Look What Auburn Can Do...

You know we couldn't let this one by without a little bit of conversation. In recent comments former Chair Wells and former councilor Smith were very quick to point out that the Lisbon Concerned Citizens cost the town extra money through both legal fees during the recent recall referendum process as well as the cost of holding the recall itself and counting the vote.

Oh wait, from the SunJournal, "There's the cost of programming the machine and then printing the special ballots," City Clerk Mary Lou Magno said. She estimated preparations for the special vote would have been $2,200. Instead, the city printed ballots on plain white paper."It shouldn't take us too long to count them by hand," she said. "It's only one ward."

Let's see, Auburn can hold elections from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., prepare ballots on plain paper, and hand count an anticipated 2400 ballots, but Lisbon uses the automated machines to count less than 500 votes. Go figure. . If we had leadership in our town government structure that was geared to current economic rumblings, they would be more proactive in their spending criteria.

Now taxpaying citizens, is this the way you want your town government to continue? Then speak up.

It has now been over a year since Mr. Eldridge has been in the position of town manager. Do you want the Town Council to continue his contract? His year end review is underway. Please, we ask the community to write or call the town council and department heads and ask questions. Be sure to write your answers down because we know each one you get will be different. Let's see if we can make a difference that benefits everyone, not just a select few. There are a lot of talented people that keep our community going, but some have more to work with than others. All we would like to see is a better balance throughout the community and more talent contributing to the area of future needs and planning.

The next town council meeting is Tuesday January 20, 2008. If you care to be involved now would be a good time to get started as there are openings on several town committees.

You can email the Town Council and department heads through the links below:

Michael Bowie, Chair

Norma Wells

Roger Cote

Dale Crafts

Janet Henry

Fern Larochelle

Gina Mason

Steve Eldridge, Town Manager

Sean Galipeau, Fire Chief

David Brooks, Police Chief

Elwood Beal, Public Works Director

Paul Adams, Water Department General Manager

Ryan Leighton, Town Engineer