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
Friday, February 8, 2019
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
WASTING TAX DOLLARS
For years
now, I have been suggesting the closure of the Lisbon Communication Center and
having the Androscoggin County Dispatch take over the responsibility of
dispatching Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical. And for years, the Town Council has voted to
keep Lisbon Communication Center open.
The cost to operate this facility, in
the last budget, was $345,246.00. Now it is a fact that two former Councilors
investigated this very issue and found that the town could save approximately
$200,000.00 taxpayer dollars a year by having Androscoggin Country Dispatch
perform the Lisbon Communication Center functions. To me $200,000.00 is not
chicken feed and should have been considered seriously. However,
Fern LaRochelle, did not want the town to lose control.
During the
Town Council workshop on January 15, 2019, Chief Hagen presented a proposal to
perform dispatching for Gardiner. During
the discussion of this Chairman Norm Albert ask a very important question for
Chief Hagan. It was and I am quoting
from the minutes of January 15, 2019 minutes:
“Councilor Albert asked if
the state would be forcing Lisbon into dispatch service with them. Chief Hagan said eventually, yes, but
probably not within three years. He said
eventually the equipment we have will fail and the cost to replace it will be
significant. Councilor Albert said the
administrative fee should be worth our while.”
This brings
up several important questions:
First
question: “Why are we waiting for the
state, why not do it now when we have an excellent offer from Androscoggin
County Dispatch?”
Second
question: “Why are we waiting until the equipment fails and puts the town in a
crisis?”
Third
question: “Why is the town going to pay a very significant amount of tax
dollars to replace this equipment when the state is going to force us to join
them?”
To me, these
are very important questions. They can all be
eliminated if the town allowed Androscoggin County to take over dispatching
responsibility. It is a fact that by closing the Lisbon
Communication Center will save the taxpayers tax dollars. It is also a fact that it is impossible to
tell the exact amount that will be saved, however any cost saving will help
reduce the operating cost of the town and reduce our taxes. Reducing our taxes should be the number one priority of the
Town Council and the Town Manager.
Unfortunately, they are NOT interested in saving money or reducing
taxes.
Call your Councilors and Diane Barnes
and tell them it is time to start saving tax dollars and no more tax increases.
Larry Fillmore
LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE
Lisbon Public Library - No Phone Service
The Lisbon
Library phone services are down again. They do however have
technicians working on the problem and hope to have services up and
running later today. Should you need to reach the library you may do so
either visiting them or via their facebook page. They do have internet
access.
Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON PARKING BAN
PARKING BAN 9:00 PM 2/6/2019 - NOON 2/7/2019
Due to the inclement
weather forecast, the Town of Lisbon is issuing a parking ban from 9:00
pm, Wednesday, February 6, 2019 until noon February 7, 2019.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
DO YOU WANT YOUR TAXES TO GO UP AGAIN!!!
Monday, February 4, 2019
LISBON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FINAL DRAFT
Town of Lisbon Comprehensive Plan - Final Draft
INTRODUCTION
Aside from the Town Charter, the Comprehensive Plan is the most important municipaldocument for Lisbon because it serves so many functions.
The Comprehensive Plan is a…
Statement about what is important to the people of Lisbon.
The plan not only identifies important places and programs, but also documents core values and
a shared vision for the future of the community. This shared vision is a statement about the kind
of community people want to be a part of in the future.
Blueprint for how to achieve important things.
The Plan contains a large laundry list of goals and policies to meet the state requirements for
all Comprehensive Plans in the state. However, ours is focused on a smaller, prioritized subset
these goals and policies in order to better guide activities and ensure that the Town Council, the
Planning Board, town staff and others are productive over the next few years.
Land use plan.
The core of a Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for designating where and in what manner
future development should occur within the community. It specifically identifies areas in Lisbon
where most new growth should be located and points out areas where new growth should be
discouraged. These Growth and Rural areas are the basis for zoning updates and changes within
the forecast time period of the Plan.
Snapshot of the community in time.
The Plan is a useful benchmark for future town staff, elected officials, and other interested parties
because it provides much detailed information about municipal services, buildings, properties
and financial data.
Please click here to read the full document. Thank you
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE
Lisbon Library - Internet & Phone Issues Resolved
The Lisbon Library
internet and phone services are back on line. The library is now closed
and reopen tomorrow during its regular business hours. Thank you for
your patience and again we apologize for any inconvenience.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE
Lisbon Library - no internet or phone services 2/4/2019
The Lisbon Library
continues to operatate without any internet or phone services. There
are technicians currently working on the situation and they hope to have
internet connection back soon. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Saturday, February 2, 2019
LISBON WATER DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Water Main Repair Completed
Water service was
restored at 2:00 PM on February 2, 2019 to customers that were affected
by the water main break on Main at South Street.
Customers may experience air and discolored water. We are currently flushing hydrants to improve water quality. Additionally, we have several hydrants that will be unattended and left flowing to improve water quality.
Through traffic on Main Street will be restored in a few hours.
If you have any questions or a water emergency please call the Lisbon Police Dept. at 353-2500 and a water technician will contact you ASAP.
We greatly appreciate your patience while we worked to repair this break!
Customers may experience air and discolored water. We are currently flushing hydrants to improve water quality. Additionally, we have several hydrants that will be unattended and left flowing to improve water quality.
Through traffic on Main Street will be restored in a few hours.
If you have any questions or a water emergency please call the Lisbon Police Dept. at 353-2500 and a water technician will contact you ASAP.
We greatly appreciate your patience while we worked to repair this break!
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON LIBRARY UPDATE
Lisbon Library - no internet or phone services
The Lisbon Library currently is without any internet or phone services today. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON WATER DEPARTMENT UPDATE
South Street Water Main Update
South Street Water Main
repair update. We are currently working in the intersection of Main and
South Street. We have had to close Main Street to through traffic.
Please seek an alternate route traveling north or south on Main Street.
We have completed repairs on 4 sites and have just started our fifth
excavation site. We are currently removing the frozen earth and will be
able to provide an update on our progress when we uncover the main. It
may be 1:00 PM before water is restored. We will update our customers as
we progress with our work.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Friday, February 1, 2019
LISBON WATER DEPARTMENT UPDATE
ROAD CLOSURE & WATER MAIN BREAK!
Due to a serious
accident, Ridge Road will be closed from Webster Road to Upland Road
until further notice. Please seek an alternative route.
Notice!!! The Lisbon Water Department has a water main break on South St that is currently affecting the entire downtown area of Lisbon Falls. The Water Department has just begun shutting the system down in that area to stop the leak and it may take all day to resolve this issue. Please guard against dirty water!! We appreciate your patience while we restore service as quickly as possible! Please contact the Water Department to report any issues regardless of where your location is to determine if this break will affect you! 207-353-3020
Notice!!! The Lisbon Water Department has a water main break on South St that is currently affecting the entire downtown area of Lisbon Falls. The Water Department has just begun shutting the system down in that area to stop the leak and it may take all day to resolve this issue. Please guard against dirty water!! We appreciate your patience while we restore service as quickly as possible! Please contact the Water Department to report any issues regardless of where your location is to determine if this break will affect you! 207-353-3020
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON WATER DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES WATER MAIN BREAK
WATER MAIN BREAK!
Notice!!! The Lisbon
Water Department has a water main break on South St that is currently
affecting the entire downtown area of Lisbon Falls. The Water Department
has just begun shutting the system down in that area to stop the leak
and it may take all day to resolve this issue. Please guard against
dirty water!! We appreciate your patience while we restore service as
quickly as possible! Please contact the Water Department to report any
issues regardless of where your location is to determine if this break
will affect you! 207-353-3020
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
LISBON PARKING BAN FROM 7PM JAN. 29TH THROUGH 5PM Jan. 30TH
PARKING BAN FROM 7PM JAN. 29TH THROUGH 5PM Jan. 30TH
DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER FORECAST THE TOWN OF LISBON IS ISSUING A PARKING BAN FROM 7PM JAN. 29TH, 2019 UNTIL 5PM JAN. 30TH
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Redzone's 2019 expansion will stretch from Berwick to Fort Kent
Redzone's 2019 expansion will stretch from Berwick to Fort Kent
The broadband services
company Redzone will expand to 26 communities stretching from Berwick
north to Fort Kent in 2019, bringing its customer base to more than
300,000 Maine households and businesses.
The multi-million dollar expansion by the Rockland-based company, which is privately funded, follows an equally ambitious expansion in 2018, that included networks serving Farmington, Dover-Foxcroft, Calais and Machias.
The 2019 expansion will be in 10 of the state’s 16 counties, and focuses on areas targeted by 35,000 service requests made by Maine businesses and residents in 2018, a Friday news release from the company said.
Once the expansion is completed, the company said its coverage will be available to more than 100 communities and 50% of all Maine homes .
Communities set for expansion in 2019, by county, are:
Androscoggin County: Durham, Greene, Lisbon, Livermore Falls; Aroostook County: Caribou, Fort Kent, Presque Isle; Cumberland County: New Gloucester, Windham; Franklin County: New Sharon, Wilton;
Hancock: Bucksport; Kennebec County: Gardiner, Oakland, Winthrop; Oxford County: Rumford; Piscataquis County: Milo;
Somerset County: Fairfield, Madison, Norridgewock, Skowhegan; Waldo County: Frankfort, Morrill; York County: Alfred, Berwick, Waterboro.
Portions of 50 communities adjacent to the communities listed will also be part of the network expansion, the company said.
Jim McKenna, president of Redzone Wireless, said the company’s technology combined with its financial model allow it to expand broadband quickly to rural areas — 50,000 customers in 12 months.
Click here to read the full article.
The multi-million dollar expansion by the Rockland-based company, which is privately funded, follows an equally ambitious expansion in 2018, that included networks serving Farmington, Dover-Foxcroft, Calais and Machias.
The 2019 expansion will be in 10 of the state’s 16 counties, and focuses on areas targeted by 35,000 service requests made by Maine businesses and residents in 2018, a Friday news release from the company said.
Once the expansion is completed, the company said its coverage will be available to more than 100 communities and 50% of all Maine homes .
Communities set for expansion in 2019, by county, are:
Androscoggin County: Durham, Greene, Lisbon, Livermore Falls; Aroostook County: Caribou, Fort Kent, Presque Isle; Cumberland County: New Gloucester, Windham; Franklin County: New Sharon, Wilton;
Hancock: Bucksport; Kennebec County: Gardiner, Oakland, Winthrop; Oxford County: Rumford; Piscataquis County: Milo;
Somerset County: Fairfield, Madison, Norridgewock, Skowhegan; Waldo County: Frankfort, Morrill; York County: Alfred, Berwick, Waterboro.
Portions of 50 communities adjacent to the communities listed will also be part of the network expansion, the company said.
Jim McKenna, president of Redzone Wireless, said the company’s technology combined with its financial model allow it to expand broadband quickly to rural areas — 50,000 customers in 12 months.
Click here to read the full article.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Friday, January 18, 2019
LISBON Charter Communications - Upcoming Changes Effective February 21, 2019
Charter Communications - Upcoming Changes Effective February 21, 2019
At Charter (locally
known as Spectrum), we continue to enhance our services, offer more of
the best entertainment choices and deliver the best value. We are
committed to offering our customers with products and services we are
sure they will enjoy. Containing costs and efficiently managing our
operations are critical to providing customers with the best value
possible. Like every business, Charter faces rising costs that require
occasional price adjustments. As a result, customers will be notified
that effective on or after February 21, 2019, pricing will be adjusted
for the following residential video service:
• Broadcast TV Surcharge will change from $9.95 to $11.99
We remain committed to providing an excellent experience for our customers, in your community and in each of the communities we serve. If you have any questions about this change, please feel free to contact me at 207-620-3319 or via email at shelley.winchenbach@charter. com.
• Broadcast TV Surcharge will change from $9.95 to $11.99
We remain committed to providing an excellent experience for our customers, in your community and in each of the communities we serve. If you have any questions about this change, please feel free to contact me at 207-620-3319 or via email at shelley.winchenbach@charter.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Thursday, January 17, 2019
LISBON PARKING BAN IN EFFECT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 18th, 2019 FROM 5AM UNTIL 7PM
PARKING BAN IN EFFECT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 18th, 2019 FROM 5AM UNTIL 7PM
DUE TO THE INCLEMENT
WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A PARKING BAN WILL
BE IN EFFECT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 18TH, 2019 FROM 5AM UNTIL 7PM.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
MORALE IN LISBON
At last
night’s Town Council workshop, the subject of the morale of the town employee’s
was discussed. There was talked about
having an employee appreciation day at Beaver Park, which is an excellent start. It is a shame the Town Council is so blind to
the obvious. The reason employee’s morale is so low, as I see it, is twofold: (1) The lack of leadership and (2) all
employees being treated the same.
I think the
lack of leadership is self-explanatory. So I will move on to the second point
and that is rewarding, the good and bad, employees with the same pay raises. This is done every year by the Town Council, recommended by
the Town Manager, approving Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) for all town
employees. This is
probably the dumbest idea anyone ever came up with.
The employee who is work
the hardest and trying to improve themselves are compensated at the same rate
as the employee who is enrolled in the Retired on Active Duty (ROAD). The road program means that they are
doing just enough to get by or less and being rewarded the same as someone
working to improve the quality of service residents deserve.
The reason the town approves COLA is
because all town employees are rewarded by the same percentage but the pay
raises are never the same. The percentage is
based on the current salary and this stupid program applies to wage workers and
management personnel the same. An example of
this is the Town Manager; whose annual salary is over $90,000.00, receives a 2%
COLA increase of $1,800.00 while a wage worker earning $40,000.00 receives only
$800.00 a year increase. How can anyone justify this? Management positions should never be included
in COLA increases in this town.
If you want to raise the
morale of the employees in town, they need to start rewarding ONLY the good
employees who are working the hardest. This is
rewarding the good employees and hopefully encourages the poorer employees to
work harder. Another method is to have each department
nominate an employee for “Employee of the Month” and “Employee of the Year”. With both these positions, comes a small
increase in their pay or time off. This will recognize these employees and
hopefully push other employees to improve.
There are numerous
methods to boost morale in the town. The problem is
the leadership has to first to acknowledge the problem exists and then come up
with a plan to address the situation.
I understand because I have recommended
a number of solutions, they will never be considered, which is too bad.
Larry Fillmore
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
LISBON Town Departments Closed - Monday January 21, 2019
Town Departments Closed - Monday January 21, 2019
In observance of Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, all town departments will be closed on Monday,
January 21, 2019. The police department for non-administrative staff
will remain open.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
LISBON Charter Communication Notification - Effective February 15, 2019 (rate adjustment)
Charter Communication Notification - Effective February 15, 2019 (rate adjustment)
Charter Communications,
locally known as Spectrum, is making its customers aware that effective
on or after February 15, 2019, the following changes will occur on the
channel lineup serving your community.
The Spectrum TV Silver package will no longer include Cinemax and its related channels. Cinemax and its related channels will be available for subscription as an a la carte service only.
The monthly a la carte subscription rate will be reduced from $15.00 to $9.99.
The Spectrum TV Gold package will no longer include Cinemax, EPIX or their related channels. These services will be available for subscription as a la carte services only. The monthly a la carte subscription rates for Cinemax, EPIX and their related channels will each be reduced from $15.00 to the following rates: Cinemax - $9.99, EPIX - $5.99.
Pricing for monthly a la carte TMC subscription service will be reduced from $15.00 to $9.99.
If customers would like to subscribe to any of these a la carte services which are now available outside of a package, they can visit www.spectrum.com/getchannels. To view a current Spectrum channel lineup visit www.spectrum.com/channels. To view a current Spectrum rate card visit www.spectrum.com/ratecard. For questions call 1-855-70-Spectrum. Customers may downgrade or disconnect service without charge within 30 days of receipt of this notice.
The Spectrum TV Silver package will no longer include Cinemax and its related channels. Cinemax and its related channels will be available for subscription as an a la carte service only.
The monthly a la carte subscription rate will be reduced from $15.00 to $9.99.
The Spectrum TV Gold package will no longer include Cinemax, EPIX or their related channels. These services will be available for subscription as a la carte services only. The monthly a la carte subscription rates for Cinemax, EPIX and their related channels will each be reduced from $15.00 to the following rates: Cinemax - $9.99, EPIX - $5.99.
Pricing for monthly a la carte TMC subscription service will be reduced from $15.00 to $9.99.
If customers would like to subscribe to any of these a la carte services which are now available outside of a package, they can visit www.spectrum.com/getchannels. To view a current Spectrum channel lineup visit www.spectrum.com/channels. To view a current Spectrum rate card visit www.spectrum.com/ratecard. For questions call 1-855-70-Spectrum. Customers may downgrade or disconnect service without charge within 30 days of receipt of this notice.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Monday, January 14, 2019
LISBON Charter Communications Notification - WGN Agreement
Charter Communications Notification - WGN Agreement
Charter Communications,
locally known as Spectrum, is happy to report that we have reached an
agreement with Tribune Broadcasting to provide WGN America and multiple
local ABC, CBS, FOX and CW, and digital multicast channel affiliate
stations to our customers. We are pleased to have reached a fair
agreement and appreciate your support and patience.
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
LISBON TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND MEETING
Council Meeting - 6:00 PM Workshop then Meeting
Jan. 15, 2019 at 6:00 PM Agenda & Attachments
SUBMITTED BY: TOWN OF LISBON
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)