

 

Joanne

Joanne G. Potvin, Director

Androscoggin Unified Emergency Management Agency

2 College Street

Lewiston, ME  04240-7101

 

My Right to Support the Candidate of MY Choice

 

Some one is taking away my right to support the candidate of my choice.

 I support Scott Gaisson in his running for the Maine House of Representatives

He would work hard for the citizens of Lisbon and the State of Maine.

When I found that he was running I asked him if he would place one of his

political signs in on my property, which he or one of his supporters did.

 

A sign for Mr.. Gaisson's opponent, Rick Mason, was placed on my neighbor's property

weeks ago. I respect that my neighbor has a right to support a candidate

of his choice and place a sign on his property.

 

A little over a week ago someone removed Scott Gaisson's sign, from my property.
I found it in the middle of the road, in the School Street, Route 196 intersection,

badly damaged after being run over by numerous vehicles. 

I found the sign and put it again on the wire stand. A few days later Mr.. Gaisson

replaced the damaged sign with a new one.

Sometime  between Friday evening and Saturday morning Scott Gaisson's

sign was again stolen.

Not only was Scott Gaisson's sign missing, but a second one for his opponent

was placed on my neighbor's property.

 

I called the Lisbon Police Department and reported that a political sign was stolen,
not once but twice. The police office who responded suggested that the sign on my property

was taken by teenagers.

Kids who had a new sign to place on my neighbor's property at the same time. 

                Really??????????         This is improper politics at it's worst.   

 

Someone is taking away my right to support the candidate of my choice for the Maine 
House of Representative.

 

I am asking that whoever removed Scott's sign do the right thing and bring it back,

no questions asked.  

 

And no, I am not even suggesting that my neighbor removed the sign from my property. 
He and I have more respect for each other that that.

 TO TAKE DOWN, REMOVE, DAMAGE A POLITICAL SIGN IS AGAINST THE LAW

 

Respectfully,

Dot Fitzgerald

A Lisbon Concerned Citizen