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Dear Editor,
I just learned about this site on the Rumford Reporter and I read your story about Steve Eldridge's decision to move Mark Stevens from the MTM Center to the Town Offices. I wanted to write and let you know that Brooks and some members of the Town Council were "gunning" for Mark Stevens while I was still employed for the Town of Lisbon.
On December 19th, 2007, David Brooks came into my office, shut the door, and proceeded to scold me for telling Mark Stevens that Maurice Bonneau was interested in purchasing the Teen Center building. He stated, "The Town Council would appreciate if in the future, you would keep economic development issues confidential and go directly to the Town Council with such proposals." He also had the nerve to tell me that Dan Feeney would never do that and that Dan Feeney took "confidentiality" seriously. In this same conversation, he informed me that "they" were having issues with Mark Stevens, Mark Stevens had a big mouth, and "they" didn't want any resistance from the community. In response, I stated "What you are asking me to do is stab my co-worker in the back and discount how the community feels about losing the Teen Center building." I also asked him how he would feel if it was something that involved the police department. I told him that I did not want to jeopardize my relationships with my co-workers or the community and that it is important to get the Recreation Director and the community's buy-in before proceeding. I also told him that Maurice did not consider his proposal confidential and wanted everything dealt with above board for the same reasons that I did.
When Maurice Bonneau approached me as a business owner who was interested in purchasing the Teen Center building in downtown Lisbon Falls, he requested that I speak with all parties involved including Mark Stevens to ensure that the community would be on board with selling the building. As an economic developer, I also felt it my duty to speak with Mark before going to the Town Council with the proposal. One, Maurice Bonneau wanted it done this way and did not consider the deal "confidential". Two, I was not going to proceed with the project if Mark Stevens was not okay with it. And, three, I was not going to proceed with the project if the community did not want to lose their Teen Center building. I would only proceed if and when I knew that Mark Stevens and the community were on board. I expected that Mark Stevens would speak with his Board, the Teen Center staff, and community members because that is what he is supposed to do. He is not a "big mouth" because he cares about the impact his decisions and actions may have on the community members.
This news coupled with the fact that I was working for "Town Council members" who advocated for stabbing people in the back and cutting the community out of the process made me sad. I knew that I would not be able to stay on board for the Town of Lisbon and do my job effectively with this kind of mentality above me. I refused to work in an environment where I was going to get punished and chastised for involving the community in my decisions and plans. You cannot be an Economic and Community Development Director without the community's input. I submitted my letter of resignation that night. I, unlike Steve Eldridge, would not come into a community and tell them what I was going to do. I was meeting with as many people as possible the entire length of my employment to gather input from the community members so that I could move forward with what YOU wanted for the community, not what I wanted. I wasn't out to make a name for myself. I was out to help you make Lisbon the community that you wanted. And, I will stand by those ethics the remainder of my career. Even if that means that I'm not part of the "good ole' boy" network.
It's time to start holding these people accountable who are in it for themselves and fostering the Mark Stevens of the world. Mark and I spoke a lot while I was employed for the Town of Lisbon and he and I were on the same page when it came to being a true leader. I applaud the community for standing up for him. He's worth it.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Norris
I just learned about this site on the Rumford Reporter and I read your story about Steve Eldridge's decision to move Mark Stevens from the MTM Center to the Town Offices. I wanted to write and let you know that Brooks and some members of the Town Council were "gunning" for Mark Stevens while I was still employed for the Town of Lisbon.
On December 19th, 2007, David Brooks came into my office, shut the door, and proceeded to scold me for telling Mark Stevens that Maurice Bonneau was interested in purchasing the Teen Center building. He stated, "The Town Council would appreciate if in the future, you would keep economic development issues confidential and go directly to the Town Council with such proposals." He also had the nerve to tell me that Dan Feeney would never do that and that Dan Feeney took "confidentiality" seriously. In this same conversation, he informed me that "they" were having issues with Mark Stevens, Mark Stevens had a big mouth, and "they" didn't want any resistance from the community. In response, I stated "What you are asking me to do is stab my co-worker in the back and discount how the community feels about losing the Teen Center building." I also asked him how he would feel if it was something that involved the police department. I told him that I did not want to jeopardize my relationships with my co-workers or the community and that it is important to get the Recreation Director and the community's buy-in before proceeding. I also told him that Maurice did not consider his proposal confidential and wanted everything dealt with above board for the same reasons that I did.
When Maurice Bonneau approached me as a business owner who was interested in purchasing the Teen Center building in downtown Lisbon Falls, he requested that I speak with all parties involved including Mark Stevens to ensure that the community would be on board with selling the building. As an economic developer, I also felt it my duty to speak with Mark before going to the Town Council with the proposal. One, Maurice Bonneau wanted it done this way and did not consider the deal "confidential". Two, I was not going to proceed with the project if Mark Stevens was not okay with it. And, three, I was not going to proceed with the project if the community did not want to lose their Teen Center building. I would only proceed if and when I knew that Mark Stevens and the community were on board. I expected that Mark Stevens would speak with his Board, the Teen Center staff, and community members because that is what he is supposed to do. He is not a "big mouth" because he cares about the impact his decisions and actions may have on the community members.
This news coupled with the fact that I was working for "Town Council members" who advocated for stabbing people in the back and cutting the community out of the process made me sad. I knew that I would not be able to stay on board for the Town of Lisbon and do my job effectively with this kind of mentality above me. I refused to work in an environment where I was going to get punished and chastised for involving the community in my decisions and plans. You cannot be an Economic and Community Development Director without the community's input. I submitted my letter of resignation that night. I, unlike Steve Eldridge, would not come into a community and tell them what I was going to do. I was meeting with as many people as possible the entire length of my employment to gather input from the community members so that I could move forward with what YOU wanted for the community, not what I wanted. I wasn't out to make a name for myself. I was out to help you make Lisbon the community that you wanted. And, I will stand by those ethics the remainder of my career. Even if that means that I'm not part of the "good ole' boy" network.
It's time to start holding these people accountable who are in it for themselves and fostering the Mark Stevens of the world. Mark and I spoke a lot while I was employed for the Town of Lisbon and he and I were on the same page when it came to being a true leader. I applaud the community for standing up for him. He's worth it.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Norris
