Oh, What the heck -‏

Can you tolerate one more letter in response to Kathi Yergin's letter?

If Mrs. Yergin had attended the April 20, 2010 Town Council meeting, or 
watched it on TV she would have known the Town Council praised the School 
Committee and Superintendent Green, even though
resulting in a slight tax increase, presenting a bare bones budget. Cutting 
30 teaching positions is pretty drastic to say the least. The TC is asking 
Town Manager Steve Eldridge to come in with a no-tax-increase budget on the 
town side. Something Mr. Eldridge appears reluctant to do. I admit, I rarely 
attend the School Committee meetings. This is a compliment to the SC as I 
feel fairly comfortable with their decisions.

I do not have all the figures , but at the April 20, 2010 budget meeting Mr. 
Eldridge is proposing  not funding $58,000 for the 2nd phase of the 
revaluation and cutting $2,500 from the Recreation Department. I disagree 
with the latter as THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS THE ONLY SELF-SUPPORTING 
DEPARTMENT IN TOWN! Hooray and congratulations to Mark Stevens and his 
staff! 

While the Economic Development Department is requesting $1,400 for 
her cell phone and $750 for mileage, plus $1,500 for Professional 
Development, plus $250.00 meals and lodging, when The Maine Municipal 
Association (See a previous Letter to the Editor) offers Professional 
Development training at $50 - $100 a pop. This on top of a $60,000 salary, 
$20,000 more that her predecessor, and has done not much more than writing 
for grants for a Lisbon Falls Downtown Revitalization when Lisbon Village is 
in dire need of Revitalization, and forming committees.

All department heads guard their budgets closely, and none more than Police 
Chief David Brooks. His budget includes $800 for uniform cleaning, when at a 
previous budget meeting he admitted the uniforms are wash and wear. And what 
are the 2 vehicles parked in the Police Department parking area? What did 
they cost? From what budget and why were they purchased? Do we need them?

 
Does Chief Brooks have a slush fund we, taxpayers, know nothing about?

In closing, I again urge all taxpayers to attend the PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING 
ON TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2010. WHERE: THE LISBON COMMUNITY SCHOOL. TIME: 7 P.M.

 
Dot Fitzgerald
A Taxpayer
And A Concerned Citizen