All But One Lisbon Councilor Supports The Perpetration Of Fraud

PERPETRATING FRAUD

According to Webster’s dictionary, fraud is defined as (1)a:  deceit, trickery; specifically:  intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right (1)b:  an act of deceiving or misrepresenting:  trick (2)a: one who is not what he pretends to be: imposter (2)b:  one who defrauds:  cheat syn see deception, imposture.

The Town Manager, Stephen Eldridge, certainly has demonstrated he meets all the qualifications of committing a fraud.  As the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Lisbon, Eldridge is responsible for the daily operation of the municipality.  This could be a simple task requiring little or no knowledge of Maine law or obeying the town Charter.  Since Eldridge took office, he has repeatedly ignored the town Charter and did whatever suited him.  Eldridge has for the last two years screwed up the tax commitment and the tax bills.  The tax bills had to be redone several times in the last two years costing the taxpayer at least $10,000 each time; hopefully this year will be different.

As Chief Administrative Officer, Eldridge is responsible for information posted to the sign board in front of the town office; there are repeated cases of the information being out dated.  How can the residents be expected to be informed when they have to read information which has expired?  This clutter keep’s citizens from being informed on current town business.

The town web site continues to keep information which has expired or been approved by the Town Council instead of posting information which is pending.  This is done to insure residents do not have an opportunity to participate or voice their opinions on town business.  Town Council workshop agendas are not posted in order to prevent citizens from attending.  Keep in mind, council workshops are NOT televised by Great Falls.  This action keeps the residents from knowing what is discussed during these workshops.  Also, residents cannot voice their concerns during workshops even if they have information which would benefit the Town of Lisbon.

Now for the latest demonstration of fraud perpetrated by Eldridge; the minutes of the Town Council meetings are being stripped of items brought out during the meeting.  If anyone wants proof of this blatant violation of the Town Charter, then print off the minutes of August 2, and August 16, 2011 from the town web site and compare the minutes to the videos for the same dates provided by Great Falls also found on the town web site.   There are items such as a discussion of the missing $32,500 not in the minutes of August 2, 2011.  There also was a discussion of the Fire Chief needing $5,700 to move a building.  The funds were committed by the council but never executed in four months.  Why isn’t the money returned to the General Fund until needed by the Fire Department for the work?

The minutes of August 16, 2011 do not reflect a discussion of equipment purchased with the $32,500 misappropriated from the Economic Community Development Department or the whereabouts of the council working rules.  The minutes have a discussion pertaining to 20 Campus Avenue when it was 4 Campus Avenue.

These clearly demonstrates the simplest of administrative actions cannot be performed by Eldridge.  The Town Manager is paid $80,000 dollars plus by the taxpayers to ensure the Town of Lisbon is operating in a professional manner.  It is the direct responsibility of the Town Manager to ensure the daily operations are performed as to reflect transparency in our government.   The citizens of the Town of Lisbon require all town business be performed legally and above board.  Keeping information, which reflects badly on the administration of the Town Council and Town Manager, does not demonstrate an administration which is reliable and truthful with residents.

Stephen Eldridge has clearly demonstrated a lack of competency in performing the simplest of tasks required by a Town Manager.  Eldridge’s continued disgraceful behavior constitutes an embarrassment to the Town of Lisbon, Maine Municipality Associate (MMA) and the residents.  It would be a disservice to real Town Managers to equate Eldridge as a Town Manager.  Eldridge is an impostor and truly fits the definition of fraud by pretending to be the Town Manager of Lisbon.

I believe before the Town of Lisbon can get back on track as the model community in which to raise a family, the Town Council needs to review Eldridge’s continued violations of Maine law, Town of Lisbon Charter and his daily operation of this community.  All of these infractions certainly provide grounds for dismissal of Eldridge so the Town of Lisbon can begin to heal.

Larry A. Fillmore
Concerned Citizen